Azure DevOps Certification: Complete Guide for 2025

Azure DevOps has become a cornerstone of modern software delivery, and Microsoft’s Azure DevOps certification path allows professionals to validate their expertise in this space.

In this 2025 guide, we’ll break down:

• What Microsoft Azure DevOps certification is and why it matters, and how to get Azure DevOps certification

• The flagship Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400) credential

• Key exam details and preparation strategies

• The career benefits for professionals and organizations

Whether you’re a developer, IT administrator, or engineering leader, this guide will show how Azure DevOps certification can boost your skills and strengthen your organization’s DevOps capabilities.

What Is Microsoft Azure DevOps Certification?

Azure DevOps certification is Microsoft’s official credentialing program for professionals working with Azure’s DevOps and cloud tools. It validates your ability to design and implement practices such as source code management, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud infrastructure automation.

In particular, Azure DevOps certification proves you can:

• Manage source control and collaboration with Git and Azure Repos

• Design and automate CI/CD pipelines for reliable deployments

• Orchestrate and monitor cloud infrastructure on Azure

The core credential in this track is the Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert, earned by passing the AZ-400 exam (Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions). This expert-level certification is highly regarded for those aiming to master DevOps practices within the Azure ecosystem.

At its foundation, Azure DevOps is a suite of services, including Boards, Repos, Pipelines, and Artifacts, that bring development and operations together for faster, more reliable delivery. In short, certification is Microsoft’s seal of approval that you can align people, process, and technology on Azure to achieve DevOps success. This is how you get Azure DevOps certification path lined up for you.

With that context, here’s the expert credential most candidates aim for.

Azure DevOps Engineer Expert Certification Explained (AZ-400)

The Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert is the most recognized credential in Microsoft’s DevOps certification path. It’s built for professionals who manage both development and operations, bringing together people, processes, and tools to deliver software at scale.

Typically, candidates come from a developer or IT administrator background and are expected to be proficient in both Azure administration and Azure development. The certification validates that you can design and run the DevOps lifecycle on Azure, covering planning, source control, CI/CD, testing, monitoring, and feedback.

Certified engineers usually work on cross-functional teams (developers, SREs, admins, and security engineers), focusing on automation and continuous improvement.

By earning this certification, you prove you can:

• Implement CI/CD pipelines with Azure Pipelines or GitHub Actions, automate testing, and deploy apps reliably.

• Manage source control using Git with Azure Repos or GitHub, applying branching strategies, PR workflows, and code reviews.

• Enable monitoring and feedback through Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Application Insights, turning telemetry into improvements.

• Implement DevSecOps by managing secrets in Key Vault, enforcing policies, and automating compliance.

• Apply Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using ARM templates, Terraform, or Bicep for consistent, repeatable environments.

• Facilitate agile collaboration via Azure Boards or GitHub Projects to keep dev, ops, and security teams aligned.

So what does this mean for your career and for your organization?

Why Azure DevOps Certification Matters for Developers and Enterprises

For developers, administrators, and IT engineers, the Azure DevOps certification is a career accelerator. It validates your ability to:

• Design automated pipelines

• Manage complex deployments

• Improve delivery workflows

The skills that are in short supply. In fact, 37% of IT leaders cite DevOps/DevSecOps as the biggest talent gap on their teams.

Earning this credential can set you apart in the job market, open doors to promotions, and ensure you stay current with Microsoft’s evolving toolset, from Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) for container orchestration to CI/CD and integrated security. More than just passing an exam, the preparation process makes you a more effective engineer in day-to-day work.

For Enterprises

For organizations, Azure DevOps expertise is directly tied to faster, higher-quality software delivery. According to recent studies:

• 99% of organizations report positive outcomes from DevOps adoption.

• 61% say it improved the quality of software deliverables.

• Teams with mature DevOps practices see change failure rates below 15% and recover from incidents in less than a day.

By having certified engineers, enterprises can:

• Build robust CI/CD pipelines and reduce manual errors.

• Improve collaboration across development, QA, security, and operations.

• Shorten release cycles and achieve more reliable deployments.

With over 85% of Fortune 500 relying on Azure, demand is high for professionals who can apply DevOps practices specifically within this environment. The Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification gives hiring managers confidence that candidates can drive transformation using Microsoft’s ecosystem.

The Bigger Picture

The global DevOps market is projected to grow from $10.4B in 2023 to $25.5 billion by 2028, and certified Azure DevOps professionals are well positioned to lead that change. From a business perspective, certification ties skills to measurable results: faster releases, fewer failures, and more time for innovation.

It’s a win-win: professionals gain recognition and career growth, while enterprises build the talent and culture needed to stay competitive.

If the value is clear, the next question is: which certifications are available and how do you progress in 2025?

Available Azure DevOps Certifications in 2025

Microsoft’s role-based certification model groups credentials into three levels: 

• Fundamentals

• Associate

• Expert

In the DevOps track, everything culminates in the Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400).

Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400)

The DevOps Engineer Expert is the primary Azure DevOps certification. To earn it, you must pass:

• Exam AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions

This “Expert” certification targets experienced IT professionals who combine development and operations skills. It covers advanced topics such as:

• Designing DevOps strategies

• Implementing CI/CD pipelines

• Automating infrastructure as code

• Managing security and compliance

• Monitoring applications and feedback loops

Because it’s expert-level, you need to hold a prerequisite associate certification (explained below) in addition to passing AZ-400.

Why pursue it?

• It’s one of the most comprehensive Azure certifications, blending cloud infrastructure with software engineering practices.

• Consistently ranks among the top-paying Azure certifications (average salary around $130,000 USD in the U.S.).

• Employers value it because certified engineers can work across silos, a key trait for DevOps success.

Microsoft Fundamentals & Related Paths

There’s no dedicated “DevOps Associate” certification, but Microsoft provides stepping-stone certs that lead into the Expert level.

1. Fundamental (Optional): Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900): Introductory cert covering core services, cloud concepts, security, and pricing. Not required, but useful for newcomers to Azure.

2. Associate (Prerequisites for AZ-400): You must complete one of the following before Microsoft awards the DevOps Engineer Expert credential:

• Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104): Focuses on managing compute, storage, networking, and security in Azure. Ideal if your background is IT operations.

• Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204): Focuses on building and debugging applications with Azure services. Best suited if your background is software development.

3. Complementary Certifications (Optional but Valuable):

• Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500): Deepens DevSecOps knowledge.

• Data/Database Engineer Certifications: Helpful if your role includes data operations.

• Non-Microsoft options (DevOps Institute, Agile certs) can add value, but within Azure, AZ-900 → AZ-104 or AZ-204 → AZ-400 is the core path in 2025.

Azure DevOps Certification Path in Practice [2025]

Think of the Azure DevOps certification journey as layered learning:

1. Fundamentals (AZ-900): Build a broad Azure foundation.

2. Associate (AZ-104 or AZ-204): Gain hands-on expertise in administration or development.

3. Expert (AZ-400): Prove you can design and run the full DevOps lifecycle on Azure.

Once you’ve chosen your path, it’s time to understand the AZ-400 exam itself, what it tests, how it’s scored, and what you need before you book it. This is how you get Azure DevOps certification.

Azure DevOps Exam Details & Requirements

If you’re pursuing the Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification, understanding the AZ-400 exam is essential, its content, format, cost, and prerequisites.

Skills Measured

The AZ-400 exam covers the end-to-end DevOps lifecycle on Azure. Microsoft updates the skills outlined regularly (latest: July 2024). As of 2025, the domains and weightings are:

• Design & Implement Processes and Communications (10–15%):  Work tracking with Azure Boards or GitHub Issues, feedback loops, documentation, and measuring DevOps success metrics (lead time, deployment frequency, MTTR).

  
  

• Design and Implement Source Control (10–15%): Git strategies in Azure Repos/GitHub: branching models, PR workflows, code reviews, and enforcing quality with branch policies.

• Design & Implement Build & Release Pipelines (50–55%): Largest domain. Building CI/CD pipelines, multi-stage deployments, infrastructure as code (ARM/Terraform), release strategies (blue-green, canary), artifact management, and tool integrations (e.g., CodeAnt.ai, Jenkins, GitHub Actions).

• Develop a Security & Compliance Plan (10–15%): DevSecOps practices: managing secrets (Key Vault), static code analysis, dependency scanning, compliance enforcement, governance policies.

• Implement an Instrumentation Strategy (5–10%): Monitoring and observability with Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights, dashboards, alerts, and integrating telemetry into agile workflows.

To summarize the skill areas, the exam validates your ability to plan and track work, manage source control, build and test continuously, release and deploy continuously, secure the pipeline, and monitor everything. Microsoft’s official skills outline gives the detailed sub-skills, use it as a checklist.

Azure DevOps Exam Cost and Structure

The AZ-400 exam is a single, computer-based test administered by Pearson VUE or Certiport. Key facts for to keep in mind:

1. Number of questions: 40–60 (typically ~45). Some may be unscored.

2. Question types:

   • Multiple-choice (single or multi-select)

   • Scenario-based case studies (cannot return once completed)

   • Drag-and-drop or sequence arrangement

   • Occasional fill-in-the-blank or command syntax questions

   • Possibly interactive items (no full lab sims as of latest updates)

3. Duration: ~180 minutes (plus ~30 minutes for check-in/NDAs).

4. Fee: $165 USD (regional pricing varies; ~₹4800 INR in India). Retakes require payment unless bundled with a Replay voucher.

5. Scoring: 1–1000 scale, 700 = pass. Microsoft doesn’t disclose raw % but aim for 70–75% correct.

6. Retake policy:

   • 1st fail → retake in 24 hrs

   • 2nd fail → wait 14 days

   • Max 5 attempts/year

Of course, before sitting the exam, you need to make sure you meet the eligibility and prerequisites.

Azure DevOps Eligibility & Prerequisites

To earn the Azure DevOps Engineer Expert credential, you must:

• Required: One Azure Associate certification →

  • AZ-104 (Administrator) OR

  • AZ-204 (Developer): You can take AZ-400 first, but you won’t be awarded the Expert credential until an associate is complete.

• Optional but helpful: AZ-900 (Fundamentals) for those new to Azure.

• Experience recommended: Hands-on exposure to Azure DevOps + 1–2 years in DevOps/cloud roles. Ideally, you should have built pipelines, used ARM/Terraform, configured Azure Monitor alerts, etc.

• Skills needed: Basic coding/scripting (PowerShell, Azure CLI, YAML), Agile/Scrum understanding, Linux + containers (Docker/Kubernetes).

Meeting the prerequisites gets you certified, but keeping it valid requires ongoing renewal.

Azure DevOps Certification Renewal

• Validity: 1 year from the date of certification.

• Renewal: Free online assessment via Microsoft Learn. Must be taken before expiry; covers new features since your last pass.

• Benefit: No need to retake AZ-400, but you’ll always stay up to date with Azure DevOps practices.

With the exam details and prerequisites clear, the next step is planning how to prepare effectively, what resources to use, study strategies, and practice methods.

How to Prepare for Azure DevOps Certification

Preparing for the AZ-400 Azure DevOps certification requires a mix of learning theoretical concepts and getting practical experience. Here’s a structured approach to get ready, with key resources and tips:

Training Resources

Start with trusted, exam-aligned resources:

• Microsoft Learn modules (official & free): Start here. Microsoft offers self-paced, interactive paths for AZ-400 with readings, videos, and sandbox labs. These modules align directly with the exam outline and are updated whenever the exam changes. You’ll actually configure Boards, set up pipelines, and deploy in live Azure environments, great reinforcement of theory.

• Microsoft Docs & whitepapers: For deeper dives, use the official documentation. Example: ARM/Terraform docs for Infrastructure as Code, or Azure Monitor docs for observability. The Azure DevOps Labs repo is another goldmine of guided exercises. Use Microsoft’s official study guide as a “map” for filling in weak areas.

• Instructor-led or video courses: Platforms like Udemy, Pluralsight, Cloud Academy, and Whizlabs offer AZ-400 learning paths, including practice exams. Choose this route if you prefer structured explanations or need accountability.

• Books & study guides: Look for the latest Exam Ref AZ-400 from Microsoft Press (ensure it covers post-2024 updates). These guides are objective-based and give exam-specific tips.

• Community blogs & tutorials: Real-world guides (Microsoft DevOps Blog, Medium, Azure DevOps Hands-on Labs) provide practical context. For example, walking through AKS CI/CD deployments often covers multiple domains (pipelines, containers, monitoring). Just cross-check dates, since community content can age quickly.

Bonus: AI-driven DevOps tools: While not part of the exam, exploring tools like CodeAnt.ai. CodeAnt AI integrates with Azure DevOps repos and pipelines, adding AI-powered code review and automated quality gates. Understanding these tools shows how DevOps is evolving and can give you an edge beyond certification.

Note: (This isn’t required for the test, but it can enhance your practical knowledge and impress in real-world use.)

Of course, resources are only half the battle. To pass, you’ll also need consistent practical experience.

Practical Experience

The AZ-400 isn’t designed for memorization. It assumes you’ve actually built and managed pipelines. As you study, make sure to:

• Create pipelines: Build a CI/CD pipeline in Azure DevOps for a sample app.

• Use Infrastructure as Code: Deploy with ARM or Terraform to practice automation.

• Configure monitoring: Set up alerts in Azure Monitor and Application Insights.

• Apply security checks: Integrate Key Vault and scanning tools into your pipelines.

This hands-on practice reinforces concepts and mirrors the real-world scenarios you’ll see in the exam.

Once you’ve blended theory with practice, the final step is building a study strategy that helps you stay consistent.

Azure DevOps Study Strategy

To stay consistent, think in terms of a cycle:

• Learn → Use Microsoft Learn and official Docs.

• Apply → Build labs, deploy apps, break/fix pipelines.

• Test → Use practice exams to measure progress.

In short: read it, watch it, do it. Mixing formats keeps your preparation well-rounded and less overwhelming.

Up next, we’ll expand the Apply step (hands-on labs) and the Test step (practice exams) so you know exactly what to do.

Azure DevOps Tutorials and Labs

To master AZ-400, you need to do the work. Labs transform abstract concepts into real skills:

• Azure DevOps Hands-on Labs: Use Microsoft’s DevOps Labs and the Demo Generator to create pre-populated projects with sample repos, pipelines, and boards. Better yet, create your own free Azure DevOps organization (up to 5 users) and implement a mini-project: push code → build pipeline → release pipeline → deploy to Azure App Service/Functions → set up monitoring alerts.

• Azure Free Account: Practice Infrastructure as Code by deploying resources (App Service, SQL DB) with ARM/Terraform and integrating them into pipelines. A simple CI/CD flow, repo → build pipeline (tests) → release pipeline (deploy), covers a huge portion of the exam.

• GitHub & GitHub Actions: Since the exam also touches GitHub integration, practice workflows: build/test with Actions, deploy to Azure using login actions, and connect GitHub repos to Azure Boards.

• Scenario Practice:

  • Containers: Push Docker images to ACR and deploy to AKS via pipelines.

  • IaC: Run Terraform scripts in pipelines to provision infra.

  • Testing & Artifacts: Run unit tests in a build pipeline and publish results + artifacts.

• Community Workshops: Join Azure user groups or online hackathons for collaborative labs and alternate approaches.

Pro tip: Keep a lab journal, goals, steps, issues, and fixes. Reviewing it before exam day reinforces practical memory.

Once you’ve practiced end-to-end scenarios, pressure-test your knowledge with timed practice exams.

Azure DevOps Practice Exams

Once you’re confident with labs, the next step is simulating exam pressure. Practice exams help you learn the question style, identify gaps, and manage time.

• Microsoft Official Practice Assessment: Short (20–30 Qs), browser-based, with explanations. Great warm-up.

• MeasureUp Practice Test (official provider): Full-length, realistic interface, slightly tougher than the real exam. Includes detailed answer explanations.

• Third-Party Practice Exams: Platforms like Udemy, Whizlabs, ExamPro offer sets of 3–6 practice tests. Read reviews to confirm they’re updated post-2024.

• Community Resources: Flashcards (Quizlet), discussion threads (r/AzureCertification). Use these for tips on focus areas, but avoid “brain dumps,” they’re unreliable and against exam rules.

• Simulate Conditions: Take practice tests timed, without notes. Afterward, review every wrong answer, revisit docs, and re-do labs for weak areas.

• Target Domains: Use practice test score breakdowns to pinpoint trouble spots (e.g., monitoring, IaC).

Final prep tip: The night before, skim core Azure services (DevOps + related) and your lab journal. Rest well, AZ-400 questions are scenario-driven, so you’ll need clarity, not just recall.

When your practice scores are consistent and your weak domains are closed, you’re ready to book the real thing.

Career Benefits of Azure DevOps Certification

Earning the Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification can open up exciting opportunities. It’s not just an accolade to put on your wall (or LinkedIn profile), it has real impacts on your job prospects, earning potential, and professional credibility. Let’s explore the key career benefits:

Job Opportunities

The rise of DevOps has made DevOps Engineers one of the most in-demand roles in IT. Organizations moving to cloud and agile practices need professionals who can bridge development and operations. With Azure DevOps certification, you qualify for roles such as:

• Azure DevOps Engineer / Consultant: Implement CI/CD, automate infrastructure, improve release processes.

• Site Reliability Engineer (SRE): Overlap with DevOps engineers, ensuring systems are scalable, reliable, and automated using Azure Monitor and recovery scripts.

• Cloud Engineer / Architect: Design and implement end-to-end solutions with pipelines, automation, and monitoring.

• Developer or Team Lead: Drive DevOps adoption in engineering teams and champion modern workflows.

Recruiters often filter candidates by certification, and Microsoft partners may require certified professionals to maintain partner status. Simply put, certification increases your visibility and credibility in a competitive job market.

Note: On LinkedIn or job boards, thousands of listings mention Azure DevOps. For example, in India there were over 4,000 job postings for Azure DevOps Engineers on Naukri.com. In the US, DevOps Engineer roles have ranked among the top 5 technology jobs for several years (Glassdoor even listed “DevOps Engineer” as the #2 best job in a recent year).

Azure DevOps Salary Expectations

Azure DevOps roles typically pay a premium compared to similar IC roles, thanks to their cross-functional impact. Actual salaries vary by region, seniority, and company size, but global trends show strong demand for certified engineers.

• United States: Often ranges from $90k–$150k USD annually, and/or around $60/hour with senior/architect roles exceeding $170k in tech hubs. (we want to something like this for us - https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Microsoft-Certified-Devops-Engineer-Expert-Salary)

• United Kingdom: Typically £40k–£70k, higher in London.

• Canada: Around C$70k–C$110k in major cities.

• India: Roughly ₹10–20 LPA for experienced professionals, competitive in the local market.

• Singapore: Around SGD 60k–120k, reflecting strong demand in APAC.

Note: Salary data varies with market conditions and evolves quickly, check current surveys (e.g., LinkedIn Jobs, Glassdoor, or ZipRecruiter) for up-to-date figures in your region.

Recognition in the Job Market

Beyond pay, certification brings credibility:

• Validated expertise: The “Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert” badge signals broad and deep DevOps skills.

• Employer confidence: Many job postings list Azure certification as “preferred” or “required.”

• Networking opportunities: Certification connects you to the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) community.

• Career progression: Certified professionals often step into lead or architect roles, coaching others and driving DevOps adoption.

• Staying current: Annual renewal ensures your skills reflect the latest Azure DevOps practices.

Side note: Many certified Azure DevOps Engineers also leverage their knowledge to implement advanced solutions in their organizations, sometimes including AI-driven tools to further improve code quality and pipeline efficiency. For instance, incorporating an AI code review platform like CodeAnt.ai into an Azure DevOps pipeline can amplify the impact of your DevOps practices by automatically scanning for bugs and security issues with each pull request. Using such tools in tandem with your certified skills demonstrates to employers that you deliver not only credentials but also continuous improvements and innovation in practice.

Conclusion

The Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification (AZ-400) is just a starting point. The real value comes from applying what you’ve learned to real-world projects, whether that’s building robust CI/CD pipelines, implementing Infrastructure as Code, or integrating advanced tooling. Many certified engineers even take it further by adopting AI-driven platforms like CodeAnt.ai, embedding automated code reviews and security scans directly into Azure DevOps pipelines to raise quality without slowing delivery.

By pursuing and maintaining your certification, you’re not just keeping up with the industry, you’re positioning yourself at the forefront of DevOps innovation.

Good luck on your Azure DevOps certification journey, and welcome to the continuously improving world of DevOps.

FAQs 

Which Azure certification is best for DevOps? 

The Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert is the premier certification for DevOps professionals working in the Azure ecosystem. Achieved by passing exam AZ-400 (plus the required associate prerequisite), it validates your ability to design, implement, and optimize DevOps practices on Azure. If you want to focus on DevOps within Azure, this is the most relevant and comprehensive certification to pursue.

What are the prerequisites for earning the Azure DevOps Engineer Expert cert?

To earn this Expert-level credential, you must:

• Pass exam AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions

• Hold one Azure Associate certification: AZ-104 (Administrator) or AZ-204 (Developer)

You can take AZ-400 before the associate exam, but you won’t be awarded the Expert badge until you complete one of those associates. While AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) isn’t required, it’s recommended for newcomers. Hands-on experience with Azure services and DevOps practices is strongly advised before attempting AZ-400.

How hard is the AZ-400 exam and how long should I prepare?

AZ-400 is considered an intermediate-to-advanced exam. It covers a wide range of topics, CI/CD, source control, IaC, monitoring, and security, and expects depth in each. For someone with Azure experience, 3–6 months of focused study (mixing courses, labs, and practice exams) is typical. Newer candidates may need longer and should consider earning an associate cert first. The exam emphasizes scenario-based questions, so real-world practice is essential. Treat preparation like a project: create a study plan, practice consistently, and don’t book the exam until you’re comfortable across all domains.

How do I renew the Azure DevOps certification?

Microsoft’s role-based certifications are valid for 1 year. Renewal is free via a short online assessment on Microsoft Learn. It’s open-book, un-proctored, and focuses on new features released since your last certification. You can attempt it multiple times until you pass. By renewing annually, you keep your badge current without retaking the full AZ-400 exam—showing employers that your skills stay aligned with Azure’s fast-evolving DevOps practices.

Is Azure DevOps better than AWS for DevOps?

Neither platform is universally “better,” it depends on your organization’s cloud environment.

• Azure DevOps (and GitHub) integrates deeply with Azure services, making it ideal for companies running workloads on Azure.

• AWS DevOps tools (e.g., CodePipeline, CodeBuild) provide similar functionality for AWS-native environments. Both support CI/CD, IaC, automation, and monitoring. Many organizations use a hybrid approach (e.g., GitHub + Azure + AWS). The key takeaway: your certification proves you’re an expert in the Azure approach to DevOps, but the principles are cloud-agnostic and transferable to AWS or Google Cloud.