How to Get AWS Certified
Cloud certifications are in high demand due to the growing shift to cloud computing technology. Companies actively seek role-based cloud skills, and the demand is increasing year over year. According to the CBRE 2020 report, the demand for cloud computing skills is growing at a rate of 12% annually.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the leader in cloud computing with a constantly expanding customer base. Trusted by many blue-chip organizations, AWS offers diverse products and services necessary for a comprehensive cloud infrastructure. Having skills and expertise in AWS opens up numerous job opportunities, including the chance to work for tech giants or even be hired by AWS itself.
According to the State of Cloud report, 82% of hiring managers acknowledge that cloud certifications make candidates more preferable. There are multiple AWS certifications that can help you acquire role-based skills in using AWS products and services in business environments. If you are interested in getting AWS certified, this article is for you. We will discuss all the levels of AWS certification, including their details, salary expectations, and how to obtain those certificates.
Prospective PACS Administrators can use this guide to gain relevant skills to get their foot in the door for an entry level position. Or even become an expert level AWS professional instead. Before diving into the specific certifications, be sure to read how these are relevant to your learning pathway. Read the module on How An AWS Certification Can Propel your Career as a PACS Administrator.
Different Levels of AWS Certifications
Amazon Web Services offers a total of 11 certifications that are divided into four levels:
- Foundational
- Associate
- Professional
- Specialty
These level-based AWS certifications allow individuals to start with the basics of AWS and gradually develop more advanced role-based skills in deploying AWS services in business environments. Let’s now explore each of the four levels and discuss the different sets of certifications offered under each level.
Level 1: Foundational
The first level of AWS Certification is the “Foundational” level, which is meant to establish a fundamental understanding of core AWS concepts, terminologies, and services. It is best suited for individuals who don’t have any prior experience in the cloud or IT. The “Foundational” level of AWS certification includes only one certification called AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification.
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner – Foundational
The AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification is the first and most basic AWS certification that demonstrates a basic understanding of IT services and AWS Cloud. Attaining this certificate provides individuals with a thorough overview of AWS’s main services, use cases, the role of the cloud in businesses, security concepts, and billing and pricing models.
This certificate is best suited for individuals:
- Coming from a non-IT background and looking to pursue a career in the AWS Cloud.
- Involved in cloud or on-premises IT roles but have not used AWS Cloud and want to gain basic knowledge before pursuing expert-level AWS certifications.
- Working in marketing or sales roles and seeking a fundamental understanding of AWS to better communicate with customers and stakeholders.
Expected Salary: The entry-level annual salary of an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is around $47K-$124K, with an average of $80K.
How to become an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
To become an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, you must pass the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam (CLF-C01). This 90-minute exam involves a combination of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam fee is $100.
To prepare for this exam, AWS provides a free digital training course called “AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials” and on-demand training called “AWS Power Hour: Cloud Practitioner,” both developed by AWS experts. After completing these courses, you can assess your skills using the AWS Official Practice Exam. You can also review the exam guide and sample questions for a better understanding of the test format. Once you feel confident, you are ready to take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam.
Level 2: Associate
The “Associate” level is the second level of AWS Certification, offering role-based certifications that provide individuals with in-depth skills in specific AWS services and demonstrate credibility as an AWS Cloud professional. This level is suitable for individuals with prior experience in on-premises IT or the cloud. Learn about on-prem vs cloud in this module. The “Associate” level of AWS Certification includes three certifications: AWS Certified Solutions Architect, AWS Certified Developer, and AWS SysOps Administrator.
1. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
The AWS Solutions Architect (Associate) Certification is designed to showcase knowledge and skills across various AWS services. Obtaining this certification allows individuals to demonstrate their expertise in computing, storage, networking, and database AWS services. Additionally, individuals showcase their ability to deploy, manage, and operate workloads on AWS, including using the AWS Management Console and the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI).
This certificate is best suited for individuals:
- Having at least 1 year of hands-on experience using different AWS services.
- Having some experience working with other cloud services.
- Having solid on-premises IT experience, including knowledge of mapping on-premises to the cloud.
Expected Salary: The entry-level annual salary of an AWS Certified Solutions Architect is around $88K-$173K, with an average of $133K.
How to become AWS Solutions Architect – Associate Certified
To become AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, you need to pass the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate exam (SAA-C03). This 130-minute exam consists of a combination of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam fee is $150.
To prepare for this exam, AWS offers a free digital training course called “AWS Technical Essentials,” on-demand training called “AWS Power Hour: Architecting on-demand,” and paid classroom training called “Architecting on AWS,” all developed by AWS experts. Additionally, it is recommended to study other third-party courses that provide more in-depth skills in AWS Solutions Architect.
Once you have completed these courses, you can evaluate your skills using the AWS Official Practice Exam. You can also review the exam guide and sample questions to better understand the nature of the test. When you feel confident in passing the exam, you are ready to take the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate exam.
2. AWS Certified Developer – Associate
The AWS Developer – Associate Certification demonstrates knowledge, understanding, and skills in using core AWS services and proficiency in developing, deploying, and debugging cloud applications using AWS. This certification showcases a deep understanding of core AWS services and basic AWS architecture best practices, such as the use of containers in development, application lifecycle management, and the AWS Shared Responsibility Model.
This certificate is best suited for individuals:
- Having at least 1 year of hands-on coding experience using AWS services.
- Having working experience as a developer with at least one high-level programming language.
- Having some experience working with other cloud services.
- Having solid on-premises IT experience, including knowledge of mapping on-premises to the cloud.
Expected Salary: The entry-level annual salary of an AWS Certified Developer is around $59K-$116K, with an average of $83K.
How to become AWS Developer – Associate Certified
To become AWS Certified Developer – Associate, you need to pass the AWS Certified Developer – Associate exam (DVA-C01). This 130-minute exam consists of a combination of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam fee is $150.
To study for this exam, AWS provides multiple free digital training courses and paid classroom training called “Developing on AWS,” developed by AWS experts. Additionally, it is essential to have solid working experience with one of the high-level programming languages. It is also recommended to study other third-party courses that provide more in-depth skills in AWS Developer.
Once you have completed these courses, you can test your skills using the AWS Official Practice Question Set. You can also review the exam guide and sample questions to better understand the nature of the test. When you feel confident in passing the exam, you are ready to take the AWS Certified Developer – Associate exam.
3. AWS SysOps Administrator – Associate
The AWS SysOps Administrator – Associate Certification demonstrates skills in deploying, managing, and operating various systems and workloads on AWS. This certification showcases hands-on experience working as a system administrator with a deep understanding of executing workloads on AWS. Moreover, it also demonstrates a deep understanding of AWS Management Console, AWS Command Line Interface, AWS Well-Architected Framework, and similar others.
This certificate is best suited for individuals:
- Having at least 1-2 years of experience as a system administrator.
- Having some experience working with other cloud services.
- Having solid on-premises IT experience, including knowledge of mapping on-premises to the cloud.
Expected Salary: The entry-level annual salary of an AWS Certified SysOps Administrator is around $62K-$118K, with an average of $87K.
How to become AWS SysOps Administrator – Associate Certified
To become an AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate, you need to pass the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate exam. This 180-minute exam may include multiple-choice questions, multiple-response questions, and exam labs. The exam fee is $150.
To prepare for this exam, AWS offers a free digital training course called “AWS Technical Essentials” and paid classroom training called “Systems Operations on AWS,” developed by AWS experts. Additionally, it is recommended to gain more in-depth skills by studying other third-party courses focused on AWS SysOps Administrator and gaining hands-on experience as a system administrator.
An example of a third party course for AWS from Amazon is linked above:
Once you have completed these courses, you can assess your skills using the AWS Official Practice Question Set. You can also review the exam guide and sample questions to better understand the nature of the test. When you feel confident in passing the exam, you are ready to take the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator exam.
Level 3: Professional
The “Professional” level is the third level of AWS Certification that provides role-based certifications. This level validates advanced knowledge and skills required to design, optimize, modernize, and secure applications. It is best suited for individuals with at least 2 years of prior experience in AWS Cloud. The “Professional” level includes two certifications: AWS Certified Solutions Architect and AWS Certified DevOps Engineer.
1. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
This certificate is best suited for individuals who:
- Have 2+ years of experience in designing, deploying, and evaluating architectures on AWS.
- Can design hybrid architectures using core AWS technologies.
- Are familiar with AWS Management Console, AWS APIs, AWS CLI, AWS Billing Console, scripting language, etc.
- Can provide architectural recommendations for deploying and running applications on AWS.
Expected Salary: The entry-level annual salary for an AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional is around $103K-$180K, with an average of $141K.
How to become AWS Solutions Architect – Professional Certified
To become AWS Solutions Architect Certified, you need to pass the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional exam (SAP-CO1). This 180-minute exam includes a combination of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam cost is $300.
To prepare for the exam, AWS provides a paid classroom training called “Advanced Architecting on AWS.” Additionally, you should deepen your skills by studying other third-party courses related to AWS Solutions Architect (Professional), and gain hands-on experience in designing and deploying AWS-based cloud architectures. After completing these courses, you can test your skills using the AWS Official Practice Question Set. You can also review the exam guide and sample questions to better understand the nature of the test. Once you feel confident, you are ready to take the AWS Certified Solutions Architect exam.
2. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
The AWS DevOps Engineer (Professional) Certification demonstrates skills in managing, operating, and provisioning distributed application systems on AWS. Achieving this certification showcases expertise in delivering compliant and secure systems that are scalable.
This certificate is best suited for individuals who:
- Have 2+ years of experience in managing, operating, and provisioning distributed application systems on AWS.
- Are familiar with the latest development and operations processes.
- Can execute and automate governance processes, compliance validation, security controls, etc.
- Can execute and handle continuous delivery systems on AWS.
Expected Salary: The entry-level annual salary for an AWS Certified DevOps Engineer is around $101K-$147K, with an average of $130K.
How to become AWS DevOps Engineer – Professional Certified
To become an AWS DevOps Engineer Certified, you need to pass the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional exam (DOP-CO1). This 180-minute exam includes a combination of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam cost is $300.
To prepare for the exam, AWS provides two free digital trainings: “Introduction to AWS CloudFormation” and “AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) Primer.” AWS also offers two paid classroom trainings: “Advanced Developing on AWS” and “DevOps Engineering on AWS.” Additionally, you should deepen your skills by studying other third-party courses related to AWS DevOps Engineer and gain hands-on experience in managing, operating, and provisioning distributed application systems on AWS.
After completing these courses, you can test your skills using the AWS Official Practice Question Set. You can also review the exam guide and sample questions to better understand the nature of the test. Once you feel confident, you are ready to take the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer exam.
Level 4: Specialty
The “Specialty” level is the fourth and final level of AWS Certification, offering certifications in key AWS-related skills that are in high demand. This level is most suitable for individuals with more than 5 years of experience in AWS Cloud. The “Specialty” level of AWS Certification includes 6 certifications: AWS Certified Advanced Networking, AWS Certified Data Analytics, AWS Certified Database, AWS Certified Machine Learning, AWS Certified Security, and AWS Certified SAP on AWS.
1. AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty
The AWS Advanced Networking (Specialty) Certification demonstrates specialist-level expertise in designing and managing network architecture for AWS services. Achieving this certification showcases expertise in working with advanced network architectures and developing automation scripts.
This certificate is best suited for individuals who:
- Have 5+ years of experience in architecting and deploying network solutions.
- Possess solid knowledge of advanced networking architectures.
- Can implement network security solutions, such as intrusion prevention systems, AWS WAF, etc.
Expected Salary: The entry-level annual salary for an AWS Certified Advanced Networking professional is around $41K-$158K, with an average of $116K.
How to become AWS Advanced Networking Certified
To become AWS Advanced Networking Certified, you need to pass the AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty exam (ANS-CO1). This 170-minute exam includes a combination of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam cost is $300.
To prepare for the exam, AWS provides 15+ digital and classroom courses created by AWS experts. Additionally, you should deepen your skills by studying other third-party courses related to AWS Advanced Networking and gain hands-on experience in working with advanced network architectures and developing automation scripts.
After completing these courses, you can test your skills using the AWS Official Practice Question Set. You can also review the exam guide and sample questions to better understand the nature of the test. Once you feel confident, you are ready to take the AWS Certified Advanced Networking exam
2. AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty
The AWS Data Analytics (Specialty) Certification demonstrates specialist-level expertise in using AWS data analytics services to extract valuable insights from data. Achieving this certification showcases expertise in working with AWS services for designing, maintaining, and securing analytics solutions.
This certificate is best suited for individuals who:
- Have 5 years of experience with widely used data analytics technologies.
- Have 2+ years of experience working with AWS services for designing, maintaining, and securing analytics solutions.
- Are familiar with the use of AWS data analytics services throughout the data lifecycle, from collection and storage to processing and visualization.
Expected Salary: The entry-level annual salary for an AWS Certified Data Analytics professional is around $82K-$151K, with an average of $123K
How to become AWS Data Analytics Certified
To become AWS Data Analytics Certified, you need to pass the AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty exam (DAS-CO1). This 180-minute exam includes a combination of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam cost is $300.
To prepare for the exam, AWS provides a free digital training course called “Data Analytics Fundamentals,” as well as three paid classroom trainings: “Building Data Lakes on AWS,” “Building Batch Data Analytics Solutions on AWS,” and “Building Data Analytics Solutions using Amazon Redshift.” Additionally, you should deepen your skills by studying other third-party courses related to AWS Data Analytics and gain hands-on experience in designing and maintaining analytics solutions on AWS.
After completing these courses, you can test your skills using the AWS Official Practice Question Set. You can also review the exam guide and sample questions to better understand the nature of the test. Once you feel confident, you are ready to take the AWS Certified Data Analytics exam.
3. AWS Certified Database – Specialty
The AWS Database (Specialty) Certification demonstrates specialist-level expertise in designing, maintaining, and recommending optimal AWS database solutions. Achieving this certification showcases expertise in working with on-premises and AWS cloud-based relational/non-relational databases.
This certificate is best suited for individuals who:
- Have 5 years of experience with widely used database technologies.
- Have 2+ years of experience with on-premises and AWS cloud-based relational/non-relational databases.
- Are familiar with core AWS database services.
- Can design and suggest optimal database solutions involving AWS services.
Expected Salary: The entry-level annual salary for an AWS Certified Database professional is around $121K-$182K, with an average of $146K.
How to become AWS Database Certified
To become AWS Database Certified, you need to pass the AWS Certified Database – Specialty exam (DBS-CO1). This 180-minute exam includes a combination of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam cost is $300.
To prepare for the exam, AWS provides a free digital training course called “AWS Database Offerings” and a paid classroom training called “Planning and Designing Databases on AWS.” Additionally, you should deepen your skills by studying other third-party courses related to AWS Database and gain hands-on experience with on-premises and AWS cloud-based relational/non-relational databases.
After completing these courses, you can test your skills using the AWS Official Practice Question Set. You can also review the exam guide and sample questions to better understand the nature of the test. Once you feel confident, you are ready to take the AWS Certified Database exam.
4. AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty
The AWS Machine Learning (Specialty) Certification demonstrates specialist-level expertise in designing, deploying, tuning, and training machine learning models on AWS. Achieving this certification showcases expertise in working with ML and deep learning frameworks.
This certificate is best suited for individuals who:
- Have 1+ years of experience designing, deploying, and architecting ML models in the AWS cloud.
- Are familiar with ML and deep learning frameworks.
- Can deploy best practices for model training and running.
Expected Salary: The entry-level annual salary for an AWS Certified Machine Learning professional is around $101K-$214K, with an average of $148K.
How to become AWS Machine Learning Certified
To become AWS Machine Learning Certified, you need to pass the AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty exam (MLS-CO1). This 180-minute exam includes a combination of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam cost is $300.
To study for the exam, AWS provides two free digital training courses: “Process Model: CRISP-DM on the AWS Stack” and “The Elements of Data Science.” AWS also offers three paid classroom trainings: “Practical Data Science with Amazon SageMaker,” “The Machine Learning Pipeline on AWS,” and “Deep Learning on AWS.” Additionally, you should deepen your skills by studying other third-party courses related to AWS Machine Learning and gain hands-on experience with developing and deploying ML workloads in the AWS Cloud.
After completing these courses, you can test your skills using the AWS Official Practice Question Set. You can also review the exam guide and sample questions to better understand the nature of the test. Once you feel confident, you are ready to take the AWS Certified Machine Learning exam.
5. AWS Certified Security – Specialty
The AWS Security (Specialty) Certification demonstrates specialist-level expertise in securing workloads and data in the AWS Cloud. Achieving this certification showcases expertise in designing and deploying security solutions for AWS workloads, as well as a deep understanding of cloud security threats, security automation, access control, and more.
This certificate is best suited for individuals who:
- Have 5 years of experience designing and deploying security solutions.
- Have 2+ years of hands-on experience securing AWS workloads.
- Are familiar with the AWS shared responsibility model, cloud security threats, disaster recovery controls, backups, access control, encryption, etc.
Expected Salary: The entry-level annual salary for an AWS Certified Security professional is around $121K-$176K, with an average of $149K.
How to become AWS Security Certified
To become AWS Security Certified, you need to pass the AWS Certified Security – Specialty exam (SCS-CO1). This 170-minute exam includes a combination of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam cost is $300.
To study for the exam, AWS provides two free digital training courses: “Getting Started with AWS Security, Identity, and Compliance” and “AWS Security Fundamentals (Second Edition).” AWS also offers two paid classroom trainings: “Architecting on AWS” and “Security Engineering on AWS.” Additionally, you should deepen your skills by studying other third-party courses related to AWS Security and gain hands-on experience on how to efficiently secure AWS workloads.
After completing these courses, you can test your skills using the AWS Official Practice Question Set. You can also review the exam guide and sample questions to better understand the nature of the test. Once you feel confident, you are ready to take the AWS Certified Security exam.
6. AWS Certified SAP on AWS – Specialty
The SAP on AWS Certification is designed to showcase specialist-level expertise in optimizing SAP workloads on AWS. Achieving this certification demonstrates experience in both AWS and SAP.
This certificate is best suited for individuals who:
- Have 5+ years of SAP experience.
- Have 1+ years of experience working with SAP workloads on AWS.
- Are familiar with building and deploying SAP solutions on the AWS Cloud following best practices.
Expected Salary: The entry-level annual salary for an SAP on AWS certified professional is around $61K-$122K, with an average of $98K.
How to become SAP on AWS Certified
To become SAP on AWS Certified, you need to pass the AWS Certified: SAP on AWS – Specialty exam (PAS-CO1). This 170-minute exam includes a combination of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam cost is $300.
To study for this exam, AWS provides a free digital training course called “SAP on AWS – Technical.” Additionally, you should deepen your skills by studying other third-party courses related to SAP on AWS and gain hands-on experience optimizing SAP workloads on AWS.
After completing these courses, you can test your skills using the AWS Official Practice Question Set. You can also review the exam guide and sample questions to better understand the nature of the test. Once you feel confident, you are ready to take the AWS Certified: SAP on AWS exam.
Conclusion
Getting AWS certifications is a time-consuming process that may require a significant commitment of time and energy. However, the skills you acquire will set you apart from the crowd and make you highly valuable in the cloud market. Cloud career opportunities are growing rapidly, so having the right skills can help you land your dream job. Start your AWS certification journey today to secure a prosperous future