Yes, az 104 renewal is required: the certification's renewal frequency is 12 months. Before it expires, you renew for free through an online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn, rather than retaking the full AZ-104 exam. This is different from AZ-900, a Fundamentals-level exam that does not expire, so do not assume every Azure certification works the same way.
A common question after passing is simple: does az 104 expire, and if so, how do you keep it current? The answer is yes, on a fixed cycle, and Microsoft has made the renewal process itself free and online rather than requiring you to retake the full exam.
AZ-104 validity period
Microsoft's renewal frequency for AZ-104 is 12 months. Your certification is valid for that period from when you earn it, and Microsoft notifies eligible candidates ahead of the expiration window so you have time to renew before it lapses.
How to renew
AZ-104 renews through a free online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn, completed before your certification expires. This is not the same as booking a new Pearson VUE exam appointment: the renewal assessment is taken online, without a proctor or test-center visit, and without the fee you paid to sit the original exam. See the exam format page for how the original exam is structured, since the renewal assessment is built around the same domains, even though the format of the renewal itself is different from the original proctored exam.
What happens if you do not renew in time
Microsoft's AZ-104 page states the renewal frequency is 12 months, with the online assessment expected before expiration. If your certification lapses without renewal, expect that you would need to requalify, most likely by retaking the full proctored exam rather than the free online assessment, since the free path exists specifically to keep an active certification current, not to reinstate one that has already expired. Set a reminder well before the 12-month mark so you are not caught out by the deadline.
AZ-104 vs. AZ-900: a common mix-up
It is easy to assume every Microsoft certification behaves the same way, but AZ-104 and AZ-900 are different in this respect. AZ-900 is a Fundamentals-level exam and does not expire once earned. AZ-104 is an Associate-level, hands-on certification with a 12-month renewal cycle. If you hold both, only the AZ-104 credential needs the recurring, free online renewal assessment; AZ-900 needs nothing further once passed.
Keeping your skills current between renewals
Because the renewal assessment draws on the same domains as the original exam, the most reliable way to stay ready is to keep working with Azure, even briefly, rather than letting the material go cold for the full 12 months. If your day-to-day role has moved away from one of the five domains on the exam objectives page, a short refresher before your renewal window opens is worth more than cramming right before the deadline.
If you are earning AZ-104 for the first time and want to know where it can lead once you have it, the career path page covers the certifications that typically follow.
Why the renewal cycle exists
Cloud platforms change quickly, and a hands-on, Associate-level certification like AZ-104 is meant to reflect current, working knowledge of how Azure administration actually functions today, not a snapshot from whenever you first sat the exam. The 12-month renewal cycle, combined with a free online assessment rather than a repeat of the full proctored exam, is Microsoft's way of balancing that need for currency against the cost and time of a completely fresh attempt. Treating the renewal date as a fixed point on your calendar, rather than an afterthought, is the simplest way to avoid an unplanned gap in an active AZ-104 credential.
Exam facts on this page come from Microsoft’s own pages (official exam page). Prices, versions and policies change — confirm there before you book.