The AZ-203 Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure certification exam tests and validates your expertise as an Azure Developer. This exam tests your expertise across all phases of the Microsoft Azure development process; from solution design, to development and deployment, to testing and maintenance.
EXAM IS RETIRED: This exam is retired and was replaced with the AZ-204 exam.
NOTE: The AZ-204 Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure certification exam was announced by Microsoft, in early 2020, to be replacing the AZ-203 exam. The AZ-204 exam was made available in February 2020, with a 90-day phased rollout where both AZ-203 and AZ-204 exams will be available. After this phased roll-out, the AZ-203 exam will be retired on or around August 31, 2020 leaving only the AZ-204 exam to be available for earning the Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate certification.
The AZ-203 exam was originally rolled out in 2018 as a replacement for the AZ-200 + AZ-201 or AZ-202 exams for earning the Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate certification. This was a move to simplify the process to earning this certifications based on feedback from those who have taken the exams while they were in a “Beta” state. Thanks to those early certification achievers, we all have a simplified process to follow now.
AZ-203 Certification Target Audience
The AZ-203 Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure certification exam is geared towards Azure Developers who design and build cloud solutions; like applications and services. Candidates for this exam regularly participate in all phases of the software development process, from solution design, to development and deployment, to testing and maintenance. Candidates will partner with Cloud Solution Architects, Azure DBAs, Azure Administrators, and Clients to design and build solutions.
AZ-203 Exam Prep Session from Microsoft Ignite 2019
Are you looking to become an Azure certified developer? Azure Developers design and build cloud solutions like web and mobile apps, and they participate in all phases of development, from solution design, to development and deployment, to testing and maintenance. Attend this session to learn which exam objectives you should be studying, and get practical tips on how to prepare for this prestigious certification.
AZ-203 Objective Domains
Here’s a very high level list of the skills and objectives measured on the AZ-203 Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure certification exam. The percentages next to each objective area represents the number of questions in that objective area on the exam.
Develop Azure Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Compute Solutions (10-15%)
- Implement solutions that use virtual machines (VM)
- Provision VMs
- Create ARM templates
- Configure Azure Disk Encryption for VMs
- Implement batch jobs by using Azure Batch Services
- Manage batch jobs by using Batch Service API
- Run a batch job by using Azure CLI, Azure portal, and other tools
- Write code to run an Azure Batch Services batch job
- Create containerized solutions
- Create an Azure Managed Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster
- Create container images for solutions
- Publish an image to the Azure Container Registry
- Run containers by using Azure Container Instance or AKS
Develop Azure Platform as a Service (PaaS) Compute Solutions (20-25%)
- Create Azure App Service Web Apps
- Create an Azure App Service Web App
- Create an Azure App Service background task by using WebJobs
- Enable diagnostics logging
- Create Azure App Service mobile apps
- Add push notifications for mobile apps
- Enable offline sync for mobile app
- Implement a remote instrumentation strategy for mobile devices
- Create Azure App Service API apps
- Create an Azure App Service API app
- Create documentation for the API by using open source and other tools
- Implement Azure functions
- Implement input and output bindings for a function
- Implement function triggers by using data operations, timers, and webhooks
- Implement Azure Durable Functions
- Create Azure Function apps by using Visual Studio
Develop for Azure Storage (15-20%)
- Develop solutions that use storage tables
- Design and implement policies for tables
- Query table storage by using code
- Implement partitioning schemes
- Develop solutions that use Cosmos DB storage
- Create, read, update, and delete data by using appropriate APIs
- Implement partitioning schemes
- Set the appropriate consistency level for operations
- Develop solutions that use a relational database
- Provision and configure relational databases
- Configure elastic pools for Azure SQL Database
- Create, read, update, and delete data tables by using code
- Develop solutions that use blob storage
- Move items in Blob storage between storage accounts or containers
- Set and retrieve properties and metadata
- Implement blob leasing
- Implement data archiving and retention
Implement Azure Security (10-15%)
- Implement authentication
- Implement authentication by using certificates, forms-based authentication, or tokens
- Implement multi-factor or Windows authentication by using Azure AD
- Implement OAuth2 authentication
- Implement Managed Service Identity (MSI)/Service Principal authentication
- Implement access control
- Implement CBAC (Claims-Based Access Control) authorization
- Implement RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) authorization
- Create shared access signatures
- Implement secure data solutions
- Encrypt and decrypt data at rest and in transit
- Create, read, update, and delete keys, secrets, and certificates by using the KeyVault API
Monitor, Troubleshoot, and Optimize Azure Solutions (15-20%)
- Develop code to support scalability of apps and services
- Implement autoscaling rules and patterns
- Implement code that handles transient faults
- Integrate caching and content delivery within solutions
- Store and retrieve data in Azure Redis cache
- Develop code to implement CDN’s in solutions
- Invalidate cache content (CDN or Redis)
- Instrument solutions to support monitoring and logging
- Configure instrumentation in an app or service by using Application Insights
- Analyze and troubleshoot solutions by using Azure Monitor
- Implement Application Insights Web Test and Alerts
Connect to and Consume Azure Services and Third-party Services (20-25%)
- Develop an App Service Logic App
- Create a Logic App
- Create a custom connector for Logic Apps
- Create a custom template for Logic Apps
- Integrate Azure Search within solutions
- Create an Azure Search index
- Import searchable data
- Query the Azure Search index
- Establish API Gateways
- Create an APIM instance
- Configure authentication for APIs
- Define policies for APIs
- Develop event-based solutions
- Implement solutions that use Azure Event Grid
- Implement solutions that use Azure Notification Hubs
- Implement solutions that use Azure Event Hub
- Develop message-based solutions
- Implement solutions that use Azure Service Bus
- Implement solutions that use Azure Queue Storage queues
To view the full list of exam objectives, and to find information on scheduling to take the exam, please reference the official AZ-203 exam page.
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate
Once a candidate passes the AZ-203 Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure certification exam they will earn the Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate certification.
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate is part of a job-role based restructuring of the Microsoft certifications. This particular certification is geared towards candidates who are Azure Developers in their normal job in designing and building cloud-based software solutions utilizing the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.
Take Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 Exam First
The AZ-203 Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure certification exam does not have any prerequisites to take. However, if candidates are new to Microsoft Azure development, then they may want to take the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification exam first. This will validate their knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of Microsoft Azure.
If candidates are new to the cloud, or to Microsoft Azure, then the AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals could be a good place to start.
What’s Next? The Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert!
Once a candidate has already earned the Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate certification they can take another exam to upgrade to the Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification. The DevOps Engineer Expert certification is earned on top of the Azure Developer Associate by taking and passing the additional AZ-400 Microsoft Azure DevOps Solutions certification exam.
Transition from AZ-200 + AZ-201 Exams to Single AZ-203 Exam
In early stages of the Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate certification, Microsoft Learning received a lot of feedback about the new “Beta” exams. Based on this feedback they decided to combine the AZ-200 and AZ-201 certification exams into a single AZ-203 Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure certification exam.
The combined AZ-203 Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure certification exam is not merely a merging of the full AZ-200 and AZ-201 certification exams. The AZ-203 exam pulls in approximately 70% of its objectives from the AZ-200 exam, and approximately 30% of its objectives from the AZ-201 exam.
As a result of the transition, the AZ-200 and AZ-201 certification exams are now retired (as of December 27, 2018), and are no longer able to be scheduled or taken. Additionally, the Transition exam AZ-202 is also retired as the single AZ-203 exam is the singular path to earning the Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate certification.
Anyone who has previously taken the AZ-200, AZ-201, or AZ-202 exams when they were in “Beta”, will be receiving communication from Microsoft as to whether they passed sufficiently to earn the certification, or if they will need to take the new AZ-203 certification exam. For those early achievers, this may be a bit frustrating, but this change will simplify the certification process for this certification, and is a good change to be made.
About the Author
Chris Pietschmann
Chris Pietschmann is a Microsoft MVP, HashiCorp Ambassador, and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) with 20+ years of experience designing and building Cloud & Enterprise systems. He has worked with companies of all sizes from startups to large enterprises. He has a passion for technology and sharing what he learns with others to help enable them to learn faster and be more productive.
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Replacement for AZ-202!!
This means that the AZ-202 will be evaluated with just the topics that are now part of AZ-203 exam, correct?
The announcement sounded like that but I’m not sure.
Can you please tell us training material available for this certification? i checked Pluralsight, Udemy in vain
The AZ-203 exam was just announced so there isn’t much published from providers yet. If you start studying for the 70-532 materials, and cross reference that with the AZ-203 exam objectives you should be pretty good on your way. Also, providers like Opsgility (through http://SkillMeUp.com) are working on releasing AZ-203 learning paths soon.
You can refer Pluralsight paths for Az-200 and AZ-201 , and Also Microsoft Learn is a good resource.
What about transition exam az-202? I passed 70-532 and preparing transition exam as 202 but can’t see much details about that?
The AZ-202 transition exam has been retired and replaced with the AZ-203 certification exam. You’ll want to focus your efforts on the AZ-203 exam now instead. I know it poses some confusion but the new exam is a better certification path for Azure Developers that is the result of lots of feedback Microsoft received from the original “beta” of AZ-200, AZ-201, and AZ-202 exams.
I took AZ 200 beta exam during ignite 2018. Was eagerly waiting to see the results. This is certainly a big disappointment. Do you know how long will Microsoft take to comm ib nicate on next steps for those who h az ce taken the beta. This is certainly frustrating
I don’t know how long Microsoft is / was taking to communicate to those who have already taken a Beta AZ-20x exam. Hopefully you’ve heard from them by now, but you could always reach out to Microsoft about it.
Chris, do you know when Microsoft will communicate on next steps for beta takers. I took AZ 200 beta last september.
AZ-203 looks much the same as the old 70-532.
AZ-10x and AZ-30x pathes having their own transition exams, do you think that some AZ-20x transition exam will arrive or is it better to not count on that happening ?
I passed 70-532 on september 2018 and I’m rather disappointed.
AZ-203 is the exam. There will no longer be a transition exam going from 70-532 to this cert.
First of all thanks for putting such valuable information handy at one place. I would like to prepare for exam AZ 203 but you recommended before that one should go with AZ 900 if don’t have prior experience or knowledge.
So can you please let me know study material for both the exams
Thanks,
Sachin Vashishth
Thanks! You’ll find some great study material from our sponsor at http://SkillMeUp.com
Very poor….. to simply remove the transition exam……..
I’m sorry you feel this way. However, it’s still only a single exam to transition / earn the new certification.
Very bad from Microsoft not having courtesy to Inform people who have passed 70-532 and removing transition exam without any notification is very very bad. I know you can say that this is the only option you have now but that’s bad way of treating developers.
I’m sorry you feel this way.
You have to be kidding me. Today I received my passing score for exam AZ-200 after waiting for more than 8 weeks!!! and now I hear it’s retired 🙁
This is really frustrating and gives me the idea Microsoft doesn’t know what it’s doing anymore with it’s exams.
There is no good way to prepare for the exams anymore, the information about these beta exams is contradictive and once you’ve passed it, they decide to retire it and you probably have to take another exam.
Congrats! You should receive communication from MS indicating if you earned the Azure Developer certification as a result or if you still need to pass the AZ-203 to get it. Sorry for the disappointment but you did take a Beta exam after all.
Hi Chris, I can see in microsoft site that AZ202 transition exam ( with statement as it will retire on match 31 2019) is it correct as per above comments from you, it was written as az-202 already retired. Please confirm which one is correct…. If a person already passed 70-532 need to take this az202 exam if exist?
AZ-202 is already retired. They decided to go with 1 exam, the AZ-203, for the cert instead so the transition exam is no longer necessary. There’s just 1 exam to earn the new cert now regardless of where you’re coming from.
Hi Chris,
You say AZ-202 is already retired but the official microsoft website says it will be retired on 31st march 2019. Now which one is correct information? What if I go by the official website and give AZ-202 a try ?
I would go by the official Microsoft site for dates. That said, I would recommend the newer AZ-203 exam anyway. A single exam to go and you can always retake the same exam if you were to fail the first time. Good luck, you can do it!
Hi,
I have given 70-483,70-486, 70-487 & achieved MCSD. Now, I want to go in Azure path only but i am not able to choose right path for developer on window azure platform. Can you please suggest.
For Azure developer, then you’ll want to earn the Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer certification. This will require passing just one exam; the AZ-203 Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure exam.
I have passed AZ-203. it has any validity means when it will expired?
Absolutely! Even when the exam is retired you still earned the certification. Basically, your Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate certification will be “tagged” with the year you earned it, and you’ll be able to “renew” the certification by taking the latest exams after 1 year or more time has elapsed since you passed the exam. Since AZ-203 isn’t being retired anytime soon, the exam will stay active for al long time still. What Microsoft will be doing it updating the exam content every 6 to 12 months rather than replace the exam with an entirely new one. What this will mean is that you will be able to “renew” your certification by passing this latest version of this exam at a later time, but only after more than a year has passed since you last passed the exam. I hope this information helps. Thanks for asking!
Validity will be 2 years. If you earned your certification on July 2019 then it will expire by July 2021.
Great article. You shared very useful information about Microsoft Azure certification exams.
Thank you very much!