Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305)
Advanced certification validating expertise in designing Azure identity, governance, data storage, business continuity, and infrastructure solutions.
- Exam fee
- $165
- Typical salary
- $140K–$175K
AZ-305 is ideal for seasoned Azure professionals who need to prove their ability to design complex cloud solutions. If you are still at a beginner level, consider a foundational certification first.
What AZ-305 covers
Expert-level Azure certification for designing complex cloud solutions. Covers governance, identity, data storage, business continuity, and infrastructure design.
Key topics covered: Identity & governance design, Data storage design, Business continuity, Infrastructure design, Monitoring & optimization.
Best suited for: Azure professionals with deep experience seeking expert-level cloud architecture credentials.
Common career paths: Azure Solutions Architect, Cloud Architect, Principal Cloud Engineer.
AZ-305 exam details
Exam domains
- design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions
- design data storage solutions
- design business continuity solutions
- design infrastructure solutions
At a glance
- Exam fee
- $165
How to prepare for AZ-305
| Stage | What to do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understand the exam outline Read the official AZ-305 description and become familiar with the four core design areas. | Week 1 |
| 2 | Deep dive into identity & governance Study Azure AD, RBAC, policies, and monitoring tools; build small labs to reinforce concepts. | Week 2-3 |
| 3 | Master data storage and continuity Explore storage options, backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity design patterns with hands‑on labs. | Week 4-5 |
| 4 | Infrastructure design & optimization Focus on networking, compute, and infrastructure architecture; practice designing end‑to‑end solutions. | Week 6-7 |
| 5 | Practice exams and review Take free practice assessments, review weak areas, and simulate timed exam conditions. | Week 8 |
Jobs and salary with AZ-305
People holding this certification commonly report pay around $140K–$175K. Pay depends heavily on role, location and total experience. See the salary breakdown.
Roles this certification supports
AZ-305 questions answered
What is the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305) certification?
Advanced certification validating expertise in designing Azure identity, governance, data storage, business continuity, and infrastructure solutions. It is issued by Microsoft and sits in the Cloud Computing field.
Is Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305) hard?
Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305) is rated Advanced. It usually assumes several years of hands-on work, so most candidates prepare for longer.
How much does the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305) exam cost?
The listed exam fee is $165. Fees vary by country and change over time, so confirm the current price with Microsoft before you book.
What salary can I expect with Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305)?
Professionals with Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305) commonly report pay in the $140K–$175K range. Actual pay depends on role, location and total experience.
How should I prepare for Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305)?
Start with the official exam outline, build hands-on practice for each domain, then finish with timed practice questions. The study plan on this page breaks this into steps.
Alternatives to AZ-305
| Certification | Vendor | Level |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Solutions Architect Associate | Amazon Web Services | Intermediate |
| AWS Cloud Practitioner | Amazon Web Services | Beginner |
| Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) | Microsoft | Beginner |
| Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) | Microsoft | Intermediate |
| Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer | Google Cloud | Intermediate |