Azure Certification Path Chart: A Guide to Microsoft Azure Certifications

Microsoft Azure offers a variety of certifications to help professionals advance their careers and demonstrate their expertise in cloud computing.

To get started with Azure certifications, you'll need to choose a role-based certification path, such as Developer, Architect, or Data Scientist.

The Azure Developer certification is designed for developers who want to validate their skills in building cloud-based solutions using Azure services.

You can take the Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate certification exam to demonstrate your skills in developing cloud-based solutions.

Azure certifications are offered in four different levels: fundamentals, associate, expert, and specialty.

The fundamental certifications are designed for professionals who have just started out in IT or are looking to move into the industry for a career change.

The associate certifications are designed for professionals with some Azure experience.

Expert certifications are for professionals who have strong backgrounds in IT and cloud computing and experience with Microsoft Azure.

Here's a breakdown of the certification levels in a table:

Azure certification paths are designed to help you navigate your learning path in the cloud. There are six different Training Journeys, each tailored to specific types of industries or professions.

Each Training Journey has a recommended set of certifications to take, which can be found in the table below:

It's recommended to start with one of the Azure Fundamentals certifications, such as AI 900, AZ 900, SC 900, or DP 900, especially if you're new to the cloud computing field. These certifications are also good ways to become familiar with the certification process before spending time and money on more advanced certifications.

The exam details are pretty straightforward. The certification exams measure your ability to accomplish specific technical tasks, such as designing identity, governance, and monitoring solutions, as well as designing data storage and infrastructure solutions.

The exams are priced based on the country or region in which they're proctored. It's a good idea to register for an exam with a personal MSA account, rather than an organizational AAD account, to ensure your exam records are safe.

You can take a free practice assessment to test your skills and prepare for the exam. This will give you a sense of what to expect and help you identify areas where you need to focus your studying.

Here are the languages in which the exam is available:

Gaining Azure certification can be a game-changer for your career. You can develop your cloud computing skills and begin your IT career with the Microsoft Cloud Support Associate Professional Certificate, a 12-course series that applies concepts to practical IT and cloud support scenarios.

Businesses are adopting Azure at a rapid pace, with around 95% of Fortune 500 companies using the platform. This means there's plenty of opportunity to put your Azure skills to use and become a competitive candidate in a high-demand job market.

Azure certification provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the expectations of the IT field, and it's one of the most popular cloud platforms used by businesses across the world.

Getting certified in Azure can be a game-changer for your career. Businesses are looking for candidates with expertise in Azure's different components and features, and certification helps demonstrate these skills with industry-recognized certifications.

Azure certification is a great way to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the expectations of the IT field you're interested in pursuing. It's also helpful for further developing skills and advancing your knowledge as you pursue more expert or senior roles.

Microsoft has been making smart moves that play to its unique strengths, using legacy footholds in organizations to ease reluctant organizations to the cloud. This means there's plenty of opportunity to put Azure skills to use.

Azure adoption is increasing in enterprises while AWS adoption remains relatively flat. According to the Flexera 2021 State of Cloud Survey, Azure adoption is increasing in enterprises while AWS adoption remains relatively flat.

Azure offers one cool bonus - certification renewal and expiration changes that make Azure certs free to renew indefinitely. This move makes Azure's arguably the best certification renewal option out there.

Here are some benefits of getting certified in Azure:

Overall, getting certified in Azure can give you a competitive edge in the job market and open up new career opportunities.

Developing your skills on Coursera is a great way to boost your career. You can take the Microsoft Cloud Support Associate Professional Certificate, which is a 12-course series that covers essential IT and cloud support concepts.

This certificate program helps you apply concepts like data backup, cloud computing, and mobile device management to real-world scenarios.

To get certified in Azure, you'll need to meet certain requirements, which vary depending on the certification level you're aiming for.

First, you'll need to choose from three main certification paths: Developer, Architect, or Engineer.

The Developer path is ideal for those with a background in software development and programming, while the Architect path is geared towards those with experience in cloud architecture and design.

To become an Azure Developer Associate, you'll need to pass the AZ-204 exam, which covers topics such as cloud development, data storage, and security.

This exam is designed for developers who have experience with Azure services and want to demonstrate their skills in building cloud-based applications.

The AZ-500 exam, on the other hand, is required for Azure Security Engineer certification, covering topics like security, compliance, and identity.

This exam is geared towards security professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in designing and implementing secure cloud solutions.

To become an Azure Solutions Architect Expert, you'll need to pass the AZ-400 exam, which covers topics such as cloud architecture, design, and implementation.

This exam is designed for architects who want to demonstrate their skills in designing and implementing scalable, secure, and high-performance cloud solutions.