Which Azure certification is best for a system administrator?
35 of 6,233 system administrator job ads in the United States name the Microsoft Azure certifications (Adzuna, October 2026)
The best Azure certification for a system administrator is AZ-104 (Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate); if your servers run Windows Server on premises and connect to Azure, take AZ-802 first. Few job ads use the exact words azure certification: in October 2026, the phrase appeared in 35 of 6,233 US system-administrator ads (Adzuna).
Microsoft Azure certifications are Microsoft's role-based credentials for its Azure cloud, offered at Fundamentals, Associate and Expert levels, plus Specialty certifications. An employer can write the exam name or just "Azure" instead, and our count tracks only the generic phrase azure certification, so an ad that names AZ-104 without those words is not counted. Choose by your job, not by this count. How we count job ads.
Jump to: sysadmin exams · roadmap · retired exams · cost · renewal
Show the numbers
| Item | Ads | Share of ads |
|---|---|---|
| Terraform | 1,519 | 20% |
| Kubernetes | 1,121 | 15% |
| AWS | 297 | 3.8% |
| AWS Solutions Architect Associate | 242 | 3.1% |
| Microsoft Azure certifications | 178 | 2.3% |
| Google Associate Cloud Engineer | 167 | 2.2% |
| AZ-305 | 117 | 1.5% |
| AZ-104 | 105 | 1.4% |
Is Microsoft Azure certifications worth it for you?
Instant answer from October 2026 job ads. No email needed.
Rarely named
2.3% of cloud engineer job ads in the United States name Microsoft Azure certifications (178 of 7,726 ads).
- Most-named alternative
- AWS 3.8%
- Skill asked for most
- Terraform 20%
Source: Adzuna job ads, October 2026.
On this page
- What are the Azure certifications?
- Which Azure exam fits a system administrator: AZ-104 or AZ-802?
- How often do job ads mention an Azure certification?
- Which Azure certification is best for a cloud engineer?
- Which Azure certification suits DevOps work?
- Which Azure certification suits a data engineer?
- Azure certification roadmap: which exam first, which next
- Which Azure exams has Microsoft retired?
- How much does an Azure exam cost?
- Do Azure certifications expire?
- Are Azure certifications worth it without experience?
- Sources
What are the Azure certifications?
Microsoft sorts its Azure credentials into three main levels. Fundamentals exams, such as AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals), test cloud concepts and do not expire. Associate exams, such as AZ-104, test the work of a role. The two Expert certifications on this page, Azure Solutions Architect Expert (exam AZ-305) and DevOps Engineer Expert (exam AZ-400), each require an Associate certification first.
Every Associate, Expert and Specialty certification lasts one year and renews for free through an online assessment on Microsoft Learn. The Microsoft certification FAQ puts Associate and Expert exams at a typical US$165, priced by country or region; AZ-900 was listed at $99 in the US when we checked in October 2026. Technical exams are scored from 1 to 1,000, and 700 is the passing score.
Which Azure exam fits a system administrator: AZ-104 or AZ-802?
AZ-104 if your servers run in Azure or are moving there; AZ-802 if you run Windows Server on premises and connect it to Azure. Both are Associate certifications, renewed for free each year.
AZ-104 leads to Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate. It is a 100-minute exam offered in 10 languages, and Microsoft lists no formal prerequisite. Its candidate profile reads like a sysadmin's job description. Microsoft expects familiarity with operating systems, networking, servers and virtualization. It also expects experience with PowerShell, the Azure CLI, the Azure portal, Bicep templates (Microsoft's language for defining Azure resources as code) and Microsoft Entra ID (Microsoft's identity and sign-in service). Microsoft offers a free practice assessment for it.
Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate is earned with exam AZ-802, which lasts 120 minutes and is offered in English only. Microsoft describes the holder as someone who integrates Windows Server environments with Azure services and manages Windows Server in on-premises networks. For an admin who runs Windows servers on premises, that description fits better than AZ-104's.
AZ-900 is optional, and if you already administer servers, you can skip it. Microsoft calls it a common starting point for an Azure career; it lasts 45 minutes and tests concepts, not administration. Our AZ-104 vs AZ-900 comparison and the AZ-900 page cover the choice. Our page on system-administrator certifications compares the Azure exams with Linux+, the RHCSA and ITIL. If your employer runs AWS instead, the counterpart is AWS's operations exam, and CompTIA's Cloud+ is the vendor-neutral option.
How often do job ads mention an Azure certification?
Our count looks for the exact words azure certification anywhere in an ad. Microsoft's credential names, such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, do not contain that phrase, so read each figure as a minimum.
For the US, our October 2026 count (Adzuna) found the phrase in 35 of 6,233 system-administrator ads and in 178 of 7,726 cloud-engineer ads.
Outside the US, the samples are small, so the counts are weak evidence. In October 2026, the phrase azure certification appeared in 4% of 475 UK cloud-engineer ads and 1.1% of 1,150 Indian cloud-engineer ads (Adzuna). Ads in German, French, Polish or Italian can name Microsoft credentials in their own words, which an English phrase does not catch. Our system-administrator page has the figure for every country we track.
What the counts can and cannot tell you: they show how employers word their ads, not how a recruiter weighs a certificate on a resume, and they do not separate required from preferred. An ad can ask for Azure skills without naming any certification at all.
Which Azure certification is best for a cloud engineer?
AZ-104 first, then a second exam that matches your work: AZ-305 for design, AZ-700 for networking or AZ-400 for deployment pipelines. In October 2026, the phrase azure certification appeared in 2.3% of 7,726 US cloud-engineer ads (Adzuna).
Azure Solutions Architect Expert (exam AZ-305, Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions) requires the Azure Administrator Associate certification, so AZ-104 comes first on that route. Microsoft updated the English version of the certification on April 17, 2026. Our AZ-305 page covers it. Azure Network Engineer Associate (exam AZ-700) is a 100-minute Associate exam for engineers who build Azure networks.
A Reddit poster with two Microsoft vouchers (codes that each pay for one exam) asked which certifications are most valuable for cloud-engineer and cloud-security jobs. For security, note that Microsoft retired Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) on August 31, 2026, and it can no longer be earned or renewed. Two active Associate certifications on Microsoft Learn list Azure as a product and security as the subject: Identity and Access Administrator Associate (exam SC-300) and Security Operations Analyst Associate (exam SC-200), each a 100-minute exam (checked October 2026). We found no Microsoft statement that names either one as the replacement for AZ-500, so read each exam's skills list before you book. Our cloud-engineer page shows which certificates and tools cloud-engineer ads name in each country.
Azure or AWS: which cloud should you certify in?
Pick the cloud your employer, or the employers you apply to, already run. Our counts use different phrases for the two vendors, so they cannot rank one cloud above the other. The Solutions Architect vs Azure comparison sets the two side by side. On the AWS side, our overview of AWS certifications lists every level, the AWS Solutions Architect page covers AWS's architecture certification, and the AWS Cloud Practitioner page covers AWS's counterpart to AZ-900.
Which Azure certification suits DevOps work?
DevOps Engineer Expert, earned with exam AZ-400 (Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions). Microsoft's page lists a prerequisite: you need Azure Administrator Associate or Azure Developer Associate first.
The developer certification (AZ-204) is marked retired on Microsoft's site, so if you do not already hold it, the route to AZ-400 runs through AZ-104. If you already hold Azure Developer Associate, Microsoft's DevOps Engineer Expert page still lists it as an accepted prerequisite (checked October 2026). Older study plans that recommend AZ-204 as the step before AZ-400 are out of date. We do not count the phrase azure certification in DevOps-engineer ads; our DevOps-engineer page covers what DevOps-engineer ads name.
Show the numbers
| Country | Microsoft Azure certifications | Ads | Share of ads |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 17 | 475 | 4% |
| United States | 178 | 7,726 | 2.3% |
| India | 13 | 1,150 | 1.1% |
| Poland | 1 | 332 | 1 of 332 |
| Germany | 1 | 1,160 | 1 of 1,160 |
| France | 0 | 340 | 0 of 340 |
| Italy | 0 | 121 | 0 of 121 |
Which Azure certification suits a data engineer?
Fabric Data Engineer Associate, earned with exam DP-700 (100 minutes). Microsoft's certification page lists its product as Microsoft Fabric, not Azure. Microsoft retired the older Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203) on March 31, 2025, so any study list that still recommends DP-203 is out of date.
Microsoft says the English version of DP-700 will be updated on October 19, 2026, so check the skills outline on the exam page before you buy study material. Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900, 45 minutes) is an optional first step; Microsoft says it is not a prerequisite for any of the role-based certifications. We do not count the phrase azure certification in data-engineer ads; our data-engineer page covers what those jobs ask for.
Azure certification roadmap: which exam first, which next
Start with the Associate exam for the job you do or want, and add an Expert certification once you have the experience. The table is our reading of the prerequisites and candidate profiles on Microsoft's certification pages, not an official Microsoft map.
| Your job or goal | First exam | Next exam | Level you reach |
|---|---|---|---|
| New to IT and to Azure | AZ-900 (optional) | AZ-104 | Associate |
| System administrator on Azure | AZ-104 | AZ-305, or AZ-700 for network-heavy roles | Expert or second Associate |
| Windows Server administrator, on premises or hybrid | AZ-802 | AZ-104 | Associate |
| Cloud engineer | AZ-104 | AZ-305 (design) or AZ-700 (networking) | Expert or second Associate |
| DevOps engineer | AZ-104 | AZ-400 | Expert |
| Data engineer | DP-900 (optional) | DP-700 | Associate |
| Interested in AI | AI-901 | Check Microsoft's list (AI-102 is retired) | Fundamentals |
| Interested in security | SC-900 | SC-300 (identity) or SC-200 (security operations) | Associate |
Source: Microsoft Learn certification pages, checked October 2026.
A poster who had just passed AZ-900 asked which exam to take next with a free voucher, weighing AZ-104 against security exams including AZ-500, which has since been retired. For admin and cloud work, we would spend the voucher on AZ-104: it is the Associate certification that AZ-305 requires and one of the two that AZ-400 accepts.
Another poster, new to the job market and interested in AI, asked which Azure path makes sense. Microsoft's AI exams are changing: Azure AI Fundamentals is now earned with AI-901 (its English version was updated April 15, 2026), and the Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102) is retired. Check Microsoft's current list before you spend a voucher on an AI exam. Our AWS AI Practitioner vs Azure comparison sets AWS's AI Practitioner exam against Microsoft's AI exams.
Which Azure exams has Microsoft retired?
Four Azure certifications are retired, and one Fundamentals exam has a new code. Check Microsoft's exam list before you book an exam or buy a course.
| Certification | Exam | Status on Microsoft Learn, October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Azure Security Engineer Associate | AZ-500 | Retired August 31, 2026; can no longer be earned or renewed |
| Azure Developer Associate | AZ-204 | Retired, with its renewal assessment; no date on the page |
| Azure AI Engineer Associate | AI-102 | Retired, with its renewal assessment; no date on the page |
| Azure Data Engineer Associate | DP-203 | Retired March 31, 2025 |
| Azure AI Fundamentals | AI-900 | Now earned with AI-901 |
Source: Microsoft Learn certification pages, checked October 2026.
Microsoft also updates active exams. The English versions of AZ-305 (April 17, 2026) and AI-901 (April 15, 2026) were updated this year, and DP-700 (October 19, 2026) and SC-900 (October 21, 2026) have updates scheduled. A course recorded before those dates may not match the current exam.
How much does an Azure exam cost?
An Associate or Expert exam typically costs US$165, according to the Microsoft certification FAQ. Microsoft sets the price by the country or region where you take the exam, so readers in the UK, India and elsewhere should check the exam page for their own figure.
Microsoft gives no refund for a failed exam or a missed appointment. After a first failed attempt you wait 24 hours before a retake, then 14 days between later attempts, and you can take one exam no more than five times in 12 months. Exam Replay, a paid package listed on Microsoft's offers page, gives you one exam plus one retake, both to be used within 12 months of purchase. You can book an exam through Pearson VUE up to 90 days ahead, and Microsoft offers free practice assessments for some exams, including AZ-104.
Show the numbers
| Country | Microsoft Azure certifications | AWS |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2.3% | 3.8% |
| United Kingdom | 4% | 2% |
| India | 1.1% | 2.5% |
| Germany | 1 of 1,160 | 10 of 1,160 |
| France | 0 of 340 | 2 of 340 |
| Poland | 1 of 332 | 0 of 332 |
| Italy | 0 of 121 | 0 of 121 |
Do Azure certifications expire?
Fundamentals certifications do not expire. Associate, Expert and Specialty certifications expire after one year unless you renew them, and renewal is free.
Renewal works the same way for every Associate, Expert and Specialty certification. Microsoft opens a six-month window before the expiration date, and you pass a short online test on Microsoft Learn with no supervisor watching (Microsoft calls it unproctored). It costs nothing, and Microsoft sets no limit on renewal retakes. Passing extends the certification by one year from its expiration date.
Are Azure certifications worth it without experience?
They help as proof of skills you can also show in your work. Microsoft writes AZ-104 for people who already know servers, networking and PowerShell. Our reading: an Associate pass with no hands-on work behind it is hard to defend in an interview.
Posters on r/AzureCertification argue both sides. In a thread that asked why people dismiss certifications, one reply summed up a middle view in one sentence: "Your Cert got you to the room" (r/AzureCertification). The same reply added that the interview then tests whether you can do the work.
The skills that help besides certifications are the tools employers write into ads. Of the 7,726 US cloud-engineer ads we counted in October 2026 (Adzuna), Terraform, a tool for writing infrastructure as code, appeared in 20%. Our reading: one small, finished project, such as a Bicep template or Terraform configuration that builds a virtual network and a server, gives an interviewer more to ask about than a list of exams. The cloud and DevOps field page gathers every cloud credential we cover.
Sources
- Adzuna job-ad counts for the phrase
azure certificationin system-administrator and cloud-engineer ads, October 2026; analysis: CertWorthIt. How we count. - Microsoft Learn policy pages, checked October 2026:
- Microsoft Learn certification pages for administrators and architects, checked October 2026:
- Microsoft Learn Fundamentals pages, checked October 2026:
- Microsoft Learn pages for data and security certifications, checked October 2026:
- Microsoft Learn pages for retired certifications, checked October 2026:
- Reddit threads linked in the text, from the posts we collected.
Edited by Elena Marsh · Data checked October 5, 2026
Questions people ask
Which Azure certification should a system administrator take first?
AZ-104 (Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate), once you work with servers, networks and PowerShell. If your servers run Windows Server on premises and you connect them to Azure, Microsoft's Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate (exam AZ-802, 120 minutes, English only) fits that work better. Both are Associate certifications that renew for free each year (Microsoft Learn, checked October 2026). Treat the exam as proof of skills you claim, not as a box an ad asks you to check.
Do Azure certifications expire?
Azure Fundamentals certifications, such as AZ-900, do not expire. Associate, Expert and Specialty certifications, such as AZ-104, must be renewed every year to stay valid. Microsoft's renewal is a free online test with no supervisor that you can take in the six months before the expiration date, and passing it extends the certification by one year (Microsoft Learn, checked October 2026).
How much does an Azure certification exam cost?
Microsoft says its Associate and Expert exams typically cost US$165 and are priced in local currency in some countries and regions. The Azure Fundamentals exam, AZ-900, was listed at $99 in the US when we checked Microsoft Learn in October 2026. The exact price for your country is on each exam page. Microsoft gives no refund for a failed exam, and renewing an Associate or Expert certification is free.
Is AZ-900 worth taking before AZ-104?
Only if Azure is new to you. Microsoft calls Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) a common starting point, but it is not a prerequisite for AZ-104, and Microsoft expects AZ-104 candidates to know operating systems, networking, servers and virtualization already. If you have passed AZ-900 and hold a free voucher, our reading of Microsoft's Azure pages (October 2026) is that AZ-104 is the next exam for administration and cloud-engineer work.
Which Azure exams has Microsoft retired?
As of October 2026, Microsoft's pages show these Azure certifications as retired. Azure Security Engineer Associate (exam AZ-500) retired on August 31, 2026, and Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203) on March 31, 2025. Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) and Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102) are also marked retired, with no date on their pages. Azure AI Fundamentals is now earned with exam AI-901 instead of AI-900. Check Microsoft's exam list before you book an exam or buy a course.
Are Azure certifications worth it without experience?
They help when they back up skills you can show. Microsoft writes AZ-104 for people who already know servers, networking and PowerShell. In October 2026, the general phrase azure certification appeared in 2.3% of 7,726 US cloud-engineer ads (Adzuna). Pair the exam with a small project you can explain in an interview.
Which Azure certification fits someone interested in AI?
Azure AI Fundamentals, which Microsoft now awards for exam AI-901 (it replaced AI-900). Microsoft has retired the Azure AI Engineer Associate certification (AI-102), so check its current list of AI credentials before you spend a voucher (Microsoft Learn, checked October 2026). Our job-ad count does not track AI credentials.
What skills besides certifications help land a first cloud job?
The tools employers write into their ads. In October 2026, Terraform appeared in 20% of 7,726 US cloud-engineer ads and Kubernetes in 15% (Adzuna). For Azure administration, Microsoft lists PowerShell, the Azure CLI, Bicep and Microsoft Entra ID among the tools AZ-104 candidates should have used. A small project built with them gives an interviewer something to ask about.