Question 1

Which Azure certification should I start with, AZ-900 or AZ-104?

Accepted Answer

Start with AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) if you're new to cloud, it's $99, takes 1–2 weeks to prep, and gives you Azure vocabulary. Skip straight to AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) if you already understand cloud concepts from AWS or have IT admin experience. AZ-104 is the credential employers actually filter on.

Question 2

AZ-104 vs AZ-305, which next?

Accepted Answer

AZ-104 (Administrator) first, then AZ-305 (Solutions Architect Expert). AZ-305 has no hard prerequisite but assumes deep AZ-104-level knowledge plus design experience. Most candidates spend 6+ months between the two. The AZ-104 → AZ-305 path mirrors the AWS SAA → SAP path and unlocks Solutions Architect roles.

Question 3

Azure vs AWS, which is better for jobs?

Accepted Answer

AWS has larger total job volume, especially in startups and U.S. tech. Azure dominates enterprise, government, healthcare, and Microsoft-heavy shops (most Fortune 500). If you're targeting consulting or enterprise IT, Azure often wins; for pure tech / startup / cloud-native roles, AWS wins. Many senior cloud engineers hold both.

Question 4

How much does Azure certification cost?

Accepted Answer

AZ-900 Fundamentals: $99 USD. Associate-level (AZ-104, AZ-204, AZ-500): $165 USD. Expert-level (AZ-305, AZ-400): $165 USD. Microsoft frequently offers free AZ-900 vouchers via Microsoft Learn Cloud Skills Challenges and free renewal exams. Watch for Microsoft Ignite voucher giveaways.

Microsoft Azure Exam Preparation