AWS

AWS Certification Guide: Everything You Need to Know for Success

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AWS (Amazon Web Services) is one of the most widely used cloud platforms in the world, offering scalable and secure cloud services to businesses of all sizes. As the demand for cloud professionals grows, AWS certifications have become crucial credentials for IT professionals looking to advance their careers. In this post I will cover the different certification paths, the benefits of getting certified and tips for exam preparation. And with that I hope this guide will help you navigate the AWS certification path effectively.

Why Get AWS Certified?

AWS certifications validate your technical skills and cloud expertise, making you a valuable asset in the competitive job market. With businesses rapidly moving to the cloud, having an AWS certification demonstrates your ability to design, deploy, and manage cloud solutions. Here are some key benefits of getting AWS certified:

  • Career Advancement: Certified professionals stand out to employers and often have higher earning potential.
  • In-Demand Skills: Cloud computing skills are highly sought after, and AWS is a leading provider, making certifications essential.
  • Industry Recognition: AWS certifications are globally recognized, giving you credibility among peers and employers.
  • Specialization: AWS offers different certification paths, allowing you to specialize in areas like security, architecture, or DevOps.
  • Access to Exclusive Resources: AWS certified individuals gain access to exam discounts, the AWS Certified LinkedIn community, and exclusive events.

Whether you are looking to land your first cloud role or aiming to enhance your existing cloud knowledge, AWS certifications can propel your career forward.

AWS Certification Path Overview

AWS offers 12 certifications spread across four levels: Foundational, Associate, Professional, and Specialty. Each level is designed to assess different expertise levels, from beginners to experienced cloud professionals. Below is an overview of the AWS certification paths.

1. Foundational Level Certification

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification is ideal for those new to cloud computing and serves as an entry point to the AWS ecosystem.

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

  • Who it’s for: Beginners and non-technical professionals.
  • Exam focus: AWS basics, cloud concepts, billing, and pricing.
  • Skills covered: Foundational knowledge of AWS cloud infrastructure and its global architecture.
  • Prerequisites: No prior experience is required, though some basic knowledge of IT services is recommended.
  • Average Salary: AWS Cloud Practitioners earn around $131,465 per year.

2. Associate Level Certifications

Once you have a basic understanding of AWS, you can move on to the Associate Level certifications. These certifications are aimed at those with some hands-on experience in AWS. There are three main associate certifications:

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

  • Who it’s for: Individuals with experience designing distributed systems.
  • Exam focus: Designing scalable, secure, and robust AWS architectures.
  • Skills covered: Cloud architecture, deployment, and best practices for securing and scaling AWS environments.
  • Prerequisites: 1 year of hands-on experience with AWS.
  • Average Salary: AWS Solutions Architects – Associate earn around $149,446 annually.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate

  • Who it’s for: Software developers working in cloud environments.
  • Exam focus: Developing, deploying, and debugging applications on AWS.
  • Skills covered: AWS SDKs, serverless computing (e.g., Lambda), and cloud-native application development.
  • Prerequisites: 1 year of experience in software development using AWS services.
  • Average Salary: AWS Developers – Associate earn approximately $130,272 per year.

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate

  • Who it’s for: System administrators or DevOps professionals.
  • Exam focus: Managing, deploying, and operating AWS environments.
  • Skills covered: Monitoring, automation, networking, and fault tolerance in AWS.
  • Prerequisites: 1 year of hands-on experience with AWS and basic system administration.
  • Average Salary: AWS SysOps Administrators earn around $130,610 annually.

3. Professional Level Certifications

The Professional Level certifications are advanced credentials designed for individuals with deep AWS experience. These certifications focus on complex tasks, advanced architectural design, and troubleshooting in AWS environments.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

  • Who it’s for: Experienced architects who design complex solutions.
  • Exam focus: Advanced architectural design and deployment strategies for large-scale AWS systems.
  • Skills covered: Cost optimization, multi-tier applications, high availability, and disaster recovery.
  • Prerequisites: 2+ years of experience designing cloud architectures.
  • Average Salary: AWS Solutions Architects – Professional earn around $161,409 annually.

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

  • Who it’s for: DevOps engineers working with AWS infrastructure.
  • Exam focus: Continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), automation, and cloud-based operations.
  • Skills covered: Monitoring, automation, security, governance, and scaling AWS systems.
  • Prerequisites: 2+ years of experience in AWS operations and automation.
  • Average Salary: AWS DevOps Engineers – Professional earn around $137,724 annually.

4. Specialty Certifications

AWS also offers Specialty Certifications designed for professionals who want to focus on specific areas of AWS. These certifications require advanced knowledge in areas such as security, machine learning, and big data.

AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty

  • Who it’s for: Network engineers or administrators.
  • Exam focus: Advanced networking concepts, hybrid architectures, and network security.
  • Skills covered: Designing and implementing AWS and hybrid IT network architectures.
  • Prerequisites: Significant hands-on experience with network architecture in AWS.
  • Average Salary: Networking Specialists can earn around $130,000+ annually.

AWS Certified Security – Specialty

  • Who it’s for: Cloud security experts.
  • Exam focus: Data protection, encryption, incident response, and identity management.
  • Skills covered: Designing secure AWS architectures, risk assessment, and compliance.
  • Prerequisites: At least 2 years of experience in securing AWS workloads.
  • Average Salary: AWS Security Engineers earn about $130,000 annually.

AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty

  • Who it’s for: Data scientists or machine learning specialists.
  • Exam focus: Building, training, and deploying machine learning models on AWS.
  • Skills covered: Data engineering, model tuning, and machine learning frameworks.
  • Prerequisites: Experience in data science and machine learning with AWS.
  • Average Salary: AWS Machine Learning Specialists earn around $130,000+ annually.

How to Choose the Right AWS Certification Path

Choosing the right AWS certification depends on your experience level, current role, and career goals. Here’s a breakdown of how to select the right certification path for you:

  • Beginners: Start with the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner to understand the basics of cloud computing. It’s a good entry point for those new to the field or working in non-technical roles.
  • Developers and System Administrators: If you’re a software developer or system admin, go for the AWS Certified Developer – Associate or SysOps Administrator – Associate certifications, respectively.
  • Architects: If you want to focus on designing cloud architectures, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate is your best option. After gaining experience, aim for the Professional level certification.
  • DevOps Professionals: For those specializing in DevOps, the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional is a key certification that will validate your automation and operational skills.
  • Specialized Roles: If you’re working in a niche area like security, networking, or machine learning, explore the AWS Specialty Certifications for advanced roles.

AWS Certification Exam Preparation Tips

AWS exams are rigorous and require both practical experience and theoretical knowledge. To ensure success, follow these preparation tips:

1. Review the AWS Exam Guide

Each certification has an official exam guide provided by AWS. The guide outlines the domains covered in the exam and provides sample questions. Make sure to review it thoroughly to understand what to expect.

2. Take Online Courses

There are several platforms offering AWS certification courses, such as A Cloud Guru, Udemy, and Linux Academy. These courses cover exam-specific content and often include labs to give you hands-on experience.

3. Practice with Hands-On Labs

AWS certifications often test your ability to perform tasks in real-world scenarios. Hands-on labs will help you get comfortable using the AWS Management Console, CLI, and other AWS services. AWS offers a free tier to help you practice without incurring costs.

4. Use AWS Whitepapers

AWS provides a library of whitepapers that cover best practices for architecture, security, and operational excellence. These documents are crucial for understanding the deep technical concepts covered in the exams.

5. Take Practice Exams

Practice exams simulate the actual test environment and help identify areas where you need improvement. AWS offers official practice exams, and third-party providers like Whizlabs and ExamPro also offer mock exams.

Key Questions

How long does it take to get AWS certified?
The time it takes depends on your experience and the certification level. For beginners, it may take 1-2 months of consistent study to pass the Cloud Practitioner exam, while professional-level certifications might require 3-6 months of preparation.

Do AWS certifications expire?
Yes, AWS certifications are valid for 3 years. You need to recertify by either retaking the exam or completing the professional or specialty level certification for the same role.

What are the costs of AWS certifications?
Exam fees range from $100 for the Cloud Practitioner to $300 for the Professional and Specialty certifications.

Which AWS certification is the hardest?
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional and AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional are considered the most challenging due to the depth of knowledge and experience required.

Ending Thoughts

Getting AWS certified is one of the best investments you can make for your cloud computing career because AWS certifications provide a structured path for mastering the AWS ecosystem and demonstrating your expertise to employers. You can start with the certification that best aligns with your experience and goals, and use the resources available to prepare effectively. With the right dedication and practice, you’ll be acing your AWS certification exams and advancing in your career in cloud computing.

Read this post on How to Ace Cloud Interviews and also remember companies and hiring managers want more than just certifications

You can get my ebook for a guide to major AWS certifications here.

Stay Clouding!

Samuel Barden
WRITTEN BY

Samuel Barden

AWS Solutions Architect & Atlassian Developer
I build scalable cloud solutions and develop solutions for Atlassian suite.

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