Exam Details
Microsoft · AZ-400
Build CI/CD pipelines and automate deployments across Azure and hybrid environments.
Practice with ExamOS for Azure DevOps Engineer Expert. Learn daily with scenario-based questions, timed quizzes, detailed explanations, and exam-style difficulty.
Who is this for?
Level: Advanced. This expert-level exam focuses on DevOps practices in Azure. To earn the official certification, Microsoft requires you to first hold either the AZ-104 or AZ-204 credential. Beyond that, you should have hands-on experience combining people, processes, and technologies using GitHub or Azure DevOps. Familiarity with Agile practices, CI/CD, version control, and infrastructure as code is essential.
Are you ready?
You are fully prepared if you can actively design pipelines, automate deployments, and clearly explain how code moves from development to production. Put your DevOps skills to the test with our scenario-based practice sprints!
Overview
The AZ-400 certification is designed for professionals responsible for implementing DevOps practices in Azure environments. It focuses on continuous integration, continuous delivery (CI/CD), infrastructure as code, monitoring, and collaboration between development and operations teams. The exam covers tools such as Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, and related services used to automate build, test, and deployment pipelines. Candidates are expected to understand version control, release management, containerization, and monitoring strategies, along with how to design workflows that improve reliability and reduce manual effort. A key aspect of AZ-400 is understanding how to bring together people, processes, and tools to deliver software more efficiently. You will encounter scenarios involving pipeline design, environment management, and system observability. This certification is particularly relevant for engineers working in modern cloud-native environments where automation and rapid delivery are essential. Roles aligned with this certification include DevOps engineer, site reliability engineer, and platform engineer. As organizations continue to adopt DevOps practices, demand for these skills remains consistently strong.
FAQ
This exam is designed for DevOps professionals who combine people, processes, and technologies to deliver continuous value. To officially earn the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert certification, you must meet a mandatory prerequisite by first obtaining either the Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) or the Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) certification. While you can take the AZ-400 exam first, the Expert-level badge will not be issued until one of these prerequisites is completed.
The exam typically consists of 40–60 questions. You are given 120 minutes to complete the assessment, though total seat time is around 140 minutes to include instructions. The format includes multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and detailed case studies. Because this is an expert-level exam, you may also encounter performance-based labs where you must perform tasks in a live Azure environment.
The AZ-400 is heavily focused on CI/CD and automation. The domains are:
Yes. As with other Microsoft associate and expert-level exams, you have access to Microsoft Learn during the test. A split-screen window allows you to browse documentation to verify syntax or configuration steps. However, the timer does not stop, so you should only use this as a reference and not as a primary way to learn the material during the exam.
A minimum scaled score of 700 out of 1000 is required to pass. Since the exam includes case studies and potentially labs, points are distributed across various task types. To build the high-level logic needed for these complex scenarios, ExamOS offers scenario-based practice quizzes that simulate the decision-making required for expert-level DevOps tasks.
The registration fee is $165 USD. Prices vary by country and region based on local currency and taxes. If you are an employee of a Microsoft partner or a student, you may be eligible for a significant discount or a free voucher through the Microsoft Cloud Skills Challenge.
If you do not pass on your first attempt, you must wait 24 hours before rescheduling. For any subsequent attempts, a 14-day waiting period is mandatory. You are allowed a maximum of five attempts within a rolling 12-month period. Each attempt requires a new registration fee.
The DevOps Engineer Expert certification is valid for one year. To maintain your status, you must pass a free online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn. This renewal window opens six months before your certification expires. If you miss the renewal deadline, your certification will expire, and you will have to retake the AZ-400 exam.
The AZ-400 is one of the most prestigious certifications in the Microsoft ecosystem. It qualifies you for high-level roles such as DevOps Engineer, Site Reliability Engineer (SRE), and Platform Engineer. Because it is an "Expert" level credential, it significantly boosts your profile for senior positions and lead engineering roles, particularly in organizations moving toward automated, cloud-native deployments.
Once you have achieved Expert status in DevOps, you may want to broaden your skills in specific areas: