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Compare certifications
Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
Microsoft · expert
AZ-305Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Official pageMicrosoft · associate
AZ-500Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate
Azure-native security engineering: Entra ID, network controls, Defender, Sentinel.
Official pageComparing
MicrosoftAZ-305
MicrosoftAZ-500
› Cost
Exam fee
AZ-305$165
AZ-500$165
Exam fee
$165
$165
Annual maintenance fee
AZ-305—
AZ-500—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
AZ-305$165
AZ-500$165
3-year cost of ownership
$165
$165
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
AZ-305700/1000 (scaled)
AZ-500700/1000 (scaled)
Pass mark
700/1000 (scaled)
700/1000 (scaled)
Retake policy
AZ-305$165 fee · 1d wait
AZ-500$165 fee · 1d wait
Retake policy
$165 fee · 1d wait
$165 fee · 1d wait
Study time
AZ-30580–160 hrs
AZ-50060–120 hrs
Study time
80–160 hrs
60–120 hrs
Validity
AZ-3051 yr
AZ-5001 yr
Validity
1 yr
1 yr
CPE / yr
AZ-305—
AZ-5000 CPEs
CPE / yr
—
0 CPEs
Delivery
AZ-305mixed
AZ-500online proctored
Delivery
mixed
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
AZ-305$130K – $195K
AZ-500$115K – $165K
Range
$130K – $195K
$115K – $165K
Median
AZ-305$155,000
AZ-500$135,000
Median
$155,000
$135,000
Premium %
AZ-305—
AZ-500—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
AZ-305Azure solutions architect, US, 5+ years. Often paired with AZ-104 prerequisite.
AZ-500Azure security engineer, US, 3–5 years.
Role context
Azure solutions architect, US, 5+ years. Often paired with AZ-104 prerequisite.
Azure security engineer, US, 3–5 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
AZ-3058.0
AZ-5008.5
Schema quality
8.0
8.5
Practice evidence
AZ-3055.5
AZ-5006.5
Practice evidence
5.5
6.5
Maintenance
AZ-3059.0
AZ-5009.5
Maintenance
9.0
9.5
Market recognition
AZ-3058.5
AZ-5009.0
Market recognition
8.5
9.0
Average
AZ-3057.8
AZ-5008.4
Average
7.8
8.4
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
AZ-305Global
AZ-500Global · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
AZ-305—
AZ-500—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
AZ-305—
AZ-500—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
AZ-305—
AZ-500—
Holders worldwide
—
—
Current version
AZ-305AZ-305 (current) (2024-09)
AZ-500AZ-500 (current) (2024-11)
Current version
AZ-305 (current) (2024-09)
AZ-500 (current) (2024-11)
› Domain coverage
A10Security Operations
AZ-305·
AZ-500○ touched
A10Security Operations
·
○ touched
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
AZ-305·
AZ-500● core
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
·
● core
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
AZ-305·
AZ-500○ touched
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
·
○ touched
A2Network Security
AZ-305·
AZ-500○ touched
A2Network Security
·
○ touched
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
AZ-305● core
AZ-500·
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
● core
·
A5Cloud Security
AZ-305● core
AZ-500● core
A5Cloud Security
● core
● core
A6Identity & Access Management
AZ-305·
AZ-500● core
A6Identity & Access Management
·
● core
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