Azure Certification Path: Levels, Qualifications, and More

Key takeaways

• Microsoft Azure certification paths follow six different Training Journeys, which are tailored to specific types of industries or professions.

• The Azure AI certification path is the Data & AI professionals path, which includes the course Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901).

• The Azure Cloud certification path has three levels: Cloud IT Pros, Hybrid Cloud IT Pros, and Cloud IT Pros Expert Level.

The Azure certification paths help you demonstrate expertise in key skills and tools related to the Azure platform. Explore the Azure certification path, including how it's organized and the certifications that you can expect to encounter on it. Afterward, if you want to build foundational knowledge of Azure and prepare for certification, consider enrolling in the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 Exam Prep Specialization. Over this three-month course, you’ll have the chance to learn IT fundamentals to help launch a cloud computing career.

Microsoft Azure certification path options

Microsoft Azure organizes its different certifications into Training Journeys, which are tailored to specific types of industries or professions. Each of these six different Training Journeys has a recommended set of certifications to take. Each exam helps to build skills and further advance your knowledge base in your chosen role.

The specific certification tied to each exam is outlined in more detail in the table below, with the Azure certification paths as follows:

• Cloud IT pros: AZ 104→AZ 500→AZ 120→AZ 700→AZ 140

• Hybrid cloud IT pros: AZ 800 or AZ 801→AZ 104→AZ 140

• Cloud IT pros expert level: AZ 104→AZ 400→AZ 305

• Developers: AZ 204→AI 102→DP 420→AZ 400

• Data & AI professionals: DP 300→DP 203→DP 100

• Data analysts: PL 300→ DP 500

Azure certification levels

Azure certifications are offered in four different levels: fundamentals, associate, expert, and specialty.

• Fundamental certifications are for professionals who have just started out in IT or are looking to transition into the industry. They focus on building foundational knowledge about Azure functions and technologies.

• Associate certifications are designed for professionals who already have some experience or familiarity with Azure.

• Expert certifications are for established professionals who have strong backgrounds in IT and cloud computing, plus experience with Microsoft Azure services and technologies.

• Specialty certifications are designed to demonstrate more niche cloud programming skills and expertise.

If you're new to Azure, start with a Fundamentals exam related to your career. After that, you can pursue several Associate and Specialty Azure certifications. Finally, show your expertise to current or future employers with Expert-level Azure certifications.

Read more: Azure ML vs. Databricks: What's the Difference?

Explore the certifications in the table below:

Azure Specialty Certifications:

• Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty (DP-420)

• Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty (AZ-140)

• Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty (AZ-120)

Which Azure certification should I earn first?

It’s recommended to start with one of the Azure Fundamentals certifications—either AI 901, AZ 900, SC 900, or DP 900, especially if you are new to the cloud computing field or want to move into cloud computing from another industry. Fundamentals certifications are also good ways to become familiar with the certification process before spending time and money on more advanced certifications. Choose an Azure Fundamentals certification that best matches your background or the field you want to move into.

If you're new to the field but you want to pursue in-demand AI skills, consider enrolling in the Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals AI-900 Exam Prep Specialization on Coursera. You'll earn a certification for your study while prepping to pass the AI-900 exam.

Is an Azure certification worth it?

Azure certification provides you with the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the expectations of the IT field you are interested in pursuing as a career. Certification is also helpful for further developing skills and advancing your knowledge as you pursue more expert or senior roles.

Azure is one of the most popular cloud platforms used by businesses across the world, so gaining certification in Azure helps to make you competitive in a high-demand job market, since you’ll have knowledge of Azure’s different components and features. Businesses look for candidates who have the expertise needed to be successful members of their IT team, and Azure certification helps to demonstrate these skills with industry-recognized certifications.

Job roles and salaries

Once you’ve gained certification, you have the opportunity to apply for different cloud computing jobs. Some of these roles and their median total salaries are:

• Cloud developer, who is responsible for building, testing, and managing cloud systems. The median total pay for this role is $132,000 [1].

• Cloud systems engineer, who works as part of a larger team managing a company’s cloud network and systems. The median total pay for this role is $158,000 [2].

• Cloud consultant, who evaluates cloud structures and makes recommendations for improvement. The median total pay for this role is $190,000[3].

• Cloud architect, who builds cloud infrastructure based on a business’s unique needs. The median total pay for this role is $202,000 [4].

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of August 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Prepare for Azure certification on Coursera

Discover fresh insights into your career or learn about trends in your industry by subscribing to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat! Then, learn more about IT certifications with our free resources:

• Watch on YouTube: 3 Generative Models Explained in Azure

• Explore a career path: Azure Learning Roadmap: From Beginner to Expert

• Read a Career Chat issue: Ready for a Tech Career? How to Choose Between IT and Cloud Support

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