MicrosoftAvailable
AZ-104
AZ-800 AZ-801 Exam Guide: Status, Skills and Study Plan
Direct answer: Microsoft's exam page says AZ-800 was retired on September 30, 2026. The passing score was 700, and the skills still make a solid Windows Server hybrid study map. Our AZ-800 / AZ-801 voucher is listed at $44.99; confirm on the product page which exam code it covers.
Microsoft's official exam page says AZ-800 was retired on September 30, 2026. After that date you can no longer earn or renew the certification through it. Read the status section below before you spend money or study time.
The skills are still useful. They map to real Windows Server hybrid work, and the plan below works as a learning path even if you never sit the exam.
Exam status and who it was built for
The AZ-800 exam page carries a warning: "This exam was retired on September 30, 2026. You will no longer be able to earn or renew this certification after this date." The study guide says the same, with a 5:00 PM Central Standard Time cutoff.
The page also lists a "Retirement date: none" field in its schedule block. That conflicts with the warning banner. Treat the banner as the safer reading.
The exam is titled Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure. It targets people who administer Windows Server as a workload on-premises and in hybrid setups. Microsoft expects several years of experience with Windows Server operating systems.
The AZ-800 page lists AZ-800 as part of the requirements for Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate. It names AZ-801: Configuring Windows Server Hybrid Advanced Services as a related exam. Microsoft describes AZ-801 as covering securing Windows Server, high availability, disaster recovery, migration, and monitoring and troubleshooting. Check the AZ-801 page on Microsoft Learn for its current status.
AZ-800 skills measured and weights
These weights come from the skills measured as of January 21, 2026.
Skill area | Weight |
|---|---|
Deploy and manage Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) in on-premises and cloud environments | 30–35% |
Manage Windows Servers and workloads in a hybrid environment | 10–15% |
Manage virtual machines and containers | 15–20% |
Implement and manage an on-premises and hybrid networking infrastructure | 15–20% |
Manage storage and file services | 15–20% |
AD DS is the biggest block. It includes domain controllers, RODCs, FSMO roles, trusts, sites, replication, service accounts, Group Policy, and hybrid identity with Microsoft Entra Connect Sync, Cloud Sync, and Microsoft Entra Domain Services.
The hybrid management block names Windows Admin Center, PowerShell remoting (including second hop), Just Enough Administration (JEA), SSH and RDP access, the Azure Connected Machine Agent for Azure Arc, Azure Machine Configuration, Azure Update Manager, and Azure Automation runbooks.
The VM block covers Hyper-V topics such as nested virtualization, checkpoints, NIC Teaming, Discrete Device Assignment, GPU partitioning, and shielded VMs.
Exam facts at a glance
Item | Detail |
|---|---|
Passing score | 700 |
Languages | English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), German, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil) |
Experience expected | Several years with Windows Server |
Latest English update | January 21, 2026 |
Localized updates | About eight weeks after the English update |
Microsoft prices the exam by the country or region where it is proctored. Prices are subject to change without notice and exclude taxes. Confirm the exact amount with the exam provider.
Our voucher: price, delivery and refunds
Our AZ-800 / AZ-801 voucher is listed at $44.99 USD as of 2026-11-14. Confirm the exam code it covers on the product page, given the AZ-800 retirement.
Here is how delivery and refunds work:
The code is emailed within 12 hours of payment. It also appears in your account.
You can cancel for a full refund before delivery.
A delivered code is non-refundable. The exception is when the test provider rejects it as invalid, already used, or expired on first use.
In that case, contact support within 14 days with your order number and a screenshot. We replace or refund the code.
Full terms are on the refund page and the delivery page.
An eight-week study plan with weekly hours
This plan assumes you already work with Windows Server. It uses about 8–10 hours a week, mostly in a lab. If you are new to Windows Server, add two to four weeks.
Week | Focus | Hours |
|---|---|---|
1 | Domain controllers, RODCs, FSMO roles | 8–10 |
2 | Trusts, sites, replication, users, groups, service accounts, Group Policy | 8–10 |
3 | Hybrid identity: Entra Connect Sync, Cloud Sync, Entra Domain Services | 8–10 |
4 | Windows Admin Center, PowerShell remoting, JEA, Azure Arc, Update Manager | 8–10 |
5 | Hyper-V, checkpoints, networking on hosts, shielded VMs | 8–10 |
6 | Networking, on-premises and hybrid | 8 |
7 | Storage and file services | 8 |
8 | Weak spots and a full review of every skill area | 8–10 |
Build a small lab: one domain controller, one member server, and one Hyper-V host. Add an Azure subscription for the Arc and Entra labs. Spend at least two-thirds of every week doing tasks, not reading.
Commands worth practicing in your lab
AD DS carries the most weight, so start there. These are the commands you should be able to run without notes.
Install-WindowsFeature AD-Domain-Services -IncludeManagementTools
Install-ADDSForest -DomainName corp.contoso.com
Get-ADDomain | Select-Object PDCEmulator, RIDMaster, InfrastructureMaster
netdom query fsmo
repadmin /replsummary
Enable-PSRemoting -Force
Set-VMProcessor -VMName LabVM1 -ExposeVirtualizationExtensions $true
azcmagent connectHere is a worked example. Run netdom query fsmo and note which server holds each role. Shut that server down in your lab. Then seize the role with Move-ADDirectoryServerOperationMasterRole -OperationMasterRole PDCEmulator -Identity DC2 -Force.
Confirm the new holder with netdom query fsmo or Get-ADDomain | Select-Object PDCEmulator. Use repadmin /replsummary separately to check replication health, because it does not show role holders.
The difference matters. A transfer runs the same command without -Force while the current holder is online. A seizure uses -Force when the holder is offline. This contrast is a common exam theme.
Common mistakes
Skipping hybrid identity. AD DS is up to 35% of the exam, and a large part of it is Entra Connect, Cloud Sync, and staged rollout.
Only reading. The skills list is full of verbs like configure, implement, and troubleshoot.
Ignoring Azure Arc. Installing the Connected Machine Agent and using VM extensions are named skills.
Using old material. The exam was updated on January 21, 2026. Match your notes to the current skills outline.
Registering with a work account. Microsoft strongly recommends a personal MSA, because exam records tied to a work or school account can become unrecoverable when you leave your organization.
What to do next
If you already hold the certification, Microsoft says associate certifications expire annually. Renewal normally uses a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn. Check your Microsoft Learn profile for your own expiry status.
If you are studying for the skills, use the plan above and browse our Linux and server administration certifications for related paths. Before buying anything, confirm the exam code on the AZ-800 / AZ-801 voucher page.
Sources
Questions about this topic
Was there a free practice test for AZ-800?
Yes. Microsoft's exam page offered a free practice assessment with practice questions. It was a good way to find weak areas after your first lab weeks. It does not replace hands-on practice.
What could candidates do if the exam was not offered in their language?
Microsoft's study guide says that if the exam isn't available in your preferred language, you can request an additional 30 minutes. Localized versions are updated about eight weeks after English, so they can lag behind.
Did the exam ask about preview features?
Most questions cover generally available features. Microsoft says the exam may include Preview features if they are commonly used. Focus on GA features first, then skim the preview ones that appear in your lab.
Did Microsoft offer accommodations for this exam?
Yes. Microsoft let candidates request accommodations if they use assistive devices or need extra time or changes to the exam experience. Requests went through Microsoft's accommodations page.
When does my voucher code arrive after I pay?
We email the code within 12 hours of payment, and it also appears in your account. You can cancel for a full refund before delivery.
What if the test provider rejects my voucher code?
If the provider rejects the code as invalid, already used, or expired on first use, contact support within 14 days. Send your order number and a screenshot. We then replace or refund the code.
