PMI-ACP
PMI's agile certification covering Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP, and SAFe — ideal for PMs transitioning to agile delivery.
Full guide →Azure Administrator
Validates skills in managing Azure identities, storage, compute, virtual networks, and monitoring in enterprise environments.
Full guide →PMI-ACP vs Azure Administrator
Which certification is right for your career?
Full comparison
| Category | PMI-ACP | Azure Administrator |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | $495 USD | ✓$165 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | +$15,000/yr | +$15,000/yr |
| Passing score | 70/1000 | 700/1000 |
| Exam duration | 180 min | 100 min |
| Renewal period | Every 3 years | Every 1 years |
| Issued by | PMI | Microsoft |
| Difficulty |
PMI-ACP
2,000 hours general project experience + 1,500 hours agile experience + 21 hours agile education
Azure Administrator
AZ-900 recommended, 6 months Azure administration experience
- You have PM experience and want to formalise agile or multi-methodology skills
- You want a potential +$15,000/yr salary uplift
- You manage delivery across Scrum, Kanban, Lean, or SAFe environments
- 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
PMI-ACP and Azure Administrator lead to entirely different careers — project management vs cloud computing. The right choice depends on which field aligns with your current job or target role. If you want both eventually, start with PMI-ACP — it's the quicker win at the intermediate level.
Best PMI-ACP courses
Best Azure Administrator courses
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.
Can I get both PMI-ACP and Azure Administrator?
Yes — many professionals hold both. PMI-ACP and Azure Administrator complement each other, covering project management and cloud computing respectively. Holding both signals broader expertise and typically commands a higher salary than either cert alone.
Which is worth it in 2026 — PMI-ACP or Azure Administrator?
Both are worth it in 2026. PMI-ACP offers a +$15,000/yr average salary uplift; Azure Administrator offers +$15,000/yr. PMI-ACP has the higher salary ceiling — making it the stronger ROI if you can only choose one.