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Azure certifications and roadmap: Roles, paths, and exams

Suggested Azure certification career paths for Administrators, Developers, Security Engineers, DevOps, Data and AI professionals, and Solution Architects.

Wayne Hoggett

By Wayne Hoggett

Jun 17, 2024 • 12 Minute Read

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Trying to figure out what Azure certification to start with, or which one you need to take next? Thankfully, Microsoft has made it easy. They offer role-based “paths” to follow, so you can focus on taking certifications that help get you into a particular role, and give you the Azure skills and knowledge you need once you’re in it.

Table of Contents

Overview of Azure Certification Paths

When it comes to Azure, Microsoft has role-based paths for the following: 

  • Administrators
  • Developers
  • Security Engineers
  • DevOps Engineers
  • Data and AI Professionals
  • Solution Architects

There are four tiers of designation, each of which earns you a different level of Microsoft certification: Fundamentals, Associate, Expert, and Specialist. As you’d expect, the difficulty goes up with each level.

Let’s cover the Fundamentals first, as these are mostly universal regardless of your chosen role.

Starting your journey with Azure Fundamentals

Fundamental certificates and exams are targeted at professionals who are new to cloud, new to Azure, or new to their role. There are Azure Fundamentals, Azure AI Fundamentals, and Azure Data Fundamentals.

AZ-900: Introduction to Azure Fundamentals

As the name suggests, the AZ-900 is designed to demonstrate you have foundational knowledge of Azure-based cloud services. It’s geared towards:

  • People in technical roles who want to validate foundational knowledge in cloud services (with a focus on Azure).

  • People in non-technical roles (think sales and purchasing) who want to speak a common language with cloud professionals.

Because cloud is pretty much table stakes for businesses these days, the second audience should include practically everyone. 

AI-900: Basics of Azure AI Fundamentals

Just like the cloud before it, AI is becoming the new table stakes. That’s why Microsoft offers a specific AI Fundamentals exam. If you’re a developer, data or AI professional, this is of value to you. By studying for the AI-900, you’ll learn what services Microsoft offers in this area.

DP-900: Core Concepts of Azure Data Fundamentals

Data is the foundation on which all software (and AI) are built. If you're a Developer, Data Analyst, or Data or AI Professional, the DP-900 is great for you.

Beyond the fundamentals: Choosing your certification path

Once you’ve got the fundamentals covered, you can explore the certifications specific to each job role. We’ve broken down each below, so you can check out the one most relevant to you.

Azure certification path for Administrators

This path is for anyone who wants to be or is specializing as an Azure Administrator.

AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals

If you’re new to cloud, new to Azure or new to your role as an Azure Administrator, the Azure Fundamentals exam is an ideal starting point.

AZ-104: Azure Administrator associate

After getting the fundamentals down, the Azure Administrator associate exam is a great second step. Studying for this helps you strengthen your skills in implementing, managing and monitoring cloud solutions. 

AZ-800 and AZ-801: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate 

After you’ve got the Azure Administrator Associate, it’s worth taking this exam specializing in hybrid cloud environments. As an Administrator, there’ll be times when you’re managing infrastructure split between public and private cloud. The AZ-800 and AZ-801 exams will target skills in managing Windows Server on-premises, and IaaS platform workloads.

AZ-700: Azure Network Engineer Associate

For Network Administrators, the Azure Network Engineer Associate covers the skills required to design, implement, and maintain Azure networking infrastructure.

AZ-140: Azure Virtual Desktop Administrator

Want to specialize in delivering virtual desktops and remote applications on Azure? The AZ-140 specialist level exam covers just that. 

Next career steps

So, you’ve taken and passed all the exams above. Congratulations! What now? Well, being an administrator can be a good launching point for a career as a DevOps Engineer or Solutions Architect.

Azure certification path for Developers

If you’re a modern developer, you should know about cloud computing. As a developer, you’ll be solving real world problems, and taking advantage of cloud services (especially serverless) is a great way to do that more efficiently.

AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals

If you’re new to cloud, new to Azure or new to your role as a Developer, the Azure Fundamentals exam is an ideal starting point.

AZ-204: Azure Developer Associate

Your learning path as an Azure Developer is exceptionally easy — once you’ve taken the Azure Fundamentals, you only need to take one exam, the Azure Developer Associate. Studying for this helps you develop your skills in designing, building, and maintaining cloud apps.

Next career steps

So, you’ve taken and passed all the exams above. Congratulations! What now? If you want to take your Azure career to the next level, you might want to cross-skill or move into a role as a DevOps Engineer, Data and AI Professional or a Solutions Architect.

Azure certification path for Security Engineers

Cybersecurity and cloud skills are the two biggest skill gaps for organizations, according to Pluralsight’s latest Technical Skills Report. That means if you’re skilled in both, you’ve got a strong career trajectory. Here’s the suggested certification path for security professionals.

AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals

If you’re new to cloud, new to Azure or new to your role as a Security Engineer, the Azure Fundamentals exam is an ideal starting point as it covers cloud and Azure fundamentals. 

SC-900: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals

There’s an additional fundamentals exam targeted specifically at Security Professionals, the SC-900. This makes it an ideal second step.

AZ-500: Azure Security Engineer Associate

Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, it’s time to take an associate-level exam. The AZ-500 covers the skills required to implement security controls, maintain security posture, identity and remediate security vulnerabilities.

SC-100: Cybersecurity Architect Expert

Ready for an expert-level security exam? The SC-100 covers the skills required to translate security strategies into capabilities so you can design, guide and maintain security solutions that implement zero trust.

Next career steps

Security experts are in high demand, so your next logical career step may be to cross skill in compliance with Microsoft’s Identity and Access Administrator associate (SC-300), or work on your leadership skills to become a Security Manager, Director of Information Security, or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

Azure certification path for DevOps engineers

Contrary to popular claims, DevOps is very much alive. DevOps remains at the forefront of helping organizations enable fast deployments, ensure quality engineering standards, scale operations globally, improve security processes, and more. Here is the suggested certification path for DevOps professionals.

AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals

If you’re new to cloud, new to Azure or new to your role as a DevOps Engineer, the Azure Fundamentals exam is an ideal starting point as it covers cloud and Azure fundamentals. 

Next, you’ll need an Associate-level certification. Pick from one of the two below, depending on your background.

AZ-104: Azure Administrator associate

If you’re from an Administrator background, you might like to choose to take the AZ-104 exam as your next step. Studying for this helps you understand how to implement, manage and monitor cloud solutions. 

AZ-204: Azure Developer Associate

If you’re from a Developer background, you might like to choose to take the AZ-204 exam as your next step. Studying for this helps you understand how to design, build, and maintain cloud apps.

AZ-400: DevOps Engineer Expert

Got either the AZ-104 or AZ-204? Great! Your next step to prove your skills as a DevOps Engineer with the AZ-400. Studying for this and passing the exam proves you’re an expert in delivering continuous value by integrating people, process and technology.

Next career steps

If being an advanced DevOps specialist isn’t your end game, you could move towards becoming a Solutions Architect, or transition into leadership roles such as DevOps Manager or Technical Lead by developing your strategic and managerial skills.

Azure certification path for Data and AI Professionals

AI/ML had the second-highest hiring difficulty (nine out of ten) and one of the largest market salaries (USD $142,600 or greater). It’s a great time to get into this profession, or an adjacent one such as being a data engineer or analyst. Here is the suggested certification path for you.

Take all three Azure fundamental exams

As mentioned earlier in this article, there are three Azure fundamental exams:

You’ll want to take all three of these, as these make an ideal starting point for covering the key Azure services, as well as fundamental concepts around cloud computing, AI, data, and software development.

Once you’re done with these, at the associate level there is a huge range of certifications across data and AI, listed below.

AI-102: Azure AI Engineer Associate

The AI-102 covers the skills required to design and implement AI solutions using Azure AI services including Open AI.

DP-100: Azure Data Scientist Associate

The DP-100 covers the skills required to manage data ingestion, preparation, model training and deployment. It also covers machine learning monitoring with Python, Azure ML, and MLflow.

DP-300: Azure Database Administrator Associate

The DP-300 covers the skills required to administer SQL Server database infrastructure across cloud, and hybrid.

DP-203: Azure Data Engineer Associate

The DP-203 covers skills in performing common data engineering tasks using Azure services.

DP-600: Fabric Analytics Associate

The DP-600 covers the skills required to design, create, and deploy enterprise data analytics solutions

DP-420: Azure Cosmos DB Developer Speciality

At the specialty level, DP-420: Azure Cosmos DB Developer Speciality covers the skills required to query, create indexes, manage and provision resources in the SQL API and SDK with Azure Cosmos DB.

Next career steps

If you want to move beyond practitioner to leadership, you can aim for roles like Chief Data Officer (CDO) or AI Project Manager by developing leadership and project management skills.

Azure certification path for Solution Architects

Want to be someone who knows Azure inside and out, and is paid to come in and suggest how to build business solutions? Alternatively, do you want to prove that you have these skills already? Below is the certification path that will help you do that.

AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals

If you’re new to cloud, new to Azure or new to your role as a Solutions Architect, the AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals exam is an ideal starting point as it covers cloud and Azure fundamentals. 

AZ-104: Azure Administrator associate

To take the Azure Solutions Architect Expert, you must earn the Azure Administrator Associate certification first. Studying for this helps you understand how to implement, manage and monitor cloud solutions. 

AZ-305: Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Now that you’ve got the AZ-104, it’s time to take a step up to the Expert level. The AZ-305 covers the skills required to advise stakeholders, and translate business requirements into solutions using Azure services. Your solutions will align to the Well-architected framework and the Cloud Adoption Framework.

Next career steps

As a Solutions Architect it’s important to maintain broad skills across a range of technologies, so your next logical career step may be to cross skill in security, data and AI or application development. Alternatively, you might even explore multi-cloud, or you could also choose to move into a management role (CTO, CIO), or a project management role.

Important advice for your Azure certification journey

I’ve taken over 30 Microsoft exams, and here’s my advice: taking it slow, getting hands-on experience, and exploring areas outside of your chosen role will really help you round out your Azure skills.

Also, it’s not the end of your journey once you’ve taken and passed these exams. Remember to keep your skills fresh by taking new and updated courses as they are released. You’ll need to complete your certification renewals every 12 months for all exams except fundamental level exams.

Have fun on your Azure journey, and keep being awesome!

Wayne Hoggett

Wayne H.

Wayne Hoggett is a Senior Author, Cloud at Pluralsight with 20 years’ experience in Microsoft infrastructure including Windows Server, System Center, Exchange, SQL Server and, Azure. He is a Microsoft Certified Trainer that has earned over 20 certifications from Microsoft, Terraform, Citrix and ITIL throughout his career.

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