Chaseです！2025年のオルターブース アドベントカレンダーの6日の投稿です。
過去6ヶ月間で、技術系の資格を一つも持っていなかった状態から、最も人気のあるMicrosoft認定資格を4つ（うち1つはExpert資格）取得しました。簡単なことではありませんでしたが、どのように達成したか少しご紹介したいと思います。
For a little background I have a 4-year degree in computer science. I have worked as a software engineer for 4 years focusing on development of scientific testing software, a system admin for 8 months focusing on AWS and M365 administration and am currently working as a cloud solution engineer focusing on Microsoft Azure. When I started my new job at Alterbooth, I was asked to focus on getting the following certifications to set me up with a great foundation for the work I’d be doing.
Azure Fundamentals - 2 weeks
The first certification I set my sights on was AZ-900, or Azure Fundamentals. This cert sets you up with the foundational knowledge needed to work with Azure, and with the cloud in general. To study for the test, I used the excellent resource provided by Microsoft, MS Learn. Particularly, I used the AZ-900 Prep Course. I went through each Learning Path and completed every Module. I took many notes using OneNote, a sample of which can be found below.
For me, since I had already taken college class on the cloud, worked with AWS, and deployed some websites, this was all review for me. All I had to focus on was translating the service names from Amazon to Microsoft. After I was able to pass a few of the practice tests provided by Microsoft, I was confident that I could pass the real thing.
My tip for this cert is to focus on learning what the cloud is, learn the 3 main types of cloud services (Compute, Storage, and Identity), and learn the basics of cloud management. Take good notes, and don’t rely on AI to take them for you. I was able to get this cert in 2 weeks of daily study.
GitHub Foundations - 2 days
The next cert was by far the easiest, GH-900, or GitHub Foundations. This sets you up with basic knowledge of Git, GitHub’s core features, and the basic workflow. Again I used the MS Learn course, took a few notes, and got through it in no time.
I have been using GitHub since college, so I only needed to brush up on some of the new features like Codespaces and learn more about Administration. If you’ve used GitHub at all, this should be quite easy. Just put a little extra time into learning administration, as that was my weakest section. I was able to pass the test in just 2 days.
Azure Administrator Associate - 1 month
Next, I was asked to take on the AZ-104 test for Azure Administrator Associate. This develops on the foundation you gained from AZ900 and teaches you how to use and create these cloud services. This test is a bit harder as you must be knowledgeable about what each individual cloud service does, how to set it up and maintain it, and how to manage it.
Again, I used the MS Learn course and took many notes (about 10x as many as for AZ900). For almost every service it talked about, I went through and created and experimented with a live instance of it in our Microsoft tenant (when I had the permissions to do so). This was immensely helpful. I also recommend doing any of the labs you come across in the MS Learn course. Lastly, I went through the Microsoft practice tests and as many mock tests and test dumps as I could find online. This gave me an idea of what kind of questions I would see and what I needed to go back and review again. I took the test after about 1 month and got a decent score of 770 / 900 (700 is the minimum to pass).
Azure Solutions Architect Expert - 4 months
Last and certainly the hardest, I challenged AZ-305, Azure Solutions Architect Expert. Here, not only do you need an in-depth knowledge of each service Azure offers, but you must also be able to take customer requirements and recommend what services to use, and know what pricing/performance tier best fits the requirements. The sheer breadth of this test is what makes it so difficult.
I studied for this test exactly the same as AZ104, using the MS Learn course and even more notes. This time, whenever I created a test instance of a service, I paid special attention to what tiers were available and what they did. I also read through this book: Exam Ref AZ-305 Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions. While it mostly presented the same information as the MS Learn course, there were a few graphs (one example below) that clarified service differences and best practices, so I think it may be worth skimming.
After about 4 months of studying while working on various other projects, I passed the Microsoft LevelUp practice test (which also gave me a free voucher for the real test). This gave me the confidence to take the official test. I managed to barely pass with a score of 700 / 900. There is no way to know what will be on each test, but mine had many questions about AKS (Azure Kubernetes Service) which was unfortunately my weakest area.
Last Minute Tips
While studying for each cert, I created a new conversation in Copilot with the following initial prompt:
I am currently studying for the Microsoft AZ-XXX certification. You will take on the role of a fully qualified teacher direct from Microsoft. You will answer my questions succinctly and highlight any information that is needed for the test. Provide links to MS Learn materials when available.
Then I would ask it for help clarifying points of confusion and comparing similar services.
Also, I suggest learning how to navigate the MS Learn documentation without Google and getting comfortable getting to important sections. The docs are available during most tests and can be invaluable for getting a few last-minute points. When I take the test, if I am not 100% sure I got the answer correct, I’ll mark it for review and move on as quickly as possible. At the very end, I’ll make my way through the list of marked questions using MS Learn to try and get the answer, limiting myself to 1-3 minutes per question (depending on how much time I have left).
And there you have it, how I got 4 certifications in 6 months. I passed AZ-305 about a month ago now and will be moving on to another certification soon enough. This journey has not only boosted my technical skills but also empowered me to contribute more effectively to my team at Alterbooth. If you’re considering certifications, my advice is: set clear goals, use official resources, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Good luck!
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