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AZ-900 vs MS-900: Which One First?

Both are $99 fundamentals exams with no prerequisites and no expiry — but they cover completely different products. Here's how to decide.

✔ Last updated: August 2026 · Sources: official Microsoft Learn & Microsoft exam outline

The short answer

Choose based on your goal: Take AZ-900 if you want cloud/Azure knowledge. Take MS-900 if you work with Microsoft 365 (Office 365, Teams, Exchange, SharePoint). Take both if you work in a Microsoft-heavy IT environment — they complement each other well.

AZ-900 vs MS-900: full comparison

FactorAZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals)MS-900 (M365 Fundamentals)
FocusCloud concepts, Azure services, governanceMicrosoft 365 apps, productivity, security, licensing
DifficultyEasyEasy
Cost$99 USD$99 USD
Questions40–6040–60
Duration45 minutes45 minutes
PrerequisitesNoneNone
ExpiryNeverNever

What MS-900 covers

MS-900 (Microsoft 365 Fundamentals) covers cloud concepts, Microsoft 365 apps and services (Teams, Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive), security/compliance in M365, pricing/licensing models, and deployment concepts. It's ideal for IT support, helpdesk, and admin roles in Microsoft 365 environments.

Which should you take?

  • Cloud/Azure career path: AZ-900 — it's the foundation for AZ-104, AZ-305, etc.
  • M365 / IT support / helpdesk: MS-900 — it maps to the tools you use daily
  • General IT / sysadmin: Both — they're each 1–2 weeks of study and stack nicely
  • Career changer: AZ-900 has a bigger cloud-career upside
💡 Both are quick: Many people complete AZ-900 + MS-900 in a month. Free or discounted vouchers from Virtual Training Days often cover both.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is easier: AZ-900 or MS-900?
Both are entry-level and similar difficulty. AZ-900 tests Azure cloud concepts; MS-900 tests Microsoft 365 knowledge. Pick the one matching your work.
Can I take both AZ-900 and MS-900?
Yes — they're both quick fundamentals exams and stack well for IT careers.
Do I need AZ-900 before MS-900?
No prerequisites for either. You can take them in any order.
Which pays more: AZ-900 or MS-900?
Both are entry-level — salary depends on the role. AZ-900 leads toward Azure admin roles (higher ceiling); MS-900 suits M365 support/admin roles.