How to become a Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator: AZ-103 Exam

AZ-103 was the original exam for the Azure Administrator Associate certification, but Microsoft has since retired it in favor of AZ-104. Here's how to become certified using the current path.

Step 1: Build Foundational Knowledge

• Start with Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) if you're new to cloud concepts
• Get comfortable navigating the Azure Portal and basic terminology

Step 2: Study for the Current Exam (AZ-104)

• Review Microsoft's official AZ-104 skills measured document, since AZ-103 content is outdated
• Focus on managing identities, governance, storage, compute, and virtual networks

Step 3: Get Hands-On Practice

• Use a free or trial Azure subscription to practice real administrative tasks
• Practice using both the Azure Portal and command-line tools like Azure CLI and PowerShell

Step 4: Take Practice Exams and Schedule AZ-104

• Use official Microsoft practice assessments to check readiness
• Book the AZ-104 exam once you're consistently scoring well on practice tests