AWS Certification Path Explained – Which One Should You Choose?
Your Step-by-Step Roadmap to Choosing and Earning the Right AWS Certification for Your Career
AWS certifications are globally recognized and prove your cloud expertise. But with 12+ certifications across different domains, learners often ask:
- Which AWS certification should I start with?
- What’s the best certification for DevOps, Architects, or Data Engineers?
- How hard are the exams, and what should I study?
This chapter gives you clear answers and a full certification roadmap.
AWS Certification Levels Overview
| Level | Audience | Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational | Beginners, non-tech, managers | AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner |
| Associate | Developers, SysAdmins | Solutions Architect, Developer, SysOps |
| Professional | Senior engineers, architects | DevOps Engineer, Solutions Architect |
| Specialty | Niche/advanced professionals | Security, Data Analytics, ML, etc. |
1. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (Foundational)
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Audience | Beginners, students, PMs |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Exam Duration | 90 minutes |
| Cost | $100 USD |
| Validity | 3 years |
| Topics | Billing, cloud concepts, security, support |
Why choose it?
Perfect for building cloud awareness before diving into technical certifications.
2. Associate-Level Certifications
a) AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
| Role | Cloud architect, pre-sales engineer |
| Focus | Designing AWS solutions, choosing services |
| Format | Scenario-based MCQs (hands-on experience recommended) |
Ideal For:
Those who want to design secure, cost-optimized cloud architectures.
b) AWS Certified Developer – Associate
| Role | Application developers, back-end devs |
| Focus | Developing with AWS SDKs, DynamoDB, Lambda, CI/CD |
Ideal For:
Developers who want to learn how to build on AWS efficiently.
c) AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate
| Role | DevOps engineer, system admin |
| Focus | EC2, networking, automation, monitoring, CLI tools |
Includes:
Hands-on tasks in the exam (console simulation)
3. Professional-Level Certifications
a) AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
| Role | Senior cloud architect |
| Difficulty | High (deep knowledge of services & design patterns) |
| Format | Complex scenario-based questions |
Ideal For:
Professionals designing large-scale, distributed systems on AWS.
b) AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
| Role | DevOps engineer, automation expert |
| Focus | CI/CD pipelines, monitoring, scaling, automation |
Prerequisite:
Associate-level Dev or SysOps is recommended (but not mandatory)
4. Specialty Certifications (Advanced/Niche)
| Name | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Security | IAM, KMS, GuardDuty, Compliance |
| Data Analytics | Redshift, Glue, QuickSight |
| Machine Learning | SageMaker, AI/ML pipeline |
| Advanced Networking | Hybrid networks, VPC, Transit GW |
| Databases | RDS, Aurora, DynamoDB, backup, tuning |
| SAP on AWS | SAP workload optimization |
Ideal For:
Professionals looking to specialize or validate deep AWS skills in niche domains.
Suggested AWS Certification Roadmap
🟢 Beginner (Non-technical or student)
Cloud Practitioner → Solutions Architect Associate
🟡 Developer Track
Developer Associate → DevOps Pro → ML or Security Specialty
🔵 SysAdmin / DevOps Track
SysOps Associate → DevOps Pro → Advanced Networking or Security
🔴 Architect Track
Solutions Architect Associate → Solutions Architect Pro → Data Analytics
AWS Certification Exam Format
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Multiple choice / multiple response |
| Mode | Online proctored or test center |
| Time | 90 to 180 minutes (depending on level) |
| Language | English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese |
| Scoring | 100 to 1000 scale (pass: ~720) |
Tips to Pass AWS Certifications
- Use AWS Skill Builder (free official learning platform)
- Practice with Whizlabs, TutorialsDojo, ACloudGuru
- Use hands-on labs (S3, EC2, IAM, Lambda, VPC)
- Read AWS Whitepapers (esp. Well-Architected Framework)
- Attempt Practice Exams under time limit
📚 Recommended Study Resources
| Resource | Use For |
|---|---|
| AWS Skill Builder | Free training paths |
| TutorialsDojo | Practice exams & exam-specific cheat sheets |
| ACloudGuru / LinuxAcademy | Hands-on video tutorials |
| ExamPro | YouTube-based exam prep |
| AWS Docs + Labs | Official documentation |
Career Value of AWS Certifications
| Certification | Avg. Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| Cloud Practitioner | $90,000 (Entry Level) |
| Solutions Architect – Associate | $120,000+ |
| DevOps Engineer – Professional | $135,000+ |
| Security / Data Analytics Specialty | $140,000–$160,000 |
📈 Certifications can increase hiring chances, help with job promotions, and open freelance/contract roles.
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