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.

› Common exam traps to study

Cybersecurity cert exams reuse the same 25 distractor patterns over and over — category confusion, RTO vs RPO, IDS vs IPS, MD5 vs SHA-256, and more. Once you can name the trap, you stop falling for it. Each archetype page covers what it is, the specific pairs candidates confuse, and how to avoid it.

Browse all 25 cert-exam trapsStart with: BEST vs correct

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