Microsoft is poised to retire the AZ-303 and AZ-304 exams in March 2022. These two established exams will be replaced with a new exam, AZ-305. MSCloudNews spoke with Microsoft MVP and trainer Dwayne Natwick about what the change means for users, particularly those planning to get certified.

MSCN: What does the retirement of AZ-303 and AZ-304 mean for users? Why did Microsoft choose to retire these two exams?

Dwayne Natwick: Users were required to sit for and pass both the AZ-303 and AZ-304 exams to obtain their Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification.  Previously, there was no certification that was obtained once a user passed the AZ-303 exam.  This deviated from the Azure DevOps Expert path where the AZ-104 or AZ-204 Associate certifications were step one to an Expert certification and then the Expert certification was obtained after passing AZ-400.  

Additionally, the AZ-104, Azure Administrator Associate exam and AZ-303 exam have historically had a large amount of overlap.  When I taught an AZ-104 class and was asked about what exams to take next, I always recommended that [students] prepare for the AZ-303 next because of this overlap.  I have had multiple students sit for and pass the AZ-303 just a couple of weeks following their passing of the AZ-104.  Microsoft finally decided that maintaining these two exams was unnecessary. 

Microsoft has simplified and created consistency with the next certification path to Azure Solutions Architect Expert. The AZ-104 exam along with the new AZ-305 exam are now the path to obtaining the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification.  For users that have already taken and passed the AZ-303 exam and don't yet have the AZ-104, this retired exam can still be used as the first step to this certification as well.

Overall, the path to the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification is a much better representation of understanding Azure administration and Azure design.  The AZ-305 exam focuses solely on designing solutions within Azure.  

How should users prepare for the new AZ-305 exam?