Validates knowledge of administering Microsoft 365 tenants, including users, identity, security and compliance.
MS-102 tests tenant management, identity, security and compliance, and the exam retires on November 30, 2026. A good course covers the current skills list and gets you hands-on with the admin portals. We compared the options on coverage, practice, format and price.
Start with Microsoft's free MS-102 course, the material the exam is written against. Add John Christopher's Udemy course for always-available admin-portal simulations, Christopher Nett's for a shorter lecture course, and Whizlabs if you already have a subscription.
The MS-102 exam and the Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert certification retire November 30, 2026. Source ↗
| Course | Best for | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 MS-102 course on Microsoft Learn | Free official course | Interactive | Free |
 AB-650 & MS-102 Hands on Certification Course with Sims | Admin portal simulations | Video | $95 |
| MS-102: Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert | Short lecture course | Video | $60 |
 MS-102 course | Existing Whizlabs subscribers | Interactive | $34/month |
Microsoft's learning paths for MS-102, covering tenant management, identity synchronization, security and compliance. Self-paced text modules with exercises follow the skills the exam measures.
Great fit if you want the official material the exam is written against
Poor fit if you learn better from video; choose John Christopher's or Christopher Nett's course
About 18 hours of video with always-available simulations of the Microsoft 365 admin portals, so you practise settings without building a tenant. The course covers both AB-650 and MS-102.
Great fit if you want guided practice without building every setting yourself
Poor fit if you want a short review; choose Christopher Nett's course
A 10-hour lecture course through tenant management, identity, security and compliance. It is the shorter of the two Udemy courses here and has no simulations.
Great fit if you want a shorter video course
Poor fit if you want simulations or labs; choose John Christopher's course
Whizlabs' MS-102 course content and practice questions with explanations, included in its subscription. The Standard plan costs $34 a month or $129 a year and also covers other Whizlabs exams.
Great fit if you already use a Whizlabs subscription
Poor fit if you want a single course; choose Microsoft's free course or John Christopher's
For most people, Microsoft's free MS-102 course, because it is the material the exam is written against. John Christopher's Udemy course suits learners who want admin-portal simulations.
Yes. Microsoft's free course and practice assessment cover the skills list. Add a paid practice set such as MeasureUp's ($99) for more questions.
John Christopher's course runs about 18 hours and Christopher Nett's about 10. Plan for about 70 hours of preparation in total, including building settings in a trial tenant.
Yes. The exam and the certification retire on November 30, 2026. Microsoft names AB-650 as the follow-on, which has a different skills list.