AZ-305Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Expert-level Azure architecture and design
CertPath Score
9
/10
About this certification
The AZ-305 validates expertise in designing Azure solutions covering compute, network, storage, security, and identity. This is the expert-level credential for cloud architects in Microsoft environments.
What you'll validate
- ✓Infrastructure design
- ✓Identity and security architecture
- ✓Business continuity design
- ✓Data storage solutions
- ✓Application architecture
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Expert-level designation — highly respected
- +Free annual renewal
- +Strong enterprise demand
Disadvantages
- −Requires AZ-104 as prerequisite
- −Annual renewal
- −Complex case study questions
Who it's for
Best for
- →Senior Azure engineers
- →Those who have AZ-104 and 3+ years experience
Not ideal for
- ×Beginners
- ×Those without AZ-104
Career paths this unlocks
Study Resources
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Register for the exam
Free practice assessments on Microsoft Learn; 50% discount exams often available via Microsoft events
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Jobs for AZ-305 holders
AZ-305 holders report $10k–$30k+ salary uplift on average.
LinkedIn Jobs
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Indeed
Dice (tech roles)
Tech-focused job board
Job links open external sites. Search results are live and not curated by CertPath.
Quick Facts
- Exam Cost
- $165
- Exam Duration
- 100 minutes
- Questions
- ~40
- Passing Score
- 700/1000
- Exam Format
- Case Study
- Study Time
- ~200 hours
- Validity
- 1 years
- Salary Impact
- Strong ($10k–$30k+ uplift reported)
Prerequisites
- !AZ-104 required
- !3+ years Azure architecture experience
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