AZ-104 Certification Guide 2026: Azure Administrator Exam, Cost + Best Prep

Last updated: May 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson. See our review methodology.

By Josh Hutcheson · E-Learning Specialist

Reviewing online learning platforms since 2019. Review methodology

What is AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate)?

AZ-104 is Microsoft’s flagship Azure operations certification. It validates competency across the daily operations work of Azure administrators: deploying VMs and storage, configuring networks, managing identity, applying governance, monitoring resources, and automating with PowerShell + CLI.

It’s the most popular Azure cert globally and the gateway to higher-tier Microsoft certs. AZ-305 (Solutions Architect Expert) and AZ-400 (DevOps Engineer Expert) both require AZ-104 as prerequisite.

Should you pursue AZ-104?

Take it if:

• You’re an IT pro (sysadmin, helpdesk, network admin) transitioning to Azure operations.
• You target Microsoft-shop employers (banks, government, healthcare, large enterprise).
• You’re working toward AZ-305 or AZ-400 — AZ-104 is required.
• You want a credential more accessible than AZ-305 with strong job market demand.

Skip if:

• You target AWS — pursue SAA-C03 instead.
• You’re a developer (not admin) — pursue AZ-204 Azure Developer.

Exam format

The 5 exam domains

Domain 1: Manage Azure identities and governance (15-20%)

Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), users + groups, RBAC, Azure Policy, management groups + subscriptions.

Domain 2: Implement and manage storage (15-20%)

Storage Accounts, blob/file/queue/table services, storage tiers, lifecycle, Azure Files, redundancy options.

Domain 3: Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (20-25%)

VM sizing, scaling sets, App Service, Container Apps, Azure Container Instances, AKS basics.

Domain 4: Configure and manage virtual networking (20-25%)

VNets + subnets, NSGs, VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute basics, Application Gateway, Load Balancer, Bastion.

Domain 5: Monitor and maintain Azure resources (10-15%)

Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, alerts, backup with Azure Backup, Site Recovery basics.

Salary impact

• Junior Azure Administrator (AZ-104 only): $80K-$110K base US.
• Mid-level (3-5 yrs + AZ-104): $105K-$140K base.
• Senior Azure Engineer (AZ-104 + AZ-305): $145K-$195K base.
• Microsoft-shop premium: 5-10% above generic equivalents in regulated industries (banking, healthcare, government).

Best ways to prepare for AZ-104

Honest ranking, with Microsoft Learn weighted heavily because it’s genuinely best for Azure certs:

#1 (free, official, genuinely best): Microsoft Learn AZ-104 path

Microsoft’s own learning path. Completely free. ~30+ hours of content with hands-on labs in real Azure trial environments. For Azure certs specifically, Microsoft Learn is consistently the most-recommended primary resource on r/AzureCertification — unique to Microsoft (AWS’s free Skill Builder isn’t as deep).

#2 (paid alternative): John Savill’s AZ-104 on YouTube

FREE, comprehensive YouTube playlist. ~30+ hours. Savill is a Microsoft Azure MVP and his AZ-104 study cram is the most-recommended free video resource outside Microsoft Learn.

#3 (paid alternative if you prefer Udemy): Scott Duffy or Tim Warner AZ-104

Scott Duffy’s AZ-104 on Udemy ($15-30 with discount). Most-purchased AZ-104 course outside Microsoft Learn. Useful if you prefer paid structured learning.

#4 (essential): Practice tests

Microsoft Official Practice Assessment (free). MeasureUp ($99) for closest exam difficulty. Whizlabs AZ-104 ($19-24) for budget option.

#5 (for portfolio + cert combo): Udacity Azure Administrator Nanodegree

Udacity Azure Administrator Nanodegree (nd991) — intermediate level, 64 hours — explicitly designed to prep for AZ-104 with hands-on enterprise solution capstone. Useful for portfolio if you want both cert + project artifacts. See our full Udacity Azure Administrator review.

Honest framing: Microsoft Learn is sufficient for AZ-104 exam prep. Udacity is for portfolio depth, not a substitute.

10-12 week study plan

1. Weeks 1-2: Foundations + Azure trial setup.
2. Weeks 3-7: Microsoft Learn AZ-104 path systematically.
3. Weeks 8-9: Hands-on labs (VNet, NSG, AAD, storage, VMs).
4. Weeks 10-11: Practice tests + weak spot review.
5. Week 12: Schedule + take exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is AZ-104?

Moderate. ~65% pass rate with 8-12 weeks of focused prep. Harder than AZ-900 (Fundamentals), more accessible than AZ-305 (Expert).

How much does AZ-104 cost?

$165 USD for the exam. Total prep cost: $165 (Microsoft Learn only) to $400 with practice tests + Udacity Nanodegree.

Is AZ-104 worth it?

Yes — most-recommended Azure Associate cert. Required prerequisite for AZ-305 and AZ-400. Adds ~$10-20K to median offers.

AZ-104 vs AZ-900 — which first?

If you have any IT experience, skip AZ-900 and go directly to AZ-104. AZ-900 is for complete beginners.

How long is AZ-104 valid?

1 year with FREE annual renewal via 30-minute Microsoft Learn assessment.

What jobs can I get?

Azure Administrator, Cloud Operations Engineer, Cloud Engineer. Median: $90K-$140K base US.

Final verdict

AZ-104 is the most career-impactful single Azure cert. Microsoft Learn (free) is genuinely sufficient for exam prep. Pair with MeasureUp practice tests for confidence. Add Udacity Azure Administrator Nanodegree for portfolio depth if you want both.

Start AZ-104 prep with Microsoft Learn (free) →

Related guides

Azure cert path: AZ-204 (Developer) · AZ-305 (Solutions Architect Expert) · AZ-400 (DevOps Expert)

Comparison: AWS vs Azure · AWS Solutions Architect (SAA-C03)

Best courses: Udacity Azure Administrator Nanodegree