- What the Name "DP-900" Actually Refers To
- Who the Credential Is Built For
- The Four Skill Areas You Are Measured On
- Concrete Topics Worth Mastering
- How the Exam Is Delivered
- Registration, Fee, and Retake Mechanics
- Scoring, and What Nobody Publishes
- Where the Credential Fits in Hiring
- Sequencing Your Prep Around the Weighting
- Common Mix-Ups to Avoid
- Frequently Asked Questions
- DP-900 is Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals, an entry-level credential covering core data, relational, non-relational, and analytics concepts on...
- Core data concepts and analytics workloads each carry the highest published weighting: 25-30%.
- You need a scaled score of 700 or higher on a 1-1,000 scale, which is not the same as 70% correct.
- No prerequisites are mandated by Microsoft, and the certification does not expire or require renewal.
What the Name "DP-900" Actually Refers To
DP-900 is the exam code for Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals, and passing it earns the Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals credential. Microsoft issues and governs it. The "DP" prefix groups it with Microsoft's data and AI role-based exams, and "900" marks it as part of the Fundamentals tier, the entry level of Microsoft's certification ladder.
If you landed here searching "what is a DP-900," the short answer is this: it is a proctored, computer-based exam that checks whether you understand foundational data concepts and how those concepts map onto Azure data services. It does not ask you to build pipelines, write production code, or administer databases. It asks you to recognize, describe, and distinguish.
The acronym is also easy to confuse with neighboring Microsoft codes. AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) covers general cloud concepts, while DP-900 is specifically about data. For more naming background, see our explainers on what DP-900 stands for and the DP-900 meaning.
Who the Credential Is Built For
Microsoft does not state a mandatory degree, work history, training-hour requirement, or preceding certification for this exam. What it recommends is familiarity with data concepts and with the related course material. That makes the credential a realistic first step for several groups:
- Career changers moving into data roles from non-technical backgrounds who need a structured vocabulary.
- Students and educators, who can also access the exam through Certiport as an additional provider option.
- Business analysts, project managers, and sales engineers who talk to data teams and need to follow the conversation.
- Aspiring data engineers, analysts, and database administrators who want a base layer before role-based exams.
One caution on prerequisites: Certiport's general Microsoft pathway material mentions 150 instructional hours, but that figure is not a verified entry rule for this specific exam. For the full picture, read our guide to DP-900 requirements and eligibility.
The Four Skill Areas You Are Measured On
Microsoft publishes the exam in four weighted skill areas. The percentage ranges below come from the published skills outline; do not convert them into exact question counts, because Microsoft does not publish a fixed allocation for any single exam sitting.
| Skill Area | Published Weight | What It Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Describe core data concepts | 25-30% | Data types, storage formats, workload types, and data roles |
| Identify considerations for relational data on Azure | 20-25% | Relational concepts, SQL basics, and Azure relational services |
| Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure | 15-20% | Blob, file, table, and Cosmos DB-style workloads |
| Describe an analytics workload on Azure | 25-30% | Ingestion, processing, warehousing, and visualization |
Notice that core data and analytics together can account for well over half of the exam. A candidate who is strong on the relational area but vague on analytics architecture is leaving the heaviest-weighted material exposed. Our complete guide to all four DP-900 content areas goes deeper on each one.
Concrete Topics Worth Mastering
Here is what the exam expects you to be able to explain, organized by area. The depth is conceptual: you are choosing the right service or term for a described scenario, not configuring it.
Describe core data concepts (25-30%)
This is the vocabulary layer that everything else rests on.
- Structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data, with realistic examples of each
- Common file formats such as CSV, JSON, XML, Parquet, and binary files, and when each makes sense
- Transactional (OLTP) versus analytical (OLAP) workloads and how their design goals differ
- Batch versus streaming data processing
- Data roles: database administrator, data engineer, and data analyst, and what each is responsible for
Identify considerations for relational data on Azure (20-25%)
Expect scenario questions about picking the right relational option.
- Tables, rows, columns, keys, indexes, views, and normalization at a conceptual level
- Reading basic SQL statements and recognizing what query categories (data definition versus data manipulation) do
- The Azure SQL family and open-source relational offerings, plus the difference between managed platform services and running a database yourself on a virtual machine
- Why a fully managed service reduces administrative overhead
Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure (15-20%)
The smallest area by weight, but it contains many easily confused services.
- Azure Blob Storage, Azure Files, and Azure Table storage, and the use case each one fits
- Azure Cosmos DB and its multiple data models, including document, key-value, column-family, and graph styles
- When a schema-flexible store is a better fit than a relational one
Describe an analytics workload on Azure (25-30%)
This area tests whether you understand how raw data becomes insight.
- Data ingestion and processing patterns, including ETL versus ELT thinking
- Data warehouse concepts and how a modern analytics platform differs from a transactional database
- Azure services for large-scale analytics and real-time stream processing
- Data visualization with Power BI, including the idea of reports, dashboards, and models
How the Exam Is Delivered
The DP-900 is a proctored, computer-based assessment, and Microsoft notes it can be interactive. The specific mix of question types is not disclosed, so do not assume the exam is purely multiple choice, and be wary of any source that claims to know the exact format.
- Time: 45 minutes for the assessment itself. Microsoft separately cites 65 minutes as the overall seat time for Fundamentals exams, which includes check-in and onboarding steps.
- Number of questions: variable. Microsoft does not publish a fixed total or a scored/unscored split for this exam. Its general 40-60 range is not an exact DP-900 count, and Certiport's exam-length listing has shown a narrower range, though that row was not reliably retrievable and later updates are listed. Treat any single number as unverified.
- Resources: Microsoft Learn access is not available during Fundamentals exams.
- Calculator and adaptive delivery: not verified, so confirm current rules on Microsoft's exam page before test day.
The no-reference-access rule has a practical consequence: you cannot rescue yourself by looking up the difference between Azure Files and Blob Storage mid-exam. You need that distinction in memory. A one-page review sheet helps here, and our DP-900 cheat sheet is built for exactly that.
Registration, Fee, and Retake Mechanics
Booking and delivery
Pearson VUE is the testing provider, and Certiport is also offered to students and educators. You can test at a center or, in supported regions, through Pearson VUE online proctoring. Online delivery has real requirements: valid ID, a system check, and a compliant room. If you need accommodations, request them in advance rather than at booking time on exam day.
Fee
The U.S. list price shown on Microsoft's certification page is $99 USD. Your actual cost depends on your country, local taxes, and any discounts you qualify for. Microsoft does not publish a general member versus non-member pricing tier. Our DP-900 certification cost breakdown covers the full pricing picture, and DP-900 exam dates and scheduling explains how to find a slot.
Retake policy
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| After a first failed attempt | Wait 24 hours before retaking |
| After later failed attempts | Wait 14 days between attempts |
| Annual limit | No more than five attempts in 12 months |
| Cost of retakes | Payment applies unless covered by an eligible offer |
Scoring, and What Nobody Publishes
You need a scaled score of 700 or greater on a 1-1,000 scale. This is not "70% correct." Scaled scoring adjusts for differences between exam forms, and some questions may be unscored, so you cannot reverse-engineer a required number of correct answers. Read our breakdown of the DP-900 passing score for more detail.
On pass rates, be skeptical. Microsoft does not publicly disclose a pass rate in the official sources reviewed, and third-party sites that quote a specific figure are not citing anything verifiable. Some of those sites also contradict each other on fees, timers, and domain weights. See what the data shows about the DP-900 pass rate for a careful look at what can and cannot be said, and how hard the DP-900 exam is for a difficulty assessment grounded in the content itself.
Where the Credential Fits in Hiring
Be realistic about what a Fundamentals credential does. It is not a job qualification on its own, and employers rarely list it as a hard requirement. What it does is signal that you can speak accurately about data storage, relational versus non-relational design, and analytics on Azure. That is useful in a few situations:
- Entry-level and transition roles: junior data analyst, reporting analyst, or support roles on data platforms, where it shows initiative and baseline fluency.
- Customer-facing and pre-sales roles: cloud sales, solution consulting, and technical account management, where credibility with technical buyers matters.
- Partner and consulting environments: teams that value staff who hold Microsoft credentials across the organization.
- A stepping stone: a foundation before pursuing role-based Azure data certifications.
Salary effects vary widely by region, experience, and role, and no verified earnings figure is tied to this credential alone. For a measured view, read our DP-900 salary guide, the overview of DP-900 jobs, and the ROI analysis of whether DP-900 is worth it.
One more practical point: the certification does not expire. Microsoft's Fundamentals credentials have no renewal assessment and no continuing-education quota, so you earn it once and keep it.
Sequencing Your Prep Around the Weighting
Rather than a generic study plan, let the exam's structure drive the order. The two heaviest areas, core concepts and analytics, deserve the most total hours, but they should not both come first. Core concepts should come early because the vocabulary underpins every other area, and analytics should come late because it ties the other three together.
Core data concepts
- Lock in structured vs. semi-structured vs. unstructured, file formats, and OLTP vs. OLAP
- Learn the three data roles and what each owns
Relational data on Azure
- Practice reading simple SQL and categorizing statements
- Compare managed Azure SQL options against a self-managed database on a virtual machine
Non-relational data on Azure
- Build a comparison of Blob, Files, Table, and Cosmos DB use cases
- Memorize the Cosmos DB data models
Analytics workloads, then full review
- Trace data from ingestion through processing to a Power BI report
- Take timed practice sets and revisit weak areas from earlier weeks
For a fuller approach, see our DP-900 study guide and the overview of DP-900 training options. Microsoft also offers a one-day instructor-led course for preparation, though completing a course is not the same as earning the proctored certification. When you are ready to test yourself, try the DP-900 practice tests. These are preparation tools and do not replicate the undisclosed live exam format or reproduce official questions.
Key Takeaway
Spend your hours in proportion to the published weights, but sequence by dependency: vocabulary first, analytics last. Treat practice questions as a way to expose gaps, not as a prediction of your live exam.
Common Mix-Ups to Avoid
- Confusing DP-900 with AZ-900. AZ-900 covers general Azure and cloud concepts; DP-900 is about data. Their outlines are different, so never study one exam's outline for the other.
- Assuming 700 means 70%. It is a scaled score, not a raw percentage.
- Trusting a quoted pass rate. No official figure is published in the sources reviewed.
- Memorizing a fixed question count. The number varies, and no single total is verified for this exam.
- Skipping the non-relational area because it is the smallest. At up to 20%, it can still decide a borderline result, and its services are easy to mix up.
- Assuming a course certificate equals the certification. Only the proctored assessment awards the credential.
For related definitions in the same family, see what DP-900 certification is and the broader DP-900 certification overview. You can also explore the full DP-900 Exam Prep practice test site to test your readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
DP-900 is Microsoft's exam code for Azure Data Fundamentals. Passing it earns the Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals credential, an entry-level certification covering core data concepts, relational and non-relational data on Azure, and analytics workloads.
Microsoft does not mandate a degree, work experience, training hours, or a prior certification. It recommends familiarity with data concepts and the related course material. Certiport's mention of 150 instructional hours is general pathway guidance, not a verified requirement for this exam.
You need 700 or higher on a 1-1,000 scaled score. This is not 70% of questions correct, and because some questions may be unscored, you cannot calculate an exact number of correct answers required.
No. Microsoft states that Fundamentals certifications do not expire, and there is no renewal assessment or continuing-education quota. Once you pass, the credential stays on your record.
You can retake after 24 hours following a first failure, then must wait 14 days between later attempts. The limit is five attempts in a 12-month period, and you generally pay for each attempt unless an eligible offer covers it.