Microsoft Certified Fundamentals

Validate your foundational knowledge of Azure, AI, security, data, Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Dynamics 365 with entry-level certifications backed by Microsoft. The first step on the Microsoft certification path, built for anyone starting a career in cloud, security, or business technology in New Zealand.

"63% of Microsoft certified professionals received or expected a promotion, and Cloud Engineers in New Zealand earn NZ$110,000–$125,000 on average."

63%

of certified professionals received or expected a promotion after earning their Microsoft certification

Pearson VUE, 2025 Value of IT Certification Report

23%

of the global cloud market runs on Microsoft Azure — making it the second-largest cloud platform in the world

Industry cloud market share reporting, 2025

NZ$110K–$125K

average salary for Cloud Engineers in New Zealand, with top earners reaching NZ$245,000

SEEK NZ / Glassdoor NZ, March 2026

What certifications are available?

A certification is only as good as the name behind it.

Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900)

Get certified with the Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) certification. Validate your foundational knowledge with this Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certification.Exam Retake available as a separat...

Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900)

Get certified with the Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) certification. Validate your foundational knowledge with this Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certification.Exam Retake available as a separ...

Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

Get certified with the Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) certification. Validate your foundational knowledge with this Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certification.Exam Retake available as a separate a...

Dynamics 365 Fundamentals - CRM (MB-910)

Get certified with the Dynamics 365 Fundamentals - CRM (MB-910) certification. Validate your foundational knowledge with this Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certification.Exam Retake available as...

Dynamics 365 Fundamentals - ERP (MB-920)

Get certified with the Dynamics 365 Fundamentals - ERP (MB-920) certification. Validate your foundational knowledge with this Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certification.Exam Retake available as...

Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (MS-900)

Get certified with the Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (MS-900) certification. Validate your foundational knowledge with this Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certification.Exam Retake available as a se...

Power Platform Fundamentals (PL-900)

Get certified with the Power Platform Fundamentals (PL-900) certification. Validate your foundational knowledge with this Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certification.Exam Retake available as a s...

Security Compliance and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900)

Get certified with the Security Compliance and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900) certification. Validate your foundational knowledge with this Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certification.Exam Retak...

Backed By The Data

The Career
Impact

What Employers Think

91% of hiring managers say certification is an important criterion when making hiring decisions. Microsoft Certified Fundamentals credentials are the most accessible entry point into the Microsoft ecosystem, each requiring just 20 to 40 hours of study — but the signal they send to employers carries real weight. Technical recruiters confirm that Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) gets candidates past HR screening, while associate-level certifications get them into the interview.

Microsoft certified professionals work 15% more efficiently and 20% faster than non-certified professionals, according to IDC research. For employers in New Zealand facing a tech skills shortage exceeding 10,000 unfilled digital roles, a Fundamentals certification proves that a candidate has a verified baseline of knowledge in cloud, security, data, or AI, before a single day of onboarding.

Salaries & Promotion

Certified IT professionals earn 10–20% more than non-certified peers, according to the IT Skills and Salary Report. Those who gained new certifications in the past year received average raises of NZ$20,000–$21,500 (US$12,000–$13,000).

In New Zealand, the roles that Microsoft Certified Fundamentals feed into offer strong earning potential at every stage. Junior Cloud Engineers start at NZ$80,000–$99,000. Cloud Engineers average NZ$110,000–$125,000, with top earners reaching NZ$245,000. Cybersecurity Analysts average NZ$83,000 in Auckland, with senior roles reaching NZ$130,000–$180,000. Data Analysts start at NZ$59,000–$75,000, and Power Platform or Dynamics 365 roles sit within the broader NZ$92,000–$120,000 range for experienced IT professionals. All of these sit well above the national median income of NZ$69,836.

Productivity

Microsoft Azure powers 23% of the global cloud market, supporting millions of organisations from small businesses to government agencies. Fundamentals certifications ensure that professionals understand not just one tool, but the foundational concepts that connect cloud architecture, data management, AI workloads, identity security, and business applications.

That cross-domain understanding matters. A professional with Azure Fundamentals and Security Fundamentals, for example, understands how identity management, compliance, and cloud infrastructure relate to each other, knowledge that reduces misconfiguration, improves security posture, and accelerates cloud adoption. For New Zealand organisations migrating to cloud (which is increasingly the default), certified staff reduce implementation risk and shorten time to value.

Job Opportunities

Cloud Administrator / Junior Azure Administrator — Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

Junior Cloud Engineer / Cloud Support Engineer — Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

AI Support Analyst / Junior AI Engineer — Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900)

Junior Data Analyst / Data Administrator — Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900)

IT Administrator / Microsoft 365 Support — Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (MS-900)

Power Platform Developer / Business Analyst — Power Platform Fundamentals (PL-900)

Security Analyst / Compliance Analyst — Security, Compliance and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900)

CRM Administrator / Sales Operations Analyst — Dynamics 365 Fundamentals CRM (MB-910)

ERP Administrator / Finance Systems Analyst — Dynamics 365 Fundamentals ERP (MB-920)

Educational Outcomes

Microsoft Certified Fundamentals exams are delivered through Certiport for academic candidates, the same platform behind Microsoft Office Specialist, Adobe Certified Professional, and IT Specialist. Certified students using the Certiport platform show measurably better outcomes: higher GPAs (3.12 vs 2.78), higher graduation rates (97.5% vs 78.4%), and reduced dropout rates (0.2% vs 1.0%).

Each Fundamentals exam requires just 20 to 40 hours of study, with free training available through Microsoft Learn. This makes them accessible for secondary and tertiary students studying digital technology, business, or IT in New Zealand. They serve as the first credential on the Microsoft certification path, a stepping stone toward associate- and expert-level certifications that unlock senior roles and significantly higher salaries.

Globally Recognised

Your Knowledge Passport

Our certifications are recognized in 148 countries around the world. Designed to build trust with employers all over the world that you have the right skills.

Frequently asked questions

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Ready to start your Microsoft certification journey with the credential that opens the door?