Exam Details
Microsoft · AZ-305
Design secure, scalable, and cost-efficient Azure solutions across real-world scenarios.
Practice with ExamOS for Azure Solutions Architect Expert. Learn daily with scenario-based questions, timed quizzes, detailed explanations, and exam-style difficulty.
Who is this for?
Level: Advanced. This expert-level certification is the ultimate test for solutions architects designing end-to-end architectures on Microsoft Azure. While anyone can sit for the exam, Microsoft strictly requires you to hold the Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) credential to earn the official title. Microsoft highly recommends possessing advanced knowledge of IT operations, including complex networking, identity, security, disaster recovery, and governance.
Are you ready?
You are prepared if you can expertly design scalable systems, navigate complex business requirements, and clearly explain architectural trade-offs rather than getting bogged down in implementation details. Put your elite architectural design skills to the test today!
Study Plan Available
Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) – Study Plan
10-week structured plan · ~70 hours
Overview
The AZ-305 certification validates your ability to design end-to-end solutions on Microsoft Azure. It is intended for professionals who make architectural decisions across compute, networking, storage, identity, security, and disaster recovery. The exam focuses on real-world scenarios where you need to evaluate multiple options and choose the most appropriate design based on requirements such as scalability, reliability, and cost. Instead of testing individual services in isolation, it emphasizes how services work together as part of a broader architecture. Candidates are expected to understand trade-offs, design patterns, and best practices for building cloud-native and hybrid solutions. This includes identity architecture, data platform design, business continuity, and governance. AZ-305 is widely recognized for cloud architect roles and is often pursued by experienced engineers looking to move into design-focused positions. As organizations continue to migrate to Azure and build complex systems, the demand for professionals who can design efficient and secure architectures remains strong. This certification is less about memorizing services and more about understanding how to apply them effectively in real-world situations.
FAQ
The exam generally consists of 40–60 questions. These include various types such as multiple-choice, best-case scenarios, drag-and-drop, and in-depth case studies. You are typically given 100 to 120 minutes to complete the assessment, though additional time may be allotted for reading instructions and surveys.
A minimum scaled score of 700 out of 1000 is required to pass. This score is not a percentage of correct answers but a weighted calculation based on the difficulty of the questions provided in your specific exam instance.
The exam is divided into four main functional groups that reflect the core responsibilities of a solutions architect:
Preparation should involve a combination of official Microsoft Learn paths, hands-on lab exercises, and architectural design guides. ExamOS offers scenario-based practice quizzes that build real exam confidence by mimicking the decision-heavy nature of the actual test. Reviewing the Azure Architecture Center's best practices is also essential for understanding how to evaluate trade-offs between different services.
The standard registration fee is $165 USD per attempt. However, pricing is subject to change based on your geographic location and local currency. Students and employees of companies with Microsoft partnerships may be eligible for significant discounts or exam vouchers.
If you do not achieve a passing score, you must wait 24 hours before your second attempt. For any subsequent attempts, there is a mandatory 14-day waiting period. You are limited to a maximum of five exam attempts within a 12-month period from the date of your first attempt.
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification is valid for exactly one year. To maintain the certification, you must complete a free, non-proctored renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn. This renewal window opens six months before your certification expires and focuses on the latest updates in the Azure ecosystem.
This exam is designed for experienced IT professionals who have advanced experience in compute, network, storage, and security. To officially earn the Azure Solutions Architect Expert title, you must first pass the AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate) exam. The target audience includes those who advise stakeholders and translate business requirements into secure, scalable cloud solutions.
The Azure Solutions Architect Expert credential is a high-tier certification that qualifies you for roles like Senior Cloud Architect or Infrastructure Lead. While it opens doors to high-paying positions, it also carries significant responsibility; architects are held accountable for the cost-efficiency and security of a company's entire cloud footprint. In a competitive market, this certification serves as a baseline, but success in the role depends heavily on your ability to manage stakeholders and navigate complex organizational politics.
Once you have mastered architectural design, you should look toward specialization. The most logical next steps are: