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As Microsoft Azure technology evolves, so does the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification. In keeping with that evolution, we’re excited to announce new versions of the exams required for this certification: AZ-303: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies (beta) and AZ-304: Microsoft Azure Architect Design (beta).

 

Is this the right certification for you?

As a candidate for the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification, you should have subject matter expertise designing and implementing solutions that run on Azure. Your responsibilities include advising stakeholders and translating business requirements into secure, scalable, and reliable cloud solutions.

 

You’re on the right certification path if you have advanced experience and knowledge of IT operations, including networking, virtualization, identity, security, business continuity, disaster recovery, data platform, budgeting, and governance. You should also have expert-level skills in Azure administration and experience with Azure development and DevOps processes.

 

Ready to prove your skills on Azure architecture?

Be sure to take advantage of the discounted beta exam offers. The first 300 people who register for and take one of these exams on or before August 10, 2020, can get 80% off market price! This applies to both exam AZ-303 (beta) exam and exam AZ-304 (beta), for a total of 600 discounted exams. Remember that you can take Microsoft Certification exams online.

 

To receive the discount, register now. When you’re prompted for payment, use the associated code. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that neither of the beta exams is available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China.

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Deadline to take the exam

AZ-303: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies (beta)

AZ303DonSuperStar

On or before August 10, 2020

AZ-304: Microsoft Azure Architect Design (beta)

AZ304LMsmart

On or before August10, 2020

 

Already on the journey to Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification? Mix and match your exams

If you’re ready to take AZ-300 or AZ-301 now, go for it. These two exams remain in market until September 30, 2020, at the regular price. To compare them with the new versions (AZ-303 and AZ-304), check out the skills outline document on each exam page.

 

If you just started the preparation journey, consider refocusing your studying efforts on the new exams—AZ-303 and AZ-304.

 

If you already passed either AZ-300 or AZ-301, you could take the new version of the complementary exam. The following exam combinations are valid for earning Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification: AZ-300 and AZ-301; AZ-300 and AZ-304; AZ-301 and AZ-303; or AZ-303 and AZ-304. (To see which exams you passed, check your transcript.)

 

Regardless of which of these exam combinations you take, when you pass, you’ll have earned your Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification and it will be valid for two years.

 

If you already hold the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification, please note that we’re extending—by six months—all certifications that expire through December 31, 2020. If you want to prove that your skills are up to date right now, you can use the discounted beta exam as an opportunity to extend your certification’s expiration by two years.

 

Beta exam conditions

Want help preparing? Check out my blog post on preparing for beta exams. Remember that beta exams are scored once the exam is live, so you won’t know if you’ve passed for a few weeks. For updates on when the rescore is complete, follow me on Twitter (@libertymunson). For questions about the timing of beta exam scoring and live exam release, check out  The path from beta to live.

 

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Brought to you by Dr. Ware, Microsoft Office 365 Silver Partner, Charleston SC.