DP-900 vs AZ-900: Which AZ Certification Should You Take First?
Compare AZ Data Fundamentals and AZ Fundamentals to find the right certification path for your career goals.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview
Both AZ-900 (AZ Fundamentals) and DP-900 (AZ Data Fundamentals) are foundational certifications from Microsoft, but they serve different purposes:
- AZ-900 provides a broad understanding of AZ cloud services, pricing, and core concepts
- DP-900 focuses specifically on data concepts and AZ data services
Key Insight: Neither certification requires the other as a prerequisite. You can start with either one based on your career goals.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | AZ-900 | DP-900 |
|---|---|---|
| Focus Area | General AZ cloud services | Data concepts & AZ data services |
| Exam Cost | $99 USD | $99 USD |
| Questions | 40-60 questions | 40-60 questions |
| Duration | 65 minutes | 65 minutes |
| Passing Score | 700/1000 | 700/1000 |
| Study Time | 2-4 weeks | 2-4 weeks |
| Difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| Prerequisites | None | None |
Key Services Covered
AZ-900 covers:
- AZ compute (VMs, App Service, Functions)
- AZ networking (VNet, Load Balancer, VPN)
- AZ storage (Blob, Files, Queues)
- AZ identity (Entra ID, RBAC)
- AZ pricing and support
DP-900 covers:
- AZ SQL Database & SQL Managed Instance
- AZ Cosmos DB
- AZ Synapse Analytics
- AZ Data Lake Storage
- Power BI
Who Should Take AZ-900 First?
AZ-900 is the right choice if you:
- New to cloud computing - Need foundational cloud concepts first
- IT generalist - Want broad AZ knowledge across all services
- Management/Sales - Need to understand AZ for business decisions
- Planning AZ-104 - Want to become an AZ Administrator
- Career switcher - Transitioning to cloud from traditional IT
AZ-900 Career Path
AZ-900 → AZ-104 (Administrator) → AZ-305 (Architect) or AZ-500 (Security)
Who Should Take DP-900 First?
DP-900 is the right choice if you:
- Data-focused career - Want to work with databases and analytics
- Already understand cloud basics - Know what cloud computing is
- Database background - Have SQL or database experience
- Planning DP-100 or DP-203 - Want to become a Data Scientist or Data Engineer
- Business analyst - Work with data and reporting
DP-900 Career Path
DP-900 → DP-100 (Data Scientist) or DP-203 (Data Engineer) or DP-300 (Database Admin)
Should You Take Both?
Yes, if you want a comprehensive AZ foundation. Many professionals hold both certifications because they complement each other:
- AZ-900 gives you the big picture of AZ services and architecture
- DP-900 gives you deep understanding of data workloads
Pro Tip: If you plan to take both, start with AZ-900. The cloud concepts from AZ-900 will help you understand the infrastructure context when studying DP-900.
Time Investment for Both
- Study time: 4-8 weeks total (2-4 weeks each)
- Cost: $198 USD ($99 x 2 exams)
- Value: Strong foundation for any AZ role
Recommended Paths
Path 1: Cloud Generalist (Recommended for Most)
AZ-900 → AZ-104 → Choose specialization
Best for: IT professionals, system admins, DevOps engineers
Path 2: Data Specialist
DP-900 → DP-100 or DP-203
Best for: Data analysts, database developers, BI professionals
Path 3: Complete Foundation
AZ-900 → DP-900 → Choose based on role
Best for: Career switchers who want maximum flexibility
Final Verdict
Our Recommendation
Start with AZ-900 if: You're new to AZ or want a general cloud career path. It's the most versatile starting point.
Start with DP-900 if: You're certain about a data career and already understand basic cloud concepts. It's more specialized but equally valuable.
Take both if: You want maximum career flexibility or your role involves both infrastructure and data.
Remember: Both are foundational exams with similar difficulty. Don't overthink it - choose based on your career goals, not perceived difficulty. Either certification is a great starting point!
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