AZ-900 starts with "describe": what the skills list tells you about the exam
Nearly every AZ-900 skill begins with describe, define, compare or identify, so the exam tests understanding, not deployment or troubleshooting. Read five Azure adverts to see if your target roles want understanding, then answer four questions on Azure use, weekly hours, employer value and budget.
The verbs on Microsoft's list say what the exam will and will not prove.
Read the verbs
AZ-900 is the exam for Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals. It shows that you understand cloud concepts and Microsoft Azure as a whole: its architecture and core services, how identity and security work, and how cost, governance and monitoring are managed. Microsoft rates it as beginner level.
Open the skills list and look at how each line starts. Nearly all begin with "describe", "define", "compare" or "identify". That is the design of the exam. It tests description and understanding. It does not show that you can deploy, configure or troubleshoot Azure resources, which role-based credentials such as Azure Administrator (AZ-104) test.
Sort five adverts by verb
Find five roles in your city that mention Azure. Underline the verbs in each advert and sort it.
| Advert | Verbs used | Understanding or doing? | Names AZ-900? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
If the verbs are "deploy", "configure" and "troubleshoot", AZ-900 is a first step at most, and AZ-104 matters more. If the verbs are "explain", "estimate" and "review", the exam fits.
Who benefits in an Azure team
| Group | Examples | What it gives them |
|---|---|---|
| Technical starters | Help desk staff, junior administrators, graduates heading for AZ-104 | A structured first step |
| Commercial staff | Account managers and pre-sales at Microsoft partners and resellers | The vocabulary to sell Azure |
| Finance and governance | People who read Azure invoices, set budgets and track compliance | The ability to question an estimate |
| Managers and project leads | Anyone who decides with cloud teams | Confidence to follow the discussion |
The four questions
- Does your organisation, or your target employer, use Azure?
- Can you give at least three hours a week for the next one to two months?
- Will your employer or target employers value the credential within a year?
- Can you afford the budget, including a possible retake?
Four yes answers: go. Three: fix the weak point first. Two or fewer: choose a different step.
About the pay data
No official statistics office publishes pay for AZ-900 holders, because it is a credential, not a job. For orientation only, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports US$62,890 (computer support specialists) and US$99,130 (network and computer systems administrators) as median annual wages for May 2025. It projects employment in both to fall slightly from 2025 to 2035, though openings still arise as people move on. These figures describe everyone in those jobs, many with years of experience.
No prerequisites, no required order
There are no prerequisites. Microsoft's study guide says candidates should have skills and experience in an area of IT, but treat that as a measure of difficulty, not a rule. Microsoft does not require AZ-900 before AZ-104, so people who already administer Azure daily can go straight to the role-based level.
Write it down
Record your goal, your four answers, your target exam month and a review date on one page, and keep the five adverts with it as the evidence.
Questions readers ask
Does AZ-900 qualify me as an Azure administrator?
Do I need AZ-900 before AZ-104?
Is the BLS pay figure for AZ-900 holders?
- Microsoft Learn: Azure Fundamentals certification
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Computer Support Specialists
- CredenTrek: Is AZ-900 worth it?
This article is independent and is not endorsed by Microsoft. Facts change: confirm them on the official page before you act.