DP-900 · ● Active · Entry · Microsoft
This entry-level fundamentals certification validates knowledge of core data concepts and foundational Azure data services. No prerequisites required. Designed for data analysts, database administrators, data engineers, business analysts, and cloud professionals seeking to establish baseline competency with Microsoft's data and analytics platform.
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $99 USD (regional pricing may vary; free via Microsoft Virtual Training Days) |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Questions | 40–50 questions (mix of multiple choice, multiple response, and drag-and-drop) |
| Passing | 700/1000 scaled score |
| Format | Multiple choice, multiple response, drag-and-drop, case studies |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE (online or test center) |
| Languages | English, Japanese, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese (BR), Korean, Mandarin Simplified & Traditional, Dutch |
| Valid | 12 months from date of passing (no renewal — retake to maintain) |
| Renewal | Pass the exam again or pursue higher-level cert (DP-100, DP-300, DP-700) |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Released | January 2021 |
| Retiring | N/A (active, no retirement date announced) |
Vendor source — Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals ↗
Official exam guide — Exam DP-900 study guide ↗
Exam objectives — DP-900 exam details ↗
About
DP-900 is Microsoft's foundational data certification, launched January 2021, targeting professionals beginning their journey into cloud data services. Entry-level by design — no prior cloud or data experience required — it covers the core concepts needed to understand relational databases, non-relational data stores, analytics workloads, and Azure's data platform services. The exam validates ability to describe what data is, how it's structured, and how Azure manages it; popular with career changers, recent graduates, and IT generalists transitioning into data roles. Passing DP-900 unlocks eligibility for advanced data certifications: DP-100 (Data Scientist), DP-300 (Database Administrator), or DP-700 (Fabric Data Engineer).
Domain context — Data/AI
Cloud-native data platforms and AI services, spanning SQL databases, NoSQL stores, data warehouses, analytics engines, machine learning, and big-data processing on hyperscale cloud infrastructure.
Read full deep dive — Microsoft Azure + M365 Ecosystem → | Read full deep dive — Data/AI Domain →
Topics covered
The exam blueprint organizes topics across four domains, weighted as follows:
- Describe core data concepts (25–30%) — data formats (structured, semi-structured, unstructured), transactional vs. analytical workloads, roles (data engineer, analyst, architect)
- Identify considerations for relational data on Azure (20–25%) — SQL databases, schemas, indexes, queries, Azure SQL Database, managed instances, pools
- Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure (15–20%) — NoSQL principles, document/key-value/graph stores, Azure Cosmos DB, time-series data, Azure Table Storage
- Describe an analytics workload on Azure (20–25%) — OLAP, data warehouses, Azure Synapse Analytics, data lakes, visualization, Power BI, real-time analytics
Source: Official exam guide ↗
Common skills at Data/AI · Entry
Shared foundational data skills at entry level — not specific to this cert.
- Understanding of relational database fundamentals (tables, keys, normalization)
- Ability to distinguish structured from unstructured data
- Knowledge of OLTP vs. OLAP architectural patterns
- Basic SQL query comprehension (SELECT, WHERE, JOIN)
- Familiarity with ETL / data pipeline concepts
- Introduction to data governance and data quality
- Awareness of cloud platform data services (vendor-agnostic)
Recommended courses at Data/AI · Entry
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Learn (Official) | Introduction to Microsoft Azure Data (DP-900T00) | Free | ↗ |
| Microsoft Learn (Official) | Prepare for Azure Data Fundamentals | Free | ↗ |
| Coursera (Microsoft) | Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals Exam Prep | Free (audit) / $39/mo | ↗ |
| Pluralsight | DP-900: Azure Data Fundamentals | $299/yr subscription | ↗ |
| Udemy (various) | DP-900 Azure Data Fundamentals Certification Training | $10–$80 | ↗ |
| O'Reilly Live Events | Exam DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals Crash Course | $199–$349 | ↗ |
| YouTube (John Savill) | DP-900 Data Fundamentals Study Cram v2 | Free | ↗ |
| YouTube (Various creators) | DP-900 Full Course / Exam Cram playlists | Free | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: Microsoft Learn (free, official) is the recommended baseline. Pluralsight and Coursera add video instruction; Udemy options are budget-friendly for targeted review. O'Reilly live events are instructor-led crash courses suited to accelerated prep.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| MeasureUp (Official Microsoft Partner) | DP-900 Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals | $99 | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | DP-900 Practice Exams | $39–$69 | ↗ |
| Microsoft Learn (Free) | Practice assessments in study guide | Free | ↗ |
| Tutorials Dojo | DP-900 Azure Data Fundamentals Cheat Sheet + Quizzes | Free (cheat sheet) / $12–$20 (full) | ↗ |
Practice exam rule: MeasureUp (official partner) includes 2 full exams with 150+ questions and expert explanations. Whizlabs offers 2 exams with 110 unique questions at lower cost. Microsoft Learn's free practice assessments cover all domains — start here before purchasing third-party exams.
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam Ref DP-900 Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals | Daniel A. Seara, Francesco Milano | Microsoft Press | 2021 | 9780137252169 | ↗ |
Book rule: Seara & Milano's Exam Ref DP-900 is the current official study guide aligned with the 2026 exam blueprint. It covers all four domains with practical examples and review questions. No older editions; this is the current standard.
Typical job titles at Data/AI · Entry
Junior Data Analyst · Data Technician · Data Support Specialist · Analytics Consultant · Database Analyst · Cloud Data Associate · BI Developer (entry-level)
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings that list DP-900 or "Azure Data Fundamentals" as required or preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $50k – $75k (entry) / $100k–$140k (mid) | Glassdoor ↗ · ZipRecruiter ↗ · Robert Half ↗ |
| ZAR | No region-specific data available — use generic "Data Analyst in South Africa" salary ranges | |
| GBP | £28k–£45k (entry) | IT Jobs Watch ↗ · Hays ↗ |
| EUR | €30k–€50k (DE/NL/FR entry-level) | Indeed ↗ · Glassdoor EU ↗ |
| AUD | A$60k–A$85k (entry) | Seek ↗ · LinkedIn Jobs ↗ |
Salary rule: DP-900 is an entry-level credential; salary reflects junior or career-change roles. Progression to DP-100, DP-300, or DP-700 typically increases salary by 15–30%. Figures are 2026 market snapshots and vary by geography, employer size, and prior experience.
Skills validated
Cert-specific — what this exam actually tests.
- Azure SQL Database setup and querying (T-SQL basics)
- Azure Cosmos DB document model and NoSQL concepts
- Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS) and Parquet format
- Azure Synapse Analytics workspaces and SQL pools
- Power BI report and dashboard fundamentals
- Data ingestion patterns (batch vs. streaming)
- Star schema and data warehouse design principles
- Relational vs. non-relational trade-offs
- Time-series and IoT data handling in Azure
- Data governance and compliance in cloud
Related certifications
- Stacks with: Microsoft AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) ↗ — general cloud foundations to complement data-specific knowledge
- Prerequisite for: DP-100 (Azure Data Scientist Associate) ↗ | DP-300 (Azure Database Administrator Associate) ↗ | DP-700 (Fabric Data Engineer Associate) ↗
- Replaces: N/A (not a replacement; newer related certs above)
- Equivalents at this level: Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer (entry path) ↗ · AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner ↗ — foundational cloud certifications at comparable entry level
- Vendor overview: Microsoft Vendor Overview ↗
Sources
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals (official page)
- Exam DP-900 study guide
- Exam DP-900 details and registration
- Microsoft Learn – DP-900T00-A course
- Exam Ref DP-900 book (Microsoft Press Store)
- MeasureUp DP-900 practice exams
- Whizlabs DP-900 practice exams
- Coursera – Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals Exam Prep
- Pluralsight – DP-900: Azure Data Fundamentals
- O'Reilly Live Training – DP-900 Crash Course
- John Savill's YouTube – DP-900 Study Cram v2
- ZipRecruiter – Azure Fundamentals Jobs
- Microsoft Certification roadmap – Data & AI
Last verified: 2026-05-01 Parent ecosystem: Microsoft Azure + M365 Ecosystem Parent domain: Data/AI Domain Vendor overview: Microsoft Overview