It’s no secret that the cloud is growing more and more popular every day. In fact, according to a recent study, the cloud market is expected to reach US$ 1,949 Billion by 2032.

That’s a lot of money! If you want to be a part of this booming industry, then you need to start preparing for your AWS certification now. Not to mention that cloud computing skills are listed as one of the top IT skills in 2023. So, seize the opportunity and get ready for a promising career ahead!

In this blog post, we will discuss why getting certified is such a valuable investment and how it can help you in your career. Keep reading to discover the available AWS certification paths and explore our role-based certifications for those in Cloud Practitioner, Architect, Developer, and Operations roles, as well as our Specialty certifications in specific technical areas.

What are AWS certifications?

Getting AWS certified is a way to validate your knowledge and skills in Amazon Web Services. There are many different types of AWS certifications, but the most popular is the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate credential. This certification tests your ability to design and deploy scalable, fault-tolerant, and highly available systems on AWS.

Furthermore, AWS certification is not just for those who are looking to work in the cloud computing field.

Many companies are now requiring their employees to be certified in order to prove that they are competent in using AWS. This is especially true for companies that are already using AWS or are planning to migrate to the cloud.

Available AWS certifications

AWS offers a number of industry-recognized certifications that validate your experience to help you go beyond training and highlight your skills. Earning AWS Certifications allows you to showcase your cloud knowledge and abilities specific to roles or technical domains that help move your career forward.

Trainocate Malaysia offers four categories of AWS certifications, three of which correspond to the amount of experience you have with the AWS Cloud. For Specialty certifications, the amount of recommended experience varies by certification.

Role-based AWS Certifications are subcategorized according to job title and duties whereas AWS Specialty certifications are designed to validate your expertise in a specific domain and/or knowledge area.

Foundational level: AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Intended for: Individuals who can effectively demonstrate an overall understanding of the AWS Cloud, independent of specific
technical roles addressed by other AWS Certifications

Abilities validated:

• For the AWS Cloud, define and describe its:
  • Basic global infrastructure
  • Basic architectural principles
  • Value proposition
  • Key services and common use cases (ex: compute and analytics)
  • Basic security and compliance aspects and the shared security model
  • Billing, account management, and pricing models
• Identify sources of documentation or technical assistance (for example, whitepapers or support tickets)
• Describe basic/core characteristics of deploying and operating in the AWS Cloud

Associate Level

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

Intended for: Solutions architects with one or more years of practical experience designing available, cost-efficient, fault-tolerant, and scalable distributed systems on AWS

Abilities validated:

• Architecting and deploying secure and robust apps on AWS technologies
• Defining a solution using architectural design principles based on customer requirements
• Providing implementation guidance based on best practices to the organization throughout the life cycle of the project

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate

Intended for: Systems administrators in a SysOps role with at least one year of experience in deployment, management, and operations on AWS

Abilities validated:

• Deploy, manage, and operate scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS
• Implement and control the flow of data to and from AWS
• Select the appropriate AWS service based on compute, data, or security requirements
• Identify appropriate use of AWS operational best practices
• Estimate AWS usage costs and identify operational cost-control mechanisms
• Migrate on-premises workloads to AWS

AWS Certified Developer – Associate

Intended for: Developers with one or more years of practical experience developing and maintaining an AWS-based application

Abilities validated:

• Understanding of core AWS services, uses, and basic AWS architecture best practices
• Proficiency in developing, deploying, and debugging cloud-based apps using AWS

Professional Level

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

Intended for: Solutions architects with advanced technical skills and two or more years of practical experience designing distributed applications and systems on AWS

Abilities validated:

• Design and deploy (on AWS)
• Dynamically scalable, highly available, fault-tolerant, and reliable apps
• Enterprise-wide scalable operations
• Select appropriate AWS services to design and deploy an app based on given requirements
• Migrate complex, multi-tier apps to AWS
• Implement cost-control strategies

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

Abilities validated:

• Implement and manage continuous delivery systems and methodologies on AWS
• Implement and automate security controls, governance processes, and compliance validation
• Implement systems that are highly available, scalable, and self-healing in the AWS Cloud
• Define and deploy monitoring, metrics, and logging systems on AWS
• Design, manage, and maintain tools to automate operational processes

AWS Specialty Level

• AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty
• AWS Certified Data Analytics Specialty
• AWS Certified Database Specialty
• AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty
• AWS Certified Security Specialty

Why Should You Get AWS Certified?

There are many reasons why you should get AWS certified, but here are some of the most important ones:

• It will help you stand out from other job candidates
• It will give you an edge in salary negotiations
• It will help you better understand AWS and how it works
• It will make you more marketable to employers

Let’s take a look at some in greater detail.

Stand Out From the Crowd

While there are many reasons why you should get certified, one of the most important is that it will help you stand out from the crowd.

With so many people vying for jobs in the cloud industry, employers are looking for candidates who can demonstrate their skills and knowledge. By getting AWS certified, you’ll be able to show potential employers that you have what it takes to succeed in this field.

Furthermore, being certified will also show that you’re committed to your career and are willing to invest in your own development. This can go a long way in impressing potential employers and helping you land the job you want.

Get Paid What You Deserve

Another reason why you should get AWS certified is that it will give you an edge in salary negotiations.

According to a recent survey, the median salary for AWS-certified professionals is $113,000 per year. This is significantly higher than the median salary for non-certified professionals, which is $85,000 per year.

This difference in pay can be attributed to the fact that employers are willing to pay more for employees who have demonstrated their skills and knowledge. By getting AWS certified, you’ll be able to show potential employers that you’re worth the investment.

Advance Your Career with AWS

Another reason to get certified is that it can help you advance your career.

If you’re looking to move up within your company or land a new job, having an AWS certification on your resume will make you a more attractive candidate.

Employers are always looking for employees with the latest skills and certifications, so getting certified is a great way to stay ahead of the curve.

Understand AWS & How It Works

Finally, getting certified will help you better understand AWS and how it works. The certification process will force you to learn about all the different features and services offered by AWS.

Even if you’re already familiar with AWS, becoming certified will help you deepen your understanding of how it works. And as we all know, knowledge is power!

There’s no doubt that getting AWS certified is a smart career move. So what are you waiting for? Start preparing for your exam today!

How to Get AWS Certified?

The first step is to decide which certification is right for you. Each one is designed for a different level of experience and expertise. Once you’ve decided which one is right for you, it’s time to start preparing for the exam.

AWS provides various resources to help you prepare, including training courses, practice exams, and official study guides.

Investing in your own development will pay off in the long run, so be sure to put in the time and effort required to pass your exam.

Generally, the process of getting certified is as follows:

• Decide which certification is right for you.
• Prepare for the exam using AWS resources and/or third-party study guides.
• Take the exam and pass it with a passing score.
• Congratulations, you’re now an AWS-certified professional!

Common Mistakes Made to Get AWS Certified

One of the most common mistakes made to get AWS certified is not taking the time to prepare for the exam. Many try to wing it and end up failing their exams. Don’t let this happen to you!

Another mistake that’s often made is not investing in quality resources. There are many free resources available, but they’re often not as comprehensive as paid resources. If you’re serious about getting certified, be willing to invest in your own development.

Finally, some candidates try to take shortcuts by using brain dumps or cheating on their exams. This is a huge mistake that will likely result in you being banned from taking future exams. Not to mention, it’s just plain unethical. Don’t cheat on your exam!

If you want to get AWS certified, avoid these common mistakes and set yourself up for success.

Cloud Certification Alternatives to AWS

If you’re interested in cloud computing but not sure if AWS is right for you, there are a few other options to consider. Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure are two of the most popular alternatives to AWS.

Both Google Cloud and Azure offer similar services to AWS, so it really comes down to personal preference. Whichever platform you choose, be sure to invest in quality resources and prepare for your exam accordingly.

Both of these come with their own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to do your research before making a decision. For instance, Google Cloud is often seen as being more user-friendly than AWS, while Azure is known for its robust security features.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide which platform is right for you. No matter what you choose, getting certified will help you further your career and deepen your understanding of cloud computing.

AWS Certification Done Right

Becoming AWS Certified isn’t always easy but the benefits are worth it—and AWS is dedicated to giving you everything you need to make certification a reality.

In today’s world, technology is changing faster than ever. If you want to remain competitive, you’ll need to continuously update your skills through training and practical experience. And when it comes to critical technical and cloud skills, your training isn’t complete until you’ve validated your abilities through AWS Certification.

Pursuing AWS Certification is so much more than just training. It’s a valuable experience in and of itself—one that can accelerate your career, bring recognition to you and your team, and help you build skills to unleash your inner creativity and spark innovation.

Earning an AWS Certification has the potential to impact both your professional and personal lives. Professionally, you can improve your job effectiveness while gaining confidence, credibility, and trust. Personally, you can gain a higher sense of satisfaction in your role while enjoying benefits like community networking, discounts, digital badges, and exclusive events and merchandise.