MD-102 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling

How MD-102 Scheduling Actually Works

Unlike academic exams with fixed testing windows, Exam MD-102 for the Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate credential is delivered on demand through Pearson VUE. There is no quarterly cycle, no registration deadline tied to a calendar season, and no limited number of "seats" released each year. You pick a date and time that Pearson VUE has available - often within days - at a physical test center or through online proctoring from your own workspace.

This matters for how you should think about "exam dates" in 2026: the real scheduling decision isn't about catching a testing window before it closes. It's about picking the date that lines up with your readiness, the current skills-measured document, and your work schedule. If you're still mapping out what to study before locking in a date, the MD-102 Study Guide 2026 walks through a full first-attempt preparation plan.

The July 24, 2026 Skills Update

The one date every 2026 candidate should actually treat as a deadline is July 24, 2026. That's when the skills measured on MD-102 shift to a five-domain structure that adds a new domain: Optimize endpoint operations by using automation, monitoring, and reporting. If you schedule and sit the exam before this date, you're tested on the prior objective domains. Schedule after it, and you'll be assessed on the updated five-domain outline described below.

This isn't a reason to rush unprepared into an early slot. It is a reason to know, before you book, which version of the objectives your study materials and question exposure actually reflect. If your prep resources predate the update, cross-check them against the MD-102 Exam Domains 2026 guide before locking in a date on either side of July 24.

Registration, Fees, and Delivery Options

Registering for MD-102 happens through your Microsoft account on the Pearson VUE scheduling portal. The process is the same regardless of when in 2026 you sit the exam:

• Exam fee: $165 USD in the United States, with adjusted regional pricing in other markets.
• Duration: 100 minutes at the keyboard, which includes any interactive, scenario-based question components.
• Passing score: 700 or greater on Microsoft's scaled scoring system.
• Prerequisites: None formally enforced - Microsoft expects, but does not gate registration on, hands-on familiarity with Intune, Microsoft Entra ID, Windows Autopilot, Defender for Endpoint, Windows 365, PowerShell, and Microsoft Graph.

For a full line-item breakdown of what you're actually paying for - and how it compares across delivery formats - see the MD-102 Certification Cost breakdown. If you're unsure whether your current experience level is enough to schedule confidently, the MD-102 Requirements guide covers the audience profile in detail.

Domain Weighting and What It Means for Your Date

Your target exam date should be set around domain readiness, not a generic "study for a month" instinct. Here's the structure you're scheduling against starting July 24, 2026:

Because this domain carries the most weight, it's worth confirming your comfort level here before you finalize a scheduling date - not after you've already paid the fee. The How Hard Is the MD-102 Exam guide breaks down where candidates typically underestimate the time this domain requires.

Retake Windows If You Don't Pass

Scheduling doesn't end if your first attempt falls short of 700. Microsoft's retake policy for MD-102 sets clear, fixed windows:

• After a first failed attempt: a 24-hour waiting period before you can rebook.
• After the second and later failed attempts: a 14-day waiting period between each subsequent attempt.
• Attempt cap: a maximum of five attempts within any rolling 12-month period.

Practically, this means your second attempt can be scheduled the very next day if you're confident the gap was narrow, but repeated attempts require real spacing - 14 days is enough time to meaningfully revisit weak domains rather than re-sit the same exam hoping for different questions. If you want to gauge realistically where you stand before committing to a retake date, reviewing MD-102 Pass Rate data and the MD-102 Passing Score guide will help you set expectations around the 700 threshold.

Building a Study Timeline Around Your Exam Date

Once you have a target date, work backward from it using domain weight as your allocation guide rather than splitting time evenly across all five domains.

This week-by-week split isn't a generic template - it's sized to the actual domain percentages above, giving the largest block of time to Manage and maintain devices since it's weighted highest at 25-30%. For a domain-by-domain breakdown of exactly what to study inside each week, the MD-102 Exam Domains guide is the companion resource to pair with this schedule. Once you've mapped your timeline, practicing with realistic scenario questions on our MD-102 practice test platform before your scheduled date is the most efficient way to confirm readiness domain by domain.

Test Center vs. Online Proctoring

Both delivery formats use the same 100-minute exam, the same $165 U.S. pricing, and the same 700-point passing threshold - the choice is purely about environment and scheduling flexibility.

• Test center: a proctored room at a Pearson VUE facility. Useful if your home or office environment can't meet the strict online-proctoring room requirements.
• Online proctoring: taken from your own space, often with more available time slots on short notice, but subject to environment checks (clear desk, no second monitor, private room) before the exam starts.

If your target date is close and test center slots in your area are full, online proctoring is frequently the faster path to a booked appointment. Just build in extra buffer time before your scheduled start to complete the identity and environment check without stress.

The 12-Month Renewal Calendar

Passing MD-102 isn't a one-time date on your calendar - it starts a recurring 12-month cycle. The Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate credential renews annually at no cost through a Microsoft Learn renewal assessment, taken online rather than through Pearson VUE. Mark your renewal window roughly a month before the 12-month anniversary of your pass date so you're not racing an expiration deadline.

This renewal rhythm is one of several reasons candidates weigh the credential's long-term value before scheduling their first attempt. If you're still deciding whether the investment of time and the $165 fee is worthwhile for your career path, the Is MD-102 Worth It ROI analysis and MD-102 Salary Guide are useful reads before you commit to a date. Once certified, roles hiring for endpoint administration, device management, and Intune-focused positions frequently list the credential explicitly - the MD-102 Jobs overview covers what employers actually look for.

Whether you're booking your very first attempt or scheduling a retake after a near-miss, treat the date itself as the least flexible variable and your domain readiness as the one to actually manage. Confirm your target skills-measured version against the July 24, 2026 cutoff, allocate study weeks by domain weight rather than evenly, and run through scenario-style questions on our practice test platform until your weakest domain stops being a guess. For a condensed reference to keep open the night before your appointment, the MD-102 Cheat Sheet consolidates the must-know facts from across this scheduling process.

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