How do I become AWS certified in 2021? (Step-by-Step Guide)

How to Get and Choose the Right AWS Certification for your Career?

By Michael Warne 21-Dec-2022

AWS is the best cloud-based service in the IT industry right now. AWS Certification is witnessing popularity like never before, all for the right reasons. Professionals with AWS certifications are reported to earn 40% more than their peers.

We will be looking at AWS certifications in detail in this article. We will take on all the certifications provided on AWS and understand their needs, goals, and the right fit for those tests. Stay with us as we look into the tips and the right way to approach the exam.

What is Amazon Web Services?

Amazon Web Services is an on-demand cloud computing platform offered by Amazon Inc. Besides cloud computing services, the subsidiary of Amazon also provides APIs to individuals, companies, and governments.

Tech companies need servers for the smooth functioning of the web and mobile apps. Building physical server farms are a costly and Toko tedious task. AWS offers its subscribers a way of obtaining large-scale computing capacity quicker and cheaper than building actual physical servers.

How to Get AWS Certification?

You can get AWS certification just like any other exam. You register for the relevant level of AWS CertaTION. Likewise, you appear for the test. Furthermore, you score marks above the mentioned cutoff, and you will be awarded certification in the relevant domain.

Sounds Easy? Well, there's more to the story than shows. AWS Certification tests professionals' understanding of the concepts and their technical expertise. You should follow the mentioned guidelines to score well on your test.

Register for AWS training class.
Study from the available exams and follow the guides.
Refer to AWS whitepapers. The questions in whitepapers will solve a lot of queries.
Practice as much as you can. Bettering your skills through practice will help a long way in the exam.

Tips for AWS Certification

AWS Certification should not be taken as lightly as the other certification courses. The tests under vAWS certifications (Foundation, Associate, Professional, Specialty) test professionals' technical aptitude and their problem-solving ability using the AWS concepts and principles.

The right way to appear for AWS Certifications is by being prepared. To become exam-ready, candidates must follow the basic guidelines that we are sharing below. These guidelines might look ordinary but are of great help when followed regularly. Let us go through the guidelines.

Commit to the task.
Find the proper exam for you.
Develop a strategy
Use Trusted Resources (Books, PDF, Online training videos)
Practice daily
Solve Problems the AWS way
Find the right time to appear for the exam.

All About AWS Certification

AWS is a technology that requires thorough knowledge by engineers for proper operations. Given promoting and supporting industry-wide training, AWS began offering certification programs for computer engineers in 2013. Let us look at different levels of AWS certifications.

Foundational Certification

AWS Foundational Certification is the entry-level AWS certification. It is also the most basic. The certification programs acquaint candidates with the basic concepts and hypotheses that AWS is based upon. The course covers:

fundamental principles of the AWS architecture
AWS cloud's value proposition
core deploying and operating principles
key services of AWS and their use cases
responsibility of the security model,
Essential compliance and security.

Associate Level Certification

Associate Level Certification is the second level of AWS certificate. The level demands a basic understanding of the AWS concepts. IT professionals working with 3+ relevant experience over should consider appearing for the exam. The Associate level certification is proffered in three domains that are listed below.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

AWS Solution Architect Certificate is recommended for IT professionals with knowledge of designing distributed applications. The certification validates their designing, implementing, and managing applications using AWS tools and services. The AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate certification covers:

Network technologies work in AWS.
Hybrid systems with AWS components
on-premises data centre
connecting AWS platform to the client's interfaces
building reliable and secure applications on AWS

Similar Post: AWS Certifications List and Cost 2022

AWS Certified Developer - Associate

The AWS Developer Associate Certification deals with the development and maintenance of apps built on the AWS platform. It takes AWS coding expertise to write code and access AWS applications using AWS software from organizations' custom business applications. The certification covers:

AWS services, architecture, databases
AWS storage services, workflow services,
AWS change management services
Notifications

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate

The Associate SysOps Admin Certificate is curated exclusively for system administrators. The exam demands a thorough knowledge of concepts and principles of AWS operational aspects. The professionals should possess technical exp[ertise and aptitude for the Associate AWS certification SysOps Administrator exam. The exams covers:

using the AWS platform for deploying applications
choosing the right AWS services
facilitating the transfer of data between AWS and the data centre
managing, securing, and provisioning systems on the AWS platform

Also Read: Boost your IT Career with an AWS certification

Professional Level Certification

Professional Level AWS Certification online is the third level of AWS Certification. The certification is recommended for professionals seeking their careers in Solution Architecture and DevOps. Let us look at all of the AWS professional certifications.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

Solution Architect - Professional is one of the Professional AWS Certifications awarded to IT personnel. Solution Architects provide recommendations about the architecture to implement and deploy applications on the AWS Platform.

The Solution Architect - Professional AWS Certification online covers Architecture, design, Migration of Applications on AWS platforms, and Optimization strategies.

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

The DevOps Certification ascertains professionals' skills of operating, managing, implementing, testing, and deploying AWS-based applications. There are two fundamental concepts of DevOps that the certification demands extra attention to.

Process Automation
Continuous Delivery (CD)

The IT professionals undertaking AWS Certified DevOps Engineer- Professional must possess the designing aptitude and management understanding of tools. The professionals should know the automation process of product operations, implementing scalable and highly available systems on the AWS Platform.

Speciality Certification

As the name suggests, Specialty Certifications of AWS are recommended for professionals already working in specialized IT industry roles. The speciality certifications are awarded in BIG Data, Advance Networking, Security, Alexa Skill Builder, and Machine learning.

AWS Certified Big Data – Specialty

Data Analysis, Data Science, and Big Data are in great demand among tech professionals. AWS Certified Big Data- Specialty is the course that validates professionals' understanding of data analytics, extraction of data values, design and architecting solutions for big data on AWS platforms.

AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty

Advanced Networking is related to expertise in AWS and IT networking architecture. The certification validates professionals' skills in solving complex network-related problems. The course covers AWS tasks for deploying the network, architectural practices to implement core services, designing, building, and deploying cloud solutions on the AWS platform. Also, troubleshooting, network optimization, designing and implementing security & compliance is part of the course.

AWS Certified Security – Specialty

The AWS Certified Security - Specialty covers encryption, data protection, logging, monitoring, incident response, identity, access management, and infrastructure security.

The certificate equips professionals with knowledge of AWS services about security such as AWS Key Management Services, AWS Identity and Access Management, AWS Config, AWS Cloudwatch, AWS Trusted Advisor, Amazon Inspector, Amazon Guard Duty etc.

AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder – Specialty

The AWS Alexa Skill Build Specialty deals with creating and deploying Amazon Alexa. The test demands at least six months of hands-on experience using the Amazon Alexa kit or building Alexa skills. The test also demands proficiency in one high-level programming language.

The test covers: value of voice, Alexa developer console, user experience design, knowing how to create, test, and validate skills, and following best practices of AWS and Alexa for security will be covered.

AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty

The test deals in creating, designing, and implementing machine learning solutions on the AWS platform. The test demands experience in the development and data science fields of the IT industry. Professional experience of 2 years in deep learning and Machine Learning on AWS Platforms is recommended before the test appears.

The test covers the design and implementation of reliable, secure, scalable, and cost-optimized ML solutions.

Additional Read: AWS vs. Azure – Which is better?

Conclusion

So now we know about each of the AWS certifications awarded by the tech giant. If you're a beginner in the AWS field, you should start with Fundamental Certification. As you obtain your preliminary AWS certificate, you should move on to the next.

If you are unable to clear the exam, you can reappear for the test after 14 days. There are no restrictions on the number of attempts on the exam.

ALSO READ: Top 10 Highest-Paying IT Certifications Courses for 2022 - 2023

As the world moves on towards new and innovative ways to ease customers and enterprises' lives, AWS is becoming a critical element of the changing wave. Hence, it will be a rash judgment not to benefit from it. The AWS is here to stay, and the sooner you understand its significance and utility, the more fruitful will the future be to you.

Michael Warne

Michael Warne is a tech blogger and IT Certification Trainer at Koenig Solutions. She has an experience of 5 years in the industry, and has worked for top-notch IT companies. She is an IT career consultant for students who pursue various types of IT certifications.