This updated guide offers practical steps, free learning paths, sandbox access, tips, and updated links to help you pass the exam in 4–6 weeks.

Pre-requisites
1. Professionals with a minimum of 1-2 years of development experience and experience with Microsoft Azure.
2. One should also be able to code in Azure-supported programming languages and should be proficient using Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell, and other Azure tools.
3. Download the official skills outline from Microsoft.

⚠️ Update: AZ-204 is Being Replaced

Microsoft has announced that the Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) certification will be retired on 31 July 2026 (training retires in May 2026) and replaced by the Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate (AI-200). This reflects a broader industry shift where traditional cloud development is evolving into AI-first application development, meaning future Azure developers will be expected to build intelligent, AI-powered solutions rather than just cloud-native apps. If you’re already preparing for AZ-204, it’s still worth completing, but for long-term relevance, you should start aligning your skills with the upcoming AI-focused certification path.

Exam study references

1. The official study guide on the exam home page is the first place to start preparing for the exam topics

Microsoft Learn Paths (Free + Hands-On Sandboxes)

The best thing about Microsoft Learn is:
Free Azure sandboxes — no credit card required
Interactive labs — practice what you study
Aligned to the exam domains

Here are the most relevant Learn paths based on current AZ-204 modules:

1. Develop Azure compute solutions

• Create Azure App Service Web Apps
• Implement Azure Functions
• Develop Containerized Solutions

2. Develop for Azure storage

• Secure Azure Storage Account
• Store Data with Azure Blob Storage
• Soft Delete and Change Feed

3. Implement Azure security

• Manage identity with Azure AD
• MSAL and OAuth flows

4. Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize

• Enable diagnostics logging
• Implement telemetry with App Insights

5. Connect to & consume Azure services/APIs

• Azure Event Grid vs Service Bus
• Build APIs with Azure API Management

Hands-On Lab Tip: Use the Sandboxes!

Each module gives you free sandbox time (~2 hours).
Use this to:

• Deploy sample apps
• Create storage accounts
• Build and test Functions
• Explore identity flows with B2C and MSAL

New Topics You Should NOT Miss (2024–2025 updates)

Microsoft has updated the AZ-204 exam to include:

Practice Tests & Courses

Before attempting the real exam, test yourself using:

Recommended Practice Tests

• Whizlabs Practice Tests for AZ-204
• Udemy AZ-204 Practice Tests by Scott Duffy
• MeasureUp (Microsoft Official Partner)

Recommended Video Courses

• Udemy: AZ-204 Full Course by Alan Rodrigues or Scott Duffy
• Pluralsight Learning Paths for Azure Developers

Study Timeline (4–6 Week Plan)

I hope the above material helps you achieve your az-204 exam certification goal. Study this material for around 4-5 weeks and then go to the practice tests. Try building a sample application using Azure App Service or implementing an Azure function, and use Azure documentation and resources to help you learn and troubleshoot. Remember going through the material this way will prepare you to take real work in the mentioned topics and not just ace the exams, so do as many labs as possible. Also, review the CLI and PowerShell versions of everything you use in the portal.

Happy Studying! And All the Best!

Pro tips:
1. Always explore both Azure Portal and CLI/PowerShell versions of any task.
2. If you’re aiming to obtain the Databricks certified Data Engineer Associate certification, take a look at these helpful tips.

See more

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