Azure administrator and architect path
The Azure route runs AZ-900 (optional), then AZ-104, then either AZ-305 for the architect credential or AZ-400 for DevOps. AZ-104 is the one you cannot skip: Microsoft names it as the prerequisite for the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification.
The four exams
| Exam | Certification | Take it if |
|---|---|---|
| AZ-900 | Azure Fundamentals | You are new to cloud, or you work next to it |
| AZ-104 | Azure Administrator Associate | You run Azure day to day |
| AZ-305 | Azure Solutions Architect Expert | You design solutions and choose between services |
| AZ-400 | DevOps Engineer Expert | You build pipelines, source control strategy and release processes |
The prerequisite rule
Microsoft’s certification pages say that the Azure Solutions Architect Expert and DevOps Engineer Expert credentials need the Azure Administrator Associate certification first. The DevOps page also still mentions the Azure Developer Associate as an alternative, but Microsoft marks that certification as retired, so plan on AZ-104. The AZ-104 vs AZ-305 and AZ-400 vs AZ-104 guides go into detail.
Architect or DevOps?
AZ-305 asks you to choose: which storage redundancy, which identity design, which recovery strategy. AZ-400 asks you to implement: pipelines carry more than half of its weight. AZ-305 vs AZ-400 gives the full comparison. Many people eventually take both.
Branches off the route
- Security: the Microsoft security path covers SC-500, the successor to AZ-500.
- AI: the Azure AI certification path covers AI-901, AI-103 and the rest.
- Windows Server: AZ-802 is the hybrid Windows Server administration exam.
Check the exam changes tracker before booking.
Moving from on-premises servers to Azure? Sysadmin to cloud certifications explains which of these exams to start with.