The short version
If you fail AB-731, you can retake it after 24 hours. After that, Microsoft imposes a 14-day wait between attempts, and you can sit the exam at most five times in 12 months. Whether the credential itself expires is the one point Microsoft does not state for AB-731 on the pages we read, so this page shows you what is published and how to check your own record. Details were checked on October 22, 2026.
Retake rules in order
Microsoft’s retake policy for role-based, specialty, and fundamentals exams is the one that applies here. AB-731’s own page repeats only the first step: you can retake 24 hours after the first attempt, and later waits “vary”. The policy page fills in the rest.
| Attempt | What you wait |
|---|---|
| Second attempt (after one failure) | 24 hours |
| Third attempt and each later one, up to five | 14 days between attempts |
| Sixth attempt | Not allowed until 12 months after your first attempt |
Other rules from the same page:
- You may not take a given exam more than five times in 12 months, counted from the first attempt. If you fail five times, you are eligible again 12 months after the date of that first attempt.
- You cannot retake an exam you have passed, unless the certification has expired.
- You pay for each retake where a fee applies. We do not print fees here, because they depend on the country where you sit the exam.
- The waiting period can be waived only if you had internet or equipment trouble during the exam and a Pearson VUE case was opened. You need the case number to ask. No other reason qualifies.
A practical consequence: the 14-day gap means a second failure costs you at least two weeks. Use the gap on your weakest skill area, not on rereading everything. Our exam format page explains the score report that shows where to look.
Does AB-731 expire?
Here is what Microsoft publishes:
- Role-based (associate and expert) and specialty certifications are valid for one year and must be renewed.
- Fundamentals certifications do not expire.
- AB-731 is shown as “Beginner” level, with the role “Business Leader”.
The AB-731 page does not say “fundamentals” and does not give an expiry date. The 45-minute length matches what Microsoft lists for fundamentals exams, but that is a match, not a statement. So treat the question as open until you see it in your own record. After you pass, open your Microsoft Learn profile and look at the certification. If it carries an expiration date, you will see a renewal option. If it shows none, nothing is due.
How renewal works, if your credential has an expiry date
For credentials that do expire, the process Microsoft describes is simple:
- About six months before expiry, a free online renewal assessment becomes available on Microsoft Learn. You cannot take it earlier.
- The assessment is unproctored and open book, focuses on recent updates, and takes about 45 minutes.
- There is no limit on attempts. You can retry at once after a first miss, and after the second try you wait at least 24 hours between attempts.
- When you pass, the expiration date is extended by one year from the old expiration date, and your profile updates immediately.
Renewal is free. A retaken exam or a beta exam does not count as renewal; only the assessment does. If a certification lapses, it cannot be renewed any more, and you must pass the exam again to earn it again.
What if the exam is retired or changes version?
Microsoft reserves the right to retire exams and certifications at any time. When a credential is retired, new candidates can no longer earn it. It stays in the Active section of your transcript until it expires, or for two years after retirement if it has no expiry date.
The study guide for AB-731 shows a different kind of change. The skills outline was updated on July 22, 2026, and the change log marks the audience profile, the Foundry Tools area, and the adoption planning area as minor changes. Microsoft does not publish a retirement date for AB-731 on the pages we read. Localized exams follow the English version by about eight weeks, so if you sit the exam in another language right after an update, your version may still match the older outline.
A simple timeline example
This is an invented case to show how the rules stack up.
- Day 0: you sit AB-731 and miss the pass mark of 700.
- Day 1 (24 hours later): you may book attempt two. Most people will want more time than that.
- After a second miss: attempt three opens 14 days after attempt two, and every later attempt needs the same 14-day gap.
- After a fifth miss: you wait until 12 months after day 0.
With a careful plan, one retake is the realistic worst case for most candidates, but nothing in the policy says so.
Before you book
Check the retake rules on the Microsoft exam retake policy before you plan a second date, because Microsoft can change them. Read the exam format page for scoring and delivery, the study plan for a schedule, and the overview for the exam at a glance.
More guides for AB-731
- AB-731 Domains Explained With Weightings
- AB-731 Sample Questions With Answers
- AB-731 Prerequisites and Skills Check
- Is AB-731 Worth It? An Honest Look
- AB-731 Cheat Sheet: Key Facts to Review
- AB-730 vs AB-731: Which Exam First?
Next step
If a first attempt is still ahead, a timed run can show whether you are ready, which can save you the wait. Try our AB-731 practice tests, and use the is AB-731 hard page to judge your readiness.
Frequently asked questions
Can I retake AB-731 the next day?
Yes, 24 hours after a failed first attempt. Later attempts need a 14-day wait.
Can I retake it after passing to raise my score?
No. Microsoft does not allow a retake of a passed exam unless the certification has expired.
Do I pay to renew?
Microsoft says renewal assessments are free, for credentials that have a renewal option.