AWS Certification Guide: Which One Should You Choose?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) is one of the most widely used cloud computing platforms in the world. Its rise in popularity has also led to a spike in the demand for skilled professionals who can help organizations unlock the full potential of AWS.
One way to showcase your AWS skills and knowledge is through earning AWS certifications. AWS certifications are highly valued in the industry and can give your career a significant boost. However, with so many different AWS certifications available, it can be challenging to know which one to choose.
That's where we come in! In this guide, we will take an in-depth look at the various AWS certification options available and help you select the one that's right for you.
The Basics
Before diving into the different AWS certifications offered, it's important to understand the basic structure of AWS certification paths.
AWS currently offers certifications across four experience levels - Foundational, Associate, Professional, and Specialty. Foundational level is for beginners, while Associate is for professionals with some experience. Professional level is for more experienced professionals who work with AWS in-depth, and the Specialty level is for professionals who specialize in specific AWS technologies or services.
Foundational Certifications
Foundational certifications demonstrate a basic understanding of AWS cloud concepts and services. AWS currently offers one foundational certification- the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner.
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
This certification is designed for individuals who are new to AWS and want to demonstrate their understanding of basic AWS cloud services and concepts. It is an ideal starting point for professionals who are looking to kick-start their career in AWS.
The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam tests candidates' knowledge of AWS Cloud, including the value proposition of AWS and its different services and basic architecture principles. It does not go into depth on any services or technologies but provides an excellent overview of the AWS ecosystem.
Should you choose the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification?
If you are new to AWS and looking to gain foundational knowledge of the platform's cloud concepts and services, the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification is a great place to start. It is ideal for professionals who are starting their journey with AWS and want to learn the basics before specializing in any particular technology or service.
Associate Certifications
Associate-level certifications demonstrate a deeper understanding of AWS cloud services and their associated architectures. AWS currently offers three associate-level certifications:
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate certification is designed for professionals who want to demonstrate their ability to design and deploy scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS.
The certification exam tests candidates' knowledge of AWS Cloud architecture, including designing, deploying, and managing applications on AWS. It covers a range of AWS services, including EC2, S3, Route 53, RDS, and more.
AWS Certified Developer - Associate
The AWS Certified Developer - Associate certification is designed for professionals who want to demonstrate their ability to develop and maintain AWS-based applications.
The certification exam tests candidates' knowledge of AWS development tools, including AWS SDKs, APIs, and AWS CLI. It also covers developing applications on AWS services, including Lambda, DynamoDB, and API Gateway.
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate
The AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate certification is designed for professionals who want to demonstrate their ability to deploy, manage, and maintain AWS-based systems.
The certification exam tests candidates' knowledge of deploying and managing AWS systems, including monitoring and logging, high availability, and security. It covers AWS services including EC2, VPC, CloudFormation, CloudWatch, and more.
Should you choose an Associate certification?
Associate certifications are ideal for professionals with some experience working with AWS. If you are looking to showcase your expertise in specific AWS services or technologies, an Associate certification is an excellent choice. It's also a good option if you want to broaden your understanding of AWS beyond the foundational level.
Deciding which Associate certification to pursue will depend on your particular area of interest or expertise. If you're interested in designing and deploying scalable, highly-available systems on AWS, the Solutions Architect Associate certification is for you. If you're interested in developing applications on AWS, the Developer Associate is a great choice, and if you're interested in deploying and maintaining AWS-based systems, the SysOps Administrator Certification is the right pick.
Professional Certifications
Professional-level certifications demonstrate a higher level of experience and expertise in AWS. AWS currently offers two Professional-level certifications.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional certification is designed to validate the skills of professionals who design and deploy scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS.
The certification exam tests candidates' knowledge of AWS Cloud architecture, including designing, deploying, and managing applications on AWS at scale. It goes beyond the Associate-level certification by covering more advanced topics, including multi-tier architectures and hybrid architectures.
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional
The AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional certification is designed to validate the skills of professionals who understand how to implement and manage continuous delivery systems and methodologies on AWS.
The certification exam tests candidates' knowledge of implementing and managing automated applications deployment, management, and monitoring on AWS. It covers topics such as Infrastructure as Code (IaC), monitoring and logging, and automation of workflows.
Should you choose a Professional certification?
Professional certifications are ideal for professionals with significant experience working with AWS. If you're looking to showcase your skills in a specific area of AWS, a Professional certification is an excellent choice. It can help you stand out from other cloud professionals, demonstrate your knowledge of advanced architectural concepts or expertise in DevOps on AWS.
Deciding which Professional certification to pursue will depend on your particular area of interest or expertise. If you're interested in designing and deploying complex, highly-available architectures on AWS, the Solutions Architect Professional certification is right for you. If you're more interested in integrating continuous delivery and automation into your AWS workflows, the DevOps Engineer Professional certification is an excellent choice.
Specialty Certifications
Specialty certifications validate the skills of professionals with specialized, expert-level knowledge of specific AWS technologies or services. AWS currently offers six Specialty certifications.
AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty
The AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty certification is designed to validate the skills of professionals who design and implement advanced networking solutions on AWS.
The certification exam tests candidates' knowledge of designing and implementing complex network architectures on AWS, using AWS services such as VPC, ELB, and Route 53, among others.
AWS Certified Security - Specialty
The AWS Certified Security - Specialty certification is designed to validate the skills of professionals who design and implement AWS security solutions.
The certification exam tests candidates' knowledge of securing AWS workloads using AWS services such as KMS, IAM, CloudTrail, and Config. It covers topics such as incident response, identity, and access management, and monitoring and logging.
AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty
The AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty certification is designed to validate the skills of professionals who use AWS services for designing, implementing, deploying, and maintaining machine learning solutions.
The certification exam tests candidates' knowledge of Machine Learning on AWS, including optimization algorithms, deep learning, and machine learning frameworks.
AWS Certified Database - Specialty
The AWS Certified Database - Specialty certification is designed to validate the skills of professionals who design and implement AWS database solutions.
The certification exam tests candidates' knowledge of designing, deploying, and maintaining AWS database solutions, including RDS, DynamoDB, Redshift, and more.
AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder - Specialty
The AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder - Specialty certification is designed to validate the skills of professionals who develop skills for Amazon Alexa, Amazon's virtual assistant.
The certification exam tests candidates' knowledge of development of Alexa skills, including design, testing, deployment, and debugging.
AWS Certified Data Analytics - Specialty
The AWS Certified Data Analytics - Specialty certification is designed to validate the skills of professionals who design and implement AWS analytics and big data solutions.
The certification exam tests candidates' knowledge of AWS services such as Kinesis, Glue, Redshift, and more, and covers topics such as data analytics architectures and optimizing data storage and retrieval.
Should you choose a Specialty certification?
Specialty certifications are ideal for professionals with a specific area of interest or expertise in AWS. They demonstrate specialized, expert-level knowledge of AWS services or technologies, and can help you differentiate yourself from other cloud professionals.
If you're interested in designing and implementing advanced networking solutions on AWS, the Advanced Networking - Specialty certification is a great choice. If you want to demonstrate expertise in designing and implementing database solutions on AWS, the Database - Specialty certification is for you.
Choosing the right Specialty certification to pursue will depend on your particular area of interest or expertise. If you have experience in designing and implementing Machine Learning solutions, the Machine Learning - Specialty certification is ideal for you. Alternatively, if you want to showcase your skills in AWS Analytics, the Data Analytics - Specialty certification is a great choice.
The Bottom Line
AWS certifications are a great way to showcase your skills and knowledge of AWS services and technologies. They are highly valued by employers and can help you advance in your career.
Deciding which AWS certification is right for you will depend on your level of experience and expertise in AWS, as well as your career goals. If you're just getting started with AWS, the Cloud Practitioner certification is an excellent place to start. If you're a professional with some experience in AWS, an Associate-level certification is a great way to showcase your expertise in specific AWS services or technologies. If you're an experienced professional with advanced skills, a Professional or Specialty certification is ideal.
Whatever your career goals and interests, AWS certifications are a fantastic way to demonstrate your abilities and take your career to the next level.
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