Pathway  ·  Exam scope  ·  Intakes & fees  ·  Exam  ·  FAQ  ·  Reserve a seat ↗

● Microsoft Azure · Expert

Design Azure solutions that business can bet on.

Turn business requirements into secure, scalable and resilient Azure designs. Our four-day AZ-305 course works through real case studies across identity, data, business continuity and infrastructure.

Delivered by Microsoft Learning Partner of the Year 2023-2024.

✓  Expert-level certification✓  Case study based✓  Free annual renewal✓  Updated for Apr 2026 skills

Course fee from RM3,000/pax

CERTIFICATIONMicrosoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305
Training4 days Passing score700
PrerequisiteAZ-104 RenewalYearly, free
Next intake 18 to 21 Jan 2027

●  Quick answer

What is the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification?

Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert is Microsoft’s expert-level Azure architecture certification. You earn it by passing exam AZ-305, Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions, and holding the Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) certification.

Microsoft expects advanced experience across IT operations, including networking, virtualisation, identity, security, business continuity, data platforms and governance. It suits architects in Malaysia who advise stakeholders and turn business needs into Azure designs.

●  Exam facts verified against Microsoft Learn on 21 Oct 2026

Issued by

Microsoft

Level

Expert

Required exam

AZ-305

Required certification

Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)

Exam fee

Set by Microsoft per country

Skills measured as of

17 Apr 2026

Renewal

Every 12 months, free online

Where to sit it

Pearson VUE

●  Why Trainocate

Microsoft’s Malaysia training partner of choice

Learn with Microsoft Certified Trainers using official Microsoft courseware and architecture case studies.

US$2.2BMicrosoft’s investment in Malaysia’s cloud and AI infrastructure over four years, announced May 2024Source: Microsoft News Centre Asia 3Availability zones in Microsoft’s Malaysia West cloud region, live in Greater Kuala Lumpur since May 2025Source: Microsoft Source Asia 93%Of employers report a positive return on investment from certified IT employeesSource: Pearson VUE, 2026 Value of IT Certification
US$2.2BMicrosoft’s investment in Malaysia’s cloud and AI infrastructure over four years, announced May 2024Source: Microsoft News Centre Asia
3Availability zones in Microsoft’s Malaysia West cloud region, live in Greater Kuala Lumpur since May 2025Source: Microsoft Source Asia
93%Of employers report a positive return on investment from certified IT employeesSource: Pearson VUE, 2026 Value of IT Certification

●  Your certification pathway

From Azure administrator to Azure architect in four steps

Hold AZ-104, attend four days of design case studies, pass AZ-305, and renew for free each year.

01

Step 01 · Prerequisite

Hold Azure Administrator Associate

Microsoft requires the AZ-104 certification to earn Solutions Architect Expert.

02

Step 02 · 4 days

Attend the AZ-305 course

Design governance, compute, storage, data integration, networking, identity, business continuity and migrations through case studies.

03

Step 03 · Pass 700

Pass the AZ-305 exam

A proctored exam through Pearson VUE. Score 700 or more to pass.

04

Step 04 · Renew yearly

Keep it active for free

Pass a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn each year before your certification expires.

●  Skills measured

What the exam covers, and how much each area counts

Four design areas from Microsoft’s AZ-305 study guide, current as of 17 April 2026. Microsoft publishes each weighting as a range.

Design infrastructure solutions

Compute, application architecture, migrations and network solutions.

30–35%

Design identity, governance and monitoring solutions

Logging and monitoring, authentication and authorisation, and governance.

25–30%

Design data storage solutions

Relational and non-relational data storage, and data integration.

20–25%

Design business continuity solutions

Backup and disaster recovery, and high availability.

15–20%

Bars use a 0 to 40% scale; the lighter band shows the published range. Weightings from the AZ-305 study guide.

●  Who it’s for

For the people who design how Azure fits the business

Azure solution architects

Validate the design decisions you make for stakeholders.

Solution and cloud architects

Senior Azure administrators

Step up from running Azure to designing it.

AZ-104 holders

DevOps and development leads

Shape architecture alongside delivery.

Technical leads and DevOps engineers

●  Intakes and fees

Pick your intake

2027 intakes are open for enrolment. Book now, or register interest interest.

Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions (AZ-305)

4 days

JAN18

Mon 18 to Thu 21 Jan 2027

Next available intake

APR19

Mon 19 to Thurs 21 Apr 2027

Q2 intake

JUL06

Tues 6 to Fri 9 Jul 2027

Q3 intake

OCT11

Mon 11 to Thu 14 Oct 2027

Final intake for 2027

Course fee per person

RM3,000/pax

With exam – RM3374/pax

  • Funding support. Trainocate Malaysia is an HRD Corp Registered Training Provider. Ask us about claiming this course.

  • Exam registration. Microsoft sets the AZ-305 price per country. Ask us whether your package includes a voucher.

  • Team bookings. Training a group? Tell us your headcount for a group quote.

Terms and conditions apply. Fees in Malaysian Ringgit.

●  Exam overview

The exam format, and how to keep it active

Exam code

AZ-305 Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions

Prerequisite

Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)

Passing score

700 or greater

Fee

Set by Microsoft for the country where you sit the exam

Languages

English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish

Delivery

Proctored through Pearson VUE

Recommended experience

Advanced IT operations knowledge, plus Azure administration, Azure development and DevOps experience

Validity

12 months, renewable for free

Renewal options

Every year

Pass the free renewal assessment

Complete an online assessment on Microsoft Learn before your certification expires to extend it by one year.

FreeOnline+1 year

If it expires

Pass AZ-305 again

If you miss the renewal window, earn the certification again by passing the current AZ-305 exam.

Exam fee applies

Official Microsoft Learn page ↗    AZ-305 study guide ↗    Microsoft renewal ↗

●  After AZ-305

Where Azure Solutions Architect leads

Add depth in DevOps, security or networking. Microsoft sets exam prices per country.

Expert · AZ-400

DevOps Engineer Expert

Design and implement DevOps processes, source control, pipelines and instrumentation.

Expert levelRenew yearly

Suits
Architects leading DevOps

Associate · SC-500

Cloud and AI Security Engineer

Protect systems and data across cloud and hybrid environments, including AI workloads.

120 minRenew yearly

Suits
Security-focused architects

Associate · AZ-700

Azure Network Engineer

Design and maintain Azure networking, including hybrid connections, load balancing and routing.

100 minRenew yearly

Suits
Network-focused architects

●  FAQ

Questions people ask before booking

What is the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification?

Microsoft’s expert-level Azure architecture certification. You earn it by passing exam AZ-305, Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions, and holding the Azure Administrator Associate certification.

Yes. Microsoft lists Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) as a prerequisite for the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification.

You need 700 or more to pass AZ-305. Microsoft sets the exam price based on the country where you sit it, and the exam is proctored through Pearson VUE.

Twelve months. Renew every year at no cost by passing an online assessment on Microsoft Learn before your certification expires.

Four design areas: infrastructure solutions (30 to 35%), identity, governance and monitoring (25 to 30%), data storage (20 to 25%), and business continuity (15 to 20%).

Yes, if you design solutions on Azure. Microsoft announced a US$2.2 billion investment in Malaysia’s cloud and AI infrastructure in May 2024 and launched its Malaysia West cloud region in Greater Kuala Lumpur in May 2025.

Trainocate Malaysia is an HRD Corp Registered Training Provider and a Yayasan Peneraju ALTI. Ask our team to confirm funding options for your chosen intake.

●  Reserve your seat

Become a certified Azure Solutions Architect in 2027

Book the Jan 2027 intake or register interest for 2027. Our team will confirm your seat, check your prerequisite, and advise on funding.

  • Case-study based design training

  • Official Microsoft courseware and trainers

  • Group quotes for teams

Let’s Plan Your Cloud Journey