To check your Azure certification, you'll need to log in to your Microsoft account and navigate to the Azure portal. From there, you can click on your profile picture or initials in the top right corner and select "My Profile" to access your certification information.
Your certification status will be displayed on this page, along with the date it was earned and the expiration date, if applicable. This is a great place to start if you're wondering whether your certification is still valid.
To verify your certification, you can also use the Azure Certification Checker tool. This tool allows you to enter your certification ID and verify its status in real-time. It's a quick and easy way to confirm your certification.
If you're having trouble accessing your certification information or verifying your certification status, don't worry - there are resources available to help. You can contact Microsoft support for assistance with any issues you may be experiencing.
Preparation and Paths
To prepare for Azure certification, it's essential to start with the basics. Microsoft recommends taking one of the Azure Fundamentals certifications, such as AI 900, AZ 900, SC 900, or DP 900, especially if you're new to cloud computing.
You can choose an Azure Fundamentals certification that best matches your background or the field you want to move into. These certifications are a great way to become familiar with the certification process before spending time and money on more advanced certifications.
To get started, understand the exam objectives, gather study materials, and practice hands-on with Azure. Microsoft provides detailed documentation outlining what topics are covered, and there are numerous resources available to help you prepare, including free online courses, paid courses, and practice tests.
Here are some recommended Azure certification paths to consider:
- Cloud IT pros: AZ 104→AZ 500→AZ 120→AZ 700→AZ 140
- Hybrid cloud IT pros: AZ 800 or AZ 801→AZ 104→AZ 140
- Cloud IT pros expert level: AZ 104→AZ 400→AZ 305
- Developers: AZ 204→AI 102→DP 420→AZ 400
- Data & AI professionals: DP 300→DP 203→DP 100
- Data analysts: PL 300→ DP 500
Exam Prep
As you prepare for your exam, practice assessments are a great way to get a feel for the actual test. These assessments provide an overview of the style, wording, and difficulty of the questions you'll encounter on the exam, helping you identify areas where you need more practice.
Practice assessments allow you to interact with different question types in the same user interface you'll use during the exam. This will give you a realistic idea of what to expect on the actual test.
To prepare for the Azure AZ-900 certification, it's essential to understand the exam objectives. Microsoft provides detailed documentation outlining what topics are covered, which you can use as a roadmap for studying.
To get started, gather study materials such as free online courses, paid courses, practice tests, and books. Microsoft's official website has a list of recommended study materials, including Microsoft Learn's free online modules, which are incredibly informative.
Hands-on practice is also crucial when preparing for the AZ-900 exam. Create a free Azure account and experiment with the services to reinforce your understanding of key concepts.
Here are some popular study guides and books to consider:
- "Microsoft Azure Fundamentals" by Jim Cheshire
- "Exam Ref AZ-900" by Jim Cheshire
- Microsoft Official Academic Course
Practice tests are also a valuable resource to help you gauge your readiness and familiarize yourself with the exam format. Microsoft Learn and various other online platforms offer practice exams.
Paths
There are four levels of Microsoft Azure certification: Fundamentals, Associate, Expert, and Specialty. Fundamentals-level certifications are perfect for non-technical people who want to get started in cloud computing.
Microsoft Azure organizes its different certifications into Training Journeys, which are tailored to specific types of industries or professions. Each of these six different Training Journeys has a recommended set of certifications to take.
The specific certification tied to each exam is outlined in the table below:
It's recommended to start with one of the Azure Fundamentals certifications, especially if you are new to the cloud computing field or want to move into cloud computing from another industry.
Fundamentals
The Azure Fundamentals certification is a great place to start your Azure journey. It's a beginner-friendly certification that covers essential concepts, including cloud principles, Azure services and solutions, compliance, pricing, and support.
The certification is offered by Microsoft and is a fundamental credential that validates your knowledge of Microsoft Azure cloud services. It's an excellent starting point for anyone looking to understand the basics of Azure cloud computing.
The Azure Fundamentals certification is a stepping stone for anyone looking to kick-start their career in the world of Microsoft Azure cloud computing. It serves as a foundational certification and provides a solid understanding of Azure's core principles.
Here are some key skills covered by the Azure Fundamentals certification:
- High availability in cloud computing
- Foundational cloud concepts
- Cloud scalability
- Fault tolerance in cloud computing
- Capex vs Opex cloud computing
The certification is not mandatory for those looking to continue up the Azure ladder, but it's a great way to establish a strong foundation in Azure technology.
Fundamentals-Level
If you're new to cloud computing, it's essential to start with the fundamentals. The Azure Fundamentals certification (AZ-900) is a great place to begin, covering high availability, cloud scalability, and fault tolerance. It's a go-to starting point for anyone new to cloud or Microsoft Azure.
The AZ-900 certification is a $99 USD exam that's perfect for beginners, with no prior experience needed. It's a foundational certification that provides a solid understanding of Azure's core principles.
Here are some key skills covered in the AZ-900 certification:
- High availability in cloud computing
- Foundational cloud concepts
- Cloud scalability
- Fault tolerance in cloud computing
- Capex vs Opex cloud computing
If you're looking to understand the basics of cloud computing, this certification is for you. It's not just for developers or IT pros; non-technical people with a cloud-adjacent job can also benefit from this knowledge.
The Azure Fundamentals certification is one of the top-paying cloud certifications, with an average salary of $126,000. However, it's essential to remember that this certification is just the starting point, and you'll need to continue learning and growing to advance in your career.
To prepare for the AZ-900 certification, you can start by understanding the exam objectives, gathering study materials, and practicing hands-on exercises. Microsoft's official website has a list of recommended study materials, including free online courses, paid courses, and practice tests.
Here's a list of suggested training resources to help you prepare for the AZ-900 certification:
- Microsoft Learn's free online modules
- "Microsoft Azure Fundamentals" by Jim Cheshire
- "Exam Ref AZ-900" by Jim Cheshire and Microsoft Official Academic Course
- Practice tests and sample questions on Microsoft Learn and other online platforms
Scientist
As a data scientist, you'll be working with massive amounts of data to extract insights that can help businesses make informed decisions.
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100) certification is a great way to prove your skills in this area.
This certification requires passing the exam DP-100: Designing and Implementing a Data Science Solution on Azure, which costs $165 USD.
Typically, test-takers have a background in computer science, math, and statistics.
To prepare for this exam, you'll need to know how to configure Azure resources for machine learning, identify cloud data imbalances, evaluate cloud model performance, and assess cloud environment constraints.
Here are some key areas to focus on:
- Configure Azure resources for machine learning
- Identify cloud data imbalances
- Evaluate cloud model performance
- Assess cloud environment constraints
By earning this certification, you'll be able to work with data in Azure and help businesses turn data into actionable insights.
Specialized Certifications
If you're looking to specialize in a particular area of Azure, there are certifications that can help you stand out.
The Azure IoT Developer Specialty (AZ-220) is a great option for those interested in IoT, requiring fluency in an Azure-supported language and understanding of IoT solutions.
You'll need to understand the ins and outs of IoT solutions and be able to implement the Azure services that form an IoT solution.
The Azure Database Administrator Associate (DP-300) certification is ideal for database administrators and data management specialists who manage on-prem and cloud relational databases.
This certification requires understanding of concepts covered in the DP-900 Exam for the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals certification and knowledge of T-SQL.
You'll be able to implement and manage cloud-native and hybrid data platform solutions built using Azure services and SQL Server.
Here are some specialized Azure certifications and their requirements:
Developer (AZ-204)
The Azure Developer Associate certification is a solid first step for developers looking to prove their skills in developing apps and services for Azure. It covers the basics of designing, building, testing, and maintaining cloud solutions.
To get this certification, you'll need to pass the AZ-204 exam, which requires at least 1-2 years of experience with development and Azure development. You'll also need to know an Azure-supported language, such as C#, PHP, Java, Python, or JavaScript.
The exam covers various skills, including deploying Azure Resource Manager (ARM), building Azure Managed Kubernetes Service (AKS) clusters, and creating Azure app services. You'll also need to implement Azure RBAC and IaaS with Azure, as well as develop Azure Cosmos DB solutions.
This certification is ideal for developers who want to flex their Azure skills and have proven development experience. It's not a beginner's certification, and many find it especially tricky, so approach it with patience and don't feel discouraged if you don't ace it on your first try.
To prepare for the exam, you can take a course like the Azure Developer Associate course on Microsoft Learn, which provides hands-on experience designing, building, testing, and maintaining cloud applications.
Here's a summary of the skills covered by the AZ-204 exam:
- Deploy Azure Resource Manager (ARM)
- Build Azure Managed Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster
- Create Azure app services
- Implement Azure RBAC
- Implement IaaS with Azure
- Develop Azure Cosmos DB solutions
DP-300
The DP-300 certification is a specialized credential that proves your expertise in administering relational databases on Microsoft Azure. It's a must-have for database administrators and data management specialists who want to advance their careers.
To earn the DP-300 certification, you'll need to pass the Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure exam, which costs $165 USD. You should already have a solid understanding of the concepts covered in the DP-900 Exam for the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals certification.
The exam covers six key areas:
- Plan and implement data platform resources
- Implement a secure environment
- High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HADR)
- Optimize operational resources and query performance
- Task automation
- Perform administration using T-SQL
With the DP-300 certification, you'll be able to implement and manage cloud-native and hybrid data platform solutions built using Azure services and SQL Server. This means you'll have the skills to handle day-to-day operation and management of modern relational database solutions, making you a valuable asset to any organization.
AZ-500
The AZ-500 certification is a specialized certification that focuses on cloud security. It's designed for security engineers who work with Azure.
To be eligible for the AZ-500, you'll need to have practical experience in administering Azure and hybrid environments. You should also have experience with cloud capabilities, infrastructure as code, security operations processes, and Azure services.
The AZ-500 certification covers a range of skills, including implementing platform protection, managing access and identity, managing security operations, and securing data and applications.
Here are some key skills covered by the AZ-500 certification:
- Implementing platform protection
- Managing access and identity
- Managing security operations
- Securing data and applications
To prepare for the AZ-500, you can use various training methods, such as Microsoft Learning Paths, online courses, or online learning partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find my Microsoft Certifications?
To view your Microsoft Certifications, navigate to your Learn profile and select the Certifications tab under the Applied Skills or Certifications section. Your earned certifications will be listed for easy reference.
Sources
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/azure-fundamentals/
- https://www.pluralsight.com/resources/blog/cloud/which-azure-certification-is-right-for-me
- https://www.coursera.org/articles/azure-certification-path
- https://www.simplilearn.com/azure-certification-paths-article
- https://www.knowledgehut.com/blog/cloud-computing/az-900-certification-validity
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