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AWS certifications are one of the most widely-recognized and respected certifications you can get for computer science and IT professions. Not only can they give you a leg up in landing a job at Amazon – one of the largest employers in the country – but they also look great on a resume when you’re applying for other tech jobs.
There are a few different AWS certifications you can get, depending on your skill-level, career goals, and area of specialty.
An AWS certification is an official certification provided by Amazon that demonstrates the holder’s skill in Amazon Web Services Cloud computing.
Cloud professionals can earn an AWS certification at four distinct skill levels – Foundational, Professional, Associate and Specialty. Within these levels, there are different certifications for a variety of subject-matter specialties. People can earn as many of the different certifications as they wish, as long as they have the requisite experience for each level.
With an AWS certification, cloud professionals can highlight their skill-level on resumes for potential employers. They also gain access to an exclusive AWS Certified Global Community, an AWS Certified merchandise store, events, and conferences.
Certification exams are offered through Amazon directly, and the cost varies depending on the level of AWS exam you take.
Price by Exam:
Exam Type | Price |
---|---|
Foundational | $100 |
Associate | $150 |
Professional | $300 |
Specialty | $300 |
Amazon provides resources to prep for an AWS exam, including a weekly AWS Exam Newsletter with tips and best practices. The newsletter includes study guides and sample questions- all built to help you pass your AWS Certification.
Once you’re ready, you can schedule your AWS Certification by signing in to your AWS account.
If you’re not quite ready to take the leap, Amazon separately provides an AWS Skill Builder with free and subscription based content, ranging from videos on Job Roles in the Cloud to an Introduction to Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3).
AWS Skill Builder is offered from $29/month, and is billed directly to your AWS account.