IT & Cloud
Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204)
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate
Free AZ-204 practice questions 30 questions with full answer explanations. No sign-up. Start practice →Overview
The Microsoft Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) validates that you can design, build, test and maintain cloud applications and services on Azure. Where AZ-104 is about administering Azure and AZ-305 about architecting it, AZ-204 is about developing on it: compute (App Service, Functions, containers), storage (Blob, Cosmos DB), security (Key Vault, identity), monitoring, and connecting to Azure and third-party services.
It suits developers with coding experience who build solutions on Azure. The exam is hands-on in spirit, so practising in an Azure account and writing code against the SDKs matters more than memorising.
Note: Microsoft is retiring exam AZ-204 on 31 July 2026 - check Microsoft Learn for the current replacement before you register.
✓ Who it is for
- Developers who build and ship applications on Azure with the SDKs
- Software engineers using App Service, Functions and Container Apps
- Engineers working with Cosmos DB, Blob storage and Azure messaging services
- DevOps engineers on the application side who deploy and monitor Azure apps
- Coders in Microsoft-centric teams who want a developer credential rather than AZ-104
✕ Who it is not for
- People new to coding or the cloud - build those foundations first.
- Administrators (consider AZ-104) or architects (consider AZ-305).
- Those wanting a purely conceptual exam - AZ-204 assumes development experience.
Exam structure
| Develop Azure compute solutions | 25-30% - Azure Functions, App Service web apps, and containerised solutions with Container Apps and ACI |
|---|---|
| Develop for Azure storage | 15-20% - Cosmos DB and Blob Storage operations from code |
| Implement Azure security | 15-20% - user authentication and authorization, and securing apps with Key Vault, Managed Identities and the Microsoft identity platform |
| Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions | 5-10% - Application Insights metrics, logs, traces and availability tests |
| Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services | 20-25% - API Management, event-based solutions (Event Grid, Event Hubs) and message-based solutions (Service Bus, Queue Storage) |
How the exam is weighted
- Develop Azure compute solutions 30%
- Develop for Azure storage 18%
- Implement Azure security 17%
- Connect to and consume Azure and third-party services 25%
- Monitor, troubleshoot and optimize solutions 10%
What each domain covers
- Develop Azure compute solutions
- Azure Functions · App Service · Container Apps and ACI · Containerised solutions
- Develop for Azure storage
- Cosmos DB · Blob storage · Data operations from code
- Implement Azure security
- Microsoft Entra authentication · Access tokens · Key Vault, Managed Identities, secrets
- Connect to and consume Azure and third-party services
- API Management · Event Grid and Event Hubs · Service Bus and Queue Storage
- Monitor, troubleshoot and optimize solutions
- Application Insights · Caching (Redis) and CDN · Troubleshooting
Realistic study time
- With dev + Azure experience ~8-12 weeks part-time
- Newer to Azure Longer; build AZ-900-level basics and Azure dev experience first
Bars show relative effort, not a guarantee. Your time depends on background and study method.
Turn this into a week-by-week schedule with the Study Plan Generator.
What it really costs
Fees change and vary by region. Confirm the current amount on the official site before you register.
Want your full out-of-pocket figure? Try the Cost Calculator.
Salary & career value
Indicative ranges for orientation only - not surveyed data, and not financial or career advice. Sources and date below.
Indicative US pay for the developer roles below is broad and varies widely by region, employer and years of coding experience; AZ-204 is one signal among many, and hands-on development experience drives the top of the range. Aggregators disagree, so treat these as estimates, not guarantees.
Pass rate: Not published. Microsoft does not disclose pass rates for AZ-204 or its other role-based exams. The pass mark is 700 / 1000; only training providers quote pass-rate figures, and those vary by cohort.
Indicative annual pay (USD), each role's typical band on a shared scale.
Other markets (indicative)
| United Kingdom | ~£45k-75k |
|---|---|
| India | ~₹8-20 LPA |
| Australia | ~A$100k-150k |
Jobs that often ask for it:
- Azure Developer
- Cloud Software Engineer
- Backend Developer (Azure)
- Azure DevOps Engineer
- Cloud Application Developer
Is it worth it?
Worth it for developers building on Azure, where it is the standard development credential and pairs well with hands-on experience. It is less relevant for administrators (AZ-104) or architects (AZ-305), or if you do not write code.
Not sure this is the right exam for you? Compare your options with the Exam Finder.
Compare AZ-204 with other exams
Independent, like-for-like comparisons to help you choose the right one.
What to do next
AZ-204 pairs with developer-focused specialties. From development, the AZ-400 (DevOps Engineer) is a common next step; AZ-305 covers the architect path.
On exam day
Around 40-60 questions in about two hours, online-proctored or at a test centre, with a pass mark of 700/1000. Confirm the current skills-measured list on Microsoft Learn.
Keeping your certification
Valid one year; renew free through a short online assessment on Microsoft Learn before it expires.
FAQ
- Do I need AZ-104 before AZ-204?
- No. They are separate role-based certifications - AZ-104 for administrators, AZ-204 for developers - with no prerequisite between them. Choose by your role.
- How hard is AZ-204?
- Demanding if you are not already developing on Azure. It assumes coding experience and tests practical use of the SDKs and services, not just concepts. Hands-on practice helps a lot.
- How long does it take to study for AZ-204?
- Often 8-12 weeks part-time with development experience. Practising in a free Azure account shortens it.
- Does the certification expire?
- It is valid for a year and renews free through a short online assessment on Microsoft Learn.
- Is the AZ-204 exam being retired?
- Microsoft has announced that the AZ-204 exam retires on 31 July 2026. If you have already started studying, check the exam page on Microsoft Learn for the exact date and any successor exam before you book, so you are not caught out.
- AZ-204 or AWS Developer Associate?
- They test the same idea on different platforms - building and deploying cloud apps. Pick the one your target employers use. AZ-204 suits Microsoft-centric and many European or DACH employers; the AWS Developer Associate suits AWS-first shops.
Related exams
- Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) - Microsoft
- AWS Developer – Associate (DVA-C02) - Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- CKAD (CNCF) - CNCF (Cloud Native Computing Foundation)