MS-102

A score of 700 or greater is required to pass. Microsoft states this on both the exam details page and the study guide, and links to its explanation of how exam scores work. Microsoft does not publish how individual skill areas are weighted within that scaled score.

Per the study guide's skills measured as of April 28, 2026: Defender XDR security is largest at 30–35%, tenant deployment and Entra identity and access are 25–30% each, and Purview compliance is 10–15%. The Exam Details page shows a different split (10–15%, 25–30%, 35–40%, 15–20%), so confirm which version you are sitting.

To earn Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert you must earn at least one associate certification: Endpoint Administrator, Teams Administrator, Identity and Access Administrator, or Information Security Administrator. The exam details page lists three of these while the certification page lists four. Passing MS-102 alone does not award the certification.

No. The exam retires on November 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Standard Time, and the certification retires on the same date - after that it can neither be earned nor renewed. Microsoft advises completing the exam before the retirement date so it is still applied toward the certification.

Microsoft associate, expert, and specialty certifications expire annually. Renewal is free: you pass an online assessment on Microsoft Learn instead of retaking MS-102. Because this certification retires on November 30, 2026, that renewal path stops being available after the retirement date.

The Microsoft pages for MS-102 do not publish an item count or a time limit, so treat any specific number you see elsewhere with caution. Use the free exam sandbox to preview the environment, and request an accommodation if you need extra time or any other adjustment.

English, Chinese (Simplified), German, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Portuguese (Brazil). The English version was updated on April 28, 2026, and localized versions are typically updated about eight weeks later but can lag that schedule. If the exam is not offered in your preferred language, you can request an additional 30 minutes.

Price depends on the country or region where the exam is proctored, is subject to change without notice, and excludes applicable taxes. Register with a personal Microsoft account: Microsoft strongly recommends it, because exam records tied to a work or school account are lost and unrecoverable if you leave the organization.

It is an expert-level exam that assumes functional experience across all Microsoft 365 workloads and Microsoft Entra ID, and that you have administered at least one workload. The usual failure mode is depth without breadth - going deep on one workload while neglecting Defender XDR, which holds the largest share of the skills measured.

The MS-102 pages do not publish a retake waiting period or retake fee; those rules live in Microsoft's exam policies and FAQ, which you should read before scheduling. Practically, use your score report to identify weak skill areas, then work through the free practice assessment and exam sandbox before rebooking.