Azure Certification Path: Roles, Paths, and Exams Explained

The Azure certification path can be a bit overwhelming, but don't worry, I've got you covered. There are several roles and paths to choose from, each with its own set of exams.

The Azure Solutions Architect Expert role is a popular choice, as it's in high demand and can lead to a higher salary. To become an Azure Solutions Architect Expert, you'll need to pass the AZ-305 exam.

You can take your time and complete the exams at your own pace, but it's recommended to complete them within a year of starting your certification journey. The exams are designed to test your skills and knowledge in a specific area of Azure.

The Azure Developer Associate role is a great starting point for developers who want to learn about Azure and its services. To become an Azure Developer Associate, you'll need to pass the AZ-204 exam.

Microsoft offers a range of Azure certifications to suit different career goals and skill levels. Begin with the AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification for beginners, while experienced professionals may prefer the AZ-305: Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification.

To choose the right certification path, review the official exam objectives and understand the skills and knowledge measured in the exam. This will help you focus your study efforts and ensure you're prepared for the exam.

Here are some key certifications to consider:

Azure stands out as the preeminent cloud computing platform globally, holding the top position in the market. This is a significant advantage for professionals looking to make a career in cloud computing. The escalating demand for cloud-based solutions prompts organizations to transition their operations to the cloud for competitive advantage. Most employers express a preference for candidates who showcase Microsoft Azure certifications on their resumes.

The value of Microsoft Azure training certification courses is substantial. It can open up job opportunities and give you a competitive edge in the job market. Azure certifications are recognized and certified by Microsoft, making them highly valued by employers.

Starting your journey with Azure Fundamentals is a great way to get started with cloud computing. You can choose from three fundamental certifications: Azure Fundamentals, Azure AI Fundamentals, and Azure Data Fundamentals.

The Azure Fundamentals certification is a great starting point for beginners. It's designed to demonstrate your foundational knowledge of Azure-based cloud services. You can take the AZ-900: Introduction to Azure Fundamentals exam to get certified.

If you're interested in AI, you can start with the Azure AI Fundamentals certification. This certification is designed for individuals who want to gain a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and their applications. You can take the AI-900: Basics of Azure AI Fundamentals exam to get certified.

Alternatively, you can start with the Azure Data Fundamentals certification if you're interested in data. This certification is designed for developers, data analysts, and data or AI professionals who want to learn about the core concepts of Azure data.

Here are the three fundamental certifications:

Remember, these certifications are designed for beginners, so you don't need prior experience or knowledge to get started.

The AZ-104 exam is a great second step after getting the fundamentals down. It's a certification that helps you strengthen your skills in implementing, managing and monitoring cloud solutions.

If you're interested in becoming an Azure Administrator, this exam is a must-take. You can study for it using the Exam Prep Course: AZ-104: Azure Administrator associate.

Here are some of the certifications you can earn after becoming an Azure Administrator Associate:

You can check out the one most relevant to you and start your path towards becoming a certified Azure professional.

Choosing the right certification path is crucial to your success in the world of Microsoft Azure. You should start with the AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification, which is perfect for beginners.

There are many different Azure certifications available, so it's essential to choose the right one for your needs. Microsoft offers a range of certifications, including the AZ-305: Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification, which is geared towards experienced professionals.

To choose the right certification path, you must thoroughly review the official exam objectives provided by Microsoft for each certification. This will help you understand the skills and knowledge measured in the exam and focus your study efforts.

Here are some certifications to consider at different levels:

After you've got the fundamentals down, you can consider more specialized certifications like the AZ-800 and AZ-801: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate exams, which target skills in managing Windows Server on-premises and IaaS platform workloads.

Microsoft offers role-based certifications that align with trending job roles in the industry. These certifications focus on core job roles in the cloud domain and are categorized into three levels: fundamental, associate, and expert.

There are five Microsoft certifications that target specific job roles, including Cloud Administrator, Cloud Developer, Cloud Solutions Architect, Data Engineer, and AI Engineer. Each certification requires passing one or two exams, depending on the level.

Here is a list of the role-based certifications:

The AZ-800 and AZ-801 exams are a great next step after earning your Azure Administrator Associate certification.

These exams are designed to test your skills in managing Windows Server on-premises and IaaS platform workloads in a hybrid cloud environment.

You'll need to prepare for these exams using courses like AZ-800 Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate and AZ-801 Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate, which are offered by A Cloud Guru and Pluralsight.

If you're looking for a solid exam prep course, consider A Cloud Guru and Pluralsight's offerings for these exams.

The AZ-700 certification is specifically designed for network engineers who want to demonstrate their skills in designing, implementing, and maintaining Azure networking infrastructure. This certification is a great next step for those who have already passed the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) exam or have experience with other cloud networking platforms.

The AZ-700 certification exam covers various topics related to securing Azure environments, focusing on key areas such as Azure Core Networking Infrastructure, Azure Connectivity Services, Azure Application Delivery Services, Private Access To Azure Services, and Secure Network Connectivity To Azure Resources. These areas are essential for network engineers to understand and master in order to design and implement secure and reliable Azure networking solutions.

To pass the AZ-700 exam, you'll need to have a basic understanding of cloud computing terminology, concepts, and architectures, as well as experience with creating, managing, and troubleshooting Azure networking resources. You'll also need to understand the different types of Azure networks, such as virtual networks, subnets, network security groups, and different Azure networking services, like Azure Load Balancing and Azure VPN Gateway.

Here are the key areas covered in the AZ-700 certification exam:

The exam fee for the AZ-700 exam is $165, and you can register for it on the official Microsoft Certification website. The exam is available in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, and Italian.

The DP-203 certification is a role-based Azure certification that focuses on data engineering tasks using Azure services. This certification is suitable for Data Engineers, Data Architects, Database Administrators, Business Intelligence professionals, or any other IT professionals with a thorough knowledge of data processing languages.

To succeed in the DP-203 Microsoft Azure exam, you should possess solid knowledge of data processing languages, including SQL, Python, Scala, and parallel processing and data architecture patterns. You should also be familiar with different types of Azure data stores, such as Azure Storage, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Synapse Analytics, and different Azure data processing services, like Azure Data Factory and Azure Databricks.

The DP-203 certification covers various topics related to data engineering on Azure, focusing on data storage, data processing pipelines, data security, and monitoring data solutions. To earn this certification, you'll need to have experience with Azure data services, such as Azure Data Lake Storage, Azure Data Factory, and Azure Synapse Analytics.

Here are the key areas covered in the DP-203 certification:

The exam fee for the DP-203 Microsoft Azure exam is $165, and you can register for the exam on the official Microsoft Azure portal.

The SC-900 certification is a great next step for those in the security field. It's a fundamentals exam targeted specifically at security professionals, making it an ideal second step after passing the Azure Fundamentals exam.

This exam is perfect for those who want to demonstrate their understanding of security, compliance, and identity fundamentals. You can prepare for the exam with the SC-900: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals exam prep course.

The exam covers key areas such as identity and access management, Azure platform protection, and security operations. If you're willing to earn the SC-900 certification, you should have a strong understanding of Azure services and practical experience in implementing security controls and security best practices in Azure environments.

Specialty certifications in Azure are designed for professionals with advanced skills and experience. The DP-420 certification, for example, is suitable for developers who know how to design and implement solutions using Azure Cosmos DB.

The DP-420 certification covers various topics related to developing solutions using Azure Cosmos DB, focusing on data modeling, querying and manipulating data, indexing and tuning, and scaling and partitioning. To succeed in the DP-420 exam, candidates should possess practical experience in developing applications using Azure Cosmos DB and familiarity with NoSQL databases and database development concepts.

Here are some key specialty certifications in Azure:

Both the DP-420 and AZ-204 certifications require a fee of $165 to register for the exam, and can be taken on the official Microsoft Certification website.

The DP-100: Scientist certification is a great choice for those looking to demonstrate their expertise in applying data science and machine learning techniques on Microsoft Azure.

This certification is suitable for individuals who want to exhibit their expertise in data science and machine learning on Azure Machine Learning. The DP-100 certification covers key areas such as data preparation, model training, model deployment and monitoring, and machine learning interpretability.

To succeed in the DP-100 exam, you should have practical experience in foundational data science and machine learning concepts. Familiarity with Python programming and Azure services, particularly Azure Machine Learning, will also be beneficial.

The exam fee for the DP-100 certification is $165, and it's available in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), and more.

Here are the key skills and knowledge areas required for the DP-100 certification:

The DP-600: Fabric Analytics Associate certification is a great way to demonstrate your skills in designing, creating, and deploying enterprise data analytics solutions. This certification covers the skills required to work with fabric analytics.

The DP-600 exam prep course is available to help you prepare for the certification. This course is specifically designed to help you pass the DP-600 exam and become certified as a Fabric Analytics Associate.

The Specialty Level of Microsoft Azure certifications is designed for professionals who have hands-on experience with Azure services and want to demonstrate their expertise in a specific area.

DP-420: Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty is one such certification that covers skills required to query, create indexes, manage and provision resources in the SQL API and SDK with Azure Cosmos DB.

The DP-420 certification is suitable for developers who know how to design and implement solutions using Azure Cosmos DB, and it covers various topics related to developing solutions using Azure Cosmos DB.

To succeed in the DP-420 exam, candidates should possess practical experience in developing applications using Azure Cosmos DB and familiarity with NoSQL databases and database development concepts.

The exam fee for the DP-420 exam is $165, and it can be registered on the official Microsoft Certification website.

Other specialty certifications include Azure for SAP Workload Speciality (AZ-120), Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty (AZ-140), and Azure Support Engineer for Connectivity Specialty (AZ-720).

Here are some key areas covered in the DP-420 certification:

If you're looking to advance your career as a Solutions Architect, consider getting certified in Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305). This certification is suitable for experienced professionals managing Azure administration, development, and DevOps processes.

The AZ-305 certification covers various topics related to identity and access management in Microsoft Azure, focusing on design and implementation of Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) solutions, single sign-on (SSO), and role-based access control (RBAC).

To succeed in the AZ-305 certification exam, you should possess knowledge of cloud computing benefits, different types of cloud services and cloud deployment models, and understanding of different Azure services and how they work together.

You'll need to have experience with tasks such as designing solutions, creating and managing Azure resources, and monitoring and troubleshooting Azure solutions. Familiarity with Azure solution architecture tasks, such as designing solution architectures, developing solution prototypes, and deploying solutions to production, is also required.

The fee for the AZ-305 certification exam is $165, and you can register for the exam on the official Microsoft Azure portal.

Here are the next steps for those who have already passed the following exams:

To prepare for the Microsoft Azure certification exams, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the exam details. This includes the passing score, duration, language, question types, and prerequisites.

Start by taking the three Azure fundamental exams: AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals, DP-900: Azure Data Fundamentals, and AI-900: Azure AI Fundamentals. These exams cover key Azure services and fundamental concepts around cloud computing, AI, data, and software development.

Once you've completed the fundamental exams, consider enrolling in a training course or instructor-led training to further your learning. Microsoft's official learning paths provide practical exercises and labs that reinforce theoretical knowledge.

Hands-on experience is also crucial, so use a free Azure account for practical exercises or participate in hands-on labs to gain experience with the latest cloud services.

Take as many practice exams as possible to assess your knowledge and identify areas where you need more help. Microsoft Azure official practice tests simulate the exam environment and match the difficulty and format of the actual exam.

Here's a summary of the steps to prepare for the Azure certification exams:

Choosing your credential can be a crucial step in your Azure certification journey. Beginners should start with the AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification.

There are two main paths to consider: Microsoft Applied Skills or Microsoft Certifications. You must choose the path that fits your career goals, desired skillset, and schedule.

To get started, you should thoroughly review the official exam objectives provided by Microsoft for each certification. This will help you understand the skills and knowledge measured in the exam and focus your study efforts.

If you're an experienced professional, you might want to consider the AZ-305: Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification.