Getting an Amazon Web Services certification is a great way to stand out from the crowd as more companies seek competent people to manage their increasing cloud-based data, apps, and storage.
However, with several AWS certifications available, it can become difficult deciding which one is right fit for you. This article outlines all you need to know about AWS certifications and the various training options to help you prepare for your certification exams.
What is an AWS Certification?
AWS Certification is Industry recognized credential issued by Amazon Web Services to individuals who have demonstrated extensive knowledge, skills, and abilities in AWS Cloud.
AWS Certifications builds credibility by validating your cloud skills with Industry recognized credential.
When you take up any AWS certification exam and pass it, you fulfill that requirement and shows that you have both the skills and experience to undertake related AWS job responsibilities.
AWS will award you industry recognized AWS certification as proof of your expertise in the relevant field of AWS Cloud.
There are four categories of AWS Certifications.
1. Foundational
2. Associate (Role based)
3. Professional (Role based)
4. Specialty (Role based)
Why Get the AWS Certification?
You may be asking “Which is the right certification for me?”
To know this, you need to first think of your role and experience level.
If you are novice and has no knowledge of IT or any language, go for foundational level or associate level (AWS Solutions Architect Associate) if you can work hard.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is one of the most popular cloud platforms, with more than 175 services. They have a first-mover advantage over others in the field and that’s evident in their holding a third of the cloud market.
Also, because AWS Certification exams are taken by individuals who are experts in the field they cover, studying for one of these exams will help you learn the skills that are validated by corporates while hiring you.
Various Types of AWS Certifications and Topics covered.
1. AWS Foundational Certification
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification
This is the beginners’ exam for individuals with basic cloud knowledge. The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification would allow you gain an extensive understanding of how AWS cloud works. It’s the first level of AWS certification, and it’s best for IT workers who work with AWS every day in managerial, technical, or sales roles.
The topics to cover for the certification exams include.
- Basic AWS architectural concepts.
- Basic global infrastructure
- Value proposition
- Key services and common use cased
- Basic security and compliance aspects and the shared security
model - Billing, account management, and pricing models
- Identify sources of documentation or technical assistance (for example,
whitepapers or support tickets) - Describe basic/core characteristics of deploying and operating in the
AWS Cloud
Recommended Knowledge and experience:
A basic understanding of IT services and their uses in the AWS Cloud
 Exam Review:
Time: 90 minutes
Cost: $100
2. AWS Architects Certifications (Role Based)
These certifications are ideal for IT professionals that use AWS to build and run distributed applications.
1. Associate AWS Certified Solutions Architect.
This entry-level architecting certification is for people who have some experience developing distributed applications. You’ll have to demonstrate your ability to use AWS to build, manage, and implement applications.
The following are some of the certification topics:
- AWS’s network technology.
- Using the AWS platform to create secure and dependable apps.
- Hybrid system deployment.
Recommended Knowledge and experience:
• Practical experience using AWS compute, networking, storage, database,
and deployment and management services
• Identify and define technical requirements for an AWS-based app
• Identify which AWS services meet a given technical requirement
 Exam Review:
Time: 130 minutes
Cost: $150
2. Professional AWS Certified Solutions Architect
This professional-level certification covers a lot of the same content as the associate program, but it’s intended for IT pros with more experience. The topics include.
- Best AWS practices for creating apps.
- How to migrate complex application systems to Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Strategies for lowering costs.
Recommended Knowledge and experience:
Two or more years of practical experience designing and deploying cloud
architecture on AWS
Ability to:
• Evaluate cloud app requirements and make architectural
recommendations for implementation, deployment, and
provisioning apps on AWS
• Explain and apply the five pillars of the AWS Well-Architected Framework
• Design a hybrid architecture using key AWS technologies (e.g., VPN,
AWS Direct Connect)
• Map business objectives to app/architecture requirements
• Architect a CI/CD process
• Provide best-practice guidance on architectural design across
multiple apps and projects
• Familiarity with:
• AWS CLI, AWS APIs, AWS Cloud Formation templates, the AWS Billing
Console, and the AWS Management Console
• At least one scripting language
• Windows and Linux environments
Exam Review:
Time: 180 minutes
Cost: $300
3. Certifications for AWS Developers (Role Based)
AWS Developer certification is a good option for developers who wish to improve their skills in designing and managing AWS-based apps.
1. Associate AWS Certified Developer
The AWS Certified Developer—Associate exam measures your ability to create and maintain AWS-based applications. You should be able to build code that uses AWS products and secure it at the code level.
The certification topics include;
- AWS architecture basics and essential AWS services.
- Creating, deploying, and sustaining AWS-based applications.
- Databases, notifications, and workflow services in AWS.
Recommended Knowledge and experience:
• In-depth knowledge of at least one high-level programming language
• Understanding of:
• Core AWS services, uses, and AWS architecture best practices
• The AWS Shared Responsibility Model
• Application life cycle management
• The use of containers in the development process
• Proficiency in:
• Developing, deploying, and debugging cloud-based apps using AWS
• Writing code for serverless applications
Exam Review:
Time: 130 minutes
Cost: $150
2. Professional AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
The Professional AWS Certified DevOps Engineer exam focuses on continuous delivery, security control automation, and operations tool maintenance. It covers the following topics.
- AWS’s data analysis tools.
- Best security practices.
- Kinesis, QuickSight, and Athena are all AWS services.
Recommended Knowledge and experience:
Experience with:
• Developing code in at least one high-level programming language
• Building highly automated infrastructures
• Administering operating systems
• Understanding of modern development and operations processes and
methodologies
Exam Review:
Time: 180 minutes
Cost: $300
4. Certifications for AWS Operations (Role based)
Associate AWS Certified SysOps Administrator
Its only certificate designed for system administrators.  The exam covers subjects and meant to test your knowledge of AWS’ operational features.
- Using the AWS platform to deploy apps.
- Choosing the appropriate AWS services to complete administrative duties.
- Transferring data to and from a data center and AWS.
Recommended Knowledge and experience:
Understanding of:
• The AWS Well-Architected Framework
• AWS networking and security services
• Practical experience with:
• Deploying, managing, and operating workloads on AWS
• The AWS Management Console and the AWS CLI
• Implementing security controls and compliance requirements
 Exam Review:
Time: 180 minutes
Cost: $300
5. AWS Specialty Certifications
These specialty certifications are designed for seasoned industry professionals with extensive knowledge of cloud computing. They include.
1. AWS Big Data – Specialty Certification
It assesses your ability to create design and implement big data solutions using AWS. You would need to show your ability use Amazon Web Services to extract insights from data. Â Applicants must also have knowledge of AWS Big Data solution and be able to build scalable data processing architectures. It covers the following topics.
- Creating and maintaining large data sets.
- Implementing AWS Big Data services.
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2. AWS Advanced Networking – Specialty Certification
This certification is for professionals who handle complicated networking activities, and it focuses on evaluating a professional’s ability to create scalable hybrid IT networking architectures.
You need an existing Associate-level certification or the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner to be eligible, and at least 5 years of working experience architecting and delivering network solutions.
It covers the following topics.
- Implementing AWS services using architectural best practices.
- Use AWS to develop, and implement cloud-based solutions.
- Using software to automate AWS networking duties.
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Other AWS Specialty certifications.
- AWS Security – Specialty Certification
- AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty
- AWS Certified Database – Specialty
Cloud Chalktalk:
Best AWS Certification Training Provider in Houston TX.
Since you must first understand AWS before you can even consider becoming certified, your first step should be to identify AWS training and resources that suit your needs.
Here is the AWS certification guide.
1. Introduction to AWS cloud concepts on
Teaches you all you need to know about Amazon Web Services. There are no prerequisites needed before starting this course. Taught by Industry experts with relevant domain experience. You can pass AWS exam in the first attempt.
This training offers a hands-on approach to understanding Amazon Web Services, AWS Services & CLI, overview of S3, EC2,and more. It provides you with a practical grasp of the fundamental ideas and best practices of AWS.
2. Ultimate AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Course
This training covers the history of cloud computing, various cloud deployment strategies, cloud design ideas and more. You’ll be better prepared for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate exam if you take up this AWS Certification training.
3. Basics of Amazon Web Services for System Administrators.
The AWS training exposes you to the core skills needed to develop reliable and cost-effective infrastructure on the AWS platform. Upon completing the training, you’ll be able to take-on more difficult cloud topics.Â
4. AWS fundamentals specialization
This specialization covers the advantages, benefits, and capabilities of AWS as you proceed through four courses. It’s ideal for prospective IT professionals interested in learning about basic AWS services, security concepts, migration, and more from on-premises to AWS.
5. AWS Cloud Technological Basics
This training is ideal for individuals who wish to get a head start in the cloud by understanding the fundamentals of AWS products, services, and solutions, such as database, storage, networking, security, and cloud computing. It’s a great place to start because it doesn’t assume any prior understanding of cloud computing or AWS goods and services.Â
AWS Exam Details
Test delivery options
• Testing center – Take your exam at a public testing center located near you
• Online proctored exam – Take your exam in the comfort of your home or office with online proctors
AWS Question styles
• Multiple choice – Select the single best answer from a list of possibilities
• Multiple response – Select multiple answers from a list of possibilities
• Exam lab – Has a scenario composed of a set of tasks to perform in the AWS Management Console or AWS CLI
Available languages
• English – All exams
• Japanese – All exams
• Korean – All exams
• Simplified Chinese – All exams
Select exams are also available in the following languages.
• French (France)
• German
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Spanish (Latin America)
Cost
• Varies depending on exam
• Ranges between 100–300 USD
Results and next steps
• Exam results are usually available within five business days
• Access results via your AWS Certification Account
If you do not pass:
• 14-day waiting period to retake an exam
• No limit on exam attempts
AWS Certification benefits
With your AWS Certification, showcase your achievement on your social media and email signatures.
Few reasons to share your achievement with a AWS digital
badge.
1.You can celebrate with your network,
2. Establish credibility for your
cloud skills,
3. Encourage others to build and validate their cloud skills.
4. Be part of AWS re: invent networking.
5. Gain immediate access to exclusive AWS-sponsored certification events.
If you are interested to learn more about our AWS Certification Training Programs, please feel free to reach out to us at your convenience.
Cloud Chalktalk
Leading cloud certification training provider in Houston TX
832-666-7637Â ||Â 832-666-7619