Are Amazon Web Service (AWS) certifications really worth it?
Tags: aws, certification, career, architecture
Published: 2023-07-01 18:37:46

Yes, these certifications are highly valuable. One reason is that APN (AWS Partner Network) companies are required to have a specific number of employees with Associate and Professional certifications in order to maintain their status. These skills are so uncommon that even big companies struggle to find people who possess them. Getting certified in AWS can increase your chances of landing higher-paying jobs and make you more noticeable in the job market. 

There are three certification paths available: solutions architect, operations, and developer. These paths offer different levels of expertise, with increasing difficulty. Getting certified in AWS can lead to a salary boost of up to 20%.

Engaging in practical learning experiences is of utmost importance, and AWS's free tier provides a way to practice without spending a lot of money.
It is recommended to check out AWS's free cloud practitioner essentials course and A Cloud Guru for associate-level certifications. They are great course providers. Creating personal projects using AWS is a great way to demonstrate your practical experience to potential employers. 

If you complete this task, you will become highly valuable and attractive in the job market for the next 10 years.

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## If yes, which?
With free accounts and free tier pricing for many services, AWS is an easy platform to learn. Write Cloud Formation Scripts, deploy instances, construct DynamoDB tables, get familiar with NoSQL, and develop serverless applications if you want to become certified. Having an understanding of the components will make being certified a snap. Getting an AWS Solutions Architect Associate level certification is a good way to show that you can design and handle application infrastructure using AWS. If you have a year of experience and a strong portfolio of AWS work, it is worth considering even with limited tests. AWS is the biggest company that offers infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS). This means that customers can rent computers and data storage through the internet. Cloud computing is a technology that provides a virtual environment for running software and accessing services. It is expected to grow by 30% annually.

For most people, including those who are new to AWS, it is suggested to start with the Solutions Architect Associate certification. You can skip the Cloud Practitioner certification if you study for the Solutions Architect Associate certification,  it will cover the same knowledge requirements. AWS certifications are categorized into two types: Role-Based and Specialty certifications. It is generally recommended that 90% of people start with Role-Based certifications, while Specialty certifications can be pursued at a later time.

It is recommended to start with the Solutions Architect Professional certification as a base for all Specialty certifications. The order in which you pursue certifications can depend on your personal goals, but it is generally recommended to start at the Associate level. Certifications at the professional level are much more challenging compared to certifications at the associate level.


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## Is AWS certification alone can get you job?
Although obtaining an AWS certification is a valuable first step, it does not guarantee a job at AWS or in the cloud industry. Depending on the position you're applying for. Although it's not a deal-breaker, not possessing a certificate may complicate matters. Job success requires both soft skills and practical experience. It is important to concentrate on developing technical skills and gaining practical experience by working on cloud projects. Going to community meetups and networking events can help you stay motivated and share opportunities. Participating in online communities can offer support and help you make connections.
To increase job opportunities in the cloud industry, it is important to focus on networking, developing practical skills, and preparing for interviews which includes both technical and non-technical questions.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/czcleztqu8hhrthar5ni.png)

## What if I don't get the certificate?
Even if you don't get the certificate, taking a certificate training course is a great method to improve your abilities. Good training programmers are often inexpensive and provide practical experience via laboratories. For instance, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect course on Udemy is available for $20, making it an easy career investment, particularly for beginners.

## What pay-scale jobs will I be eligible for after successfully completing the certification?

According to the findings of 2022 IT Skills and Salary Survey, individuals possessing AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate level certification in the United States and Canada are reported to earn an average salary of $148,348 (Skillsoft, 2022). According to PayScale, The annual salary for individuals holding the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional certification is $142,000.

You can search "AWS Solutions Architect" on LinkedIn and sort for "Jobs". And you will find more than 30,000 jobs related to your certifications.

Some of interesting articles that you can read from Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2016/02/21/15-top-paying-it-certifications-in-2016-aws-certified-solutions-architect-leads-at-125k/#759e248d6702

http://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2016/03/18/where-cloud-computing-jobs-are-in-2016/#5d2d0576536d

And also some additional guidelines for AWS certifications:

https://gist.github.com/leonardofed/bbf6459ad154ad5215d354f3825435dc

https://github.com/open-guides/og-aws

References:
AWS (Amazon Web Services) Certified Solutions Architect - Professional Salary | PayScale. (2023, June 02). https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=AWS_(Amazon_Web_Services)_Certified_Solutions_Architect_-_Professional/Salary 

Skillsoft. (2022, December 13). Top 5 Highest-Paying AWS Certifications. https://www.skillsoft.com/blog/top-aws-certifications-blog