Microsoft Azure Developer Associate AZ-204
Follow a topic roadmap built from the published exam blueprint, with lessons, practice exercises and practice exams.
Build end-to-end solutions in Microsoft Azure to create Azure Functions, implement and manage web apps, develop solutions utilizing Azure storage, and more.
What you'll learn
Every objective AZ-204 publishes, and what it asks you to be able to do.
- Develop Azure compute solutionsImplement Azure App Service Web Apps. Implement Azure Functions. Implement containerized solutions.
- Develop for Azure storageDevelop solutions that use Azure Blob Storage. Develop solutions that use Azure Cosmos DB.
- Implement Azure securityImplement user authentication and authorization. Implement secure Azure solutions.
- Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutionsMonitor and troubleshoot solutions by using Azure Monitor Application Insights.
- Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party servicesDevelop message-based solutions. Develop event-based solutions. Implement Azure API Management.
The exam at a glance
- Length
- 100 minutes
- Validity
- 1 year
- Style
- Multiple choice
You will have 100 minutes to complete this assessment. The exam is proctored and may include interactive components.. Based on AZ-204.
Sitting the exam
The part nobody publishes in a syllabus. For AZ-204 the logistics are study strategy: what you are allowed to read while the clock runs changes how you should practise, and what a second attempt costs changes when you should book.
Where you sit it
- An online proctor oversees the examination session.
If you do not pass
- Candidates who fail on their initial try are required to wait 24 hours prior to another attempt.
- Following any subsequent attempts up to 5, a 14-day waiting period is enforced.
- An exam cannot be taken more than five times in a 12-month timeframe starting from the initial attempt.
- Candidates failing the exam 5 times become eligible to test again 12 months after the date of the first try.
- Passing exams cannot be retaken unless the current certification expires.
- Applicable fees apply to retaking the exam.
Read off the official exam page on 10 September 2026. Rules change without notice, so confirm anything you are about to spend money on.
What the exam covers
Microsoft publishes the objectives but not a weight for each one, so treat these as equally likely to come up.
Course content
16 topics
1. Azure Fundamentals and Core Services
Understanding Azure portal, resource groups, subscriptions, and basic Azure service concepts
2. Azure App Service Web Apps
- Implement Azure App Service Web Apps
3. Azure Functions
- Implement Azure Functions
4. Azure Storage Fundamentals
Understanding Azure Storage accounts, storage types, access tiers, and storage security basics
5. Azure Blob Storage Solutions
- Develop solutions that use Azure Blob Storage
6. Azure Cosmos DB Solutions
- Develop solutions that use Azure Cosmos DB
7. Azure Identity and Access Management Basics
Understanding Azure Active Directory, service principals, managed identities, and RBAC fundamentals
8. User Authentication and Authorization
9. Secure Azure Solutions
- Implement secure Azure solutions
10. Container Fundamentals
Understanding Docker containers, container images, registries, and container orchestration concepts
11. Containerized Solutions on Azure
- Implement containerized solutions
12. Monitor and Troubleshoot with Application Insights
- Monitor and troubleshoot solutions by using Azure Monitor Application Insights
13. Azure Messaging Fundamentals
Understanding messaging patterns, queues vs topics, event-driven architecture, and asynchronous communication
14. Message-Based Solutions
- Develop message-based solutions
15. Event-Based Solutions
- Develop event-based solutions
16. Azure API Management
- Implement Azure API Management
What to know before you start
- At least two years of programming experience.
- Proficiency in programming with Azure SDKs.
- Proficiency using Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell, and other tools.
Other Microsoft certifications
All Microsoft certificationsFrequently asked questions
How much does the AZ-204 exam cost?
Fee on Microsoft's site, and worth checking there before you book.
How long is the AZ-204 exam?
100 minutes. You will have 100 minutes to complete this assessment. The exam is proctored and may include interactive components..
How many questions are on the AZ-204 exam?
You will have 100 minutes to complete this assessment. The exam is proctored and may include interactive components.. The sitting is 100 minutes long. Check the current count with Microsoft before you book.
How long is AZ-204 valid?
1 year. Check Microsoft's recertification route before it lapses.
Is the AZ-204 exam hands-on?
No. It is a written exam, so the skill it tests is recognising the right design or command rather than executing it under time pressure.
What is on the AZ-204 exam?
5 objectives: Develop Azure compute solutions, Develop for Azure storage, Implement Azure security, Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions, Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services. Microsoft does not publish a weight per objective.
What should I know before starting AZ-204?
At least two years of programming experience.. Proficiency in programming with Azure SDKs.. Proficiency using Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell, and other tools..
Exam details from Microsoft, checked August 2026. Always confirm on their page before booking.
What learners say about Acelro
About Acelro rather than the AZ-204 exam: what learners made of the gap analysis, the roadmap and the projects.
“The roadmap makes me focus on a learning curve, no matter the length.”
“Acelro has been really great for me, an inspiring experience. I've gained a lot of confidence doing projects I thought were rocket science.”
“The gap analysis maps your actual skills against what the current job market is asking for. Nobody else made it that clear where I stood.”