Azure certification path by level, Fundamentals to Specialty: exam times, validity and the order to take the exams by role. Free sample questions.
Microsoft Azure certifications are organized into 4 levels: Fundamentals, Associate, Expert and Specialty. This page walks through the Azure certification path level by level, with exam times and validity periods, so you can choose where to start and what to take next.
CloudMasterIT has practice exams for 8 Azure certifications. Each one below links to its exam domains, free sample questions with explanations, and study guides.
Entry-level certification covering AZURE cloud basics, services, and pricing. No technical background required.
Data entry-level certification covering relational/non-relational data concepts and analytical workloads on AZURE.
Security entry-level certification covering fundamentals of Microsoft security, compliance, and identity solutions.
Validates skills in managing AZURE subscriptions, virtual networks, storage, and VMs. A core AZURE operations certification.
Retired 2026-07-31
Validates skills in developing and implementing AZURE cloud solutions. Covers App Service, Functions, and Storage.
Validates skills in designing, implementing, and maintaining AZURE networking infrastructure. Covers load balancing, routing, and security.
Validates skills in administering SQL Server database infrastructure for cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments.
AZURE's top-tier architecture certification validating skills in designing enterprise solutions on AZURE.
Validates DevOps strategy design and implementation skills. Covers CI/CD, IaC, monitoring, and the full DevOps lifecycle.
Specialist certification validating skills in designing data models, optimizing queries, and integrating solutions with Azure Cosmos DB.
Practice exam not available yet
Specialist certification validating planning, migration, and operation of SAP solutions on AZURE.
Practice exam not available yet
A common order to take the exams for each role.
Azure Solutions Architect Expert requires the Azure Administrator Associate certification (AZ-104) first.
DevOps Engineer Expert requires Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) or Azure Developer Associate.
Most people start at the Fundamentals level with Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) and Security, Compliance & Identity (SC-900). The usual next step is the Associate level, for example Azure Administrator (AZ-104).
AZ-900, DP-900 and SC-900: 45 minutes. AZ-104, AZ-700, DP-300, AZ-305 and AZ-400: 100 minutes.
AZ-900, DP-900 and SC-900: no expiration. AZ-104, AZ-700, DP-300, AZ-305 and AZ-400: 1 year.
Yes. CloudMasterIT has practice exams for 8 Azure certifications: AZ-900, DP-900, SC-900, AZ-104, AZ-700, DP-300, AZ-305 and AZ-400. Each has a free sample set with an explanation for every answer; the full question bank is available with a subscription.