Azure DP-300

You have 100 minutes to complete the assessment. The exam is proctored, and Microsoft states you may have interactive components to complete as part of it. A free exam sandbox lets you try the question types and interface before test day, which is worth doing so the format does not surprise you.

You can retake it 24 hours after the first attempt. For subsequent retakes, the waiting time varies, so plan your schedule with that in mind rather than assuming a fixed interval. Full details are in Microsoft's exam retake policy, which is worth reading before you book a second sitting.

Yes. The renewal frequency is 12 months. Microsoft states you can renew at no cost by passing an online assessment on Microsoft Learn, which lets you demonstrate current knowledge of the technology for your role. Diarise the renewal window so you do not let the credential lapse between study cycles.

Microsoft lists expected knowledge of and experience with Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (Windows and Linux), and SQL Server on-premises. Practical administration work - management, availability, security, and performance tuning - matters more than memorizing portal screens, so hands-on labs are the best preparation.

Five domains: plan and implement data platform resources; implement a secure environment; monitor, configure, and optimize database resources; configure and manage automation of tasks; and plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment. The official study guide linked from Microsoft's certification resources is the authoritative breakdown and lists upcoming changes.

A practical order is provisioning first, then security, then monitoring and optimization, then automation, then HA/DR - each later area assumes you can already deploy and secure a database. Reconcile your own weak spots against the study guide rather than following any order rigidly, and finish with timed practice before booking.

The price is based on the country or region in which the exam is proctored, so there is no single global figure to quote here. Check the current price shown during Pearson VUE scheduling for your location. Microsoft also mentions an Exam Replay offer for retake protection in its certification resources.

Microsoft lists English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean, French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Italian, Chinese (Traditional), and Spanish. Note that language availability can change between exam versions, so confirm the option is present in the scheduling flow before you commit to a date.

Microsoft states the English language version of this certification will be updated on October 27, 2026, and directs candidates to the study guide linked in the certification resources for details about upcoming changes. Review that guide before scheduling. If your exam falls around the update date, confirm which skills are assessed.

Microsoft strongly recommends registering with a personal MSA account. If you register with an organizational work or school AAD account, your exam records will be lost if you leave that organization and they will be unrecoverable - a mistake that costs candidates their entire certification history, so use a personal account from the start.