What is the SC-300 Exam? Everything You Need to Know (2026)
📅 Updated June 2026
⏱️ 10 min read
Complete guide to SC-300 Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator — exam format, domains covered, difficulty, cost, and the best way to prepare.
What is SC-300?
SC-300 is the Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator Associate certification. It validates your ability to design, implement, and operate an organisation's identity and access management systems using Microsoft Entra ID.
Unlike the fundamentals-level AZ-900 or SC-900, SC-300 is an associate-level exam — it assumes you have working knowledge of Microsoft identity technologies and tests your ability to apply that knowledge in real-world scenarios.
💡 Who is SC-300 for? IT professionals responsible for managing identity and access — typically Identity Administrators, Security Engineers, or IT Admins with a focus on Microsoft Entra ID, Conditional Access, and privileged access management.
Exam Format
Questions: 40–60 (multiple choice, multi-select, case studies, drag and drop)
Duration: 120 minutes
Pass mark: 700 out of 1000
Cost: £165 / $165 USD
Prerequisites: None formally, but hands-on Entra ID experience strongly recommended
Renewal: Annual renewal via free online assessment on Microsoft Learn
⚠️ Difficulty note: SC-300 is significantly harder than AZ-900 or SC-900. Expect scenario-based questions requiring understanding of how technologies interact, not just what they are.
Exam Domains
Implement Identities in Microsoft Entra ID (20–25%) — Tenants, users, groups, external identities, hybrid identity with Entra Connect
Implement Authentication and Access Management (25–30%) — MFA, passwordless, Conditional Access, Entra ID Protection
SC-300 is considered a moderately difficult associate-level exam. The main challenges:
Breadth: Covers a huge range of Entra ID features — from basic user management to advanced PIM
Scenario questions: Many questions present a business requirement and ask which combination of settings achieves it
Rapidly changing content: Microsoft renames and updates Entra ID features frequently
Hands-on knowledge required: Unlike fundamentals exams, SC-300 expects you to know how to configure things
Most candidates with 3–6 months of Entra ID experience and 4–6 weeks of focused study pass on their first attempt.
Career Impact
SC-300 is highly valued in the UK job market. Roles that list it as desirable include Identity Administrator, Cloud Security Engineer, Microsoft 365 Administrator, and Zero Trust Architect. UK salary range: £45,000–£85,000 depending on experience and seniority.
How to Prepare
Microsoft Learn SC-300 path — Free, official, covers all exam objectives
Microsoft 365 Developer Program — Free E5 tenant for hands-on practice at developer.microsoft.com
Practice questions — Aim for 200+ questions before exam day