You’ve decided to get AWS certified. Smart move. But now you’re staring at a wall of certification options—Cloud Practitioner, Solutions Architect, Developer, SysOps, DevOps, Security Specialty—and wondering which one actually matters for your career.

Here’s what nobody tells you upfront: the certification you start with can either accelerate your cloud career or send you down a path that doesn’t match what employers actually want. The AWS certification ecosystem has grown into a complex web of 12+ credentials across four levels, and choosing wrong means wasted time and money.

This guide cuts through the marketing noise. You’ll get a practical roadmap based on where you are now, where you want to go, and what the job market actually pays for in 2026. For the full picture of cloud certification options, check our IT certifications topic page.

AWS Certification Levels Explained

AWS structures its certifications into four tiers, each building on the previous. Understanding this hierarchy is the first step toward planning your path.

Foundational Level

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02)

This is the entry point designed for people with zero cloud experience. It covers high-level AWS concepts: what services exist, basic pricing models, security fundamentals, and cloud architecture principles.

DetailInformation
Exam Cost$100
Questions65 questions
Time Limit90 minutes
Passing Score700/1000
PrerequisitesNone
Recommended Experience6 months exposure to AWS

The Cloud Practitioner doesn’t test technical depth. You won’t configure VPCs or write Lambda functions. Instead, you’ll answer questions like “Which service provides managed relational databases?” (RDS) or “What’s the shared responsibility model?”

Who should start here: Complete beginners, non-technical professionals moving into cloud roles, project managers who need cloud literacy, or anyone wanting to validate basic knowledge before investing in harder exams.

Who should skip it: Anyone with 6+ months of hands-on AWS experience. The $100 and study time is better spent on an Associate cert that employers actually look for on resumes.

Associate Level

This is where your certification starts appearing in job requirements. Associate certs validate hands-on ability to implement solutions on AWS.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03)

The most popular AWS certification by a wide margin. It focuses on designing distributed systems, selecting appropriate services for given requirements, and understanding cost optimization.

DetailInformation
Exam Cost$150
Questions65 questions
Time Limit130 minutes
Passing Score720/1000
Recommended Experience1 year designing on AWS

This cert appears in more job postings than any other AWS credential. If you’re unsure which Associate to pursue, this is the safe bet.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate (DVA-C02)

Focuses on building applications on AWS: Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, CodePipeline, and SDK usage. Heavy emphasis on serverless and CI/CD.

DetailInformation
Exam Cost$150
Questions65 questions
Time Limit130 minutes
Passing Score720/1000
Recommended Experience1 year developing on AWS

Choose this if you’re a developer wanting to prove AWS application development skills.

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate (SOA-C02)

Covers deployment, management, and operations on AWS. Think CloudWatch monitoring, Systems Manager, automated deployments, and troubleshooting.

DetailInformation
Exam Cost$150
Questions65 questions
Time Limit180 minutes
Passing Score720/1000
Recommended Experience1 year operating on AWS

This exam includes a lab component—you’ll perform tasks in an actual AWS console, not just answer multiple choice questions. The extra time reflects this hands-on section.

Professional Level

These certifications target experienced architects and engineers with 2+ years of AWS design and implementation experience.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02)

The heavyweight of AWS certifications. Covers complex, multi-account architectures, migrations, disaster recovery, and cost optimization at enterprise scale.

DetailInformation
Exam Cost$300
Questions75 questions
Time Limit180 minutes
Passing Score750/1000
Recommended Experience2+ years designing on AWS

Average salary for holders: $151,000-$156,000 annually according to industry surveys.

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional (DOP-C02)

Combines development and operations expertise. Covers CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, monitoring, logging, and incident response automation. If you’re considering this path, our DevOps career guide covers the broader role expectations.

DetailInformation
Exam Cost$300
Questions75 questions
Time Limit180 minutes
Passing Score750/1000
Recommended Experience2+ years DevOps on AWS

Specialty Level

Deep dives into specific domains. Each costs $300 and validates expert-level knowledge.

  • Security – Specialty (SCS-C02): Incident response, logging, identity management, data protection
  • Advanced Networking – Specialty (ANS-C01): Hybrid architectures, VPCs, Direct Connect, network optimization
  • Machine Learning – Specialty (MLS-C01): Model training, deployment, data engineering (retiring March 2026)
  • Database – Specialty (DBS-C01): Database design, migration, and performance tuning
  • Data Analytics – Specialty (DAS-C01): Data lakes, analytics services, visualization

Emerging AI/ML Certifications

AWS has rolled out new AI-focused credentials responding to market demand:

  • AWS Certified AI Practitioner: Foundational AI/ML concepts ($100)
  • AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate: Building and deploying ML solutions ($150)
  • AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate: Data pipelines and analytics ($150)

These are gaining traction fast. The AI Practitioner certification launched in 2024 and is already appearing in job requirements for roles involving generative AI.

Which Certification Should You Get First?

Your starting point depends on your background and goals. Here are the common scenarios:

Scenario 1: Complete Beginner

You’ve heard about cloud computing but haven’t used AWS professionally.

Recommended path:

  1. Cloud Practitioner (optional but helpful)
  2. Solutions Architect – Associate
  3. Specialty or Professional based on career goals

The Cloud Practitioner gives you vocabulary and context before diving into technical content. Some people skip it and go straight to Solutions Architect—that works too if you’re comfortable with self-directed technical learning.

If you’re coming from a traditional IT background, consider building foundational skills first. Our networking basics guide covers concepts that transfer directly to AWS VPC configuration.

Scenario 2: IT Professional Transitioning to Cloud

You have experience with on-premises infrastructure—servers, networking, Active Directory—and want to move into cloud roles.

Recommended path:

  1. Solutions Architect – Associate
  2. SysOps Administrator – Associate (if staying in operations)
  3. DevOps Engineer – Professional or Security Specialty

Your existing skills translate well. Understanding how physical networks work makes VPCs intuitive. Server administration knowledge applies to EC2. Skip Cloud Practitioner—you’ll cover that content anyway while studying for Solutions Architect.

For a deeper look at this transition, see our guide on transitioning from network admin to cloud engineer.

Scenario 3: Developer Adding Cloud Skills

You write code but haven’t worked much with cloud infrastructure.

Recommended path:

  1. Developer – Associate
  2. Solutions Architect – Associate
  3. DevOps Engineer – Professional

Developer – Associate focuses on services you’ll actually use: Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, CodePipeline. Solutions Architect rounds out your infrastructure knowledge so you can design complete systems.

If you’re interested in containerization before going full cloud, our Docker for beginners guide provides essential context.

Scenario 4: Security Professional

You work in cybersecurity and want cloud-specific credentials.

Recommended path:

  1. Solutions Architect – Associate
  2. Security – Specialty
  3. Optional: Cloud Practitioner for quick baseline

Security Specialty requires understanding general AWS architecture to contextualize security controls. Get Solutions Architect first—it covers IAM, VPCs, encryption, and security groups that form the foundation for the specialty exam.

Check out our cybersecurity certifications guide for how AWS Security fits alongside other security credentials.

Scenario 5: Career Changer from Non-Technical Field

You’re making a major pivot into tech with no IT background.

Recommended path:

  1. Cloud Practitioner
  2. Build hands-on skills with AWS Free Tier
  3. Solutions Architect – Associate
  4. Entry-level cloud support or junior admin role

The gap between certification and job readiness is real. Cloud Practitioner alone won’t land you a job, but it signals commitment and provides vocabulary for interviews. Combine it with hands-on projects documented in a portfolio.

Our IT career change guide covers the broader transition strategy.

AWS Certification Costs: The Full Picture

The exam fee is just one piece. Here’s what you’ll actually spend:

Exam Fees

{.salary}

LevelCost Per Exam
Foundational$100
Associate$150
Professional$300
Specialty$300

Taxes apply depending on your location. A Solutions Architect – Associate exam runs about $150 + tax in the US, potentially $165-175 total.

Study Resources

The range is huge depending on your approach:

ApproachCost Range
Self-study with free resources$0
Official AWS courses on Skill Builder$29/month
Third-party courses (A Cloud Guru, Udemy)$15-$50
Practice exams$20-$40
Boot camps and instructor-led training$500-$2,500

Most successful candidates spend $200-$500 total on study materials plus exam fees.

Practice Environment

You need hands-on time with actual AWS services. Options:

  • AWS Free Tier: 12 months of limited free usage for new accounts, plus always-free services. Sufficient for Cloud Practitioner and most Associate prep.
  • AWS Skill Builder Labs: $29/month subscription includes guided lab environments.
  • Personal projects: Budget $20-$50/month if you go beyond Free Tier limits during intensive study periods.

As of July 2025, new AWS accounts get up to $200 in credits to explore services—plenty for certification prep.

Retakes

Failed exams require full payment to retake. However, AWS periodically offers retake promotions. Currently, exams taken between November 2025 and February 2026 qualify for a free retake if needed before March 31, 2026.

Total realistic budget for your first certification:

  • Cloud Practitioner: $150-$300
  • Solutions Architect – Associate: $300-$600
  • Professional level: $500-$1,000

For detailed cost breakdowns, see our AWS Cloud Practitioner cost guide.

AWS Certification Salary Impact

What can you actually earn? The numbers vary by certification level, experience, and location.

Salary by Certification

{.salary}

CertificationAverage Salary (US)
Cloud Practitioner$85,000-$105,000
Solutions Architect – Associate$99,000-$129,000
Developer – Associate$125,879
SysOps Administrator – Associate$129,840
Solutions Architect – Professional$151,000-$156,000
DevOps Engineer – Professional$164,012
Security – Specialty$158,594
Machine Learning – Specialty$171,725

Salary data from IT Skills and Salary Survey 2025 and industry reports.

The Premium Is Real

According to research by Jefferson Frank, 73% of AWS professionals received a raise after certification, averaging 27% salary increases. For tips on maximizing that increase, see our salary negotiation guide.

The premium varies by experience:

  • 0-2 years experience: Certification matters most. It validates skills when you lack track record.
  • 3-5 years experience: Certification plus experience command top rates.
  • 5+ years experience: Experience speaks loudest, but certifications still help with job placement and negotiations.

Market Demand

AWS dominates the cloud market with approximately 34% market share. That translates directly to job opportunities.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects computer and IT employment to grow faster than average through 2034, with approximately 317,700 new openings annually. Cloud roles are a major growth driver.

High-demand areas in 2026:

  • DevOps and CI/CD automation
  • Cloud security
  • AI/ML implementation
  • Data engineering and analytics

Study Resources and Preparation

Official AWS Resources

AWS Skill Builder offers over 1,000 free courses plus paid subscriptions for labs and advanced content. Key offerings:

  • AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials (6 hours, free)
  • Exam Readiness courses for each certification
  • AWS Cloud Quest: Gamified learning with hands-on challenges

AWS Free Tier provides 12 months of limited free usage. Essential services for cert prep:

  • EC2: 750 hours/month of t2.micro or t3.micro
  • S3: 5GB storage
  • RDS: 750 hours of db.t2.micro
  • Lambda: 1 million free requests/month

Third-Party Courses

A Cloud Guru: Full courses with hands-on labs. Strong for visual learners.

Udemy: Stephane Maarek’s courses are highly rated. Wait for sales—courses regularly drop to $15-20.

Coursera: AWS’s official courses plus university partnerships. 7-day free trial available.

Pluralsight: Good for experienced IT pros wanting structured paths.

Practice Exams

Don’t skip these. The gap between studying concepts and answering exam-style questions is significant.

  • AWS Official Practice Exams: Available through Skill Builder, most representative of actual exam
  • Tutorials Dojo by Jon Bonso: Highly recommended for difficulty level and explanations
  • Whizlabs: Large question bank, good for repetition

Hands-On Practice Strategy

Reading and watching videos isn’t enough. You need to build things.

Projects for Cloud Practitioner:

  • Create an AWS account, navigate the console
  • Launch an EC2 instance, connect via SSH
  • Create an S3 bucket, configure access

Projects for Solutions Architect – Associate:

  • Build a three-tier web application (web server, app server, database)
  • Configure VPC with public and private subnets
  • Set up Auto Scaling and Load Balancing
  • Implement S3 lifecycle policies

Projects for Developer – Associate:

  • Build a serverless API with Lambda and API Gateway
  • Create a CI/CD pipeline with CodePipeline
  • Implement DynamoDB with proper partition keys

Infrastructure as code is a big part of AWS work. Our Terraform tutorial and Ansible guide cover automation tools that pair well with AWS deployments.

For command-line fundamentals that transfer to AWS CLI work, Shell Samurai provides interactive terminal practice in your browser.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Starting Too High

Jumping straight to Professional certifications without Associate experience leads to frustration. Professional exams assume deep familiarity with services that Associate exams cover thoroughly.

Certification Without Experience

A certification proves you can pass a test. Employers want evidence you can do the job. Pair your certification with:

Ignoring the Official Exam Guide

Each certification has an exam guide on AWS’s website listing exactly what’s covered. Many candidates study too broadly instead of focusing on the actual domains and their weightings.

Studying Outdated Material

AWS updates exams regularly. The Solutions Architect – Associate current version is SAA-C03 (launched August 2022). Content for SAA-C02 or older is outdated.

Rushing the Timeline

Realistic study timelines:

  • Cloud Practitioner: 2-4 weeks with consistent study
  • Associate certifications: 2-3 months
  • Professional certifications: 3-6 months

Rushing increases retake probability, which costs more in time and money than studying properly the first time.

AWS vs. Other Cloud Certifications

Should you focus on AWS, or consider Azure or Google Cloud?

Market Position

  • AWS: ~34% market share, most job postings, strongest for startups and tech companies
  • Azure: ~23% market share, strong in enterprise and Microsoft-heavy organizations
  • Google Cloud: ~11% market share, strong in AI/ML and data analytics

Decision Framework

Choose AWS if:

  • You want maximum job market flexibility
  • You’re targeting startups or tech companies
  • You’re entering cloud with no existing platform preference

Choose Azure if:

  • Your target employers use Microsoft 365 and Windows Server heavily
  • You’re in a regulated industry (finance, healthcare, government)
  • You already have Microsoft certifications

Choose Google Cloud if:

  • You’re focused on data engineering, analytics, or ML
  • You’re targeting tech-forward companies using GCP
  • You want to specialize rather than generalize

The good news: cloud concepts transfer. Once you know AWS well, picking up Azure or GCP fundamentals takes weeks, not months.

For a deeper comparison, see our cloud computing career path guide.

Building Your AWS Certification Roadmap

Here’s how to map out your next 12-24 months:

Phase 1: Foundation (Months 1-3)

Goal: Pass Solutions Architect – Associate (or Cloud Practitioner first if needed)

Activities:

  • Set up AWS Free Tier account
  • Complete AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials course
  • Work through Solutions Architect – Associate course material
  • Build 2-3 hands-on projects
  • Take practice exams until consistently scoring 80%+
  • Schedule and pass the exam

Phase 2: Specialization (Months 4-8)

Goal: Add a second certification aligned with your career direction

If pursuing architecture/design:

  • Solutions Architect – Professional

If pursuing development:

  • Developer – Associate, then DevOps Engineer – Professional

If pursuing security:

  • Security – Specialty

If pursuing operations:

  • SysOps Administrator – Associate, then DevOps Engineer – Professional

Phase 3: Differentiation (Months 9-12+)

Goal: Add specialty certifications or professional-level credentials that differentiate you

Options based on market trends:

  • AI Practitioner or ML Engineer for AI/ML focus
  • Data Engineer for analytics focus
  • Security Specialty if not already obtained
  • Advanced Networking for infrastructure focus

Continuous Learning

AWS certifications expire after 3 years. To recertify:

  • Pass the current version of your certification exam, or
  • Pass a higher-level certification in the same track

Many professionals maintain certifications through continuous learning rather than periodic cram sessions.

FAQ

How long does it take to get AWS certified?

For someone studying part-time while working: Cloud Practitioner takes 2-4 weeks, Associate certifications take 2-3 months, Professional certifications take 3-6 months. Full-time study can cut these timelines roughly in half.

Can I get an AWS job with just Cloud Practitioner?

Rarely as a sole qualification. Cloud Practitioner demonstrates cloud literacy but doesn’t validate hands-on skills employers need. Pair it with Solutions Architect – Associate and hands-on experience for job-ready credentials.

Should I get all three Associate certifications?

Only if your role requires broad expertise across architecture, development, and operations. For most career paths, one or two Associates plus relevant Professional or Specialty certs provides better differentiation.

Is AWS certification worth it if I don’t have a degree?

Certifications matter more when you lack formal education. They provide verifiable skills validation that can compensate for missing credentials. Combined with hands-on experience, AWS certifications can absolutely launch a cloud career without a degree. See our guide on IT careers without a degree.

How often do AWS exams change?

AWS updates exam versions every 2-3 years. When a new version launches, the old version remains available for several months. Exam guides on AWS’s website always reflect current content.

Do employers care which cloud certification I have?

Yes, but context matters. Employers hiring for AWS environments want AWS certifications. Multi-cloud environments value foundational certifications from any provider. When in doubt, AWS certifications have the broadest recognition.

Next Steps

Ready to start your cloud journey? Explore more resources on our career development topic page.

Your AWS certification path starts with one decision: which exam to pursue first.

For most people, that’s Solutions Architect – Associate. It covers the broadest range of services, appears in the most job postings, and provides foundation for any subsequent certification.

If you’re completely new to IT, consider starting with foundational skills. Our guide on entry-level IT jobs without experience covers how to break in.

If you’re transitioning from traditional IT, the cloud path builds on what you already know. Network to cloud engineer and sysadmin to DevOps transitions are well-documented paths.

Whatever your starting point, AWS certification represents a concrete investment in a growing field. The cloud isn’t going anywhere, and validated expertise opens doors that stay closed otherwise.