Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert Quick Facts (2025)

Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert Certification Quick Facts

This guide is designed to help you streamline your preparation for the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert Certification by providing essential information and reducing the overwhelm of organizing it all yourself.

What is the Azure Solutions Architect Expert Certification?

The Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification validates your skills in designing secure, scalable, and reliable solutions on Microsoft Azure. Earning this credential proves that you have deep expertise in implementing hybrid and cloud-native infrastructure, storage, network, compute, and identity solutions. You’ll also demonstrate your ability to apply architecture best practices using frameworks like the Azure Well-Architected Framework and the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure.

Who Is This Certification For?

This expert-level Azure certification is ideal for:

• Cloud Solutions Architects
• Infrastructure Engineers
• DevOps Engineers
• Enterprise Architects
• IT Professionals who design large-scale cloud infrastructure
• Cloud administrators aiming to advance to architecture roles

It’s specifically recommended for professionals with a background in Azure administration or development and experience working with cloud governance, security, and networking.

What Jobs Can I Get with This Certification?

Holding the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification can qualify you for roles such as:

• Azure Solutions Architect
• Senior Cloud Engineer
• Cloud Infrastructure Architect
• Enterprise Solutions Architect
• DevOps Architect
• Cloud Platform Engineer

Top tech companies and large enterprises often look for this credential when hiring professionals responsible for cloud architecture and enterprise migrations to Azure.

What exam do I need to pass?

To earn the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification, you must pass Exam AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions. The exam code is AZ-305.

How much does the exam cost?

The AZ-305 exam costs approximately $165 USD in the United States. Pricing may vary by country or region depending on your location.

How many questions are on the exam?

The AZ-305 exam contains around 60 questions. These may include multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, case study, and scenario-based questions. Some questions may be unscored and included for research purposes.

How much time is given for the exam?

You get 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete the AZ-305 exam.

If English isn't your primary language and you take a non-English version of the exam, note that language-specific extensions may apply.

What languages is the exam available in?

The AZ-305 exam is available in:

• English
• Japanese
• Simplified Chinese
• Korean
• German
• French
• Spanish
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Arabic (Saudi Arabia)
• Russian
• Traditional Chinese
• Italian
• Indonesian

What's the passing score?

The passing score for the AZ-305 exam is 700 out of 1000. This uses scaled scoring to ensure fairness across multiple versions of the test.

Is the exam hard?

Yes, the AZ-305 is considered an expert-level exam. Many candidates report that it’s highly scenario-driven, requiring a deep understanding of Azure services, architecture design, cost optimization, governance, security, and best practices.

To pass, you’ll need both conceptual and highly practical knowledge of Azure infrastructure. That's why consistent hands-on lab experience—and using realistic Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert practice exams—is so highly recommended.

What domains does the exam cover and what are their weightings?

The AZ-305 exam covers four key domains:

1. Design Identity, Governance, and Monitoring Solutions (25–30%)

   • Logging, monitoring, and alerting strategies
   • Authentication and access management (RBAC, Azure AD)
   • Governance strategy with resource tagging, policies, and compliance

2. Design Data Storage Solutions (20–25%)

   • Data storage selections for structured and unstructured scenarios
   • Database performance and scalability
   • Backup, replication, and data protection strategies

3. Design Business Continuity Solutions (15–20%)

   • Backup and disaster recovery for Azure workloads
   • High availability planning for compute and data services

4. Design Infrastructure Solutions (30–35%)

   • Compute: VMs, containers, and serverless architecture
   • Networking, hybrid connectivity, and load balancing
   • Migration planning for apps and databases using CAF principles

Are there any prerequisites?

Yes. You must already hold the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) certification before earning the Azure Solutions Architect Expert credential.

Additional recommended experience includes:

• Hands-on Azure administration and development
• Familiarity with virtualization, identity, and networking
• Experience with DevOps processes and tools
• Understanding of security/compliance requirements and governance models

What knowledge areas should I focus on?

To succeed in the AZ-305 exam, focus on these high-impact areas:

1. Architectural Design Principles

   • Cost-optimized, secure, reliable, and scalable solutions
   • Reference architectures and Azure Patterns & Practices

2. Identity & Governance

   • Azure AD, RBAC, policy, Blueprints, and conditional access
   • Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and resource tagging

3. Workload Migrations

   • Hybrid solutions and tools like Azure Migrate and CAF
   • Lift-and-shift, refactor, or rebuild migration decisions

4. Storage Solutions

   • Choosing between Blob, Disk, Tables, Files, Cosmos DB, SQL
   • High availability and geo-redundancy

5. Disaster Recovery and HA Planning

   • RTO/RPO objectives
   • Backup tools and paired regions

6. Compute and Networking

   • VM sizing, containers, Kubernetes, Functions
   • Virtual Network (VNet), ExpressRoute, VPN, Load Balancer

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are common reasons candidates struggle with the AZ-305 exam:

• Not studying the latest Azure services included after the October 2024 update
• Skipping scenario-based practice questions, which mimic the exam format
• Underestimating the dependency between design areas like networking and identity
• Studying without hands-on Azure experience
• Overlooking tools like Azure Monitor, Cost Management, and Policy

Using comprehensive Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert practice tests that simulate real-world case studies can make a huge difference.

How can I prepare for the exam?

To effectively study for the AZ-305 exam, consider this preparation approach:

1. Study Guides and Exam Blueprint

   • Review the official Microsoft AZ-305 study guide
   • Focus on each domain’s functional objectives

2. Training Courses

   • Microsoft Learn AZ-305 Learning Paths
   • Online platforms like Pluralsight, Udemy, or Coursera
   • Attend Azure architect workshops and master classes

3. Practice Environment

   • Build real Azure resources in a sandbox or free Azure subscription
   • Develop sample architectures using Bicep, ARM templates, or Terraform

4. Practice Exams

   • Use mock tests to simulate exam pacing and pressure
   • Analyze your weak areas and study those more
   • Incorporate flash cards and Azure service documentation

5. Official Resources

   • Azure Well-Architected Review Tool
   • Cloud Adoption Framework documentation
   • Microsoft architecture center reference designs

How long is the certification valid?

This Azure expert certification is valid for one year from the date of earning it. Microsoft provides a free renewal assessment that must be passed before the expiration date to keep your certification active.

What Should I Take After This Certification?

After AZ-305, consider these specialized certifications:

• Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate
• Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert

These can further validate your expertise or help specialize your Azure career path.

Where can I take the exam?

You can take the AZ-305 exam in two formats:

1. Online Proctored Exam

   • Take the exam from home or office
   • Requires webcam, microphone, and stable internet
   • Must be in a quiet and private test environment

2. Testing Center

   • Take the exam at an authorized Pearson VUE testing center
   • Ideal for those who prefer a more structured setup

How do I register for the exam?

Follow these steps to register:

1. Go to the Microsoft Certification exam portal
2. Select the AZ-305 exam
3. Sign in with your personal Microsoft account
4. Choose your testing format (online or in person)
5. Pick a date and time
6. Pay the exam fee
7. Receive confirmation with instructions

What happens if I don't pass the exam?

If you don’t pass the first time:

• You'll receive a detailed score report showing weak areas
• You can retake the exam after a 24-hour waiting period (1st retake)
• Study weak topic areas, focus on detailed scenarios, and try again
• Practice with hands-on labs and targeted practice tests

Where can I find more information?

Full details, prerequisites, and exam registration can be found on the official Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification page.

A successful strategy blends practical experience with smart study habits. With the right preparation, earning the Azure Solutions Architect Expert credential is well within your reach. Best of luck!