The Windows Server certification path changed in 2026. Microsoft retired the AZ-800 and AZ-801 exams on September 30, 2026 and replaced them with AZ-802: Administering Windows Server, bringing the certification requirements into a single exam. For administrators planning their next step, the key questions are what changed, which skills to study, and how to prepare.
This guide explains the transition, the AZ-802 exam topics, and the training options available through Certification Camps.
October 2026 update AZ-800 and AZ-801 retired on September 30, 2026. AZ-802 is now the only exam for the certification. See Microsoft’s official exam retirement schedule.
What Is the New Windows Server Certification Exam?
Exam AZ-802: Administering Windows Server assesses the administration of Windows Server workloads across local infrastructure, cloud deployments, and hybrid environments. It is relevant to professionals responsible for keeping servers, identity services, networking, and storage running securely.
Microsoft’s official AZ-802 announcement introduces the name Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate. Some Microsoft certification pages still display Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate during the transition. The announcement describes an update to the existing credential and its exam requirements, rather than the retirement of the certification itself.
AZ-802 vs. AZ-800 and AZ-801: What Changes?
The main change is the move from two exams to one. Previously, candidates followed a path split between core infrastructure and advanced services. AZ-802 brings those responsibilities together under one assessment.
| Certification route | Exam requirements | Transition details |
|---|---|---|
| Previous route | AZ-800 and AZ-801 | Both exams retired on September 30, 2026. |
| Replacement route | AZ-802: Administering Windows Server | A single exam covering Windows Server administration. |
Microsoft is also updating the training. Its course retirement schedule lists AZ-802T00: Administer Windows Server as the replacement for both AZ-800T00 and AZ-801T00.
If you are planning more than one credential, our overview of Microsoft certifications and exams retiring in 2026 covers other changes to consider when setting your study schedule.
AZ-802 is now the only route to this certification, so build your study plan around it. If you passed only one of the older exams before they retired, that exam alone does not complete the certification. Check your Microsoft Learn profile for your current requirements.
Who Should Consider AZ-802?
AZ-802 is a relevant option for Windows Server administrators, systems administrators, and infrastructure professionals whose work includes both server operations and management through Azure. Microsoft expects experience with tools such as PowerShell, Windows Admin Center, Hyper-V, Azure Arc, Azure Monitor, Azure Update Manager, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud, plus familiarity with Active Directory Domain Services.
A useful readiness check is to ask what you can already do without following a tutorial. Can you investigate a failed login, explain why a server cannot resolve a name, or identify why a virtual machine is running slowly? If those tasks are unfamiliar, allow time for foundational practice before intensive exam preparation.
If you are comparing this path with other administrator roles, explore our guide to Microsoft system administrator certifications for options across server, cloud, and workplace administration, or see where AZ-802 fits in the full roadmap in our Microsoft certifications guide.
What Does the AZ-802 Exam Cover?
AZ-802 covers seven skill areas. The percentages below show how much of the exam each area represents.
| Skill area | Exam weighting |
|---|---|
| Active Directory Domain Services administration | 20% to 25% |
| Hybrid Windows Server and workload management | 10% to 15% |
| Virtual machine administration | 10% to 15% |
| Local and hybrid networking | 10% to 15% |
| Storage and file services | 15% to 20% |
| Windows Server infrastructure security | 10% to 15% |
| Monitoring and troubleshooting | 15% to 20% |
The objectives include newer capabilities such as SMB over QUIC, Windows Server security baselines managed with OSConfig, and GPU partitioning. They also retain practical administration work, including Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, storage configuration, and Active Directory recovery.
Use the current objectives to assess older study materials. Familiar topics can still be useful, but an AZ-800 or AZ-801 course should not be treated as a complete AZ-802 preparation plan without checking its coverage.
How to Prepare for Windows Server Certification
1
Identify the Gaps in Your Current Experience
Use the seven skill areas above to divide your preparation into manageable sections. For each area, record what you can configure independently, what you can troubleshoot, and what you have only read about. Spend more time on tasks where you cannot yet explain the settings you would choose or how you would verify the result.
For example, an administrator who works with Active Directory daily may need more practice with management through Azure. Someone supporting servers hosted in the cloud may need to revisit local storage or domain recovery.
2
Practice Configuration and Troubleshooting Together
Build small exercises in an isolated lab. Each exercise should have a working configuration, a way to verify it, and a troubleshooting question. These suggested activities help turn the exam topics into practical preparation:
- Identity: Create test users and groups, apply a Group Policy, and investigate why a setting does not reach a particular user.
- Hybrid management: Practice remote administration and record how you would check whether a server is reachable and receiving its intended configuration.
- Virtual machines: Configure a test VM, change its resource allocation, and compare its behavior before and after the change.
- Networking: Set up name resolution for a test service, then diagnose a deliberately incorrect DNS record.
- Storage: Create a file share and test access using accounts with different permissions. Explain why each account can or cannot open a file.
- Security: Apply a security setting to a test server and verify both the intended protection and the effect on legitimate access.
- Monitoring: Capture a performance baseline, generate a test workload, and identify which measurements explain the change.
Keep notes on the symptoms, the tools you used, and the reason the fix worked. Repeat difficult exercises without referring to your notes until you can explain your decisions.
3
Choose a Preparation Schedule You Can Sustain
Set aside time for both guided instruction and independent practice. If you need a structured schedule, our AZ-802 bootcamp brings the topics together with live instruction and practical labs. Plan additional practice around the areas you use least often at work.
The amount of preparation you need depends on your starting point. Experienced administrators may be ready to focus on unfamiliar features, while those newer to Windows Server should build confidence with everyday administration first.
Check your reasoning, not just your answersAfter a practice question, explain why the correct approach fits the scenario and why the alternatives do not. Use any uncertainty to choose your next lab exercise.
Prepare with the Certification Camps AZ-802 Bootcamp
Our Windows Server Administrator AZ-802 bootcamp provides five days of live training led by an instructor. Join us in the classroom or attend remotely with a live instructor.
Our bootcamp includes:
- Live instruction from a Microsoft Certified Trainer.
- Official AZ-802 courseware and practical labs.
- An AZ-802 exam voucher.
- One retake voucher if needed.
- Practice exams.
Our bootcamp costs $3,495 for classroom live or virtual classroom live, or $4,845 all inclusive with airfare, lodging, and ground transportation. Every option includes the exam voucher. View our bootcamp schedule and pricing for your preferred date and delivery format.
The five days refer to the training program. Earning the certification requires passing the exam; your readiness will depend on your existing skills and preparation.
Windows Server Certification FAQs
When Did AZ-800 and AZ-801 Retire?
Microsoft retired both exams on September 30, 2026. You can no longer schedule them, and AZ-802 is now the only exam for the certification.
Does AZ-802 Replace Both Exams?
Yes. Microsoft’s transition announcement describes AZ-802 as the new route requiring one exam replacing AZ-800 and AZ-801.
Do Existing Certification Holders Need to Take AZ-802?
Microsoft says existing holders do not need to take the new exam simply because of the transition. Continue following the renewal requirements shown in your Microsoft Learn profile. The announcement notes that renewal will assess the updated skills.
Is the Certification Only About Azure?
No. AZ-802 covers Windows Server in local, cloud, and hybrid environments. Administration through Azure is part of the scope alongside local server responsibilities.
Does the Certification Need to Be Renewed?
Yes. This associate certification expires annually unless renewed. You can renew it through Microsoft’s free online renewal assessment.
What’s Next
Start by comparing the AZ-802 objectives with the work you already perform, then plan practice around the gaps. If you want a structured training week with an instructor, labs, and an exam voucher, explore the Windows Server Administrator AZ-802 bootcamp lasting five days and choose a session that fits your schedule.