AWS Certification: Path, Requirements, and How to Get One

Key takeaways

• AWS certifications are credentials you earn that display your expertise in managing a particular facet of Amazon Web Services (AWS) systems.

• AWS certification path begins at the foundational level and advances through associate, professional, and specialty. The specific exam you'll take at each level depends on your area of expertise (such as AWS cloud practitioner or AWS data engineer.)

• You can get an AWS certification by selecting your target level based on your experience, studying the exam guide and enrolling in AWS certification training, and registering for the test.

Read on to learn which AWS certification you should get, whether it's worth it for your goals, and how to get started. If you're ready to start right away, enroll in the AWS Fundamentals Certification, in which you'll gain core skills for the exam such as cloud storage and identity and access management (IAM). By the end, you'll have earned a shareable certificate for your resume.

What is AWS certification?

AWS is a cloud computing platform provided by Amazon for hosting servers, storage, networking, migration, computing, email, mobile applications and development, and security. A wide range of companies use this system, which creates job opportunities for people who know how to build, operate, and manage them. Certification in AWS shows you have the technical skills and knowledge to manage, develop, and maintain AWS systems. AWS is at the top of the cloud market and is a valuable tool for anyone in the tech industry. 

Discover how AWS training and certification can provide benefits such as career growth and a higher salary while also exploring the different aspects of the AWS certification path.

Is AWS certification worth it?

AWS certification establishes you as a credible, knowledgeable, competent specialist in AWS systems. Getting certified in AWS increases your eligibility for specialized cloud computing positions and can help you further your cloud expertise. IT professionals often pursue Amazon cloud certifications to validate their skills and objectively measure their familiarity with cloud systems.

Benefits of AWS certification

AWS certification offers several benefits, whether you are entering or progressing through your cloud computing career. More and more information and data are being uploaded to the cloud every year, and AWS currently possesses 31 percent of the cloud computing market [1].

AWS certifications require a lot of work, study, and practice. When you complete a certification in AWS, you show that you’ve dedicated considerable effort and time to learning how cloud computing systems operate. Certain tiers of learning will earn you digital badges and allow exclusive access to AWS events and circles. 

A further benefit of AWS certification is that it often leads to improved salaries. AWS certifications increased the salaries of survey respondents by an average of 20 percent, according to a survey by Jefferson Frank [2].

Significant demand for AWS-certified professionals and cloud computing

Many companies are shifting to cloud computing and cloud-based systems. As a result, experts in cloud computing are in greater demand. According to Amazon, a significant number of companies anticipate the need to hire employees with cloud skills.

Learning AWS and pursuing certification can open doors in a growing industry that seeks out professionals who have earned this credential.

AWS certification path

Several different AWS certifications exist, spanning a broad range of experience levels: Foundational, Associate, Professional, or Specialty. The following list includes a few of your options at each level:

• Foundational: AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification

• Associate: AWS Solutions Architect Certification - Associate, AWS Certified Developer - Associate, AWS SysOps Administrator - Associate

• Professional: AWS Solutions Architect - Professional, AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional

• Specialty: AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty, AWS Certified Security - Specialty, AWS Certified Machine Learning - Speciality

Read more: AWS Certified AI Practitioner vs. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Which AWS certification should I get?

Choosing an AWS certification depends on your skills, interests, and prior experience. You can find an application for AWS in nearly every field, but some levels of AWS certifications and specific qualifications are better for certain jobs. You can even find certifications for architects, developers, and engineers, among other cloud computing professionals. You can pick the proper AWS certification based on your goals, strengths, and interests, and you can pursue more than one or multiple levels, showing your expertise in several areas.

Possible AWS careers

More advanced and high-level certifications often result in executive positions with higher salaries. Fundamental certifications tend to cover basic concepts and are designed for entry-level roles requiring less technical expertise. The list below outlines relevant job titles and their respective average salaries:

• AWS-certified cloud practitioner (US): $130,802 per year [3]

• AWS-certified cloud architect (US): $147,236 per year [4]

• AWS-certified developer (US): $112,422 per year [5]

• AWS-certified DevOps engineer (US): $125,908 per year [6]

• AWS-certified SysOps administrator (US): $112,422 per year [7]

How much does AWS certification cost?

The cost of taking an AWS certification exam ranges from $100 to $300, depending on the exam type [8]. When you get recertified, a requirement every three years, you may be eligible for a 50 percent discount, which you can find in your AWS certification account, or complete the AWS Cloud Quest: Recertify Cloud Practitioner game-based training and recertify for free [9].

How to get AWS certified

A typical pathway to AWS certification is first enrolling in an AWS training course and studying for the certification exam. In preparation, consider reading AWS white papers or exam guides because they contain valuable information about the exam. These exams require dedication and practice. Practice exams and online courses may ease your worries about taking the actual exam. Once you feel that you’re ready, it’s time to schedule the exam.

Prerequisites

The foundational certification exam suggests you have basic knowledge of IT services and how to use them in the AWS platform, as well as a minimum of six months’ work experience with AWS cloud systems in a sales, managerial, purchasing, technical, or financial capacity. For senior-level certifications, AWS recommends that you first pass other exams, acquire work experience, or gain additional knowledge. For some exams, you may need to demonstrate proficiency in a high-level programming language and the ability to create functioning applications that involve AWS components.

Although you’re not expected to be a subject matter expert, many AWS certification exams require proficiency in understanding, managing, and planning cloud systems. Take a look at some skills and knowledge that you may need before working on a certification:

• Data management

• Programming

• Amazon services like SDK, IAM, and Amazon’s API gateway for applications

• Networking

• Statistics

AWS training and certification

You can access many resources to prepare for an AWS certification exam, including books, online courses, boot camps, videos, practice exams, and AWS white papers. Whichever route you choose to take, look for resources online, both free and paid. In addition to reading available materials, take advantage of practice tests. They show you what types of questions you can expect to see on test day, and they also typically include explanations of answers that help you understand why the correct answers are correct.

Do Amazon Web Services certifications expire?

Your AWS certification is valid for three years. Before the three-year period is over, you must recertify to keep your certification active. If you are looking to maintain multiple certifications, you may be able to get a voucher from your AWS account to cover part of the fee to retake your exams. AWS encourages you to continue learning and taking courses offered by AWS during the three years of your certification so that you are continually growing and learning about the systems.

Prepare for your AWS certification path with Coursera's free resources

• Visit our Youtube channel to hear from established professionals and compare online courses, starting with A Beginner's Guide to Cloud Security.

• Subscribe to Career Chat, Coursera's LinkedIn newsletter to stay current with industry trends, in-demand skills, and more.

• Check out our Career Resource Hub to browse skill assessments, career path mapping tools, and quizzes to help you identify your ideal role.

Accelerate your career growth with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 courses.