"AWS Certifications"

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is one of the leading cloud providers of on-demand, pay-as-you-go IT resources. Simply put, AWS Cloud Certifications validates cloud expertise to help professionals highlight in-demand skills and organizations build effective, innovative teams for cloud initiatives using AWS.

AWS’s dominance as a cloud platform is a significant instigator driving demand for AWS skills and certified professionals and AWS certifications can electrify your resume, helping you get into the cloud career or taking the next step from your current role.

With the increased use of cloud computing services from past years and now, especially during and after the pandemic, there is an increase in demand for certified professionals who can understand, work and deploy Cloud services.

First, check this out if you are a complete beginner - AWS The Ultimate BEGINNERS Guide


AWS Certification Paths

There are a total of 12 AWS certifications - One Foundational certification, three associate-level certifications, two professional-level certifications, & six specialty certifications.

Let’s Get Started with AWS Cloud Basics

List of certifications provided by AWS:

  1. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner - Foundational
  2. AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
  3. AWS Certified Developer - Associate
  4. AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate
  5. AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional
  6. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional
  7. AWS Certified Big Data - Specialty (Being Replaced by Data Analytics)
  8. AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty
  9. AWS Certified Security Speciality
  10. AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty
  11. AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder
  12. AWS Certified Database Specialty

AWS certifications are grouped into four main Role-based learning paths -

  1. Cloud practitioner
  2. Architect
  3. Developer
  4. Operations & additional subpaths

There is also a Specialty Path, divided into six subpaths-

  1. AWS Certified Data Analytics - Specialty (DAS-C01)
  2. AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty
  3. AWS Certified Security - Speciality
  4. AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty
  5. AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder - Specialty
  6. AWS Certified Database - Specialty (DBS-C01)



Let's explore in detail each AWS certification:


AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Path

"AWS cloud practitioner" is a beginner-level AWS certification, and this is for individuals who want to build and validate their overall understanding of AWS Cloud. This Certification is one of the best to start your journey in cloud computing. Even if you don't hold a degree, you can still get a job in cloud computing after clearing this Certification and acquiring the right skills! The CCP is helpful for individuals in

  1. technical
  2. manager
  3. sales
  4. purchasing
  5. financial - roles

Cloud practitioner exam Details:

  1. Format: Multiple choice questions
  2. Length: 90 minutes
  3. Cost: 100 USD

Start with AWS - The Ultimate BEGINNERS Guide

AWS Cloud Practitioner – The Complete Exam Guide

AWS Cloud Practitioner Complete Course with Practice Exam

AWS Cloud Practitioner CLF-C01 Practice Exams

AWS Architect Path

This path is designed for solutions architects, solution design engineers, or anyone who wants to learn how to design applications and systems on AWS. It will help you build technical skills as you progress along the path. There are two architect subpaths:

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C02):

This is AWS's most popular Certification and a common entry-point for those entering the cloud architecting space. This credential demonstrates your ability to design and deploy effective solutions on the Amazon Web Services platform. This Certification is intended for individuals who can design distributed applications in AWS. The Certification recommends that IT pros have one year or more hands-on experience designing and deploying highly available and fault-tolerant AWS systems.

Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C02) exam details:
  1. Format: Multiple-choice, multiple-answer
  2. Time: 130 minutes
  3. Cost: 150 USD

Complete Guide - AWS Architect Associate Exam (SAA-C02)

Preparation Tips for AWS Solution Architect Associate Certification (SAA-C02)

AWS - Certified Solutions Architect Associate - SAA-C02 - Updated June 2021 - Practice exams

Specific solution architect skills that recruiters look for are:
  1. Designing on AWS,
  2. Selecting the right service for their business,
  3. Managing AWS data,
  4. Estimating AWS COST, and
  5. Identifying cost control measures for your organization.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional:

This certification demonstrates advanced expertise in designing distributed systems and applications on the AWS platform.

Candidates for this certificate must hold the AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification and are recommended to have 2+ years of experience in designing and deploying cloud architecture on Amazon Web Services.

Solutions Architect - Professional Exam details:
  1. Format: Multiple-choice, multiple-answer
  2. Time: 170 minutes
  3. Cost: 300 USD

Preparation Tips for AWS Solutions Architect Professional Exam

AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional - SAP-C01 - Updated June 2021 - Practice exams


AWS Developer Path

AWS Developer path is for software developers who want to learn how to develop cloud applications on AWS. There are two developer subpaths:

AWS Certified Developer - Associate:

This AWS development certification validates your ability to design and maintain AWS applications. It is intended for software developers with one or more years of experience designing and sustaining an application on the AWS platform. Candidates should also possess a deep working knowledge of at least one high-level programming language.

AWS Certified Developer - Associate Exam details:
  1. Format: Multiple-choice, multiple-answer
  2. Time: 80 minutes
  3. Cost: 150 USD

How To Prepare for AWS Developer Associate Certification

Preparation Tips for AWS Certified Developer Exam

AWS Certified Developer Associate ( DVA-C01) Practice Exams


AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional:

This advanced AWS certificate validates knowledge in provisioning, management, security, and operations of AWS solutions. Candidates must have either the AWS Certified Developer OR AWS Certified SysOps Administrator associate credentials before sitting for this exam. With 2+ years of experience, provisioning and managing AWS environments is also recommended.

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional exam details:
  1. Format: Multiple-choice, multiple answers
  2. Time: 170 minutes
  3. Cost: 300 USD

Journey to AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

How to Prepare for AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional


AWS Operations Path

This path is designed for systems administrators and those in a DevOps role who want to learn how to create automatable and repeatable deployments of applications, networks, and systems on the AWS platform. There are two subpaths:

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate:

This Amazon Web Services administration credential demonstrates expertise in deploying, scaling, migrating, and managing AWS systems. SysOps certification exam candidates are recommended to have at least one year of hands-on experience operating cloud applications on the AWS platform.

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate exam details:
  1. Format: Multiple-choice, multiple-answer
  2. Time: 80 minutes
  3. Cost: 150 USD

How to Pass AWS SysOps Admin Associate Exam

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional:

This advanced AWS certificate validates knowledge in provisioning, management, security, and operations of AWS solutions. Candidates must have either the AWS Certified Developer OR AWS Certified SysOps Administrator associate credentials before sitting for this exam. With 2+ years of experience, provisioning and managing AWS environments is also recommended.

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional exam details:
  1. Format: Multiple-choice, multiple answers
  2. Time: 170 minutes
  3. Cost: 300 USD

Journey to AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

How to Prepare for AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional


AWS Specialty Path - Specialty Certifications

Based on the IT professionals interest, AWS has six Speciality certifications:

  1. AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty:

  2. This Certification demonstrates the skills to design and manage AWS solutions that can help organizations extract valuable insights and actionable intelligence from their business data. A background in data analytics and experience using AWS services for designing and architecting big data solutions is needed for this cert.

    Candidates must have at least one of the 3 AWS Associate certificates listed above and are recommended to have 5+ years of experience in data analytics.

    AWS Certified Data Analytics Exam Details:
    1. Format: Multiple-choice, multiple-answer
    2. Time: 170 minutes
    3. Cost: 300 USD

    How to pass AWS BIG Data/Data Analytics Specialty Certification?

    AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty Certification Preparation Guide

  3. AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty:

  4. This AWS specialty certificate validates the skills to design and deploy AWS as part of a hybrid IT network architecture to scale. Aspirants need to possess one or more of the AWS Associate credentials listed above and should have 5+ years of hands-on experience in architecting and implementing network solutions and advanced knowledge of networking on AWS.

    AWS Specialty Advanced Networking Exam Details:
    1. Format: Multiple-choice, multiple-answer
    2. Time: 170 minutes
    3. Cost: 300 USD

    Related :
    Cloud 101 for Mainframe Developers

    Practical Learnings from AWS Architect Certification – DynamoDB for the mainframe/COBOL/VSAM Programmer

  5. AWS Certified Security - Specialty:

  6. The AWS Certified Security – Specialty certification enables tenured cloud security professional to demonstrate their ability to secure the AWS cloud. The prerequisites include a minimum of five years of IT security experience, designing and implementing security solutions, at least two years of hands-on experience securing AWS workloads, and security controls for workloads on AWS.

    AWS Certified Security - Specialty Exam details:
    1. Format: Multiple-choice, multiple-answer
    2. Time: 170 minutes
    3. Cost: 300 USD
  7. AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty:

  8. This Certification is primarily meant for Developers, Data Scientists, Data Platform Engineers, and Business Decision Makers to learn how to apply machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and deep learning to their businesses unlocking new insights and value. This exam is for anyone who performs a development or data science role. Candidates should have one to two years of experience using ML and/or deep learning on the AWS Cloud.

    AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty Exam details:
    1. Format: Multiple-choice, multiple-answer
    2. Time: 170 minutes
    3. Cost: 300 USD

    AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty Preparation Guide

  9. AWS Certified Alexa Skill Building - Specialty:

  10. This Certification is intended for individuals who perform as an Alexa skill builder. It validates a candidate's ability to build, test, and publish Amazon Alexa skills and should have at least six months of hands-on experience building Alexa skills using the Alexa Skills Kit and should be proficient in a programming language.

    AWS Certified Alexa Skill Building - Specialty exam details:
    1. Format: Multiple-choice, multiple-answer
    2. Time: 170 minutes
    3. Cost: 300 USD
  11. AWS Certified Database – Specialty:

  12. This Certification for anyone who works closely with databases and implements DB solutions.

    Specialty certification validates that you have an overall understanding of all the AWS database services offered, as well as how to bring value to your business through optimized database integration and architecting. Aspirants should have at least two years of experience working with AWS Cloud-based and on-premises relational and NoSQL databases.

    1. Format: Multiple-choice, multiple-answer
    2. Time: 180 minutes
    3. Cost: 300 USD

    How to Prepare for AWS Certified Database Specialty

    Preparation steps for AWS Certified Database Specialty Exam


    Read Fireside chat with Emmanuel Koomson – 13 times AWS certified - What it takes to achieve all 13 AWS certifications!

Reviews for AWS Certifications

We have the preparation journey and reviews for AWS Certifications on our website. These reviews help you prepare better for AWS Certifications and help you in your certification path.

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AWS Job Prospects

AWS certification doesn’t merely look good on your resume—it can significantly raise the kind of salary or rate you command. Not only cloud skills help you get good packages, but it also enables you to get a respectable position in a company.

Industry-recognized credentials help you break that entry barrier for the high-paying job role.

In an enterprise, certification demonstrates a shared understanding of a platform, a shared terminology, and a certain level of cloud expertise.

Jobs, You Can Get with an AWS Certification:
  1. AWS Cloud Architect
  2. SysOps Administrator
  3. Cloud Developer
  4. Cloud Sales & Purchase Manager
  5. Key Account Manager, Cloud
  6. Cloud DevOps Engineer
  7. AWS Networking Specialist
  8. Cloud Software Engineer
  9. AWS System Integrator
  10. AWS Big Data Specialist

With cloud computing pervading into every business vertical the need for qualified and certified cloud computing professionals is ever-growing.

Click on the certifications below to know more about them