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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 · associate
SC-300Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate
Entra ID deployment, conditional access, privileged access, identity governance.
Official pageMicrosoft · associate
AZ-500Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate
Azure-native security engineering: Entra ID, network controls, Defender, Sentinel.
Official pageComparing
MicrosoftSC-300
MicrosoftAZ-500
› Cost
Exam fee
SC-300$165
AZ-500$165
Exam fee
$165
$165
Annual maintenance fee
SC-300—
AZ-500—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
SC-300$165
AZ-500$165
3-year cost of ownership
$165
$165
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
SC-300700/1000 (scaled)
AZ-500700/1000 (scaled)
Pass mark
700/1000 (scaled)
700/1000 (scaled)
Retake policy
SC-300$165 fee · 1d wait
AZ-500$165 fee · 1d wait
Retake policy
$165 fee · 1d wait
$165 fee · 1d wait
Study time
SC-30060–120 hrs
AZ-50060–120 hrs
Study time
60–120 hrs
60–120 hrs
Validity
SC-3001 yr
AZ-5001 yr
Validity
1 yr
1 yr
CPE / yr
SC-3000 CPEs
AZ-5000 CPEs
CPE / yr
0 CPEs
0 CPEs
Delivery
SC-300online proctored
AZ-500online proctored
Delivery
online proctored
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
SC-300$110K – $155K
AZ-500$115K – $165K
Range
$110K – $155K
$115K – $165K
Median
SC-300$128,000
AZ-500$135,000
Median
$128,000
$135,000
Premium %
SC-300—
AZ-500—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
SC-300Identity / IAM engineer (Azure AD / Entra ID), US, 3–5 years.
AZ-500Azure security engineer, US, 3–5 years.
Role context
Identity / IAM engineer (Azure AD / Entra ID), US, 3–5 years.
Azure security engineer, US, 3–5 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
SC-3007.5
AZ-5008.5
Schema quality
7.5
8.5
Practice evidence
SC-3006.0
AZ-5006.5
Practice evidence
6.0
6.5
Maintenance
SC-3009.0
AZ-5009.5
Maintenance
9.0
9.5
Market recognition
SC-3006.5
AZ-5009.0
Market recognition
6.5
9.0
Average
SC-3007.3
AZ-5008.4
Average
7.3
8.4
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
SC-300Global · US · EU
AZ-500Global · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global · US · EU
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
SC-300—
AZ-500—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
SC-300—
AZ-500—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
SC-300—
AZ-500—
Holders worldwide
—
—
Current version
SC-300SC-300 (current) (2024-09)
AZ-500AZ-500 (current) (2024-11)
Current version
SC-300 (current) (2024-09)
AZ-500 (current) (2024-11)
› Domain coverage
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
SC-300○ touched
AZ-500·
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
○ touched
·
A10Security Operations
SC-300·
AZ-500○ touched
A10Security Operations
·
○ touched
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
SC-300·
AZ-500● core
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
·
● core
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
SC-300·
AZ-500○ touched
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
·
○ touched
A2Network Security
SC-300·
AZ-500○ touched
A2Network Security
·
○ touched
A3Zero Trust Architecture
SC-300● core
AZ-500·
A3Zero Trust Architecture
● core
·
A5Cloud Security
SC-300○ touched
AZ-500● core
A5Cloud Security
○ touched
● core
A6Identity & Access Management
SC-300● core
AZ-500● core
A6Identity & Access Management
● core
● core
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