The Complete Microsoft Certification Path: Azure, GitHub, AI, Security, Power Platform, and More (2026 Guide)

Tech Professionals 04 August 2026 223 views

Microsoft's certification catalog can look overwhelming from the outside — dozens of exam codes, four difficulty tiers, and tracks spanning cloud infrastructure, security, AI, data, low-code development, and now GitHub. But the underlying logic is consistent everywhere: start with a Fundamentals exam to build vocabulary, move into the Associate certification that matches the job you actually want, and reserve the Expert-level credentials for once you have real hands-on experience to back them up. Pick one lane, follow it end to end, and let the certifications validate a career direction you've already chosen — rather than trying to choose a direction by collecting every badge available.

Microsoft's certification ecosystem has grown from a handful of exams into a sprawling, role-based map that covers cloud infrastructure, security, data, AI, low-code development, and even GitHub. If you're trying to figure out where to start, which exam unlocks which, and what kind of salary you can realistically expect, this guide walks through every major track — with exam codes, prerequisites, and career outcomes — so you can build a plan instead of collecting badges at random.

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How Microsoft Structures Its Certifications

Before diving into individual tracks, it helps to understand the shared framework Microsoft uses across almost every certification family:

Fundamentals — Entry-level, no experience required. These exams (usually ending in "900") validate that you understand core concepts and vocabulary. They don't expire.
Associate — Role-based, hands-on certifications aimed at people with roughly six months to two years of practical experience in that role.
Expert — Senior-level credentials that usually require passing one or more Associate exams first. These validate architecture-level thinking, not just task execution.
Specialty — Narrow, niche certifications for specific workloads (for example, Azure for SAP or Azure IoT).

Associate and Expert certifications generally need to be renewed every year through a free, open-book assessment on Microsoft Learn — so a certification isn't a one-and-done trophy, it's an ongoing commitment.

With that framework in mind, here's a breakdown of each major certification family.

1. Azure Certifications (Cloud Infrastructure and Platform)

Azure is the largest and most mature part of Microsoft's certification catalog, with over 20 exams spanning infrastructure, development, security, data, and AI. It's the natural starting point for anyone pursuing a cloud career on the Microsoft stack.

AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals

The universal entry point. AZ-900 covers cloud concepts, core Azure services, pricing, and governance. No technical background is required, which makes it popular with salespeople, project managers, and career-changers as well as engineers.

Prerequisite: None
Leads to: Every other Azure certification
Typical salary range: $65,000–$90,000 in entry-level or hybrid technical/business roles. On its own, AZ-900 tends to add a modest bump to an existing salary rather than open senior roles.

AZ-104: Azure Administrator Associate

The workhorse certification of the entire Azure catalog. AZ-104 validates the ability to manage identities, storage, compute, networking, and governance in Azure environments. It's the single most-held Azure associate certification and the most frequently requested in job postings.

Prerequisite: None formally required, but AZ-900-level knowledge or equivalent hands-on experience is strongly recommended
Leads to: AZ-305 (Solutions Architect Expert), AZ-500 (Security Engineer), AZ-400 (DevOps Engineer)
Typical salary range: $100,000–$163,000, with entry-level administrators around $80,000–$100,000 and senior cloud engineers clearing $145,000+

AZ-204: Azure Developer Associate

For software engineers building and deploying applications on Azure — covers compute solutions, storage, security, monitoring, and API integration.

Prerequisite: None formally, but working knowledge of at least one Azure-supported programming language is expected
Leads to: AZ-400 (DevOps Engineer Expert)
Typical salary range: $95,000–$140,000

AZ-305: Azure Solutions Architect Expert

The flagship expert-level credential and one of the highest-paying Microsoft certifications overall. AZ-305 validates the ability to design compute, storage, networking, security, and governance solutions at an enterprise scale.

Prerequisite: AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate) — mandatory
Leads to: Senior architect and principal engineer roles; often paired with AZ-400 or SC-100 for broader scope
Typical salary range: $127,000–$190,000+, with senior architects at large enterprises or consultancies exceeding $215,000

AZ-400: DevOps Engineer Expert

For engineers who design and implement CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, and release strategies that integrate people, process, and technology.

Prerequisite: AZ-104 or AZ-204 (one of the two is required)
Leads to: Senior DevOps and platform engineering roles
Typical salary range: $130,000–$180,000

AZ-500 → SC-500: Azure Security Engineer

AZ-500 has historically validated the implementation of security controls, identity protection, and threat mitigation in Azure. Microsoft has scheduled AZ-500 for retirement in August 2026, with its scope folding into the new SC-500: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate. If you're starting fresh, check which version is current before you register.

Prerequisite: AZ-104 recommended
Leads to: SC-100 (Cybersecurity Architect Expert)
Typical salary range: $146,000–$163,000

DP-900 and DP-100: Data Track

DP-900 (Azure Data Fundamentals) introduces core data concepts — relational, non-relational, and analytics workloads. DP-100 (Azure Data Scientist Associate) goes further, validating skills in Azure Machine Learning, model training, deployment, and MLOps.

Prerequisite: DP-900 recommended before DP-100; Python and ML experience expected for DP-100
Leads to: PL-300 (Power BI Data Analyst) or Microsoft Fabric-specific certifications
Typical salary range: $90,000–$135,000 for data analysts and engineers

Recommended Azure path for most people: AZ-900 → AZ-104 → AZ-305 (architect track) or AZ-104 → AZ-400 (DevOps track) or AZ-104 → AZ-500/SC-500 (security track). This progression typically takes 9–18 months depending on your starting experience.

2. Microsoft Security Certifications (the "SC" Series)

As cyber threats have escalated, Microsoft's security track has become one of its fastest-growing and best-paying certification families.

SC-900: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals

The entry point for anyone who needs the vocabulary of Microsoft security before specializing — covers identity concepts, compliance capabilities, and the purpose of tools like Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft Defender, and Microsoft Purview.

Prerequisite: None
Leads to: SC-200, SC-300, SC-400/SC-401, or SC-500
Typical salary range: $72,000–$92,000 for early-career security roles

SC-200: Security Operations Analyst

Built for people working in a Security Operations Center (SOC) — covers Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Office 365, and threat investigation using Kusto Query Language (KQL).

Prerequisite: SC-900 recommended, plus familiarity with SOC tooling
Leads to: SC-100 (with SC-300 or another qualifying associate cert)

SC-300: Identity and Access Administrator

Focused on designing, implementing, and operating identity and access management with Microsoft Entra — conditional access, privileged identity management, access reviews, and hybrid identity.

Prerequisite: SC-900 recommended; IT admin background helps
Leads to: SC-100

SC-400 / SC-401: Information Protection and Compliance

Covers Microsoft Purview-based data protection, labeling, and compliance controls, replacing what was previously scoped under SC-400.

Prerequisite: SC-900 recommended

SC-100: Cybersecurity Architect Expert

The capstone of the security track. SC-100 validates the ability to translate security strategy into Zero Trust architecture across identity, data, applications, and infrastructure.

Prerequisite: At least one of SC-200, SC-300, SC-400/401, or AZ-500/SC-500 (Microsoft requires a qualifying combination)
Typical salary range: Security certifications as a group carry some of the strongest salary premiums in the Microsoft catalog, with SC-100-certified architects commanding senior six-figure compensation comparable to or exceeding AZ-305 architects.

Recommended security path: SC-900 → SC-200 (SOC/detection track) or SC-300 (identity track) → SC-100 for architecture-level roles.

3. GitHub Certifications

Since Microsoft owns GitHub, GitHub certifications have become part of the broader Microsoft credential ecosystem and are registered through Microsoft Learn. There are currently five GitHub certifications, each a single 100-minute proctored exam costing $99.

GitHub Foundations (GH-900)

Entry point covering repositories, branching, pull requests, collaboration workflows, GitHub Projects, and basic security features like Dependabot and secret scanning.

Prerequisite: None
Best for: Developers, students, and anyone starting a GitHub-centric career

GitHub Actions

Validates the ability to build CI/CD workflows, use self-hosted runners, and automate deployment pipelines using GitHub Actions.

Prerequisite: GitHub Foundations knowledge recommended
Best for: DevOps engineers and platform engineers

GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS)

Covers code scanning, secret detection, dependency management, and shift-left security practices built into GitHub.

Prerequisite: Foundations-level knowledge; relevant for security-focused developers
Best for: AppSec engineers and DevSecOps practitioners

GitHub Copilot

Tests the ability to use GitHub Copilot productively and responsibly — prompt engineering, reviewing AI-generated code critically, and understanding Copilot's privacy safeguards across different plans.

Prerequisite: GitHub fundamentals plus experience with at least one programming language
Best for: Developers who want to demonstrate applied AI coding skills, which is increasingly a differentiator in hiring

GitHub Admin

Validates the ability to manage and optimize a healthy GitHub organization — permissions, security policy, and governance at scale.

Prerequisite: Foundations-level knowledge
Best for: Platform and DevOps engineers who own an organization's GitHub environment

GitHub certifications don't carry the same decades-long salary research that Azure certifications do, but they're increasingly listed as preferred or required skills in DevOps, platform engineering, and AI-assisted development job postings, and they pair naturally with AZ-400 (DevOps Engineer Expert) for a complete delivery-pipeline skill set.

4. Microsoft AI Certifications

AI is the fastest-growing certification category Microsoft offers right now, spanning fundamentals, applied engineering, and role-specific business tools like Copilot.

AI-900 / AI-901: Azure AI Fundamentals

Covers foundational AI and machine learning concepts — computer vision, natural language processing, generative AI, and responsible AI principles. Microsoft has been rolling out a refreshed AI-901 version to reflect the current generative AI landscape.

Prerequisite: None
Leads to: AI-102, DP-100, or role-specific AI business certifications
Typical salary range: Similar to other fundamentals-level credentials, roughly $70,000–$95,000, mostly valuable as a stepping stone rather than a standalone qualification

AI-102: Azure AI Engineer Associate

Validates the ability to build, manage, and deploy AI solutions using Azure AI services — including Azure OpenAI Service, computer vision, language understanding, and knowledge mining. Worth noting: this exam has a scheduled retirement window in mid-2026, so confirm its current status and successor exam before planning a long study cycle around it.

Prerequisite: AI-900 recommended; programming experience (typically C# or Python) expected
Leads to: Senior AI/ML engineering roles, often paired with DP-100
Typical salary range: $110,000–$155,000, tracking close to or above AZ-204 given current AI hiring demand

AB-900 and the New Copilot/Agent Track

Microsoft has been shifting business-user certification content away from the older MS-900 (Microsoft 365 Fundamentals) toward a new Copilot-focused AB-900 path, alongside new "AB series" exams focused on building AI agents within Power Platform. This reflects where Microsoft is investing: less "what is Microsoft 365" and more "how do you build and manage AI agents and Copilot experiences."

Prerequisite: None for AB-900
Best for: Business analysts, IT admins, and consultants who need to demonstrate Copilot and AI-agent fluency rather than deep coding skills

Recommended AI path: AI-900/AI-901 → AI-102 (technical/engineering track) or AB-900 → Power Platform AI-agent exams (business/low-code track). Pair AI-102 with DP-100 if you're aiming for a data science or ML engineering role rather than a pure application-integration role.

5. Power Platform and Data Certifications

Power Platform certifications target low-code/no-code development and business intelligence, making them the most accessible track for non-developers.

PL-900: Power Platform Fundamentals

Introduces the business value and basic capabilities of Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, and Dataverse.

Prerequisite: None
Leads to: PL-100, PL-200, PL-300, or PL-400
Typical salary range: Around $90,000 globally on average, though PL-900 alone is mainly a stepping stone rather than a salary driver

PL-100: Power Platform App Maker

For "citizen developers" who build apps to solve problems within their own department.

PL-200: Power Platform Functional Consultant

For consultants who configure Power Platform solutions for external clients or other business units.

PL-300: Power BI Data Analyst Associate

One of the most popular Microsoft exams among non-IT business analysts — covers data preparation, modeling, visualization, and analysis in Power BI.

Prerequisite: DP-900 recommended as a lead-in
Typical salary range: $85,000–$125,000 for certified data analysts

PL-400: Power Platform Developer Associate

For developers building more complex, code-enhanced Power Platform solutions, including custom connectors and plug-ins.

Prerequisite: PL-200 or equivalent experience recommended

Recommended Power Platform path: PL-900 → PL-100 (citizen developer) or PL-200 (functional consultant) or PL-300 (data analyst) → PL-400 for developers who want to extend Power Platform with code.

Putting Together a Full Career Roadmap

Here's how the tracks map to common job goals:

Career Goal Recommended Path

Cloud Administrator AZ-900 → AZ-104

Cloud Solutions Architect AZ-900 → AZ-104 → AZ-305

Cloud Developer AZ-900 → AZ-204 → AZ-400

DevOps / Platform Engineer AZ-104 or AZ-204 → AZ-400 +

GitHub Actions/Admin Security Analyst (SOC)SC-900 → SC-200 → SC-100

Identity & Access Administrator SC-900 → SC-300 → SC-100

Cybersecurity Architect SC-900 → (SC-200 or SC-300) + SC-100

AI Engineer AI-900/901 → AI-102 → DP-100

Data Analyst DP-900 → PL-300

Business Analyst / Citizen Developer PL-900 → PL-100 or PL-200

Developer using AI tooling GitHub Foundations → GitHub Copilot certification

A general rule holds across every track: depth in one path beats breadth across many. Employers and recruiters respond far more to a coherent Fundamentals → Associate → Expert progression in a single lane than to a scattered collection of unrelated badges. The Fundamentals exam de-risks the Associate exam by teaching the vocabulary, and the Associate exam de-risks the Expert exam by putting you through a real Microsoft testing process before the hardest one.

Salary Snapshot Across the Portfolio

While exact figures vary by region, employer, and experience, the general pattern across Microsoft's certification catalog in 2026 looks like this:

Fundamentals-level certifications (AZ-900, SC-900, AI-900, PL-900, GitHub Foundations): $65,000–$95,000, mostly valuable as an accelerant for the next certification rather than a standalone salary driver
Associate-level certifications (AZ-104, AZ-204, SC-200, SC-300, PL-300, AI-102): $90,000–$163,000, with AZ-104 and AI-102 currently among the most in-demand
Expert-level certifications (AZ-305, AZ-400, SC-100): $127,000–$215,000+, with Solutions Architect and Cybersecurity Architect roles at the top of the range
GitHub certifications: not yet tracked with the same salary-survey depth as Azure, but increasingly listed as preferred qualifications in DevOps and AI-assisted engineering roles, and best treated as a complement to an Azure or security track rather than a standalone career path

Certifications alone don't guarantee a salary jump — hands-on experience, the specific tools a role requires (Kubernetes, Terraform, KQL, Copilot integration), and location all move the needle as much as the badge itself. But across nearly every survey and job-board dataset, certified professionals consistently earn more than uncertified peers doing similar work, and the gap widens as you move from Fundamentals to Expert.