PMI-ACP vs Azure Administrator
Which certification is right for your career? Here's the full breakdown.
PMI
PMI-ACP
PMI-ACP
PMI's agile certification covering Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP, and SAFe — ideal for PMs transitioning to agile delivery.
Full guide →Microsoft
Azure Administrator
AZ-104
Validates skills in managing Azure identities, storage, compute, virtual networks, and monitoring in enterprise environments.
Full guide →Side-by-side comparison
| Category | PMI-ACP | Azure Administrator |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | $495 USD | ✓$165 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | +$15,000/yr | +$15,000/yr |
| Exam duration | 180 min | 100 min |
| Renewal period | Every 3 years | Every 1 years |
| Issued by | PMI | Microsoft |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
PMI-ACP — Prerequisites
2,000 hours general project experience + 1,500 hours agile experience + 21 hours agile education
Azure Administrator — Prerequisites
AZ-900 recommended, 6 months Azure administration experience
Get PMI-ACP if…
- •You have 2–3 years of IT experience and want to specialise
- •You want a +$15,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from PMI
Get Azure Administrator if…
- •You have 2–3 years of IT experience and want to specialise
- •You want a +$15,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from Microsoft
Best PMI-ACP courses
Best Azure Administrator courses
Frequently asked questions
Is PMI-ACP harder than Azure Administrator?
Both PMI-ACP and Azure Administrator are rated intermediate difficulty.
Which pays more — PMI-ACP or Azure Administrator?
PMI-ACP has an average salary uplift of +$15,000/yr, while Azure Administrator has +$15,000/yr. PMI-ACP has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — PMI-ACP or Azure Administrator?
PMI-ACP is the better starting point — it's rated intermediate and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward Azure Administrator.