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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 pageGoogle · professional
Google PCSAGoogle Professional Cloud Architect
Google Professional Cloud Architect
Official pageComparing
MicrosoftAZ-305
GoogleGoogle PCSA
› Cost
Exam fee
AZ-305$165
Google PCSA$125
Exam fee
$165
$125
Annual maintenance fee
AZ-305—
Google PCSA—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
AZ-305$165
Google PCSA$125
3-year cost of ownership
$165
$125
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
AZ-305700/1000 (scaled)
Google PCSA~70% (Google does not publish exact cut)
Pass mark
700/1000 (scaled)
~70% (Google does not publish exact cut)
Retake policy
AZ-305$165 fee · 1d wait
Google PCSA$200 fee · 14d wait
Retake policy
$165 fee · 1d wait
$200 fee · 14d wait
Study time
AZ-30580–160 hrs
Google PCSA—
Study time
80–160 hrs
—
Validity
AZ-3051 yr
Google PCSA2 yrs
Validity
1 yr
2 yrs
CPE / yr
AZ-305—
Google PCSA—
CPE / yr
—
—
Delivery
AZ-305mixed
Google PCSAmixed
Delivery
mixed
mixed
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
AZ-305$130K – $195K
Google PCSA$145K – $215K
Range
$130K – $195K
$145K – $215K
Median
AZ-305$155,000
Google PCSA$175,000
Median
$155,000
$175,000
Premium %
AZ-305—
Google PCSA—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
AZ-305Azure solutions architect, US, 5+ years. Often paired with AZ-104 prerequisite.
Google PCSAGCP cloud architect, US, 5+ years.
Role context
Azure solutions architect, US, 5+ years. Often paired with AZ-104 prerequisite.
GCP cloud architect, US, 5+ years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
AZ-3058.0
Google PCSA8.5
Schema quality
8.0
8.5
Practice evidence
AZ-3055.5
Google PCSA5.5
Practice evidence
5.5
5.5
Maintenance
AZ-3059.0
Google PCSA9.0
Maintenance
9.0
9.0
Market recognition
AZ-3058.5
Google PCSA8.5
Market recognition
8.5
8.5
Average
AZ-3057.8
Google PCSA7.9
Average
7.8
7.9
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
AZ-305Global
Google PCSAGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
AZ-305—
Google PCSA—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
AZ-305—
Google PCSA—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
AZ-305—
Google PCSA—
Holders worldwide
—
—
Current version
AZ-305AZ-305 (current) (2024-09)
Google PCSACurrent (2024-09)
Current version
AZ-305 (current) (2024-09)
Current (2024-09)
› Domain coverage
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
AZ-305● core
Google PCSA·
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
● core
·
A5Cloud Security
AZ-305● core
Google PCSA● core
A5Cloud Security
● core
● core
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