If you are looking to break into the cloud industry, the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) is your starting line. It is the badge that proves to employers you understand the vocabulary of the cloud—from “Capital Expenditure” to “Scalability.”
However, there is one hurdle: the price tag. In the United States, sitting for the AZ-900 exam costs $99.
Table of Contents
- How To Get Azure Fundamentals Certification Free
- Final Strategy:
How To Get Azure Fundamentals Certification Free
As a Cloud Consultant who tracks Microsoft’s certification policies daily, I am going to walk you through the actual, working methods to get this certification for free (or significantly discounted) in 2025.
1. The “Corporate Secret”: Enterprise Skills Initiative (ESI)
Success Rate: High (if employed)
Cost: $0
Before you hunt for public coupons, you need to check your own workplace. This is the most overlooked method I see in the US market.
Microsoft has a program called the Enterprise Skills Initiative (ESI). If your company spends a certain amount on Azure annually, Microsoft grants your organization a massive perk: Free Certification Exams for Employees.
How to Check if You Are Eligible:
- Go to the Microsoft Enterprise Skills Initiative website.
- Attempt to sign in using your corporate email address (not your personal Gmail/Outlook).
- If you can log in, navigate to the “Schedule” section.
- Search for “AZ-900”.
The Verdict: If your company is enrolled, the price will drop from $99 to $0 at checkout. I have seen employees at startups and Fortune 500 companies alike pay out of pocket simply because they didn’t know this portal existed.
2. Microsoft Cloud Skills Challenges (The “Event” Strategy)
Success Rate: Medium (Time-Sensitive)
Cost: $0
If you are not covered by an employer, this is your best route for a 100% free voucher.
Microsoft hosts massive digital events twice a year: Microsoft Ignite (usually in November) and Microsoft Build (usually in May). During these events, they run a program called the Cloud Skills Challenge.
How It Works:
- You register for the challenge during the event window.
- You are given a list of “Learning Modules” on Microsoft Learn to complete (usually takes 4–8 hours).
- If you finish them within the timeframe (typically 30 days), Microsoft emails you a voucher code for a free exam.
Tips for Success:
- Sign up for notifications: These challenges have a registration cap.
- Check “AI Skills” Challenges: In 2024 and 2025, Microsoft has been aggressive with AI. Watch for ad-hoc “AI Skills Challenges” or “Fabric Data Days.” These often include the AZ-900 or AI-900 as eligible rewards.
3. Microsoft Virtual Training Days (The 50% Discount)
Success Rate: Guaranteed
Cost: ~$49 (50% Off)
Warning: Outdated Info Alert.
If you read a blog post from 2022, it will tell you that attending a “Virtual Training Day” gives you a free exam. Microsoft changed this policy.
As of the latest updates, attending a Microsoft Azure Virtual Training Day (a free, 1-2 day webinar) no longer guarantees a free voucher. Instead, it typically qualifies you for a 50% discount.
While not free, paying $49 is significantly better than $99.
How to Claim This:
- Visit the Microsoft Events page and search for “Microsoft Azure Virtual Training Day: Fundamentals.”
- Register for a session (ensure it is in a US-friendly time zone).
- Attend the webinar.
- You will receive a “Thank You” email. The discount is usually “ticketless”—meaning it is tied to the email you used to register. When you schedule the exam, link that email, and the price should drop.
4. Student Verification (Academic Pricing)
Success Rate: High (for Students)
Cost: ~$55 (Academic Pricing) + Potential Free Offers
If you have a valid .edu email address, do not pay full price. Microsoft offers Academic Verification that drastically reduces the cost of exams.
The Student Workflow:
- Log in to your Microsoft Certification Profile.
- In the “Job Title” field, select Student.
- Follow the prompts to verify your student status (usually via your university login or International Student Identity Card).
Once verified, the exam price for AZ-900 in the US typically drops to $55.
Bonus: Check the Azure for Students hub. Occasionally, Microsoft partners with universities to provide bulk vouchers that are 100% free. Contact your Computer Science department head or IT helpdesk to ask if your university is a “Microsoft Education” partner.
Summary of Options
| Method | Cost to You | Eligibility | Difficulty |
| Enterprise Skills Initiative (ESI) | Free | Employees of Azure customers | Low (Just check email) |
| Cloud Skills Challenge | Free | Open to Public | Medium (Wait for event) |
| Virtual Training Days | ~ $49 | Open to Public | Low (Attend webinar) |
| Student Verification | ~ $55 | Students (.edu) | Low |
| Standard Price | $99 | Everyone | N/A |
How to Prepare for Free (Don’t Pay for Courses)
If you are trying to save $99 on the exam, you certainly shouldn’t pay $20 for a study guide. The free resources available for AZ-900 are superior to most paid ones.
1. Microsoft Learn (The Official Source)
Microsoft’s own learning path is excellent. It is text-based, interactive, and includes “Sandbox” environments where you can click around Azure for free without using a credit card.
- Search for: “Azure Fundamentals Learning Path” on Microsoft Learn.
2. John Savill’s “Study Cram”
In the Azure community, John Savill is a legend. His YouTube content is widely considered the gold standard for passing AZ-900. He explains complex US-centric compliance regions (like Azure Government for DoD) clearly and concisely.
Final Strategy:
Here is my recommended plan for maximum savings:
- Check ESI first: It takes 2 minutes and could save you $99 immediately.
- If no ESI, register for a Virtual Training Day: Secure the 50% discount as a safety net.
- Wait for Build/Ignite: If you can wait a few months, keep an eye out for the next Cloud Skills Challenge to get it 100% free.
Getting certified doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little patience and the right strategy, you can add the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals badge to your LinkedIn profile for $0.
Disclaimer: Microsoft’s voucher policies are subject to change without notice. Always verify the terms and conditions on the official Microsoft Learning website before registering.
You may also like the following articles:
- What Is Azure Fundamentals AZ-900
- Does Azure Fundamentals Certification Expire
- Azure Free Account Without Credit Card
I am Rajkishore, and I am a Microsoft Certified IT Consultant. I have over 14 years of experience in Microsoft Azure and AWS, with good experience in Azure Functions, Storage, Virtual Machines, Logic Apps, PowerShell Commands, CLI Commands, Machine Learning, AI, Azure Cognitive Services, DevOps, etc. Not only that, I do have good real-time experience in designing and developing cloud-native data integrations on Azure or AWS, etc. I hope you will learn from these practical Azure tutorials. Read more.
