Quick Answer
- Learning: free. Microsoft Learn's modules and learning paths can be used without paying.
- Exams: paid. Microsoft's pricing sheet lists Fundamentals exams from $44 to $99 and advanced role-based exams from $58 to $165, depending on country group.
- Renewals: free for role-based and specialty certifications, and Fundamentals certifications do not expire.
- Retakes: paid at the full exam fee again, unless a bundle such as Exam Replay covers the retake.
| Item | Free or paid |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Learn training | Free |
| Fundamentals exam, such as AZ-900 | Paid |
| Role-based exam, such as PL-300 | Paid |
| Renewal assessment | Free |
| Exam retake | Paid |
If you are weighing Microsoft certification free or paid options, you should separate learning from the exam, because the two are priced differently. Training on Microsoft Learn can be taken without paying, while the proctored exam that earns the credential carries a fee that depends on the country where you sit it.
This blog will help you see what is free, what the exams cost, how vouchers and discounts work, and what a retake involves in 2026. Prices and offers change, so confirm them on Microsoft's own pages before booking.
Is Microsoft Learn Free?
Yes. Learn's modules and learning paths are free to use, and each exam page links a preparation course and a practice assessment. You pay only when you book the proctored exam, so a learner can study at length before spending anything.
The self-paced paths work well as Microsoft free certification courses, because each one maps to a specific exam. Finishing a path is not the same as being certified, though. A Microsoft Learn certificate of completion free of charge is a record that you finished the content, while the certification itself needs a passed exam.
Check this blog for Google and Microsoft Free Certificate.
Is the AZ-900 Exam Free or Paid?
It is paid. AZ-900 is a Fundamentals exam, so it sits in the lower of Microsoft's two price tables: $44 to $99, depending on the country group where it is proctored. The exam page lists a 45-minute duration, and the study material is free.
India appears in the lowest-priced country group on Microsoft's sheet, so the amount should fall toward the bottom of that range. For the AZ-900 exam fee in India in rupees, the booking page shows the amount payable at checkout, which is the figure to rely on.
How Much Do Microsoft Certification Exams Cost?
Microsoft's pricing sheet, effective 1 November 2024, sets prices in USD across six country groups and two exam types:
| Exam type | Lowest price | Highest price |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals | $44 | $99 |
| Advanced role-based | $58 | $165 |
The highest-priced group includes the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, and India sits in the lowest-priced group. For Microsoft certification cost in India, that places the exam toward the bottom of each range. The Microsoft Fundamentals exam cost is the lower of the two ranges, and the Microsoft certification exam price in INR is shown in rupees at checkout.
How to Get Microsoft Certification Exams for Free
No permanent free exam is listed, but several routes can lower or occasionally remove the fee. Eligibility rules change, so confirm each one before relying on it.
- A Microsoft certification exam voucher can come through events and employers, and each has its own terms and expiry date.
- A Microsoft Virtual Training Days 50% exam discount has been reported by attendees, so confirm the current offer and its expiry on the event page.
- Earlier challenges have offered a Microsoft Learn Cloud Skills Challenge free voucher to people who completed them, and availability varies by campaign.
- A Microsoft Enterprise Skills Initiative exam discount may be available through some employers and partners, depending on the organisation's access.
- For a Microsoft student discount for certification exams India, note that Microsoft's student discounts page offers academic pricing in most countries except India and China, so Indian students should not count on it.
The practical approach to how to get a free AZ-900 voucher is to watch for the time-limited offers above and use one before it expires. A voucher is an offer rather than a permanent entitlement, and renewals are the only part of certification that Microsoft makes free outright.
Want to know about Google Certifications.
Are Microsoft Applied Skills Free?
Applied Skills are free at present, with no expiry date. It is important to note that Microsoft's own pages do not state a fee, so check the credential page before you begin.
Microsoft Applied Skills vs certification
The two differ in format and effort. An Applied Skill is earned in a lab-based assessment of interactive tasks built around one real-world scenario. A certification tests a role through a proctored exam. An assessment lab can be retaken 72 hours after your last attempt, whereas certification exams follow the longer waits below.
Microsoft Exam Retake Policy
Microsoft's retake policy covers most Fundamentals and role-based exams as follows:
- If you do not pass the first time, you must wait 24 hours before retaking.
- After that, 14 days is the time for how long to wait to retake a Microsoft exam between each later attempt.
- A passed exam cannot be retaken unless the certification has expired.
How many times can you fail a Microsoft exam? You may not take a given exam more than five times within 12 months of your first attempt, and after a fifth failure you become eligible again 12 months from that first attempt. A waiver of the waiting period applies only to internet connectivity problems or equipment failure with a Pearson VUE case number.
Is Microsoft Exam Retake Free?
No. Microsoft's policy states that you must pay to retake the exam where a fee applies, so each attempt costs the exam fee for your country group again. Five attempts in a year would therefore mean five payments, which is a strong reason to use the free practice material first.
Is Microsoft Exam Replay Worth It?
Exam Replay bundles one exam voucher with one retake of the same exam. Both must be scheduled and taken within 12 months of purchase, and the retake cannot be booked until you have failed the first attempt. Online exams are allowed with this offer. It pays off if you expect to need a second attempt, and it adds little if you are well prepared. Compare the bundle price on the deals page with buying the exam twice.
Can I Take the Microsoft Exam From Home?
Yes, in most but not all countries. A Microsoft certification exam from home online is delivered through Pearson VUE, according to Microsoft's online exams page. Requirements include:
- a walled room with a closed door and no one else present
- a current government-issued ID whose name exactly matches your certification profile
- a completed system test on the same computer and in the same location
- check-in from 30 minutes before to 15 minutes after the appointment time
A proctor monitors you by webcam and microphone, and the session is recorded. Anyone who prefers not to be recorded can choose a test centre.
Do Microsoft Fundamentals certifications expire?
Role-based and specialty certifications do expire unless renewed, and PL-300, for instance, lists a renewal frequency of 12 months.
How to renew Microsoft certification for free?
The route is a short online assessment on Microsoft Learn taken during the six-month eligibility window before expiry. Passing extends the certification one year from its expiry date. Renewal assessments can be retaken immediately after a first miss, with a 24-hour wait between later attempts.
Are Microsoft Certificates Worth It?
They can be, especially early in a career. Preparation is free and a Fundamentals certificate never expires, while the exam fee for India appears to sit toward the lower end of Microsoft's range, so the cost of entry is modest. A certificate does not guarantee a job, though, and it works best as supporting evidence next to projects and experience.
Is AZ-900 Difficult to Pass?
It is Microsoft's entry-level cloud exam, with no prerequisites, and it tests conceptual understanding rather than hands-on configuration. The pass mark is 700 on a scale of 1 to 1,000. Many beginners find it manageable with structured preparation, though difficulty varies by background.
Is PL-300 Easy to Pass?
PL-300 is an associate-level data analyst exam, and the exam page gives you 100 minutes. People who already build reports in Power BI may find it more approachable than newcomers will. No certification is automatically easy, so a practice assessment is a sensible check before booking.
Which Microsoft Certification Is in High Demand?
Demand varies by region and employer, so compare job listings in your target location before choosing. Azure and data credentials such as AZ-900 and PL-300 are common starting points.
How to Keep Exam Costs Down
- Finish the free Learn path and a practice assessment before booking, so you are less likely to pay for a retake.
- Check an offer's expiry date before registering for the event that provides it.
- Select your country on the exam page to see the price that applies, and keep a screenshot for your records.
- Ask whether your employer has access to a discount programme.
| Situation | Sensible route |
|---|---|
| Complete beginner | Learn path, then AZ-900 with a voucher if one is available |
| Working data analyst | PL-300 after a practice assessment |
| Student outside India | Check Microsoft's academic pricing |
| Nervous first-timer | Consider Exam Replay |
Key Takeaways
- Learn training is free, while exams carry a country-based fee.
- Fundamentals exams cost $44 to $99 and role-based exams $58 to $165 on Microsoft's 2024 sheet.
- Retakes are paid, with a 24-hour wait and then 14 days between later attempts.
- Fundamentals certifications do not expire, and renewals for others are free.
Join this conversation know which is Good Certificate Google or Microsoft?
