SecProve
ExpertVendor-specificMicrosoft· issued from US

AZ-305

Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Official page at Microsoft↔ Compare with another cert
Exam fee
$165
Ongoing
—
Study time
80–160 hrs
Delivery
Hybrid
Validity
1 yr (renewal cycle)

› Quality score

31.0 / 40

Four-axis SecProve rubric, each 0–10. SecProve editorial assessment — each axis carries a written justification so you can push back on any single call without dismissing the whole score.

Blueprint rigor
How well-defined and rigorous the exam blueprint is.
Microsoft publishes a detailed skills outline with measured percentages per area.
8.0/10
Practical evidence
Hands-on labs / written reports vs pure MCQ.
Case studies plus scenario items; no live lab.
5.5/10
Currency & upkeep
How aggressively content is kept current with the field.
Microsoft refreshes role-based exams aggressively; current within ~6 months of major service changes.
9.0/10
Market recognition
How often this signal actually moves a hiring decision.
Common requirement on Azure architect listings.
8.5/10

› Exam format

40–60 questions (multiple-choice + case studies), 120 minutes. Proctored via Pearson VUE. Passing score: 700/1000.

Passing score
700/1000 (scaled)
Retake policy
Fee: $165 per attempt
Wait: 1d between attempts

24-hour wait after first fail; 14 days between attempts 2-4. Max 5 attempts per 12-month window.

› Recertification

Valid for 1 year. Free online renewal exam on Microsoft Learn.

› NICE Framework work roles

The NIST NICE work-role IDs this cert maps to. NICCS lookup.

DD-WRL-002DD-WRL-001
Recognition
Global
Exam languages
en

› Core domains covered

The 2 domains this cert is centrally about. Passing the exam demonstrates working knowledge of each.

A5Cloud Security

AWS/Azure/GCP security controls, IAM policies, CSPM, container security, shared responsibility model.

A25Security Architecture & Engineering

Reference architectures, control frameworks (NIST SP 800-53, CIS Controls), secure-by-design patterns, threat modeling, trust-boundary design, technology standards.

› Prerequisites

Experience

Recommended: AZ-104 + experience in Azure architecture, networking, security, governance.

› Progression

requiredrecommended

Where this cert fits in the typical learning path. Required edges are vendor-gated; recommended edges reflect de facto industry progression.

Required prereqs (0)

No vendor-gated prereqs.

Recommended priors (1)
AZ-104Microsoft
AZ-305
Microsoft
Required by (0)

No certs require this one.

Recommended next (0)

No follow-on certs reference this one yet.

› Study materials

Curated starting points. Not exhaustive — vet each against your learning style and the current exam version.

Training providers
Practice tests
  • MeasureUp Official AZURE-SOLUTIONS-ARCHITECT Practice Test

› Version & lifecycle

Current version
AZ-305 (current)
Released
2024-09

Replaced AZ-303 + AZ-304 in 2022.

› Salary signal

Azure solutions architect, US, 5+ years. Often paired with AZ-104 prerequisite.

$130K–$195K
median $155K

Robert Half Salary Guide + Glassdoor 'Azure Architect' aggregations · 2024 · US base only · p25–p75 range

› How it compares

vs
AZ-500

AZ-305 is broad Azure architecture; AZ-500 is Azure security specialty. Different tracks.

↔ Compare side-by-side
vs
Google PCSA

Azure architect (AZ-305) vs GCP architect (PCSA). Vendor-specific picks.

↔ Compare side-by-side

› Careers that commonly pursue this cert

Security Architect

Senior design role — defines how pillar A components fit together across identity, crypto, network, cloud, and data — and, increasingly, how pillar C bolts into it.

See this cert’s domains highlighted on the interactive map, or compare it against the rest of the catalog.

Highlight on the domain mapBrowse all certifications