Amazon Web Services has emerged as one of the top players in the cloud computing landscape for all right reasons. AWS certification has redefined the career paths for many cloud professionals over the years. Most important of all, candidates can gain many other benefits from the professional AWS certifications for their career. The AWS certifications test the cloud expertise of professionals and prove their capabilities for different AWS-based job roles.
The primary objective of AWS behind its various certifications is the validation of the capabilities of professionals for proving their in-demand skills. In addition, the certifications can help organizations develop efficient and innovative teams for different cloud initiatives revolving around AWS. Therefore, you can choose the AWS certification that suits your career aspirations and pursue it with a conviction for success.
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Which AWS Certification is Right for Me?
As of now, there are 12 AWS certifications in total, but this is the point where candidates tend to face maximum confusion. Most important of all, candidates don’t have the necessary resources to make a specific decision while choosing right AWS certification. So, the following discussion would present an outline of the different AWS certifications. The best thing about the following discussion is that it presents the basic info about every exam.
Furthermore, the outline for each exam will also outline the ideal audience and the responsibilities that candidates have to take in the concerned roles. Most important of all, the following AWS certifications list would also outline the domains covered in each certification exam. Therefore, the following discussion would provide you all you need for making an ideal decision regarding the certification that is right for you.
List of AWS Certifications
The first thing that candidates should know is that there are four different categories of AWS certification. The four categories of AWS certifications include foundational, associate, professional, and specialty certifications. Each category, or say level, has a number of certifications. Here is the list of all 12 AWS certifications of different levels:
Foundational Level AWS Certifications
Associate Level AWS Certifications
Professional Level AWS Certifications
Specialty Level AWS Certifications
Now, let us find out the different certifications in each category with detailed information.
Foundational-level Certification
The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification is one of the prominent additions to the AWS certifications list. It is the only foundation level certification. The certification is the perfect alternative for getting started with other associate-level, professional, or specialty certifications.
The ideal audience for this certification exam is individuals with knowledge and skills for demonstrating a basic understanding of the AWS cloud. The exam is suited for the role of a foundation-level AWS aspirants, or say AWS freshers. Most important of all, it is ideal for aspiring cloud professionals to establish proof of their fundamental knowledge in AWS technologies.
Abilities Tested in the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam
The exam tests the following abilities of candidates.
Prerequisites for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam
Candidates should also look for the prerequisites of AWS certifications to find out ‘which AWS certification is right for me?’ to prepare for the right certification according to your skills. AWS does not have any specific prerequisites to appear for any certification exam. However, the important recommended knowledge and experience requirements can be the right indicator of the suitability of an AWS certification for your skillset.
The recommended knowledge and experience for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification are as follows.
Domains Covered in the AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification Exam
One of the most critical considerations for any candidate to qualify AWS certification is the knowledge of domains covered in the exam. The outline of domains covered in the exam provides a clear idea regarding the topics on which they would receive questions in the exam. Here are the important domains covered in the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification.
Domain | Weighting |
Cloud Concepts | 26% |
Security and Compliance | 25% |
Technology | 33% |
Billing and Pricing | 16% |
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam Information
The prominent highlights regarding the exam also refer to the basic information about the exam. The basic details about the exam help in identifying the format of the examination and the type of questions.
Associate-level Certifications
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate Certification
The AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification is one of the notable AWS certifications with widespread popularity. The ideal audience for the exam is individuals aspiring for the role of solutions architect. Candidates will have to serve the role of designing AWS systems with higher availability, fault tolerance, cost-efficiency, and scalability.
The new version of this AWS certification (SAA-C02) has been available from March 23, 2020. The existing AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification exam (SAA-C01) will expire on July 1, 2020.
Abilities Tested in the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Exam
The certification tests the following abilities of candidates.
Prerequisites for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Exam
Candidates should also know about the recommended prerequisites for the exam to find the right AWS certification training courses for their preparation. Here are the recommended knowledge and experience requirements for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification.
Domains Covered in the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Exam
The most important information about the AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification exam refers to the domains covered in the exam. Candidates should know the domains in both the SAA-C01 and SAA-C02 certification exams. Here are the domains covered in the SAA-C01 exam.
Domain | Weighting |
Designing resilient architectures | 34% |
Definition of performance architectures | 24% |
Specification of secure applications and architectures | 26% |
Design cost-optimized architectures | 10% |
Definition of operationally excellent architectures | 6% |
The domains covered in the SAA-C02 exam are as follows.
Domains | Weighting |
Designing resilient architectures | 30% |
Designing high-performance architectures | 28% |
Design of secure applications and architectures | 24% |
Designing cost-optimized architectures | 18% |
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Exam Information
The basic details about the AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification exam are also important to understand the exam better.
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate Certification
The AWS SysOps Administrator certification exam is the ideal exam for candidates aspiring for the role of system administrators. Candidates would have to take on roles in system operations. The responsibility of AWS SysOps Administrator Associate would include dealing with deployment, operations, and management on AWS.
Abilities Tested in the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate Exam
The AWS SysOps Administrator certification exam tests the following abilities in a candidate.
Prerequisites for the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate Exam
Candidates should also remember the prerequisites for the AWS certification for the role of the SysOps Administrator Associate exam. Here are some of the crucial knowledge and experience requirements that can help you with this exam.
Domains Covered in the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate Exam
The only answer for how to clear AWS certification is the knowledge about the domains covered in the exam. Here is an outline of the domains covered in the exam.
Domains | Weighting |
Monitoring and reporting | 22% |
High availability | 8% |
Deployment and provisioning | 14% |
Storage and data management | 12% |
Security and compliance | 18% |
Networking | 14% |
Automation and optimization | 12% |
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate Exam Information
The basic details about the AWS SysOps Administrator Associate certification exam are also important to understand the exam better.
AWS Certified Developer Associate Certification
The AWS Developer Associate certification is suitable for individuals aspiring to perform the role of an AWS developer. The individuals in this role would have to take on the responsibility of developing and maintaining AWS applications. The other responsibilities which an individual has to take on in their role as an AWS Developer Associate are the abilities that the certification tests.
Abilities Tested in the AWS Certified Developer Associate Exam
Here are the important abilities tested by the AWS Developer associate certification.
Prerequisites for the AWS Certified Developer Associate Exam
Candidates should note the following knowledge and experience requirements to get their hands on AWS certification jobs in the role of a developer associate.
Domains Covered in the AWS Certified Developer Associate Exam
It is important to understand the exam blueprint to know about the domains covered in the exam. The important domains covered in this AWS certification are as follows.
Domains | Weighting |
Deployment | 22% |
Security | 26% |
Development with AWS services | 30% |
Refactoring | 10% |
Monitoring and Troubleshooting | 12% |
AWS Certified Developer – Associate Exam Information
To get the basic idea of the exam information may help you perform well in the AWS Certified Developer Associate exam.
Professional-level Certifications
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional Certification
The AWS Solutions Architect Professional certification is the next AWS certification that you should try for after the AWS solutions architect associate certification. This certification exam is ideal for candidates who have served the role of a solution architect for more than two years of practical experience in the management and operations of AWS systems.
Abilities Tested in the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional Exam
The abilities tested by the exam also show a clear impression of the job responsibilities that candidates will face. Here are the abilities proved by the AWS Solutions Architect Professional certification.
Prerequisites for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional Exam
In addition, candidates should also focus on the recommended knowledge and experience requirements to clear this AWS certification with ease. Here are the prerequisites that you should focus on.
Domains Covered in the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional Exam
Another important concern regarding preparation for this AWS certification refers to the domains covered in the exam. Here are the crucial domains that signify the topics on which candidates can find questions in the exam.
Domain | Weighting |
Designing for organizational complexity | 12.5% |
Designing for new solutions | 31% |
Migration planning | 15% |
Cost control | 12.5% |
Continuous improvement for existing solutions | 29% |
The format of the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional certification exam includes multiple-choice and multiple answer questions. The AWS certification cost, in this case, is $300 USD. The total duration of the exam is around 180 minutes i.e., 3 hours. Candidates can appear for the exam in four languages, such as English, Simplified Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional Certification
The AWS DevOps Engineer Professional certification exam is the most critical option for pursuing an exceptional career in the cloud computing landscape. This AWS certification exam is ideal for individuals aspiring to work in the role of an AWS DevOps Engineer.
The candidates qualifying the certification would have to work with their experience of provisioning, operations, and management of AWS environments.
Abilities Tested in the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional Exam
The abilities tested by the exam showcase the roles that candidates will have to fulfill as a certified AWS DevOps Engineer. Here are the abilities proved by the AWS DevOps Engineer Professional certification.
Prerequisites for the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional Exam
Candidates should also focus on the important knowledge and experience requirements for this AWS certification, as mentioned below.
Domains Covered in the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional Exam
Most important of all, candidates should also cover information about the topics covered for this AWS certification. The following outline of the domains covered in the exam can help you find the topics underlying questions in the exam.
Domain | Weighting |
SDLC Automation | 22% |
Configuration management and Infrastructure as Code | 19% |
Monitoring and logging | 15% |
Policies and standards automation | 10% |
Incident and event response | 18% |
High availability, fault tolerance and disaster recovery | 16% |
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional Exam Information
The basic details of the exam can also help in gaining a clear impression of the actual exam environment.
Specialty-level Certifications
AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty Certification
The AWS Advanced Networking Specialty certification exam is the first AWS certification that provides specialization in complex networking tasks. The exam is ideal for candidates who aspire to improve their skills and command over networking. The different roles that an individual could take over with the AWS Advanced Networking Specialty certification are validated by the certification itself.
Abilities Tested in the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty Exam
Here are the abilities that candidates should prove in the exam for taking on such roles in their professions.
Prerequisites for the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty Exam
Candidates should also focus on the important prerequisites for the AWS Advanced Networking Specialty certification. Here are the recommended knowledge and experience requirements for this specialty AWS certification exam.
Domains Covered in the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty Exam
Candidates aspiring for this AWS certification should know about the following domains covered in the exam for a clear awareness of the exam topics.
Domain | Weighting |
Design and implementation of hybrid IT Network Architectures at scale | 23% |
Design and implementation of AWS networks | 29% |
Automation of AWS tasks | 8% |
Configuration of network integration with application services | 15% |
Designing and implementation for security and compliance | 12% |
Management, optimization and troubleshooting for the network | 13% |
AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty Exam Information
The basic details of the exam can also help in gaining a clear impression of the actual exam environment.
AWS Certified Security Specialty Certification
The AWS Security Specialty certification is the reliable AWS certification for candidates aspiring for specialization roles in AWS cloud security. The exam is suitable for candidates working in a security role with more than two years of practical experience in the security of AWS workloads.
Abilities Tested in the AWS Certified Security Specialty Exam
The professional responsibilities that an individual would have to take on in their role as an AWS certified security specialist are as follows.
Prerequisites for the AWS Certified Security Specialty Exam
Candidates should also reflect on the important prerequisites for the AWS Security Specialty certification exam as follows.
Domains Covered in the AWS Certified Security Specialty Exam
Knowledge of the domains covered in this AWS certification would help candidates identify the topics underlying the questions in the exam. Here are the important domains covered in the exam.
Domain | Weighting |
Incident response | 12% |
Logging and monitoring | 20% |
Infrastructure security | 26% |
Identity and access management | 20% |
Data protection | 22% |
AWS Certified Security Specialty Exam Information
It is required to understand the exam information and basic details to get a clear impression of the actual exam environment.
AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty Certification
The AWS Machine Learning specialty certification aims at providing industry-level recognition for specialization in machine learning. The specialty AWS certification exam is ideal for candidates working in a development or data science job role.
Abilities Tested in the AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty Exam
Candidates will have to take on the roles of designing, implementation, deployment, and maintenance of machine learning (ML) solutions for specific business issues. The certification validates the abilities of a candidate for taking on the following roles in their professional responsibility.
Prerequisites for the AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty Exam
Candidates should also focus on the important knowledge and experience requirements for this specialty certification exam. These requirements establish helpful prerequisites that can help you establish your readiness for the exam.
Domains Covered in the AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty Exam
Another critical highlight that candidates should know about this AWS certification refers to the domains covered in the exam. Here are the important topics that you have to prepare for the exam.
Domain | Weighting |
Data Engineering | 20% |
Exploratory data analysis | 24% |
Modeling | 36% |
Machine learning implementation and operations | 20% |
AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty Exam Information
The exam’s basic details are also exceptionally important for ensuring the best preparation schedule for this certification exam.
AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder Specialty Certification
The AWS Alexa Skill Builder specialty certification is the most favorite instrument to be prepared for a modern career path in the AWS landscape. This specialty AWS certification is ideal for individuals aspiring to work in a profession for developing new Alexa Skills.
Abilities Tested in the AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder Specialty Exam
An AWS certified Alexa Skill Builder specialist has to take on the roles of building, testing, and publishing Amazon Alexa Skills. The certification validates the abilities of candidates to take on the following professional responsibilities of AWS Alexa Skill Builder specialist.
Prerequisites for the AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder Specialty Exam
The important knowledge and experience requirements for this AWS specialty certification are also crucial for candidates. The following pointers can help in establishing the suitability of a candidate for the exam.
Domains Covered in the AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder Specialty Exam
The domains covered in this specialty certification are also important for preparing effectively for the exam. Here are the crucial topics that you have to cover for the exam.
Domains | Weighting |
Voice-first design practices and capabilities | 14% |
Skill design | 24% |
Skill architecture | 14% |
Skill development | 20% |
Testing, validation and troubleshooting | 18% |
Publishing, operations, and lifecycle management | 10% |
AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder Specialty Exam Information
The basic details of the exam are also important factors that can help you in preparing for the AWS Alexa Skill Builder specialty certification exam.
AWS Certified Data Analytics Specialty Certification
The AWS Data Analytics Specialty certification is the updated version of the AWS Big Data Specialty certification exam that is going to retire in April, 2020. This AWS certification provides an ideal instrument for candidates aspiring for specialization in AWS data lakes and analytics services.
Candidates aspiring for proving their confidence and credibility in implementing their abilities for designing, building, securing, and maintenance of analytics solutions on AWS could pursue this specialty certification. Most important of all, certified AWS Data Analytics specialty certification establishes the capability of candidates for ensuring security, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of the AWS analytics solutions.
Abilities Tested in the AWS Certified Data Analytics Specialty Exam
Candidates will have to take on the following responsibilities in their role as an AWS certified Data Analytics specialist.
Prerequisites for the AWS Certified Data Analytics Specialty Exam
Candidates should also focus on the important prerequisites for this AWS certification. The following knowledge and experience recommendations are crucial to establish whether you are ready for this certification or not.
Domains Covered in the AWS Certified Data Analytics Specialty Exam
The domains covered in this AWS certification exam are also crucial highlights for every candidate. Most important of all, the domains covered in the exam can help candidates in the identification of the exact topics they should prepare for in the exam. Here is an outline of the important domains you have to cover for the exam.
Domain | Weighting |
Collection | 18% |
Storage and data management | 22% |
Processing | 24% |
Analysis and visualization | 18% |
Security | 18% |
AWS Certified Data Analytics Specialty Exam Information
Candidates should also focus on the basic details about this exam for establishing a reliable foundation for their exam preparations.
AWS Certified Database Specialty Certification
The final addition in the list of specialty AWS certification refers to the AWS database specialty certification. The exam is an ideal instrument for candidates aspiring to prove their specialized expertise in the wide assortment of AWS database services. In addition, the certification is ideal for candidates who aspire to prove their capability in speeding up the use of database technology for promoting the business transformation of an enterprise.
Abilities Tested in the AWS Certified Database Specialty Exam
AWS certified database specialists can work in AWS job roles that involve designing, recommendations, and maintenance of the ideal AWS database solution for specific use cases. Candidates will have to take on the following professional responsibilities in their role as an AWS database specialist.
Prerequisites for the AWS Certified Database Specialty Exam
Candidates should also focus on the important knowledge and experience requirements for the AWS Database specialty certification exam. The recommended prerequisites for the exam help you verify whether you are ready for the exam or not. Here are the crucial prerequisites that you should focus on for your preparations for the AWS database specialty certification exam.
Domains Covered in the AWS Certified Database Specialty Exam
The next critical highlight that candidates should know about this AWS certification exam refers to the domains covered in the exam. Candidates should know about the important topics that will form the basis of questions in the certification exam. Most important of all, the outline of the domains covered in the exam as follows can support the improvement in preparations of candidates.
Domain | Weighting |
Workload-specific database design | 26% |
Deployment and migration | 20% |
Management and operations | 18% |
Monitoring and troubleshooting | 18% |
Database security | 18% |
AWS Certified Database Specialty Exam Information
Candidates should also reflect on the basic information of the exam. The basic details about the exam help candidates understand the actual exam environment.
Final Words
Now, you can try looking for helpful AWS certification training courses based on the information presented here. Most important of all, candidates will have to focus on the important factors that ensure successful preparation for AWS certifications. For example, finding the ideal learning resources such as AWS whitepapers and scholarly journals related to AWS technologies. In the long run, AWS is expected to continue its dominance in the public cloud computing landscape.
Therefore, pursuing an AWS certification can spell unique career opportunities for candidates aspiring for a competent job role in the AWS platform. Take the decision now and make your pick from the above-mentioned certifications. Dedication and commitment to your objective will help you prepare effectively and reach the heights of success. Join our AWS certification training and start your preparation right now for promising AWS career!