SC-401 renewal and retake rules
SC-401 earns an associate credential that is valid for one year from the day all requirements are met, and it renews for free through an open-book assessment on Microsoft Learn. A failed exam can be retaken after 24 hours, then every 14 days, with at most five attempts in 12 months. The unusual part in autumn 2026 is that two Microsoft pages give different dates for the exam update, October 14 and October 28, which matters for both renewal and booking. For what the credential leads to, see the career page.
Two dates for one update
Today is 9 October 2026, and the sources disagree:
| Microsoft page | What it says |
|---|---|
| Certification page | “The English language version of this certification will be updated on October 14, 2026.” |
| Study guide | Skills list headed “Skills measured as of October 28, 2026”, with a change log comparing it to the version before that date |
Microsoft does not explain the gap on either page. Possible readings are that the 14th is when the new exam goes live and the 28th is the effective date of the published outline, or that one page is out of date, but neither reading is confirmed. The practical rule is to treat the period between the two dates as uncertain: if a sitting falls between October 14 and October 28, prepare for both the old and new objectives, and check the study guide again the day before. The change log in the guide marks the audience profile and the information protection domain as unchanged, and the sensitivity label objectives as a minor change. Localised exams follow the English update by about eight weeks, according to the study guide.
The SC-401 twelve-month clock and the six-month window
Microsoft’s expiration policy says associate credentials are valid for one year, and that after expiry you can no longer renew and must re-earn the credential by passing the required exam again. So a missed renewal turns a free 45-minute task into a paid exam.
- Window. The renewal assessment opens six months before expiry, and times are in UTC. It cannot be taken earlier.
- Effect. Passing extends the credential one year from the previous expiration date, not from the day you passed, so taking it early costs nothing. The Learn profile updates immediately.
- Where. Your Learn profile, Certifications, the blue Renew button. Microsoft sends an email reminder if the profile has an address and you accepted its communication terms.
- Format. Free, online, unproctored and open book, about 45 minutes according to the FAQ, built from recent updates rather than the whole outline.
- Only route. Retaking the exam, or passing a beta exam, does not renew. The FAQ says there are no exceptions.
Renewal assessment retakes
There is no limit. A failed attempt can be repeated at once; after the second attempt there is at least a 24-hour wait. The sensible time to start is early in the six-month window, because a fail leaves months to recover. Microsoft says assessment updates are aligned with exam updates, so the October 2026 change is likely to reach the Purview renewal content too, though the page does not give a date for that.
SC-401 exam retakes: 24 hours, 14 days, five attempts
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| First fail | Wait 24 hours |
| Later fails | 14 days between each attempt, up to five attempts |
| Five fails | Eligible again 12 months from the date of the first attempt |
| Already passed | Cannot retake unless the credential has expired |
| Fee | Paid again where an exam fee applies; SC-401 pricing is set per country at booking |
| Waiver | Only for internet or equipment failure with a Pearson VUE case number |
Microsoft’s certification page notes that the exam is proctored and may include interactive components, and that accommodations can be requested. The study guide says you can request an extra 30 minutes if the exam is not offered in your language. For the unusual cases, see exam day.
Purview churn and the retired SC-400 renewal
Because the credential tracks a fast-moving product, Purview, the free assessment tends to cover newer features such as the AI-related controls. Treat it as a yearly review of release notes. The earlier compliance certification in this area is retired, with its renewal assessment, and Microsoft’s expiration policy says a retired credential stays on the transcript until it expires. The retired Information Protection and Compliance Administrator therefore cannot be renewed into SC-401; only passing the SC-401 exam earns it. Prepare with the study plan and compare costs on the certification costs page. Other Microsoft associate exams follow the same renewal and retake rules, but their update dates differ; check exam changes.