SC-900 is a Fundamentals exam, so it sits in the lower US$99 tier rather than the US$165 Associate tier. The English exam is updated on October 21, 2026.
Quick Answer
- • SC-900 exam cost: US$99 (Fundamentals price on the Pearson VUE store); Microsoft prices exams by country or region
- • With one retake: about US$198, because every attempt is a full fee
- • Fundamentals certifications have no renewal fee
- • Exam update: October 21, 2026 (English version)
What SC-900 costs
SC-900 leads to Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals. Fundamentals exams are listed at US$99 on the Pearson VUE Microsoft voucher store, the lower of the two standard US price points.
| Scenario | Cost (United States) |
|---|---|
| One attempt, pass first time | US$99 |
| One failed attempt, then a pass | US$198 |
| Renewal | Not applicable |
| Official Microsoft Learn training and practice assessment | Free |
For every other exam and country, see the full Microsoft exam cost guide.
Retake policy and the real cost of failing
Microsoft does not refund exams you do not pass or appointments you miss, and you pay for every retake. After a first failure you wait 24 hours, then 14 days between later attempts, and you cannot sit an exam more than five times in 12 months.
That makes a failed attempt the single biggest avoidable cost: it doubles your total to US$198. Timed practice before you book is cheaper than a retake.
The SC-900 exam update on October 21, 2026
Microsoft updates the English version of SC-900 on October 21, 2026. Microsoft lists minor changes to two areas: Describe function and identity types of Microsoft Entra ID, which includes workload identities, and Describe threat protection with Microsoft Defender XDR. The rest of the outline is unchanged. Localized versions are updated roughly eight weeks after the English one.
| Skill area | Weight |
|---|---|
| Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity | 10–15% |
| Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Entra | 25–30% |
| Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions | 35–40% |
| Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions | 20–25% |
The update is small and mostly adds workload identities and Defender XDR detail, so an existing study plan holds up. Book soon if you want to sit the current outline, but you do not need to rush if your notes are recent.
The MSCertQuiz SC-900 question bank has already been updated to the new skills outline, so practice questions match what the updated exam measures.
What the SC-900 exam tests
The fee buys one attempt at a 700-out-of-1000 pass mark across these skill areas, taken from the Microsoft Learn study guide. Knowing the weighting helps you decide where an extra week of study pays off.
Security, compliance and identity concepts (10–15%)
The shared responsibility model, defense-in-depth, Zero Trust, encryption and hashing, governance, risk and compliance, and identity basics such as authentication, authorization and federation.
Microsoft Entra (25–30%)
Identity types including workload identities, hybrid identity, authentication methods and MFA, Conditional Access, roles and RBAC, plus ID Governance, access reviews, Privileged Identity Management and ID Protection at a conceptual level.
Microsoft security solutions (35–40%)
Azure DDoS Protection, Firewall, WAF, network security groups, Bastion and Key Vault; Defender for Cloud; Microsoft Sentinel as SIEM and SOAR; and the Defender XDR family, including Defender for Endpoint, Office 365, Identity and Cloud Apps.
Microsoft compliance solutions (20–25%)
The Service Trust Portal, Microsoft privacy principles, Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager, sensitivity labels, data loss prevention, retention, records management, insider risk, eDiscovery and audit.
Total cost to get certified
The exam fee is the main cost, but it is rarely the only one. Here is a realistic range in United States dollars, using the figures above and MSCertQuiz practice at US$19.99 for one certification.
| Plan | Total |
|---|---|
| Exam fee, pass first time | US$99.00 |
| Exam fee plus MSCertQuiz practice (one certification) | US$118.99 |
| One retake plus practice | US$217.99 |
Microsoft Learn training, the official practice assessment and the exam sandbox are free, so the only required spend is the exam fee. Paid practice is optional, and its value is in catching weak areas before you pay for an attempt that you may need to repeat.
Is the SC-900 exam worth the cost?
Microsoft positions SC-900 for business stakeholders, new or existing IT professionals and students who want a foundation in security, compliance and identity across Azure and Microsoft 365. It is a describe-level exam, so no hands-on administration is required, which keeps the cost of entry low. It is a sensible first step before SC-200 or SC-300. It also suits non-technical roles such as project managers, sales engineers and compliance staff who need to speak accurately about Microsoft security products, since the exam rewards knowing what each service is for rather than how to configure it. Because the fee is the lowest tier, it is also the cheapest way to test whether a security career path appeals to you before committing to an Associate exam.
After SC-900, the usual next steps are SC-300 for identity or SC-200 for security operations. See SC-900 vs SC-300 for how to choose.
A study plan that protects your fee
A planning guide, not an official Microsoft schedule: adjust it to your experience and the hours you can give each week.
- Days 1–3: security, compliance and identity concepts, especially Zero Trust and shared responsibility.
- Days 4–7: Microsoft Entra capabilities. Learn what each feature does and when you would use it.
- Week 2: the Defender family, Sentinel and Azure network security services.
- Week 2 to 3: Purview compliance features, then timed practice questions.
Book the exam only when your timed practice scores are consistently above the 700 pass mark, not on the first good day.
How to spend less on SC-900
- • Use the free Microsoft Learn learning paths and the official practice assessment first.
- • Check Microsoft offers and student pricing before paying full price.
- • Sit timed, exam-style practice until you pass consistently, so you only pay the fee once.
- • Reschedule at least 24 hours ahead, because missed appointments forfeit the fee.
Next steps: the SC-900 study guide, free SC-900 practice questions, how hard SC-900 is, or the SC-900 exam page.
Practice SC-900 with exam-style questions
40 free questions with explanations and Microsoft Learn references. No credit card required.
Start Free SC-900 Practice →Frequently asked questions
How much does the SC-900 exam cost?
SC-900 is a Fundamentals exam and is listed at US$99 on the Pearson VUE Microsoft voucher store. Microsoft prices exams by country or region and taxes can apply, so confirm the final amount when you schedule.
How much is an SC-900 retake?
A retake is another full exam fee, so one failed attempt followed by a pass costs about US$198 in the United States. Microsoft requires a 24-hour wait after the first failure and 14 days between later attempts, with a maximum of five attempts in 12 months. There are no refunds for failed or missed exams.
Does the SC-900 update on October 21, 2026 change the price?
Microsoft change log for the update covers the skills measured and does not mention a price change. Fees are set per country or region and can change, so confirm the amount when you schedule.
Does SC-900 expire?
No. Microsoft study guides say Associate, Expert and Specialty certifications expire annually, and the SC-900 study guide lists no renewal option, so a pass is a one-time cost.
Can I take SC-900 for free?
There is no permanent free voucher. Microsoft runs time-limited offers such as Virtual Training Day discounts and student pricing in most countries, so check Microsoft Learn before paying full price.
Is there a cheaper way to prepare for SC-900?
Yes. Microsoft Learn content and the official practice assessment are free. MSCertQuiz adds exam-style practice questions at US$19.99 per certification or US$14.99 per month for all certifications, which costs less than a single retake.