Azure Administrator
Validates skills in managing Azure identities, storage, compute, virtual networks, and monitoring in enterprise environments.
Full guide →AWS AI Practitioner
Entry-level AWS certification validating foundational knowledge of AI, ML, and generative AI concepts on AWS.
Full guide →Azure Administrator vs AWS AI Practitioner
Which certification is right for your career?
Full comparison
| Category | Azure Administrator | AWS AI Practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | $165 USD | ✓$100 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | ✓+$15,000/yr | +$8,000/yr |
| Passing score | 700/1000 | 700/1000 |
| Exam duration | 100 min | 90 min |
| Renewal period | Every 1 years | Every 3 years |
| Issued by | Microsoft | Amazon Web Services |
| Difficulty |
Azure Administrator
AZ-900 recommended, 6 months Azure administration experience
AWS AI Practitioner
None required
- You have hands-on cloud experience and want to move into engineering or architecture
- You want a potential +$15,000/yr salary uplift
- Your role involves managing cloud identity, storage, networking, and compute day-to-day
- You're new to AI/ML and want a foundational credential from AWS
- You want a potential +$8,000/yr salary uplift
- Your organisation runs on AWS and you need the recognised entry-level credential
Azure Administrator and AWS AI Practitioner lead to entirely different careers — cloud computing vs AI and machine learning. The right choice depends on which field aligns with your current job or target role. If you want both eventually, start with AWS AI Practitioner — it's the quicker win at the beginner level.
Best Azure Administrator courses
Best AWS AI Practitioner courses
Is Azure Administrator harder than AWS AI Practitioner?
Azure Administrator is harder — rated intermediate vs beginner.
Which pays more — Azure Administrator or AWS AI Practitioner?
Azure Administrator has an average salary uplift of +$15,000/yr, while AWS AI Practitioner has +$8,000/yr. Azure Administrator has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — Azure Administrator or AWS AI Practitioner?
AWS AI Practitioner is the better starting point — it's rated beginner and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward Azure Administrator.
Can I get both Azure Administrator and AWS AI Practitioner?
Yes — many professionals hold both. Azure Administrator and AWS AI Practitioner complement each other, covering cloud computing and AI and machine learning respectively. Holding both signals broader expertise and typically commands a higher salary than either cert alone.
Which is worth it in 2026 — Azure Administrator or AWS AI Practitioner?
Both are worth it in 2026. Azure Administrator offers a +$15,000/yr average salary uplift; AWS AI Practitioner offers +$8,000/yr. Azure Administrator has the higher salary ceiling — making it the stronger ROI if you can only choose one.