AZ-104
AZ-104
1Manage Azure Identities and Governance
20–25%
2Implement and Manage Storage
15–20%
3Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Resources
20–25%
4Implement and Manage Virtual Networking
15–20%
5Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources
10–15%
Certification comparison
AZ-104 vs AZ-305
AZ-104 is about running Azure. AZ-305 is about designing solutions on it. They’re two steps of one path: Microsoft requires the administrator certification before it awards the architect one.
Last updated
Side by side
The two exams at a glance
Every figure comes from the vendor’s own pages, through our exam guides, and is checked every week.
| Microsoft Azure Administrator | Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Microsoft | Microsoft |
| Exam code | AZ-104 | AZ-305 |
| Level | Intermediate | Advanced |
| Written for | Cloud engineer or architect | Cloud engineer or architect |
| Questions | Usually 40–60 | Usually 40–60 |
| Time | 100 min | 100 or 120 min |
| Passing score | 700 / 1000 | 700 / 1000 |
| Exam cost | $165In the United States; set by country | $165In the United States; set by country |
| Experience | NonePrerequisites | Azure Administrator AssociatePrerequisites |
| Renewal | Every year: free online assessment | Every year: free online assessment |
| Exam outline | 5 domainsLargest: Manage Azure Identities and Governance (20–25%) | 4 domainsLargest: Design Infrastructure Solutions (30–35%) |
| What’s changing | No change announced | No change announced |
Levels are our own rating, from the level each vendor gives its exam. How we check our facts
Exam domains
What each exam covers
Each domain’s share of the exam, as the vendor publishes it. Where one exam has two versions on sale, this is the newer one.
AZ-305
AZ-305
1Design Identity, Governance, and Monitoring Solutions
25–30%
2Design Data Storage Solutions
20–25%
3Design Business Continuity Solutions
15–20%
4Design Infrastructure Solutions
30–35%
Which one
Which should you take?
Choose AZ-104 if
you deploy and manage Azure resources: identities, storage, virtual machines and networks.
Choose AZ-305 if
you decide how solutions on Azure should be built, and you already administer it.
Which one first?
AZ-104 first. You can sit AZ-305 at any time, but Microsoft awards the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification only once you also hold Azure Administrator Associate.
Beyond the numbers
What really differs
Administering against designing
AZ-104 asks how to set up and manage resources. AZ-305 gives you requirements and asks which design meets them: for identity, data, continuity and infrastructure.
One step up
AZ-305 assumes everything in AZ-104. Its questions are less about how a setting works and more about choosing between services and accepting trade-offs.
Keeping them
Both are renewed every year with a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn.
FAQs
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers.
Find quick answers or contact our support team.
Should I take AZ-104 or AZ-305 first?
AZ-104 first. You can sit AZ-305 at any time, but Microsoft awards the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification only once you also hold Azure Administrator Associate.
Which is harder, AZ-104 or AZ-305?
AZ-305. We rate AZ-305 advanced and AZ-104 intermediate, going by the level each vendor gives its exam and the experience it expects.
What experience do I need for AZ-104 and AZ-305?
AZ-104: Microsoft sets no prerequisites for AZ-104. Knowing the exam’s domains well is what counts. AZ-305: Microsoft lists: Azure Administrator Associate.
Which costs more, AZ-104 or AZ-305?
Both cost $165 for one attempt.
