AZ-500 Certification Cost: What You'll Pay in 2025

You Googled the AZ-500 exam price and landed somewhere between surprised and annoyed. $165 for a single exam sitting — not counting study materials, practice tests, or the cost of a retake if you don't pass the first time. Azure security skills are in high demand, but that doesn't make the exam fee sting any less.

This guide breaks down exactly what the AZ-500 costs, where legitimate discounts actually exist, and how comparable cybersecurity certifications with cheaper voucher options stack up.

What Does the AZ-500 Actually Cost?

The Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) exam is administered through Pearson VUE, Microsoft's official testing partner. In the United States, the standard exam fee is:

> Important: Unlike CompTIA or INE certifications, Microsoft exams are not widely distributed through authorized third-party reseller networks. If you see a site claiming to sell AZ-500 vouchers at a steep discount, treat it as a red flag — exam dump sites and fraudulent voucher sellers often target Microsoft certification candidates.

The $165 covers one exam attempt. If you need a retake, you pay again unless you purchased a bundle with a retry included.

Is There a Free or Discounted AZ-500 Voucher?

Yes — Microsoft runs several legitimate programs that can get you a discounted or free AZ-500 exam voucher. None of them are guaranteed, and most require you to qualify through Microsoft's own ecosystem. Here's what actually works:

Microsoft Virtual Training Days

Microsoft periodically offers free certification exam vouchers to attendees who complete a Microsoft Virtual Training Day. These are instructor-led, free online events aligned to specific Azure roles. Security-focused training days occasionally include AZ-500 or AZ-900 vouchers for participants who complete the full event.

Check the Microsoft Events catalog at events.microsoft.com and filter for security-focused training days in your region.

Microsoft Ignite and Microsoft Build

At major Microsoft conferences — both virtual and in-person — Microsoft has historically offered free exam vouchers as part of the Cloud Skills Challenge. If you complete a designated learning path during the challenge window, you unlock a voucher code redeemable within 180 days.

These challenges run annually and are worth bookmarking. Past challenges have included AZ-500 as an eligible exam.

Exam Replay Bundle

Microsoft offers an Exam Replay add-on at checkout on Pearson VUE. For roughly $30–$40 additional, you purchase the exam plus a free retake if you don't pass on the first attempt. This isn't a discount on the exam itself, but it eliminates the worst-case scenario of paying $165 twice.

Enterprise and Academic Programs

• Microsoft Enterprise Skills Initiative (ESI): If your employer has a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, they may have access to subsidized or free exam vouchers. Check with your IT department or Microsoft account manager.
• Microsoft Imagine Academy / Certiport: If you're a student at a participating institution, exams may be available at reduced rates through your school's program.

How to Use a Discount Voucher for AZ-500

If you qualify for a voucher through one of the programs above, redemption is straightforward:

1. Receive your voucher code via email from Microsoft or the event organizer. Check spam folders — delivery is usually instant but codes occasionally get filtered.
2. Go to certiport.com or pearsonvue.com/microsoft and sign in with your Microsoft account.
3. Schedule the AZ-500 exam — select your test center (or online proctored option) and preferred date.
4. At checkout, enter your voucher code in the promotional code field before completing payment. The discount or full waiver will apply automatically.
5. Confirm your booking and save the confirmation email. Voucher codes are single-use — once applied to a booking, they cannot be transferred.

> Note: Most Microsoft event vouchers have a 180-day expiry from issue date. Check the terms in the email that delivered your code and schedule before it expires.

Who Should Buy the AZ-500?

The AZ-500 is built for security professionals working in Microsoft Azure environments. You're a strong candidate if:

• You manage Azure security controls day-to-day — identity, networking, storage, or compute
• You're a cloud or infrastructure engineer moving toward a security specialization
• Your organization runs Microsoft 365 and Azure and wants in-house expertise on Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, or Azure Key Vault
• You're targeting roles like Cloud Security Engineer, Azure Security Architect, or Security Operations Analyst in an Azure-heavy shop

This is not an entry-level exam. Microsoft recommends candidates have hands-on Azure experience and familiarity with scripting before attempting the AZ-500. If you're newer to cybersecurity, a broader security certification may be a better starting point.

Related Certifications Worth Considering

If the AZ-500 doesn't match your current experience level, or if you're building a security career that extends beyond Microsoft's cloud ecosystem, these certifications cover overlapping territory — and are available through authorized resellers at lower out-of-pocket costs.

CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003)

The CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) is a vendor-neutral security operations certification covering threat detection, analysis, and incident response. It's recognized across cloud and on-prem environments, making it a strong complement to or precursor for cloud-specific certs like the AZ-500.

Official price: $392 through CompTIA directly CyberVK reseller price: $199

CyberVK is an authorized reseller — the voucher code is the same official CompTIA exam voucher you'd receive purchasing direct, delivered by email within minutes. Buy the CySA+ voucher at CyberVK →

CompTIA SecurityX

For senior security professionals, CompTIA SecurityX (formerly CASP+) is a hands-on, advanced-level certification covering security architecture, engineering, and operations at an enterprise level. It sits above Security+ and CySA+ in the CompTIA stack.

CyberVK reseller price: $199 — a significant reduction from CompTIA's standard pricing. View the SecurityX voucher →

eJPT — For Hands-On Penetration Testing

If your security interests lean toward offensive security rather than cloud governance, the eJPT (Junior Penetration Tester) from INE Security is the most accessible entry point into ethical hacking. It's a fully hands-on, browser-based exam with no multiple-choice questions.

Official INE price: $249 CyberVK reseller price: $195

Buy the eJPT voucher at CyberVK →

Where to Buy

For the AZ-500 specifically: Purchase directly through Pearson VUE or through Microsoft's official scheduling portal. This is the only legitimate purchase path for Microsoft exam vouchers in the US market. Watch Microsoft's events calendar for periodic free voucher opportunities.

For related security certifications with reseller discounts: CyberVK carries authorized vouchers for CompTIA and INE certifications at prices well below the official rate.

All CyberVK vouchers are 100% official — the same codes issued by the certification body, delivered by email within minutes of purchase. If a code arrives invalid, CyberVK provides a full refund.

Explore all current deals at cybervk.com/voucher-deals.