On az 104 online exam day, you check in through Pearson VUE, show valid ID, and get 120 minutes of total seat time, which includes the non-disclosure agreement and a survey around your 100 minutes of actual exam time. Pearson VUE online proctoring is available as an alternative to an in-person test center; both follow the same check-in and identification steps before the timed exam begins.
Exam-day nerves are usually about the unknowns: what to bring, how check-in works, and whether the clock starts before or after the paperwork. This page walks through what is actually published about az 104 online exam day and in-person test-center day, based on Microsoft's AZ-104 certification page and its general exam policies.
Before you book a time
Before choosing a slot, confirm you understand the exam format: 100 minutes of exam time inside 120 minutes of total seat time. Build a buffer into your schedule around the appointment itself, since the seat time includes the non-disclosure agreement, a short survey, and on-screen instructions in addition to the graded portion.
Check-in and ID
Whether you sit AZ-104 at a Pearson VUE test center or through Pearson VUE online proctoring, you will need to verify your identity with valid, government-issued ID before the exam begins. Arrive, or log in for an online session, with enough time before your scheduled start to complete check-in without rushing into the timed portion.
Online-proctored exam rules
Pearson VUE online proctoring is available for AZ-104. Sitting the exam online means your session is monitored remotely, so you will need a private space, a stable internet connection, and a webcam and microphone that meet Pearson VUE's requirements. Because Microsoft's certification page does not itemize every technical requirement for online proctoring on the AZ-104 page specifically, check Pearson VUE's own system and environment requirements before your scheduled time so you are not troubleshooting minutes before check-in.
Test center vs. online, on the day
At a physical test center, check-in happens with staff on site, and your testing environment is controlled by the center itself. Online, the same identity and environment checks happen through the Pearson VUE software, but the responsibility for a suitable room and a stable connection sits with you. Neither option changes what is tested: the same five domains and objective statements from the exam objectives page apply either way.
During the exam
Once the timed portion starts, you have 100 minutes of exam time to work through the exam. Microsoft states the exam may include interactive components, tasks performed against a live or simulated environment, in addition to standard question formats, so pace yourself with the possibility of a task-based section in mind rather than assuming every item will be a straightforward multiple-choice question.
After the exam
Microsoft does not publish a passing score for AZ-104 on its certification page, so this page will not state one. If you do not pass, the retake policy allows a retake 24 hours after a failed attempt; see the renewal and validity page for how long a passing result stays valid once you do pass.
If exam-day logistics are your main concern rather than the material itself, that is a good sign your preparation is largely done; if you are still unsure about the domains themselves, revisit the study plan before locking in a date.
A short exam-day checklist
A few practical steps reduce the odds of a preventable delay on the day itself. Confirm your ID matches the name on your exam booking exactly, since a mismatch can block check-in regardless of delivery method. If you are testing online, restart your device and close unnecessary applications shortly before your session so the proctoring software has a clean environment to work with. Have a second form of ID ready as backup, and confirm your appointment time in your own local time zone rather than assuming it matches the time zone shown during booking. None of these steps are about the exam content itself, but a smooth check-in leaves your full 100 minutes for the material you actually studied.
Exam facts on this page come from Microsoft’s own pages (official exam page). Prices, versions and policies change — confirm there before you book.