Microsoft just announced they're retiring 12 certifications by June 2026 — including some Azure fundamentals that thousands of people were studying for.
But here's what nobody's talking about: SC-300 (Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator) survived the purge.
And there's a reason.
Identity is now the security perimeter. Microsoft knows it. The Zero Trust model literally starts with "verify explicitly" — and who manages that verification? Entra ID admins. The people who hold SC-300.
Why SC-300 matters more than ever
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) now processes over 300 billion authentication requests daily. Every MFA policy, every conditional access rule, every privileged identity workflow — that's all SC-300 domain knowledge.
The exam tests you on:
- Implementing identity governance (25-30%)
- Implementing authentication and access management (25-30%)
- Planning and implementing identity (25-30%)
- Monitoring identity (15-20%)
Sounds dry. But here's the thing: companies are desperate for people who understand this stuff. Every org using Microsoft 365 has Entra ID. Most of them have it misconfigured.
The 3 topics that WILL be on the exam
1. Conditional Access Policies — You need to know when to use "Block" vs "Grant with MFA", session controls, and risk-based policies. The exam loves throwing curveballs where multiple policies apply.
2. Privileged Identity Management (PIM) — Time-bound role activation, justifications, approval workflows. They test this hard because PIM is what makes or breaks a Zero Trust implementation.
3. Entitlement Management + Access Reviews — Access packages, catalogs, and automated access reviews. Dry but heavily tested.
What I used to pass (without spending $300 on prep)
I passed SC-300 last month. Here's what actually worked:
- Microsoft Learn path (free) — do the labs, don't just read
- John Savill's SC-300 cram video on YouTube — 3 hours, worth every minute
- A free SC-300 practice test from ExamCert — honestly the biggest difference-maker
That last one deserves a callout. Most SC-300 practice tests cost $50-$100 from third-party providers. And Microsoft's official practice test is $99 through MeasureUp.
ExamCert's SC-300 practice test is $4.99 — lifetime access. With a money-back guarantee if you don't pass.
$4.99 vs $300 for Boson or Whizlabs. Not even a comparison.
The questions actually match the exam style — scenario-based conditional access puzzles, PIM workflow questions, identity governance scenarios. Not just definition-memorization garbage like some other free test banks.
Stop sleeping on SC-300
Everyone's chasing AI certs right now. That's fine. But identity management is the one domain that literally every organization needs, regardless of what the hype cycle is doing.
While everyone fights over the new AI-102 and DP-100 spots, the SC-300 holders are quietly getting hired for roles that have 3x fewer applicants.
If you're already comfortable with the Microsoft ecosystem, this cert is probably 4-6 weeks of study. Less if you already work with Entra ID day-to-day.
Don't wait until the next round of certification retirements.
$4.99 for 30,000+ practice questions across 30+ certifications. Pass or your money back. Check out ExamCert
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