AZ-120 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling

Why AZ-120 Has No Fixed "Testing Windows"

If you're searching for a 2026 "testing calendar" or specific quarterly windows for Microsoft Certified: Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty (AZ-120), you can stop looking - that model doesn't apply here. Microsoft certification exams, including AZ-120 (Planning and Administering Azure for SAP Workloads), are delivered on-demand through Pearson VUE. There's no annual application cycle, no registration deadline that closes for months, and no cohort of test-takers sitting the exam on the same day. You pick a date and time that works for you, subject to seat availability at your chosen location or online slot.

This is a meaningful difference from professional exams that run in discrete windows a few times a year. For AZ-120, "exam dates 2026" really means: any day in 2026 that has an open appointment slot. That flexibility is good news for working SAP and Azure professionals who need to fit study time around project deadlines, but it also means the burden of planning falls entirely on you. There's no external deadline forcing you to prepare - which is exactly why so many candidates benefit from a structured plan, covered in our AZ-120 Study Guide 2026.

Registration Mechanics: Fee, Delivery Options, Booking

Registration happens through your Microsoft Learn / Certiport profile, which routes you to Pearson VUE for scheduling and payment. As of details checked September 22, 2026, the U.S. list fee for AZ-120 is USD 165. You choose between two delivery formats:

• Pearson VUE test center - an in-person, proctored facility with fixed workstations and check-in procedures.
• OnVUE online-proctored delivery - take the exam from your own space, monitored remotely, provided your setup meets the system and room requirements.

The exam itself is a 100-minute proctored computer-based assessment that may include interactive components, not just static multiple-choice items. Passing requires a score of 700 on Microsoft's scaled scoring system - not a raw percentage of questions correct. If that scoring model is unfamiliar, our breakdown of the AZ-120 Passing Score 2026 explains how the scale works and why 700 doesn't mean "70% right."

Before you book, confirm you're comfortable with the outline that took effect on April 17, 2026. Microsoft periodically updates exam skills outlines, and scheduling against an outdated version of your study plan is one of the more avoidable scheduling mistakes. Cross-check your prep material against the current domain breakdown in the AZ-120 Exam Domains 2026 guide before locking in a date.

Scheduling Strategy Around the Four Domains

Because you control the date, the real scheduling question isn't "which window is open" - it's "when will I actually be ready across all four domains." AZ-120 covers:

Since Migration and Infrastructure are jointly the heaviest domains at 25-30% each, your target exam date should come after you've done deep, hands-on work in those two areas - not just reading. Rushing to book a date before you've built confidence in migration planning and infrastructure design is one of the most common reasons candidates need a second attempt. For a full picture of relative difficulty across domains, see How Hard Is the AZ-120 Exam?

This is only a sample structure - actual pacing depends on your existing SAP and Azure experience. Recommended background includes SAP HANA, SAP Business Suite, SAP NetWeaver, and Azure infrastructure fundamentals; Azure Administrator Associate certification is strongly recommended, though not mandatory. If you're unsure whether your background is sufficient before picking a date, review AZ-120 Requirements 2026.

Retake Timeline If You Don't Pass on Attempt One

Scheduling isn't just about your first attempt - it's worth planning for the possibility of a retake too. Microsoft's retake policy allows a first failed attempt to be rescheduled after just 24 hours. That's a short gap, so if you book a "just in case" backup date, don't set it too far out - but also don't rebook immediately without addressing whatever gap caused the miss.

If you want a realistic sense of how many candidates need more than one sitting, our AZ-120 Pass Rate 2026 article walks through what's publicly known and what isn't - we don't fabricate percentages, and neither should your prep plan.

The 12-Month Renewal Deadline You Must Track

Passing the exam isn't the last date you need to track. AZ-120 certification is valid for 12 months from the date you pass. Unlike the exam itself, this deadline is fixed and personal to you - miss it, and the credential lapses.

The good news: Microsoft allows you to renew for free by passing an online renewal assessment during the six months before expiration. Passing it extends your certification by another year. Put this date in a calendar the moment you pass AZ-120 - it's easy to forget a renewal deadline that's a year away.

Building Your Own 2026 Exam-Date Timeline

Because there's no external cycle dictating when to test, build your own timeline backward from a realistic target date. Start by deciding roughly when in 2026 you want the credential in hand - perhaps tied to a project assignment, job application, or internal promotion cycle. Then work backward:

1. Confirm your baseline experience against the recommended background (SAP HANA/Business Suite/NetWeaver plus Azure fundamentals).
2. Block dedicated study time for the two heaviest domains - Migration and Infrastructure - first.
3. Layer in High Availability/Disaster Recovery and Maintenance topics.
4. Run full-length practice sessions under the 100-minute limit to build pacing awareness.
5. Book your Pearson VUE or OnVUE appointment once practice performance is consistent, not just on a single good day.

If cost planning factors into when you schedule (for example, budgeting the USD 165 fee against a training stipend), see the full breakdown in AZ-120 Certification Cost 2026. And if you're still weighing whether the investment of time and money makes sense before you commit to a date, Is the AZ-120 Certification Worth It? covers the ROI question directly.

You can also sharpen your timing decisions by running full practice exams on our AZ-120 practice test platform - tracking whether your scores plateau tells you whether you're ready to book or need another week.

What Happens on Exam Day (Timing Details)

Whichever date you choose, the exam-day mechanics are the same. You'll sit a single 100-minute session with no separately timed sub-sections, so pacing across the four domains is your responsibility, not the exam's. Some items may be interactive rather than simple multiple-choice, so budget a little extra time mentally for those instead of assuming every question takes the same number of seconds.

• Arrive early (or log into OnVUE early) to complete check-in and identity verification before your scheduled start time.
• For OnVUE, test your room, camera, and connection using Pearson VUE's system check well before exam day - not the morning of.
• For test centers, bring accepted ID and arrive with buffer time for check-in procedures.

For a condensed, night-before reference of must-know facts spanning fees, scoring, and domains, keep our AZ-120 Cheat Sheet 2026 handy - it's designed to be reviewed in the last hour before you walk into (or log into) your exam.

FAQ: AZ-120 Dates and Scheduling