AWS Certifications

AWS certifications demonstrate the skills to design and manage software solutions on Amazon's ultra-popular cloud platform.

Simply put, cloud computing is the on-demand, pay-as-you-go distribution of IT resources over the Internet. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s leading cloud platform and provider of these resources.

As more and more businesses move traditionally in-house services to the cloud - to reap benefits like reduced costs and increased efficiency - those with skills and certifications in the latest cloud computing solutions - especially those from AWS - will enjoy a wide range of job opportunities and top-tier salaries.

AWS Certification Training

Benefits of AWS Certification

There are numerous advantages to becoming AWS certified. Amazon Web Services certifications…

• validate your skills and knowledge in the preeminent cloud computing platform.
• are consistently listed among the top paying info-tech certifications worldwide.
• garner more interviews for aspiring cloud specialists, and higher wages once hired.
• are recognized industry-wide as reliable and well-designed tech credentials.
• demonstrate credibility and dedication to your cloud engineering career path.
• provide access to a network of like-minded peers and AWS thought-leaders.
• require recertification which ensures that your AWS skills remain current.

Why do Businesses use AWS?

Companies use AWS cloud computing solutions for a variety of business needs. This ever-growing list includes web and application hosting, big data storage and analytics, backup and disaster recovery, custom projects in emerging areas like IoT and more. Organizations that successfully integrate AWS solutions realize benefits like increased efficiency, cost-savings, greater speed, tighter security and easier scalability.

AWS Certifications List

Amazon Web Services credentials fall into 2 main categories: Core Certifications and Specialty Certifications.

AWS core certifications span three knowledge areas: architecture, development, and operations, and are offered in 3 skill levels: foundational, associate, and professional.

AWS specialty certifications validate advanced expertise in targeted IT disciplines, such as information security, big data, and networking.

Let's break down these categories and the certifications available in each:

AWS Core Certifications

Chart courtesy of Amazon Web Services.

Here is a closer look at AWS' core certifications:

AWS Specialty Certifications

Chart courtesy of Amazon Web Services.

Popular AWS specialty certifications:

The cloud services market is hyper-competitive and evolving rapidly, and AWS is continually launching new products and services to stay on the cutting-edge. With new solutions comes new certifications to validate IT professionals' skills in their use; this page will continuously be updated as new AWS certifications are released.

For more information on Amazon Web Services certifications including detailed exam blueprints, visit the official AWS certifications page.

AWS Certification Salaries

In the relatively short time since the Amazon Web Services certification program launched in 2013, AWS-certified pros already rank among the highest-paid IT certification holders. According to a recent salary survey from Skillsoft, the average pay for AWS-certified individuals is $128,467.

Here are the top-paid AWS certification holders in North America:

• AWS Certified Developer: $165,333
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional: $158,485
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate: $148,348
• AWS Certified Security Specialist: $146,300
• AWS Certified Big Data Specialist: $134,793

Source: 2022 IT Skills & Salary Report by Skillsoft

AWS Certification Cost

Cost is an important factor when considering AWS certification, or any cert for that matter. The price for standalone AWS certification exams is very affordable, ranging from $100 to $300 per test, but this doesn't tell the full story. While training isn't mandatory to take the exam, nearly all candidates will require some combination of AWS training and study materials to pass the test.

For starters, here are the costs for AWS certification exams only (exam fees are assigned by level):

When it comes to training, AWS offers some free courses and materials to get you started. There are also some high-quality, affordable AWS online courses available by subscription on Coursera. If higher education is your goal, check out these cloud computing certificates and degrees which feature cert prep for AWS and other platforms like Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud as part of a deeper computer science curriculum.

AWS Lifecycle & Recertification

To keep your AWS credentials current, recertification is required every two years. This is a brief period compared to many other certifications - even in the fast-paced world of tech – as Amazon is constantly adding features and services to AWS to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving cloud market. AWS recertification consists of either advancing to the next level of your AWS certificate, i.e., Associate to Professional, or taking a recertification exam for your current credential at a reduced cost.

Who are AWS’s Competitors?

While Amazon Web Services offers the most comprehensive and popular service suite - accounting for about half of all public cloud solutions currently deployed – there are some other cloud service providers (or CSPs) effectively vying for a slice of this pie. The most prolific AWS competitors include Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, IBM Cloud, and OpenStack.

Which Cloud Platform Should You Learn?

If you know that the company you work for (or want to work for) uses an AWS competitor like those listed above, then train and certify in that cloud platform. Everyone else: Amazon Web Services training and certification is the way to go.