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Azure Certifications and Exams

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Congratulations to myself! I just hit my July goal and am now a certified Azure Data Engineer! Do you also want to snag some cloud certifications? Excellent! You've come to the right place!

Azure Certifications and Exams

Last month, I passed two Azure exams and earned the Azure Data Engineer Certification.

Data Engineer Certificate

I take data engineer certificate as an example, to explain how to prepare and what the Azure certification exams look like.

Overview

Microsoft has made big changes to its Azure certifications at Ignite conference 2018. The new certifications are role-based, more practical and have a narrower focus for each certification.

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Currently, there are 9 role based azure certifications. To earn each certification, it is required to clear one or two certification exams. I list the current certifications and also the required exams in the following:

  • Associate
    • Data Engineer (DP-200, DP-201)
    • Data Scientist (DP-100)
    • Administrator (AZ-104)
    • Security Engineer (AZ-500)
    • Database Administrator (DP-300)
    • AI Engineer (AI-100)
    • Developer (AZ-204)
  • Expert
    • Solution Architect (AZ-303, AZ-304)
    • DevOps Engineer (AZ-400)

Which certification is right for me?

Should you go with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud? Whether you are looking to move into a high paying cloud career or just looking to declare your existing cloud skills, Azure certifications are a great choice. Besides all the benefits that will bring to your career, all the Azure certs can be obtained remotely, which is awesome when working from home to fight against COVID-19.

Once you decided which cloud provider path is right for you, your next step is to figure out which certification path is right for you. From my experience, since Microsoft’s Azure certifications are role-based, it is better to select the job title and also go through the skills measured for each certification.

Certification Learning Path

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Data Engineer Certification: validates the skills and knowledge to design and implement the management, monitoring, security, and privacy of data using the full stack of Azure data services to satisfy business needs.

Job role: Data Engineer

Prerequisites: None

Required exams($165 each):

Skills measured: skills outline

  • Implement data storage solutions
  • Manage and develop data processing
  • Monitor and optimize data solutions
  • Design Azure data storage solutions
  • Design data processing solutions
  • Design for data security and compliance

What the Azure certification online exams look like?

All the exams are held by Pearson VUE, the exam appointments appear on the dashboard after registration.

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All Azure role based certifications can be taken online, but there are extra policies need to be follow.

Before the exam:

  • Perform a system test
  • prepare 2 Government issued personal ID
  • prepare your phone for identity verification and room scans. Also the exam proctor might contact you if there is an issue during the exam. Make sure your mobile phone is outside of the immediate testing space, but within extended arms reach with the screen visible.
  • prepare a work area:
    • Additional monitors (must be unplugged and turned away from you)
    • Additional computers (must be turned off and monitors must be dark)
    • clear of all materials, including the following items that are not allowed within arm’s reach: books, notepads, Post-it notes, typed notes/papers, or writing instruments such as pens, markers, whiteboards, or pencils.

Start the exam:

  • log in 15 minutes early to start the check-in process.
  • Choose Start a previously scheduled online proctored exam on dashboard.
  • Select the exam under Purchased Online Exams.
  • Select Begin exam and proceed through the self-check-in process and wait for a proctor to connect with you.

During the exam:

  • No breaks/eating/drinking
  • No personal belongings
  • No exam assistance
  • use facial comparison technology to verify identity during the testing process
  • the proctor will continuously monitor you by video and audio, and your face, voice, the physical room where you are seated, and the location during exam delivery will be recorded.

After exam:

  • when your exam ends, you should see your exam results(pass or fail) immediately before exiting the exam app.
  • Also your sore report will be available on dashboard after several hours.
  • You will receive an email about claiming your exams and certifications. Click the link to claim on cclaim, and then you can share your earned badge anywhere.

Reschedule policy: at least 6 business days prior to your appointment. 12.5% reschedule fee.

Cancelation policy: at least 24 hours prior to your appointment.

Exam question types

The exam may contain several question types: active screen, best answer, build list, case studies, drag and drop, hot area, multiple choice, repeated answer choices, short answer, labs, mark review, and review screen.

For security reason, exam formats or exact question types are not identified before the exam. You can view all question samples here to prepare the exam.

Learning materials