SC-300 Identity and Access Administrator: is the Entra ID exam right for you?
Exam SC-300 costs $165 in the US (November 2026) and earns the Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate. With Microsoft Learn's free course a first attempt costs $165; a four-day class brings it to $2,160 to $2,760. The exam gives 100 minutes and needs 700 to pass. If you already administer Microsoft 365 or Azure, we estimate 5 to 8 weeks of study with daily tenant practice.
Key facts
- SC-300 costs $165 in the US, gives 100 minutes and leads to the Identity and Access Administrator Associate. (Microsoft Learn, checked November 5, 2026)
- Microsoft updated the English version of SC-300 on October 28, 2026, with minor changes to user authentication, Global Secure Access and privileged access. (Microsoft Learn study guide, checked November 5, 2026)
- The certification renews every 12 months through a free online assessment. (Microsoft Learn, checked November 5, 2026)
The identity role SC-300 certifies
Microsoft says the identity and access administrator will "design, implement, and operate an organization's identity and access management by using Microsoft Entra", managing identities for users, devices, Azure resources and applications and applying Zero Trust principles. It expects familiarity with Azure, Microsoft 365 services, Active Directory Domain Services, PowerShell and KQL. The credential is an associate-level role certification, not a security-operations or architecture one.
A good fit if
- You run Microsoft Entra ID day to day: users, groups, Conditional Access, MFA and SSPR
- You are moving on-premises Active Directory users to hybrid or cloud identity
- You own app registrations, enterprise apps or managed identities for developers
- You handle Privileged Identity Management, entitlement management or access reviews
Think twice if
- You are new to Microsoft 365 and Azure: Microsoft expects working familiarity with both
- Your job is investigating alerts in Sentinel and Defender rather than managing identities
- Your organization uses Okta, Ping or Google for identity, not Microsoft Entra
Consider instead: SC-900 for a non-specialist overview of Microsoft security and identity; SC-200 if you work in security operations; AZ-104 if you administer Azure more broadly than identity.
What Microsoft asks for, and the October 2026 exam
Eligibility. Microsoft lists no prerequisite certification. You book SC-300 through Pearson VUE.
Recommended experience. Familiarity with Azure, Microsoft 365 services and workloads, AD DS, PowerShell and Kusto Query Language, with no minimum number of years.
The exam. 100 minutes, proctored, with possible interactive components; 700 is the passing score. The English version moved to skills measured as of October 28, 2026; Microsoft says other languages follow about eight weeks after an English update. The study guide weights four areas:
| Area | Weight |
|---|---|
| User identities | 20–25% |
| Authentication and access management | 25–30%* |
| Workload identities | 20–25% |
| Identity governance and its automation | 20–25% |
* The study guide's summary gives authentication and access management 25–30%, while the heading of its detailed section gives 20–25%. Either way it is the largest or joint-largest area.
Ways to study for SC-300
Free official training. Microsoft Learn's SC-300T00 course runs as self-paced paths on identity management, authentication and access, app access and identity governance, about 16 hours of listed content. Microsoft also offers an exam sandbox, prep videos and a Practice Assessment on AI Skills Navigator that needs a sign-in. This suits administrators who can practise in a Microsoft Entra test tenant.
Practice exams. Tutorials Dojo sells 100+ SC-300 questions with section-based sets that follow the four skill areas.
The official instructor-led course. SC-300T00, Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator, listed by Microsoft at four days. ONLC and Global Knowledge each schedule it over four days. Choose a class for guided labs on Conditional Access and governance before you change a production tenant, especially when an employer is funding it.
Published SC-300 prices
| Route | Provider and course | Published price | Exam fee | First attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free official training | Microsoft Learn, SC-300T00 learning paths, self-paced. Checked November 5, 2026. | $0 | + $165 SC-300 exam | $165 |
| Practice exams | Tutorials Dojo, SC-300 practice exams, 100+ questions, list price (on sale for $10.49 when checked). Checked November 5, 2026. | $14.99 | + $165 SC-300 exam | $179.99 |
| Live class, 4 days | ONLC Training Centers, SC-300 Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator, live online; next listed dates December 14–17, 2026. Checked November 5, 2026. | $1,995 | + $165 SC-300 exam | $2,160 |
| Live class, 4 days | Global Knowledge, Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator (M-SC300), virtual; the December 14–17, 2026 class is marked guaranteed to run; voucher sold separately. Checked November 5, 2026. | $2,595 | + $165 SC-300 exam | $2,760 |
Extra SC-300 costs. A retake costs $165 again, after 24 hours the first time and 14 days between later attempts, with at most five attempts in 12 months. Practise in a test tenant, never in your organization's production directory.
Questions for an SC-300 course provider
- October 2026 revision. Ask whether the course covers the skills measured as of October 28, 2026. ONLC's overview still describes "Microsoft Azure AD", the old name for Microsoft Entra ID, so ask it which revision its labs follow.
- Tenant and licenses for labs. Ask whether labs run in a provided tenant that supports Privileged Identity Management and access reviews, and how long access lasts.
- Voucher. Neither class page in the table lists the exam as included; Global Knowledge sells a Microsoft associate voucher as a separate product.
- Class dates that hold. Global Knowledge's SC-300 run on December 14–17, 2026 is listed as guaranteed; ONLC's page shows no such mark, so ask it before you book.
Renewing the Identity and Access Administrator
Microsoft lists a 12-month renewal frequency. Renewal is free: an open-book online assessment on Microsoft Learn that you can take during the six months before expiry, and passing extends the certification by one year from its expiration date.
Common questions
- How much is the SC-300 exam?
- $165 in the US as of November 2026.
- Is SC-300 being retired?
- No. Microsoft's page shows no retirement notice; it updated the English exam on October 28, 2026.
- Do I need SC-900 before SC-300?
- No. Microsoft lists no prerequisite certification.
- How long is SC-300?
- 100 minutes.
Next step
Send the identity work you do now and your target date, and we will suggest an SC-300 study route and classes.
Ask for help choosing SC-300 training
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: Identity and Access Administrator Associate (price, length, experience, renewal frequency, update notice), checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: SC-300 study guide (skills as of October 28, 2026, weights, change log, passing score), checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: Course SC-300T00, checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: exam retake policy, checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: renew your certification, checked November 5, 2026
- Tutorials Dojo: SC-300 practice exams, checked November 5, 2026
- ONLC Training Centers: SC-300 course, checked November 5, 2026
- Global Knowledge: M-SC300, checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.