When does MS-102 retire? +
Microsoft has scheduled MS-102 to retire on November 30, 2026. After that date you cannot sit it. If you are close to ready, book now and leave room for a possible retake before the deadline. If you are starting from scratch, check Microsoft Learn for the current Microsoft 365 administration path before investing weeks of study in an exam that is about to close.
Does passing MS-102 alone earn the Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert certification? +
No. The Expert certification also requires an associate-level prerequisite, such as MD-102, MS-700, SC-300 or SC-401. Candidates who miss this can pass MS-102 and still not hold the credential. Check your Microsoft Learn profile to confirm you already hold a qualifying associate certification, or plan to earn one.
How hard is MS-102 and what makes it hard? +
The biggest domain is security and threat management with Microsoft Defender XDR, at 30-35%. That is more than tenant setup. Candidates who treat MS-102 as an admin-center exam get caught by Secure Score, advanced hunting, Defender for Office 365 policies and Defender for Cloud Apps questions. Identity and compliance with Purview make up much of the rest.
What is the MS-102 format and passing score? +
Expect roughly 40-60 questions in about 100 minutes, proctored online or at a Pearson VUE center. Question types include multiple choice, drag-and-drop, hot-area items and case studies. You need 700 on a scaled 1 to 1000 scale, which is not the same as 70% correct. Your score report breaks performance down by skill area.
How much does MS-102 cost and can I retake it before it retires? +
The exam costs $165 in the US, and pricing varies by country. If you fail a Microsoft exam, you can retake it after 24 hours. After that, each further retake requires a 14-day wait, with a maximum of five attempts in any 12-month period. With retirement on November 30, 2026, a first attempt late in November leaves almost no room for a retake.
Should I take MS-102 or AB-650? +
They are different exams. AB-650, Administering Microsoft 365 and AI Services, is a separate associate-level path that was still in beta. MS-102 leads to the Administrator Expert certification and retires on November 30, 2026. If you are preparing for MS-102 now, mixing AB-650's AI-focused objectives into your prep dilutes your study time. Pick one path and stick to its outline.