How do I keep my Microsoft certifications from expiring every year?

All answers to this question.

The good news is that renewals are now free and unproctored! About six months before your cert expires, you'll get an email from Microsoft. You just go to Microsoft Learn and take a short, open-book assessment. It only covers the new features and updates that were added in the last year. There is no cost, and if you fail, you can retake it after 24 hours. It’s a much better system than the old way of re-taking the full exam. It ensures you stay current with the cloud's rapid pace without the financial burden.

   Answered 2025-11-10 by Susan Nelson

Does the renewal assessment focus on the same depth as the original exam, or is it mostly focused on the new 'Service GA' updates?

   Answered 2025-11-12 by Daniel Roberts

• It’s definitely focused on the updates. For AZ-305, it might ask about new regions, specific new instance types, or changes to the Well-Architected Framework. It’s shorter—usually around 25-30 questions. The best part is that once you pass, your expiration date is extended by exactly one year from the current one. You can't "stack" them by doing it early, but it keeps you in the cycle.

     Commented 2025-11-14 by Richard Lewis

Just don't forget the deadline. If the cert expires, you do have to take the full proctored exam again to get it back. Set a calendar reminder!

   Answered 2025-11-16 by Barbara King

• That’s the most important tip. I missed a renewal for my security cert once and it was a nightmare having to sit through the whole exam again.

     Commented 2025-11-18 by Charles Baker