I’ve completed a number of certs and applied skills over the last 12 months. Its been quite a ride balancing it all whilst 100% committed to client delivery. That said I’m sure this isn’t a patch on what some of you cert machines have achieved out there!

Anyway, here’s the lineup:

• Microsoft Azure Associate x 3
  • AZ-102 (AI Engineer)
  • AZ-104 (Administrator)
  • SC-300 (Identity Administrator)
• Microsoft Azure Fundamentals x 3
  • AI-900 (AI Fundamentals)
  • AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals)
  • SC-900 (Security Fundamentals)
• Microsoft Applied Skills x 8
  • Build a Natural Language Processing solution with Azure AI Language
  • Develop Generative AI apps with OpenAI and Semantic Kernel
  • Configure Secure Access to Your workloads using Azure Networking
  • Get Started with Cloud Security and monitoring tasks
  • Get started with class properties and methods in C#
  • Get started with Identities and Access using Microsoft Entra
  • Secure Storage for Azure Files and Azure Blob Storage
  • Develop an ASP.NET Core web app that consumes an API

The Reality Check

Was it challenging? Absolutely.

Here’s how I stayed sane, organized, and (mostly) caffeinated—while squeezing every drop of efficiency out of my study time. Spoiler: AI was my secret weapon.

Start with the Foundations

I tackled the fundamentals first. Why? Because they give you a solid base and help you spot weak areas early. That feedback loop is gold when you move into the the Associate certs and beyond.

Azure Certs: My Game Plan

• Understand the exam criteria
  MS Learn breaks down the weightings—so I laser-focus on the chunky sections. No point sweating the 10% stuff when there’s a 35% monster lurking.
• Learning materials
  MS Learn guided paths are my go-to. I skip overlaps (because déjà vu isn’t productive).
  Whizlabs? Great for practice papers and labs – usually many of them.
  MSLearn? Great for dynamic sample papers.
  Pluralsight? Loved it—until the price hike. RIP affordable labs.
• Practical application
  Theory sticks better when you use it. I sneak new concepts into my day job whenever possible. Real-world constraints = better retention.
• Flash cards (AI-powered)
  I feed my notes into AI, spit out bite-sized flash cards, and stash them in the cloud. Perfect for revising on the go.
• Overlap is your friend
• Knock out certs with shared topics back-to-back. Example: SC-900 → SC-300 → AZ-500. Saved me HOURS.
• Final Study Cram Vids
• Around week before exam time – find exam specific study cram vids – relax, follow along, fill in any gaps. John Savill’s Technical Training study playlists were invaluable.

Applied Skills: The Side Hustle

Microsoft Applied Skills certs are brilliant for hands-on learning. My approach:

• Go through MS Learn material, take structured notes (AI helps condense the fluff).
• During labs, jot down tricky bits—because virtual labs crash. A lot.
• Keep labs open during exams for quick reference. It’s allowed, and it’s a lifesaver.

Teach to Learn

Upskill sessions at work? I volunteer. Explaining concepts forces clarity—and makes them stick.

Summary

So that’s my not-so-secret sauce:

• Foundations first
• Focus on weighted topics
• Practical > theory
• AI for flash cards and summaries
• Overlap certs to save time
• Watch study cram playlists close to exam
• Teach what you learn

Certs aren’t easy, but with the right hacks, they’re doable. Hope this helps you crush your next exam!