AZ-204 and AZ-305 represent developer and architect tracks in Azure. AZ-204 validates hands-on Azure development skills, while AZ-305 tests the ability to design complete cloud solutions at an enterprise architecture level.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Microsoft Azure Developer Associate | Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Microsoft | Microsoft |
| Exam Code | AZ-204 | AZ-305 |
| Level | Intermediate | Advanced / Expert |
| Cost | $165 | $165 |
| Duration | 120 min | 120 min |
| Questions | 40–60 | 40–60 |
| Passing Score | 700/1000 | 700/1000 |
| Renewal | 1 year (free renewal assessment) | 1 year (free renewal assessment) |
| Prerequisites | None required; 1-2 years of development experience and Azure experience recommended | AZ-104 recommended; advanced experience with Azure administration, development, and DevOps |
| Avg Salary Range | $95,000–$135,000 | $120,000–$165,000 |
Focus Areas
Microsoft Azure Developer Associate
Developing Azure compute solutions, storage, security, monitoring, and connecting to and consuming Azure services and third-party services
Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Designing identity, governance, monitoring, compute, networking, storage, business continuity, and data integration solutions on Azure
Who Should Get Which?
Get Microsoft Azure Developer Associate if...
Software developers building cloud applications on Azure who code against Azure services, implement APIs, and deploy using Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions
Get Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert if...
Senior architects who design end-to-end Azure solutions, make technology selection decisions, and plan identity, networking, data, and business continuity architectures
Recommended Order
Get AZ-204 first if you are a developer moving into architecture. AZ-305 requires either AZ-104 or AZ-204 as a prerequisite. If you come from an admin background, take the AZ-104 path to AZ-305 instead.
Study Tips
AZ-204 is code-heavy with hands-on implementation questions. AZ-305 is design-heavy with scenario-based architecture questions. AZ-204 asks how to build it; AZ-305 asks what to build and why. Focus AZ-305 study on architectural patterns, trade-offs, and Microsoft Well-Architected Framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Microsoft Azure Developer Associate and Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert?
AZ-204 and AZ-305 represent developer and architect tracks in Azure. AZ-204 validates hands-on Azure development skills, while AZ-305 tests the ability to design complete cloud solutions at an enterprise architecture level.
Should I get Microsoft Azure Developer Associate or Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert first?
Get AZ-204 first if you are a developer moving into architecture. AZ-305 requires either AZ-104 or AZ-204 as a prerequisite. If you come from an admin background, take the AZ-104 path to AZ-305 instead.
Who should get Microsoft Azure Developer Associate?
Software developers building cloud applications on Azure who code against Azure services, implement APIs, and deploy using Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions
Who should get Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert?
Senior architects who design end-to-end Azure solutions, make technology selection decisions, and plan identity, networking, data, and business continuity architectures
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