Microsoft Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204)
The AZ-204 exam is designed for professionals who implement and configure Azure. It validates your ability to develop Azure compute solutions, develop for Azure storage, implement Azure security, monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions, and connect to and consume Azure and third-party services.
This certification has retired. New candidates should take AI-200.
Exam details
- Certification
- Microsoft Azure Developer Associate
- Application
- Azure
- Exam code
- AZ-204
- Level
- Associate
- Duration
- Approximately 100 minutes
- Questions
- Typically 40–60 questions
- Passing score
- 700 out of 1000
- Cost
- USD $165 — typical price; the exact fee varies by country/region and currency, and local taxes may apply.
- Prerequisites
- None required
- Languages
- English (also available in Japanese, German, French, Spanish and several other languages)
- Delivered by
- Pearson VUE
- Renewal
- Free online assessment, every 12 months
Skills measured
Develop Azure compute solutions (25–30%)
- Implement container images, Azure Container Registry, Container Instances, and Container Apps.
- Create App Service web apps with TLS, autoscaling, diagnostics, and deployment slots.
- Create Azure Functions with bindings and triggers from data, timers, and webhooks.
Develop for Azure storage (15–20%)
- Develop Cosmos DB solutions with SDKs, consistency levels, and change feed.
- Develop Blob Storage solutions with metadata, SDKs, policies, and lifecycle management.
Implement Azure security (15–20%)
- Authenticate and authorise users with Microsoft Identity platform, Entra ID, SAS, and Microsoft Graph.
- Secure configuration with App Configuration, Key Vault, and managed identities.
Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions (5–10%)
- Monitor metrics, logs, and traces with Application Insights.
- Implement availability tests, alerts, and instrumentation.
Connect to and consume Azure and third-party services (20–25%)
- Create and secure APIs with Azure API Management and policies.
- Implement event-based solutions with Event Grid and Event Hubs.
- Implement message-based solutions with Service Bus and Queue Storage.
Study Resources
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Frequently asked questions
Who should take AZ-204?
AZ-204 was for Azure developers who build, deploy, and maintain cloud applications. The exam retired on July 31, 2026; new candidates should consider AI-200, which focuses on developing AI cloud solutions on Azure.
What is the average salary for an Azure Developer?
For comparable Azure Developer roles, ZipRecruiter reports an average U.S. salary of about $121,476. In the UK, IT Jobs Watch reports a £62,500 median advertised salary. Pay varies by experience and location.
How should I prepare for AZ-204?
AZ-204 has retired. To prepare for its successor, access the free AI-200T00 Course on Microsoft Learn, then use our AI-200 Exam Practice Test to practise the course content.
Microsoft's Practice Assessment for AI-200 is not currently available. Avoid exam dumps: using them can invalidate your score, revoke certifications you already hold, and bar you from future exams.
You can also search the Microsoft Training Services Partners directory for instructor-led options. Current U.S. listings for the five-day AI-200T00 course range from $2,795 at TechSherpas 365 to $2,995 at Dynamics Edge. Prices vary by provider and format.
Does the exam include official labs I can use to practice?
AZ-204 has retired. For the current AI-200 exam, the exam does not include hand-on labs exercises, and the self-paced AI-200T00 course on Microsoft Learn may include some tasks using a lab.
If you purchase Instructor-led training, Microsoft Training Partners usually provide access to official labs for about 90 days. Always checks the labs are from Microsoft Partners like Skillable.
Depending on the exam, you could get a trial licence which could include demo data you can use to practice, but that is not always guaranteed and Microsoft often changes policies about free trials with demo data. If you prefer hand-on learning using labs, contact a Microsoft Training Services Partner for Instructor-led training.