AWS Certifications in 2024

Amazon Web Services (AWS) certifications are profoundly sought-after credentials today. AWS certs give an industry standard to demonstrating AWS cloud expertise, rigorously testing capability, and accurately representing the test-taker’s abilities. This guide covers all aspects of getting and maintaining an AWS certification. We’ll look at the following topics and how they relate to your AWS certification venture:

Table of Contents

Here is a short description of what each certification level offers and what proficiencies they certify.

Foundational Level

Cloud Practitioner is the only Foundational AWS certificate. It is ideal for candidates with at least six months of experience in any role involving the AWS cloud, like technical, sales, purchasing, financial, or managerial positions.

While other certifications tie into specific technical roles, for example, Architect, Developer or Operations, the Cloud Practitioner certification gives a more general foundation to any career path.

Associate Level

Each of the Associate certifications typically expects at least a year of past direct experience and information regarding AWS services and related innovations.

Solutions Architect focuses on designing and implementing AWS distributed frameworks
SysOps Administrator deploys, manages, and operates workloads on AWS
The developer focuses on writing and deploying cloud-based applications.

Professional Level

The most elevated certification category, each Professional AWS certification requires an entire two years of experience, with each candidate finding lasting success and exceptionally capable within their roles. The two Professional-level certifications are:

Solutions Architect validates the candidate’s ability to configure, convey, and evaluate AWS applications inside perplexing and different environments
DevOps Engineer validates the candidate’s ability to automate the testing and sending of AWS applications and infrastructure

Specialty certifications

Whereas the past three levels address the core role-based certifications that AWS offers, the Specialty certifications give evaluations in specific technical areas. These certifications include:

Advanced networking
Security
Machine Learning
Data Analytics
Database

Prerequisites vary for each speciality certification. Candidates must have experience with AWS innovation, along with 2-5 years experience in the speciality domain. Look at each certification for prerequisites and necessities.

How much does AWS certification cost?

To earn an AWS certification, you’ll have to pass an assessment. Each exam requires an AWS testing charge, typically between $100 and $300 (visit this page for Amazon’s ongoing pricing).

Be prepared though — the examination charge won’t be your only certification cost. You may also have to pay some cash and time in exam preparation, including:

Paid classroom or remote training
Course materials

Practice exams

But there is a potential gain! Amazon offers an AWS Complementary plan account for trials, 12 months of free access, and some complementary plan services that you never need to pay for. This is valuable when studying for certification.

Benefits of an AWS Certification

AWS remains one of the top cloud service suppliers in the market. Justifiably.

Obtaining AWS certifications demonstrates capability in AWS services. They also assist candidates with clearly demonstrating to potential businesses exactly what abilities they have, which helps you to:

Increase your competitiveness

While great salaries aren’t guaranteed, AWS-certified jobs regularly can offer salaries ranging from $90k to USD 160k+, depending on the AWS certification category and job environment.

Of course, AWS certifications can also aid candidates in improving their abilities or learning new ones. Preparing for the exams through practice exercises and studying can:

Reinforce information on key concepts
Correct outdated/wrong information
Introduce you to new areas

Picking the right AWS certification

The two main factors that determine appropriate AWS certification needs are the experience level and career path of the candidate. If you already work in a particular field and wish to climb to higher positions, look for certifications that match your capabilities. Then, look at the necessities as far as experience and abilities to determine if an Associate, Professional, or Specialty certification is the best fit.

If you’re simply starting, the Foundational Cloud Practitioner certificate can be a decent decision. Explore the various learning paths to assist with identifying specific professional goals and the best certificates to reach them.

Study and practice

There are many options for exam preparation. Helpful ways to get ready for AWS certification include:

Taking training classes
Using study guides
Taking practice exams
Reading AWS whitepapers

Training classes are available through AWS and outside global and local AWS training partners. You can find AWS-approved instructions on the AWS Classroom Training Outline web page.

Remote and (sometimes) in-person training offer the most ideal options for learning AWS abilities and certifications. They give instructor-drove training and labs, as well as practice exams, books, and exercises. Amazon also offers study guides in both digital books and physical formats.

Studying for AWS exams

Studying for any given exam is probably going to require anywhere from 80 to 120 hours.

For candidates working regular jobs, this can mean months of preparation. Start a study routine about a few months before the exam date with a consistent week-by-week plan intended to cover all the relevant material in the given timeframe. Certification exams cover a great deal of material in an Amazon-specific format so give yourself a lot of chance to absorb the material.

Regarding exam practice, regularly take the certification practice tests given your study materials. Taking the practice tests assists with preparing you for the tone and pace of the exam.

For more details on the format, type, conveyance strategy, time limit, costs, and available languages of each exam, look at the page of your intended certification.

Read Also:

Available AWS certifications and categories