New beta exams AZ-303 and AZ-304 for Azure Solutions Architects
Published Jun 29 2020 02:52 PM 55K Views
Microsoft

Beta codes are sold out.  Thanks for your interest in our beta program! 

As Microsoft Azure technology evolves, so does the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification. In keeping with that evolution, we’re excited to announce new versions of the exams required for this certification: AZ-303: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies (beta) and AZ-304: Microsoft Azure Architect Design (beta).

 

Is this the right certification for you?

As a candidate for the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification, you should have subject matter expertise designing and implementing solutions that run on Azure. Your responsibilities include advising stakeholders and translating business requirements into secure, scalable, and reliable cloud solutions.

 

You’re on the right certification path if you have advanced experience and knowledge of IT operations, including networking, virtualization, identity, security, business continuity, disaster recovery, data platform, budgeting, and governance. You should also have expert-level skills in Azure administration and experience with Azure development and DevOps processes.

 

Ready to prove your skills on Azure architecture?

Be sure to take advantage of the discounted beta exam offers. The first 300 people who register for and take one of these exams on or before August 10, 2020, can get 80% off market price! This applies to both exam AZ-303 (beta) exam and exam AZ-304 (beta), for a total of 600 discounted exams. Remember that you can take Microsoft Certification exams online.

 

To receive the discount, register now. When you’re prompted for payment, use the associated code. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that neither of the beta exams is available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China.

Schedule your exam

Use this promo code

Deadline to take the exam

AZ-303: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies (beta)

AZ303DonSuperStar

On or before August 10, 2020

AZ-304: Microsoft Azure Architect Design (beta)

AZ304LMsmart

On or before August10, 2020

 

Already on the journey to Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification? Mix and match your exams

If you’re ready to take AZ-300 or AZ-301 now, go for it. These two exams remain in market until September 30, 2020, at the regular price. To compare them with the new versions (AZ-303 and AZ-304), check out the skills outline document on each exam page.

 

If you just started the preparation journey, consider refocusing your studying efforts on the new exams—AZ-303 and AZ-304.

 

If you already passed either AZ-300 or AZ-301, you could take the new version of the complementary exam. The following exam combinations are valid for earning Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification: AZ-300 and AZ-301; AZ-300 and AZ-304; AZ-301 and AZ-303; or AZ-303 and AZ-304. (To see which exams you passed, check your transcript.)

 

Regardless of which of these exam combinations you take, when you pass, you’ll have earned your Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification and it will be valid for two years.

 

If you already hold the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification, please note that we’re extending—by six months—all certifications that expire through December 31, 2020. If you want to prove that your skills are up to date right now, you can use EITHER discounted (passed, of course!) exam as an opportunity to extend your certification’s expiration by two years.

 

Beta exam conditions

Want help preparing? Check out my blog post on preparing for beta exams. Remember that beta exams are scored once the exam is live, so you won’t know if you’ve passed for a few weeks. For updates on when the rescore is complete, follow me on Twitter (@libertymunson). For questions about the timing of beta exam scoring and live exam release, check out  The path from beta to live.

 

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81 Comments
Copper Contributor

Why the discount code is not applicable for India region? Does India region has the provision to enroll for beta exams?

Copper Contributor

Just passed my AZ-301 two days ago but I'll go for it. Thanks for the opportunity @Liberty Munson 

Brass Contributor

Will passing either of the exams qualify towards the renewal of the current Expert certification, or would one need to pass both exams for the renewal?

Thanks

Copper Contributor

Registered and Booked! Looking forward to the challenge and experience! @Liberty Munson 

Copper Contributor

To save people going through the registration process, AZ303DonSuperStar is fully used. would be useful if someone from MS posted an update when they were used up...

Microsoft

@mukularora89: To protect the integrity of our certification process, we have decided not to deliver beta exams in countries with the highest rates of piracy. As a result, you cannot use the code in those countries.

 

@SebastiaanR: as noted in the post, if you have the architect cert already and pass one of these exams, your cert will be extended by 2 years.   

 

 

 

Copper Contributor

@Liberty Munson Hi, The voucher Z303DonSuperStar is fully used up. I am in the United Kingdom and unable to use the voucher. Is it possible to make a few more vouchers available for AZ-303? Cheers

Microsoft

Nope. The vouchers are limited and on first come first served basis. In the near future, we will posting info on how to join our SME database. People who do get access to a different code if they meet the audience profile. This won't help for this beta but will help for future betas (possibly).

Copper Contributor

I don't read it explicitely in the article, but you do mention it in the comments:

 

I have already have earned the Solutions Architect Expert certification. Passing just 1 of these 2 is sufficient to extend it for another 2 years and which one doesn't matter?

Copper Contributor

Will passing AZ-300 and AZ-301 provide a 2 years validity OR clearing either (AZ-303 and AZ-301) OR (AZ-300 and AZ-304) provide a 2 year validity?  

Iron Contributor

Hi, the code AZ304LMsmart runs out.

 

Discount validation failed.

 

Discount: Discount - Microsoft Azure Architect Design (blog)

  • This discount is no longer available because it has a use limit, and the use limit has been met.
Copper Contributor

Hi !

 

Is there any deadline to take the exam or until when it will be available ? Deadline (for voucher) is 10th August, so for fully paid exam shoulbe a date near to it, but in Pearson I see I could book until December 2020.

Microsoft

@Daniel Rodrigues Parreira and @Deepak_Singh_Rawat: Please note that we’re extending—by six months—all certifications that expire through December 31, 2020. If you want to prove that your skills are up to date right now, you can use EITHER (passed, of course!) exam as an opportunity to extend your certification’s expiration by two years.

@zerick: You can register for either exam for full price even during the beta period. However, you will need to wait to receive your score until after the exams go live which take about 12 weeks from the beta release date.

Copper Contributor

@Liberty Munson I would love to take these exams but unfortunately they can only be taken in our holiday season.

 

Well, bad luck for me I suppose :(

Copper Contributor

Is the beta code still availble for AZ 303 and 304 exam . I live in United States

Iron Contributor

@rashmi118  The Beta codes are sold out.

Copper Contributor

Thanks @Liberty Munson for the reply. So discount codes are not available for India region, but can I apply for beta exams from India or that too is not available for India?

Microsoft

@mukularora the beta discount codes cannot be used in India, Pakistan, China, or Turkey as noted in the post. 

Copper Contributor

Hi @Liberty Munson I have 1 year left on my Azure Architecture Expert certification (AZ-300 and AZ-301).  Is the 'renewal' path going to continue to be to take one of the new exams to extend my certification for 2 years?  i.e. in 11 months when I need to renew I will still only have to take 1 new exam?  Thanks.

Copper Contributor

@Richard Eke That is exactly what she wrote a couple of replies back...

Copper Contributor

Hi Team, I have completed my az 304 two weeks(July 2020)back so would like to know if I can avail the discount or a voucher?

Regards

Sandeep

====

Ready to prove your skills on Azure architecture?

Be sure to take advantage of the discounted beta exam offers. The first 300 people who register for and take one of these exams on or before August 10, 2020, can get 80% off market price! This applies to both exam AZ-303 (beta) exam and exam AZ-304 (beta), for a total of 600 discounted exams. Remember that you can take Microsoft Certification exams online.

 

 

Learn Expert

@SandeepKNair You have to use the voucher when you book the exam, not after you have taken it. These vouchers were very popular and all 300 were requested very quickly

 

Copper Contributor

Hi @Julian Sharp, how do we get notified when microsoft announces a challenge or discounts like these? Do we have to browse through these community forums to find them? 
thanks,

SN

Learn Expert
Learn Expert

Use the RSS feed to be notified when there is a new blog post

Copper Contributor

Dear @Liberty Munson ,

 

I've just finished taking the AZ-304 Exam.

Could you please update me when is the expected date for the exam to be published?

 

Kind Regards,

Amer Kayyal

M.Sc. | CISSP | CCSP

Iron Contributor

@AmerKayyalfollow on Twitter (@libertymunson) for updates on when the rescore is complete.

Copper Contributor

Thanks @Ricardo Cabral for the prompt response. :smiling_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Copper Contributor

Hi All, I can see AZ-303 and AZ-304 are still under beta programme:

When will the beta process be finished? Is it supposed to be completed by 30 June, 2020?

 

 

Microsoft

@anll0 the beta exams were launched on June 30. It takes ~12 weeks for the process to be complete. October is the best guess for when these exams will be live.

Copper Contributor

Dear @Liberty Munson ,

I did both the AZ-303 and AZ-304 yesterday. Does this mean that I will not have my results till October??!!

If not, when do you expect that it will happen?

Many thanks in advance.

 

Kind Regards,

Amer Kayyal

Microsoft

That's the best guess right now. The process can take 12 weeks +/- a few weeks.

Copper Contributor

I have cleared AZ 300. Next planning for AZ 301 or AZ 304. Till what period my above certifications individually would be valid along with Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification title.

Microsoft

@Deepak_Singh_Rawat you can use the old versions of these exams to meet the certification requirement for one year after they expire.

Copper Contributor

Thanks @Liberty Munson for response. It means the certificate Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert would be valid till September 2021 even in case if one clears old versions (AZ-300 and AZ-301) in September 2020 which is the retirement date of these exams. Please help me validate my understanding.

Microsoft

@Deepak_Singh_Rawat Your certification expires two years after you earn it. However, you can only use one of the "old" exams (AZ-300/301) until September 30, 2021 to meet the requirements of the architect certification. This does not change the expiry date for any certifications earned. The expiry date is based on program requirements and is not tied to the removal of an exam from market.

Copper Contributor

@Liberty Munson Hi, Hope you are doing well,
As stated in the article "consider refocusing your studying efforts on the new exams—AZ-303 and AZ-304",
so as suggested, I plan on preparing for AZ-303, AZ-304 and hopefully sit the exam in October once it goes live.

when I tried to schedule the exam in advance in October, Pearson-vue is scheduling the beta version in October (instead of the live version, guess its just a bug ). will that be a issue ? will the voucher/appointment still be valid ?
do I need to wait till the exam officially goes live in October to schedule the live version ? ( I've contacted Pearson-vue via email, but idk when they will respond) (I've also asked the certification support, they literally just gave me excerpts from your posts :facepalm:, so I guessed maybe I should ask you) 
sol.png

 

Microsoft

@Prakh_Shetty  until the exam is officially live all future appointments will be noted as beta exams. If the exams go live before this date, you will take the live version (they will and you will). These vouchers are ONLY available for the beta exam and are limited in availability.

Copper Contributor

If I pass the Beta exam I'll get the same certification validity as a regular exam, right? Is the certificate mentioned about 'Beta"?

Copper Contributor

Passing a beta exam in your certification path counts toward your certification. You do not need to retake the exam in its final version.

 

Copper Contributor

Any idea when is beta 303 & 304 will become normal (no beta)?

Copper Contributor

Hi there,

 

I am planning to take AZ-303 and AZ-304 in October, I wanted to confirm few things - 

Can you confirm if the beta exams finishes by 30-Sep-2020 and after that we would have normal exams.  Also the material on MSFT docs, do you have an idea when that would be refreshed for AZ-303. 

 

Thanks in advance.

Copper Contributor

@Atul Kaila  beta exams were launched on June 30. It takes ~12 weeks for the process to be complete. October is the best guess for when these exams will be live.

Copper Contributor

Hi @Liberty Munson ,

Thank you for this information, It is really helpful.

Can you please us know the expected min score or pass percentage for AZ-303 and AZ-304 exams ?

Learn Expert

@yashwanth_kalva Pass score is 700 out of 1000 as for all Microsoft role-based exams. This is not a percentage as each question may have a different weighting applied to it.

Microsoft

@yashwanth_kalva @Julian Sharp is mostly correct. Items are not weighted in the psychometric sense; however, some questions are worth more than one point because you earn a point for each correct selection made. That is not the same as weighting because we do not say "this particular item is worth 3 times as much as another item, and you get all of the points or nothing." You earn points for doing some correctly even if you have not answered all parts correctly. More important, points are based on the blueprint, meaning that if a question is worth 3 points as an example, and the blueprint requires 5 points for that skill, we would either include 2 one point items or one 2 point item to make sure that you had 5 points on that skill. 

 

All that being said, the passing score is 700 for all MS certification exams. This is not a percentage. This is a scaled score. Learn more here:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/certification-exam-policies#scoring-and-result...

Microsoft

@Richard Eke If you have more than 6 months left on your certification, stay tuned as Microsoft is planning a new approach to extending your certification expiration date. We will be announcing something (I hope) before the end of the calendar year, and we are planning to extend expiration dates to ensure people can take advantage of the new program. However, if you want to extend your certification now, taking one of these exams is how you do it. I recommend being patient as the stars seem to be aligning on the new program.

Copper Contributor

If I do az-303(beta) now and az-304(live exam) after October will it take as valid exam?

Microsoft

@azureguy If you pass the exam in beta, it meets the requirements to earn the certification. You can pass one exam in beta and the other when it's live and still earn the certification. A beta exam is treated the same as a live exam in terms of meeting certification requirements.

Copper Contributor

I have appeared for the AZ-303(Beta) exam with regular exam fees($165.00). I booked the exam from Microsoft Learning site and appeared and completed my exam on 09/04/2020. I appeared as a general candidate and not as special Beta candidate(with voucher).  Will my scores be calculated the same way as the Beta candidates? Is there a risk of exclusion of most of the Beta questions when "Rescoring" is done?

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