The short version
What is the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert and is it worth it?
AZ-400 is the expert DevOps exam covering CI/CD, source control, compliance and instrumentation.
- Expert level
- DevOps focus
- Renews yearly
What is it?
What exactly is the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert?
DevOps engineer expert
Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400) validates skills to combine people, process and technology to deliver value through Azure DevOps and GitHub practices.
Before you book
Who is eligible to sit the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert?
Who it is for: DevOps engineers
The test itself
What is the format of the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert?
The Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert is administered by Pearson VUE and runs 120 minutes, contains 40–60 questions and requires 700 of 1000 to pass.
| Administered by | Pearson VUE |
|---|---|
| Questions | 40–60 |
| Time limit | 120 minutes |
| Pass mark | 700 of 1000 |
| Exam fee | $165 |
| Format | Multiple-choice + labs |
Content outline
What topics are on the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert?
The Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert is weighted across 4 domains; the largest are Source control (15%), CI/CD (30%), Compliance and security (25%).
Weightings come from the official exam outline. Study time is best allocated in roughly these proportions rather than evenly across domains.
- Source control 15%
- CI/CD 30%
- Compliance and security 25%
- Instrumentation 30%
Money & time
How much does the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert cost?
For the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert, the exam fee is $165; the all-in cost is typically $165+; most candidates spend 3–5 months preparing.
Cost breakdown
| Exam fee | $165 |
|---|---|
| Typical total | $165+ |
Requires associate prerequisite.
Timeline
- Earn associate first prior
- Sit AZ-400 test day
Typical prep: 3–5 months
The path
How do you register for the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert?
- 1
Prepare with Microsoft Learn1–10 weeks depending on exam and experience
Work through the free official self-paced learning paths and, optionally, instructor-led courses for your exam. Microsoft Learn is the primary, no-cost study source and maps directly to the exam skills outline.
- 2
Schedule through Pearson VUEabout 15 minutes
Sign in with a personal Microsoft account (MSA) and schedule the exam on the Pearson VUE portal. Choose an in-person test center or online proctoring (OnVUE). Students and educators can use Certiport for Fundamentals exams.
Microsoft recommends a personal MSA account; a work or school account can lose exam records if you leave the organization.
- 3
Take the exam45–120 minutes depending on the exam
Arrive at the test center or launch the online proctoring session. Exams are computer-based and may include multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, case studies, and performance-based lab tasks in a live environment.
- 4
Receive results and badgescore at end; badge within a few days
You see a pass/fail result on screen immediately. A detailed score report is emailed within about 24 hours and posted to your Microsoft certification profile. On passing, your digital badge is issued via Credly.
- 5
Renew annuallyabout 45 minutes, once a year
Most Microsoft role-based, specialty, and fundamentals certifications expire after 12 months. Renew for free by passing a shorter online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn before the expiry date — no need to retake the full exam.
The fine print
What are the retake and renewal rules for the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert?
- Proctoring & delivery
- Delivered by Pearson VUE. You can sit the exam at a Pearson VUE test center or take it online through OnVUE remote proctoring; the fee is the same for both. Online proctoring requires a quiet, private space, a working webcam, and a system check beforehand.
- Retake policy
- If you do not pass, you may retake the exam after 24 hours. A second failed attempt requires a 14-day waiting period, and any further attempts also require a 14-day wait between them, up to a maximum of five attempts in a 12-month period.
- Score reporting
- A pass/fail result is shown immediately after the exam. The official score report is emailed within about 24 hours and is also available in your Microsoft certification profile, with section-level feedback on how you performed.
- Recertification
- Microsoft role-based, specialty, and fundamentals certifications are valid for 12 months from the date earned. Renew at no cost by passing the shorter online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn before the credential expires. Retired certifications cannot be renewed and must be re-earned through the active successor if one exists.
- Refunds & rescheduling
- Exam fees are generally non-refundable once a seat is purchased, but you can cancel or reschedule through Pearson VUE at no charge if you do so at least 24–48 hours before the appointment (exact window varies by region).
Context
Microsoft Azure / AI certifications compared
| Credential | Level | Focus | Exam fee | Validity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals | Fundamentals | Cloud concepts | $99 | 1 year | |
| AI-900 Azure AI Fundamentals | Fundamentals | AI concepts | $99 | 1 year (retired Jun 30 2026) | |
| AI-901 Azure AI Fundamentals | Fundamentals | AI + Microsoft Foundry | $99 | 1 year | |
| AZ-104 Azure Administrator | Associate | Administer Azure | $165 | 1 year | |
| AZ-204 Azure Developer | Associate | Build cloud apps | $165 | 1 year (retired 2026) | |
| AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer | Associate | Security operations | $165 | 1 year (retires Aug 31 2026) | |
| AZ-700 Azure Network Engineer | Associate | Networking | $165 | 1 year | |
| AZ-140 Azure Virtual Desktop | Specialty | Virtual desktop (AVD) | $165 | 1 year | |
| AZ-305 Azure Solutions Architect | Expert | Solution design | $165 | 1 year |
What it pays
How much does this credential pay?
$132,270 median for software developers (BLS, May 2024)
There is no Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation called "AZ-400" — the Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification validates DevOps engineering skill on Azure, and the wage question belongs to the role you perform with it. The closest official BLS occupation is Software Developers, SOC 15-1252, which had a May 2024 median wage of $132,270, with the lowest 10 percent under $84,060 and the highest 10 percent above $208,500. The fit is deliberate: AZ-400 holders work as DevOps engineers, platform engineers and release engineers who design and run CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code on Azure, and the DevOps-engineering role sits inside the developer-series labour market. BLS counted 1,684,900 software developer jobs in 2024 and projects 17 percent growth from 2024 to 2034, far faster than the average for all occupations, with about 150,000 openings a year. The limitation to state plainly: the BLS median covers the whole occupation at all levels, credentialed or not, and the certification's value is as a hiring signal for DevOps roles in Azure shops, where employers require or prefer the Expert-level credential. Read the number as the market for the occupation the credential serves.
| Measure | Figure | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage, software developers | $132,270 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1252, May 2024 |
| Lowest 10 percent | Under $84,060 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1252, May 2024 |
| Highest 10 percent | Above $208,500 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1252, May 2024 |
| Projected openings per year | ~150,000 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1252, 2024-2034 |
Job growth.BLS projects 17 percent growth for software developers from 2024 to 2034, about 150,000 openings per year.
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook - Software Developers
Your odds
What are the pass rates?
Microsoft publishes no pass rate — the AZ-400 is an Expert-level exam with 40-60 questions in 210 minutes, passing 700 of 1000
Microsoft does not publish cohort pass rates for its certification exams, and third-party surveys are not official data, so we do not treat them as authoritative. What Microsoft does publish is the format and the passing standard: the AZ-400 exam has 40-60 questions with a 210-minute time limit, and a passing score of 700 on the 100-1000 scale. The exam is delivered at Pearson VUE centres or through online proctoring, and the Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification is valid for one year and renewed by passing the renewal assessment. The exam content follows the published study guide: designing a DevOps strategy; implementing DevOps development processes; implementing continuous integration; implementing continuous delivery; implementing dependency management; implementing application infrastructure; and implementing continuous feedback. The absence of a published pass rate is not an absence of standards: the 700 line on an Expert-level exam is a demanding bar, and the exam rewards hands-on knowledge of Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, ARM/Bicep and the CI/CD toolchain. The practical reading: target 80 percent-plus on practice, use Microsoft's official learning path, and note the one-year renewal cycle when planning.
Read this before quoting the number.Microsoft publishes the passing score and format but no pass rate; the Expert certification renews annually.
Source: Microsoft Learn - AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
Your schedule
How long should I study for it?
100-150 hours over 8-10 weeks of focused study
The AZ-400 is a 40-60 question, 210-minute Expert-level exam with a 700/1000 passing score, built on the published study guide: DevOps strategy design, development processes, continuous integration, continuous delivery, dependency management, application infrastructure and continuous feedback. A defensible plan runs 100 to 150 hours over 8 to 10 weeks. Weeks 1-2: the DevOps strategy and development-process domains — the DevOps culture, the source-control strategies (Git branching and workflows) and the work-item integration. Weeks 3-4: continuous integration — Azure Pipelines and GitHub Actions, the build pipelines, and the quality gates. Weeks 5-6: continuous delivery — the release pipelines, the deployment patterns (blue-green, canary, feature flags) and the infrastructure as code with ARM/Bicep. Weeks 7-8: dependency management and feedback — Artifacts feeds, and the monitoring and feedback loops with Application Insights. Weeks 9-10: scenario drilling and two full timed practice exams at the real format. The plan is hands-on-heavy because the Expert exam rewards real pipeline experience; building pipelines in a lab environment accelerates every phase.
- Weeks 1-230
Strategy and development processes
- DevOps culture and strategy design
- Git branching and workflow strategies
- Work-item integration with Azure Boards
- Weeks 3-435
Continuous integration
- Azure Pipelines and GitHub Actions
- Build pipelines and quality gates
- Hands-on pipeline labs
- Weeks 5-635
Continuous delivery
- Release pipelines and deployment patterns
- Infrastructure as code with ARM and Bicep
- Feature flags and rollout strategies
- Weeks 7-825
Dependencies and feedback
- Azure Artifacts and dependency management
- Application Insights and monitoring
- Feedback loops
- Weeks 9-1030
Drill and mocks
- Scenario drilling in volume
- Two full timed practice exams
- Review weak domains
Adjusting the pace
Working DevOps engineer.The pipeline work accelerates the plan; focus study on the exam domains outside your daily work and the format.
From development or admin.Add 2 weeks of CI/CD and Git fundamentals before the full plan.
How to study
How do I prepare most effectively?
The AZ-400 rewards hands-on DevOps experience, so the dominant strategy is building real pipelines in a lab: create Azure Pipelines and GitHub Actions workflows, deploy with Bicep, and set up monitoring, because the exam items test the toolchain in practice. Second, master the deployment patterns and the infrastructure-as-code material: blue-green, canary and feature-flag deployments, and ARM/Bicep, are distinct domains that candidates new to DevOps often under-prepare. Third, learn the Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions service boundaries precisely — which tool does what and how they integrate — because the exam asks tool-selection questions. Fourth, use Microsoft's official learning path and the study guide as the scope map, and hold yourself to 80 percent-plus on practice because the Expert-level 700 line leaves little margin. Finally, remember the one-year renewal cycle: the Expert certification renews annually, so plan the renewal assessment from the start.
Build real pipelines
Azure Pipelines, GitHub Actions and Bicep in a lab — the exam tests the toolchain.
Master deployment patterns
Blue-green, canary and feature flags are distinct tested domains.
Learn the tool boundaries
Which tool does what and how they integrate is the exam's pattern.
Hold to 80%+ on practice
The Expert-level 700 line leaves little margin.
Plan the annual renewal
The Expert certification renews yearly; schedule the assessment.
What to buy
Which study resources are worth paying for?
AZ-400 prep spans official Microsoft resources and third-party courses. Microsoft's own materials — the study guide (free), the learning path and the Microsoft Learn practice assessments — are the authoritative source at no cost. Third-party providers sell AZ-400 courses and practice exams at $50-$400, and the market is mature because the Expert certification is popular. Hands-on practice needs an Azure subscription; the free tier and the free DevOps trial support pipeline labs at low cost. A realistic total budget is $150 to $700 including the $165 exam fee. Prices below are list prices as of mid-2026 and change frequently; we rank nothing by commission.
| Resource | Price | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Learn study guide + learning path | Free | Official online modules | The authoritative scope; the primary resource |
| Microsoft practice assessment | Free | Official online practice | The closest official item style |
| Third-party courses | $50-$400 | Video courses and labs | Structured walkthrough of the domains |
| Azure free tier + DevOps trial | $0 | Real cloud environment | Building the pipelines the exam rewards |
| AZ-400 exam | ~$165 | Computer-based exam | The certification itself |
List prices as of mid-2026, subject to change; the AZ-400 exam fee is about $165; no commission or affiliate ranking is implied.
Avoid these
What mistakes do candidates most often make?
The most common AZ-400 mistake is studying theory without building pipelines: candidates who read about Azure DevOps but never create a pipeline meet the hands-on scenario items without the practical intuition they reward. The fix is lab work from the start. The second mistake is under-preparing the deployment patterns and infrastructure-as-code material, distinct domains that candidates new to DevOps often miss. Third, candidates confuse the tool boundaries — Azure Pipelines vs GitHub Actions vs ARM — which the exam tests with selection questions. Fourth, many candidates never run a full timed practice exam and misjudge the 210-minute Expert-level format. Finally, some candidates overlook the one-year renewal cycle and plan only for the exam itself.
✕Studying without building
✓Create real pipelines in a lab; the exam tests the toolchain.
✕Under-preparing deployment patterns
✓Blue-green, canary and Bicep are distinct domains; drill them.
✕Confusing the tool boundaries
✓Learn which tool does what and when to use each.
✕Skipping timed mocks
✓210 minutes at Expert level; run two full timed exams.
✕Ignoring the annual renewal
✓The Expert certification renews yearly; plan the assessment.
What you'll face
What question types will I see?
The AZ-400 is a 40-60 question multiple-choice, case-study and scenario-based exam in 210 minutes. The items test the published study guide: DevOps strategy, development processes, CI, CD, dependency management, application infrastructure and continuous feedback — with many scenario items asking which tool or practice fits a described pipeline need. Samples below are editor-written illustrations of the published study guide, not live exam items; they show the DevOps-toolchain style of the real items.
Which DevOps tool or practice fits a described need.
CI/CD pipelines, deployment patterns and Bicep.
Application Insights and continuous feedback.
Try these
Q1A team wants to automate the build and deployment of an application on every push to the main branch. The most appropriate solution is:
Answer:A
Repository-triggered CI/CD pipelines automate build and deployment on every push — the standard DevOps pattern. Manual steps, scheduled-only builds or file copying each fail the automation requirement.
Q2A team must deploy a new version gradually to a subset of users to limit risk. The most appropriate deployment strategy is:
Answer:A
Canary deployments release to a subset, monitor and then expand — the standard gradual-rollout strategy. Full-at-once deployment, unmonitored rollback or skipping each fail the risk-limited rollout requirement.
Q3To define Azure infrastructure as declarative code that can be versioned and reviewed, the most appropriate tool is:
Answer:A
ARM templates and Bicep define Azure infrastructure as declarative, versionable code — the infrastructure-as-code standard. Portal clicks, manual configuration and spreadsheets cannot be versioned or reviewed as code.
Samples are editor-written illustrations of the published study guide, not live exam items.
The big day
What should I expect on exam day?
The AZ-400 is a 40-60 question, 210-minute computer-based exam at a Pearson VUE centre or through online proctoring, with a mix of multiple-choice, case-study and scenario items. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name and your appointment confirmation; personal items go in the locker. Arrive 30 minutes early; late arrivals forfeit the appointment and the fee. Pace at roughly 3.5-5 minutes per item given the case studies, flag uncertain items for review, and budget time for the reading-heavy scenarios. You receive your score on screen immediately, with the official result following; Microsoft reports your scaled score against the 700 line. If you fail, you may retake after a waiting period. On a pass, the Expert certification is valid for one year and renewed by passing the free renewal assessment. The afterwards matters: schedule the renewal assessment before the expiry, and record the renewal date.
Bring
- Valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name
- Appointment confirmation
Leave at home
- Phone, smartwatch and all electronics
- Notes and study materials
- Personal bags beyond what the centre allows
How the day runs
Rules in the room
- No personal electronics in the testing room
- 210 minutes for 40-60 questions; the clock does not pause
- The Expert certification renews annually via the renewal assessment
Afterwards.On a pass, your AZ-400 is valid for one year; pass the renewal assessment before expiry. On a fail, retake after additional study.
Reference
What are the key facts about the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert?
Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert is a certification credential; awarded by Microsoft; the exam fee is $165; typical preparation is 3–5 months; holders typically earn $125,000 – $165,000.
| Credential | Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | AZ-400 |
| Type | Certification |
| Profession | IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity |
| Specialty | Microsoft |
| Awarded by | Microsoft |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Typical prep time | 3–5 months |
| All-in cost | $165+ |
| Typical salary range | $125,000 – $165,000 |
| Exam code | AZ-400 |
| Renewal | Annual (free assessment) |
| Scope | National / Multi-state |
| Also known as | AZ-400 |
Real questions
Frequently asked questions about the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
Is coding required?
Comfort with scripting and pipelines helps; the exam is practical about DevOps.
Does it expire?
Yes, after 12 months; renew with a free online assessment.
How do I register for microsoft-az-400?
You register and schedule microsoft-az-400 through Pearson VUE. Pick a test-centre appointment or online proctoring, then sit the exam on your booked date.
What is the microsoft-az-400 exam format?
The exam is delivered as Multiple-choice + labs, with about 40–60 items, in 120 minutes. The published pass mark is 700 of 1000.
How long is the microsoft-az-400 certification valid?
Most Microsoft role-based certifications expire after 12 months but are renewed with a free online assessment; retired certs must be re-earned.
How much does microsoft-az-400 cost?
The exam fee is $165. Optional study materials and retakes are priced separately.
Can I take a Microsoft exam online from home?
Yes. Exams are delivered by Pearson VUE with two options: an in-person test center or OnVUE online proctoring from a private space with a webcam. The fee is identical for both.
Do Microsoft certifications expire?
Most role-based, specialty, and fundamentals certifications are valid for 12 months. You renew for free by passing a shorter online assessment on Microsoft Learn before the expiry date.
What happens if my certification is retired?
You keep the credential until its current expiry date, but you can no longer earn or renew it. Microsoft typically points candidates to the active successor exam or certification.
In short
Is the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert worth it?
- AZ-400 is the Azure DevOps expert cert.
- It requires an associate prerequisite.
- It renews yearly.
Same awarding body
What other credentials does Microsoft award?
Worth comparing
How does the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert compare with similar credentials?
Trust
Where does this information come from?
Everything above is taken from the awarding body's own published material. Fees, question counts and domain weights are revised regularly — check the official page before you pay.
- Microsoft Awarding body
- Official Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert exam page Exam page
- Microsoft certification programme Programme rules
Research confidence: high · Last reviewed 2026-08