AWS SAA-C03 vs Azure AZ-305 vs GCP PCA: Cloud Architect Certification Showdown

Start with AWS SAA-C03 if you are new to cloud architecture: it is an associate exam with no prerequisite (130 minutes, 65 questions, USD 150, pass at 720). Azure AZ-305 is an expert exam that requires the Azure Administrator Associate certification first. Google’s Professional Cloud Architect (PCA) is a 2-hour professional exam with two case studies, recommended after 3+ years of industry experience.

Match the exam to the cloud your employer uses. Exam facts below come from the vendor pages under Sources, checked October 15, 2026.

Practice these exams in timed mode with StudyKits SAA-C03 Solutions Architect Associate app and StudyKits Professional Cloud Architect app. All guides and practice apps for these vendors are on the AWS certification hub, Google Cloud certification hub.

How do SAA-C03, AZ-305 and PCA compare?

Factor	AWS SAA-C03	Azure AZ-305	Google Cloud PCA
Level	Associate	Expert	Professional
Prerequisites	None	Azure Administrator Associate certification	None (3+ years industry experience recommended)
Questions	65 (50 scored + 15 unscored)	See Microsoft Learn	50-60 (2 case studies per exam)
Duration	130 minutes	See Microsoft Learn	2 hours
Question Types	Multiple choice, multiple response	See the exam sandbox on Microsoft Learn	Multiple choice, multiple select
Passing Score	720 (scaled 100-1,000)	700	Not published
Exam Cost	USD 150	Set by country or region	USD 200 (plus tax)
Validity	3 years	Expires unless renewed (free online assessment)	2 years

What is each exam format like?

AWS SAA-C03

The SAA-C03 gives you 65 questions in 130 minutes, which works out to exactly 2 minutes per question. Questions are either single-answer multiple choice or multiple-response (select 2 or 3 correct answers). There are no case studies or drag-and-drop questions.

The exam covers four domains: Secure Architectures (30%), Resilient Architectures (26%), High-Performing Architectures (24%), and Cost-Optimized Architectures (20%). Questions are scenario-based but typically describe a single situation and ask you to choose the best solution.

AWS includes 15 unscored pretest questions mixed into the exam, but you cannot identify which ones they are. Your score is based on the 50 scored questions.

Azure AZ-305

To earn Azure Solutions Architect Expert you need the Azure Administrator Associate certification (exam AZ-104) as well as AZ-305. So AZ-305 assumes Azure operations knowledge and focuses on design decisions.

Microsoft does not list the question count or duration on the exam page. It offers an exam sandbox to try the question formats. The English version was updated on April 17, 2026.

The exam has four skill areas: design identity, governance and monitoring solutions (25-30%); design data storage solutions (20-25%); design business continuity solutions (15-20%); and design infrastructure solutions (30-35%).

GCP Professional Cloud Architect

The PCA has 50-60 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions. Google publishes four case studies on the certification page; two of them appear in each exam and account for roughly 20-30% of the questions.

The current case studies describe fictional companies (Altostrat Media, Cymbal Retail, EHR Healthcare and KnightMotives Automotive) with detailed technical requirements, business goals, and constraints. You must design architectures that address these specific scenarios, which requires understanding not just GCP services but also how to translate business requirements into technical decisions.

The exam guide gives approximate weights: designing and planning a cloud solution architecture (~25%), managing and provisioning infrastructure (~17.5%), designing for security and compliance (~17.5%), analyzing and optimizing technical and business processes (~15%), managing implementation (~12.5%), and ensuring solution and operations excellence (~12.5%).

Which architect exam is hardest?

Based on candidate feedback and the depth of knowledge required (vendors do not publish pass rates):

1. GCP PCA (Hardest): The case studies add a layer of complexity that the other exams lack. You must deeply understand a company’s requirements and design a complete architecture, not just answer isolated questions. Google recommends 3+ years of industry experience, including 1+ year designing and managing solutions on Google Cloud.

2. Azure AZ-305 (Medium-Hard): The Azure Administrator prerequisite means you are tested on operations before AZ-305. The exam itself is about design decisions across identity, data, continuity and infrastructure.

3. AWS SAA-C03 (Moderate): As an associate-level exam with no prerequisites, the SAA-C03 is the most accessible of the three. The consistent multiple-choice format is straightforward, and the 2-minute-per-question pace is generous. That said, the breadth of AWS services covered is substantial, and the scenario-based questions still require solid understanding.

How much do the three exams overlap?

Much of the architecture thinking transfers between clouds. The service names and pricing models do not.

Concepts that transfer

• VPC/VNet design: Subnets, routing, peering, private connectivity — the concepts are nearly identical across all three providers
• IAM principles: Roles, policies, least privilege, service accounts
• Compute architecture: VMs, containers, serverless, auto-scaling patterns
• Storage tiers: Object storage, block storage, file systems, lifecycle management
• Database selection: Relational vs NoSQL, read replicas, multi-region, caching
• High availability patterns: Multi-AZ/zone, load balancing, failover
• Disaster recovery: Backup strategies, RPO/RTO, pilot light, warm standby

Concepts that differ by provider

• Service names and specific configurations (S3 vs Blob Storage vs Cloud Storage)
• Pricing models (Reserved Instances vs Azure Reservations vs Committed Use Discounts)
• Hybrid connectivity (Direct Connect vs ExpressRoute vs Cloud Interconnect)
• Proprietary services (Lambda@Edge, Azure Arc, Anthos)
• Exam-specific scenarios and case studies

Which architect certification do employers ask for?

It depends on region, industry and company size, and counts change monthly. In broad terms, AWS appears most often in cloud job ads, Azure is strong in large enterprises and regulated industries, and Google Cloud in data and AI-heavy organizations. Check current job ads where you want to work.

Which architect certification should you get first?

Choose AWS SAA-C03 First If:

• You are new to cloud architecture and want the most accessible starting point
• Your current employer uses AWS or you are targeting AWS-heavy companies
• You want the provider that shows up most often in cloud job ads
• You want a solid foundation before pursuing harder certifications

For a detailed study guide, read our AWS SAA-C03 preparation guide.

Choose Azure AZ-305 First If:

• You already hold Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) or are close to it
• You work in enterprise IT, healthcare, or financial services
• Your organization is a Microsoft shop (Office 365, Active Directory, Teams)
• You want the highest enterprise credibility

Note: StudyKits does not offer AZ-305 practice questions.

Choose GCP PCA First If:

• You work heavily with data engineering, BigQuery, or machine learning
• Your organization already uses GCP or is migrating to it
• You have 3+ years of industry experience, including time on Google Cloud

The Optimal Multi-Cloud Sequence

For most professionals, the recommended order is:

1. AWS SAA-C03 — Build the broadest foundation with the most widely recognized cert
2. Azure AZ-305 — Add enterprise credibility (you need Azure Administrator Associate first)
3. GCP PCA — Cap your portfolio with the most technically demanding certification

This sequence progresses from most accessible to most difficult, allowing you to build knowledge and confidence incrementally. For a complete multi-cloud planning guide, see our Multi-Cloud Certification Strategy.

How do you keep each certification valid?

Renewal rules differ:

• AWS SAA-C03: Valid for 3 years. Recertify by passing the current exam or a higher-level AWS cert.
• Azure Solutions Architect Expert: Role-based Microsoft certifications expire unless renewed. Renewal is a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn.
• Google Cloud PCA: Valid for 2 years. Renew with the standard exam, a 1-hour, 25-question renewal exam (USD 100) built around one generative AI case study, or designated Google Skills courses (adds 1 year).

Azure’s free online renewal is the cheapest to maintain. AWS gives the longest validity. Google’s 2-year cycle is the shortest, but PCA has a shorter renewal exam.

How can you practise for SAA-C03 and PCA?

StudyKits has one app per exam, including AWS SAA-C03 and GCP PCA, with the same study tools in each: domain-based practice sets, explanations, and spaced repetition that targets your weak areas. The PCA app’s questions follow the previous exam outline; update in progress. It does not have an AZ-305 app.

Which should you choose?

All three certifications are valuable, and the “best” one depends on your career context. AWS SAA-C03 offers the widest job market and the most accessible entry point. Azure AZ-305 delivers the strongest enterprise credibility. GCP PCA is the most demanding of the three.

If you can only earn one, match it to your employer and target job market. If you plan to earn all three, start with AWS, add Azure, and finish with GCP. Each one is quicker to study for than the last, because the architecture concepts carry over.

Frequently asked questions

Is SAA-C03 easier than the Google Professional Cloud Architect?

Most people find it so. SAA-C03 is associate level with no prerequisite. PCA is a professional exam with case studies and a 3+ year experience recommendation.

Do I need AZ-104 before AZ-305?

To earn Azure Solutions Architect Expert, yes: you must hold Azure Administrator Associate, which requires AZ-104.

What are the PCA case studies?

Altostrat Media, Cymbal Retail, EHR Healthcare and KnightMotives Automotive. Each exam uses two of them, and case study questions are 20-30% of the exam.

What are the passing scores?

SAA-C03: 720 on a 100-1,000 scale (AWS). AZ-305: 700 (Microsoft Learn). Google does not publish a PCA passing score. A higher number does not mean a harder exam.

Keep reading

• Professional Cloud Architect (PCA) Study Guide: Google Cloud

Sources

Checked October 15, 2026:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
• AWS SAA-C03 exam guide
• Microsoft Learn: Exam AZ-305
• Microsoft Learn: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
• Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect
• Google PCA exam guide (PDF)