AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate) and AZ-305 (Solutions Architect Expert) sit at different points on the same career path. AZ-104 is about running Azure resources well; AZ-305 is about designing how those resources should fit together in the first place. Here's how they compare — and which one you should take first.
AZ-104 is Associate-level and operational. AZ-305 is Expert-level and architectural — it builds on the operational knowledge AZ-104 covers.
| AZ-104 | AZ-305 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Azure Administrator Associate | Azure Solutions Architect Expert |
| Level | Associate | Expert |
| Focus | Implementing and managing — identity, storage, compute, networking, monitoring | Designing — identity/governance, data, business continuity, infrastructure architecture |
| Best for | Azure administrators, IT operations | Solutions architects, senior infrastructure roles |
| Prerequisite | None | None enforced, but AZ-104-level experience strongly recommended |
| Official exam cost | $165 | $165 |
| HandsOnCert price | $49 (5 projects, 8h) | $79 (5 projects, 10h) |
AZ-104 builds the operational foundation. AZ-305 builds the architectural judgment on top of it.
HandsOnCert's most popular path — the day-to-day operations of running Azure resources.
Designing the architecture decisions that AZ-104-level work then implements.
If you're new to Azure or building toward an administrator role, AZ-104 is the right starting point. It's HandsOnCert's most popular path for good reason — it covers the operational fundamentals (identity, storage, compute, networking, monitoring) that almost every Azure role touches.
AZ-305 is the natural next step once you've built that operational foundation — whether through AZ-104 itself or equivalent hands-on experience. AZ-305 assumes you understand how the underlying services behave, and adds the architectural judgment of choosing between them based on business requirements.
Think of it as a sequence, not a choice: AZ-104 teaches you to run what's already designed well; AZ-305 teaches you to design it in the first place. Most people who move into architecture roles take both, in that order.
Should I take AZ-104 before AZ-305?
AZ-104 is not a hard prerequisite for AZ-305, but Microsoft strongly recommends hands-on Azure administration experience first. AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate) builds the foundational operational skills that AZ-305's architecture decisions rely on, and it's the most common path people take before attempting AZ-305.
Is AZ-305 harder than AZ-104?
Yes. AZ-305 is an Expert-level certification that requires designing complete solutions — weighing tradeoffs across identity, governance, data, business continuity, and infrastructure based on business requirements. AZ-104 is Associate-level and focuses on implementing and managing resources that are already designed. AZ-305 assumes AZ-104-level operational knowledge as a baseline and builds architectural judgment on top of it.
What's the core difference between AZ-104 and AZ-305?
AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate) focuses on day-to-day operations: managing identities, storage, compute, and networking for resources that already exist. AZ-305 (Solutions Architect Expert) focuses on designing those solutions in the first place — choosing the right services, architecture patterns, and governance structures to meet business requirements. AZ-104 is about running things well; AZ-305 is about deciding what to run and how it should fit together.
Can I skip AZ-104 and go straight to AZ-305?
Technically yes — there's no enforced prerequisite. But AZ-305 exam questions often assume you understand how the underlying services behave operationally (e.g., what configuring a VM scale set actually involves), which AZ-104 teaches hands-on. Going straight to AZ-305 without that experience is possible but considerably harder.
Which certification is better for career advancement?
AZ-104 is more commonly required for Azure Administrator roles, which are higher in volume. AZ-305 is required for Solutions Architect and senior infrastructure roles, which are fewer but typically higher-paying. Many people take AZ-104 to get into Azure roles, then AZ-305 later to move into architecture — the two complement each other across a career progression rather than competing.
How much do AZ-104 and AZ-305 cost compared to HandsOnCert's labs?
Both official Microsoft exams cost $165. HandsOnCert's hands-on lab paths are separate from the exam fee — AZ-104 is $49 for 5 projects (8 hours), and AZ-305 is $79 for 5 projects (10 hours), each with Project 1 free.
Project 1 of either path is free — no credit card required. See exactly how the GitHub auto-commit works before you pay anything.
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