{"id":12896,"date":"2026-06-25T18:05:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T12:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/?p=12896"},"modified":"2026-06-25T18:05:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T12:35:07","slug":"aws-certification-roadmap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/aws-certification-roadmap\/","title":{"rendered":"AWS Certification Roadmap 2026: Which Certification to Take First?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AWS certifications are often one of the first milestones people set for themselves when entering cloud computing. The problem is that there isn&#8217;t a single certification designed for everyone. AWS has certifications for architects, developers, system administrators, DevOps engineers, security professionals, machine learning engineers, and more, which makes choosing the right starting point far more important than simply choosing the easiest exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Should you start with Cloud Practitioner? Skip it and jump right into Solutions Architect Associate? Or ignore certifications altogether and focus on projects? With multiple options available, it can be difficult to decide what you should be learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This AWS Certification Roadmap breaks down every certification, what it covers, who it is best suited for, and how to choose a certification path that aligns with your skills and career goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why-aws-certifications-are-worth-it-in-2026\"><\/span><strong>Why AWS Certifications Are Worth It in 2026<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the biggest benefits of AWS certifications is that they give you a clear learning path. AWS has hundreds of services, and for beginners, knowing what to learn, in what order, can be difficult. Certification tracks solve that problem by helping you focus on the concepts and services that matter most at a particular stage of your learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, the value of an AWS certification doesn&#8217;t come from the certificate itself. It comes from the knowledge and hands-on skills you develop while preparing for it. As you learn services like EC2, S3, IAM, VPC, and Lambda, you should also learn how cloud infrastructure is designed, secured, and managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, are AWS certifications worth it? Absolutely. Just don&#8217;t treat them as the end goal. Use them as a roadmap to learn cloud computing, build projects alongside your preparation, and apply those skills when you need to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/devops-course\/\">DevOps Course Online with AI &amp; Cloud<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"aws-certification-roadmap-2026-at-a-glance-all-levels\"><\/span><strong>AWS Certification Roadmap 2026 at a Glance (All Levels)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The AWS certifications have four levels of difficulty, with each level designed for a different level of experience. The following AWS certifications list covers all major certification levels, from foundational cloud knowledge to advanced professional and specialty tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Level&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Certification&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Best For&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Typical Positions<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Foundational&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/certification\/certified-cloud-practitioner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner&nbsp;<\/a><\/td><td>Beginners, students, career switchers&nbsp;<\/td><td>Cloud Support, Technical Support, Entry-Level Cloud Roles&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Associate&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/certification\/certified-solutions-architect-associate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AWS Certified Solutions Architect &#8211; Associate<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Aspiring cloud architects and engineers&nbsp;<\/td><td>Cloud Engineer, Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Associate&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/certification\/certified-developer-associate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AWS Certified Developer &#8211; Associate<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Developers building cloud-native applications&nbsp;<\/td><td>Software Engineer, Cloud Developer&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Associate&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/certification\/certified-sysops-admin-associate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AWS Certified SysOps Administrator &#8211; Associate&nbsp;<\/a><\/td><td>System administrators and operations professionals&nbsp;<\/td><td>Cloud Administrator, Systems Engineer&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Professional&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"http:\/\/v\" target=\"_blank\">AWS Certified Solutions Architect &#8211; Professional<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Experienced cloud architects&nbsp;<\/td><td>Senior Solutions Architect, Cloud Consultant&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Professional&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"http:\/\/v\" target=\"_blank\">AWS Certified DevOps Engineer &#8211; Professional<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Experienced DevOps and platform engineers&nbsp;<\/td><td>DevOps Engineer, Site Reliability Engineer&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Specialty&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/certification\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Specialized Options<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Professionals looking to specialize in a domain&nbsp;<\/td><td>Security Engineer, Network Engineer, ML Engineer&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although AWS offers certification options for candidates depending on their objectives, the majority of beginners begin by taking up the Cloud Practitioner or Solutions Architect Associate certificates and then move on to the Professional and Specialty level certifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/aws-syllabus\/\">AWS Syllabus 2026: Cloud Fundamentals to Production Skills<\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"level-1-aws-certified-cloud-practitioner-foundational\"><\/span><strong>Level 1: AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (Foundational)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/certification\/certified-cloud-practitioner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">aws cloud practitioner certification<\/a> is developed for beginners who have little or no experience with cloud technology, as well as AWS. This exam does not concentrate on the implementation and design but gives an insight into the main ideas of the AWS ecosystem, such as the basics of clouds, pricing, security, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This certification is often a good starting point for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Students exploring cloud computing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Career switchers entering the technology industry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Non-technical professionals working alongside cloud teams<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Business, sales, and project management professionals who need AWS knowledge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For candidates with little or no cloud experience, Cloud Practitioner is often considered the best AWS certification for beginners because it introduces core AWS concepts without requiring deep technical expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/cloud-computing\/\">Cloud Computing Tutorial<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What You&#8217;ll Learn<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cloud Computing Fundamentals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AWS Global Infrastructure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Core Services (EC2, S3, IAM, VPC, RDS)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Security and Compliance Basics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AWS Pricing and Billing Models<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shared Responsibility Model<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As opposed to Associate level certifications, Cloud Practitioner involves minimal technical depth and practical experience. The main objective of the exam is to familiarize the candidates with AWS and set the ground for further certifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those who already have some experience in cloud computing, system administration, networking, or programming will find it better to go directly for the Solutions Architect Associate certification. However, AWS Cloud Practitioner remains the easiest certification to begin with for absolute beginners or non-engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can find some beginner-friendly AWS resources at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/courses\/\">Free Programming and Coding Courses Online with Certificate<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"level-2-associate-certifications-solutions-architect-developer-sysops\"><\/span><strong>Level 2: Associate Certifications (Solutions Architect, Developer, SysOps)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the Associate level, you&#8217;ll choose between three certifications depending on the type of AWS work you want to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Criteria<\/strong><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/certification\/certified-solutions-architect-associate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>AWS Solutions Architect Associate<\/strong><\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/certification\/certified-developer-associate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>AWS Developer Associate<\/strong><\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/certification\/certified-sysops-admin-associate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>AWS SysOps Administrator Associate<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Primary Focus<\/td><td>Designing cloud architectures<\/td><td>Building applications on AWS<\/td><td>Managing and operating AWS environments<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Best Suited For<\/td><td>Cloud Engineers, Solutions Architects, DevOps beginners<\/td><td>Software Developers<\/td><td>Cloud Administrators, Operations Engineers<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Key Skills<\/td><td>Networking, storage, databases, security, high availability, cost optimisation<\/td><td>Application deployment, APIs, serverless services, authentication, AWS SDKs<\/td><td>Monitoring, logging, troubleshooting, automation, backups, and resource management<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Common AWS Services<\/td><td>VPC, EC2, S3, RDS, IAM, Route 53, Load Balancers<\/td><td>Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, SQS, SNS, Cognito<\/td><td>CloudWatch, Systems Manager, CloudFormation, AWS Config, Auto Scaling<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Coding Requirement<\/td><td>Low<\/td><td>High<\/td><td>Low to Moderate<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Recommended For Beginners?<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>Only if you&#8217;re already a developer<\/td><td>Usually, after gaining AWS fundamentals<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Career Paths<\/td><td>Cloud Engineering, Solutions Architecture, DevOps, Security<\/td><td>Application Development, Backend Engineering, Serverless Development<\/td><td>Cloud Operations, Site Reliability, Infrastructure Management<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most learners, the AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification remains the best starting point because it provides exposure to the widest range of AWS services and concepts. Many professionals pursuing DevOps, Security, or Cloud Engineering roles begin with this certification before moving into more specialised paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/aws-syllabus\/\">AWS Syllabus 2026: Cloud Fundamentals to Production Skills<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To strengthen your preparation, spend time learning core AWS services and architecture fundamentals through resources such as the AWS syllabus and hands-on AWS projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prefer learning with mentorship and projects? Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/devops-course\/\">Scaler&#8217;s DevOps programme<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"level-3-professional-certifications\"><\/span><strong>Level 3: Professional Certifications<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can pursue an aws professional certification after completing Associate-level certifications and gaining hands-on experience with AWS projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/certification\/certified-solutions-architect-professional\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>AWS Certified Solutions Architect \u2013 Professional<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This certification covers large-scale architecture design on AWS. Migration planning, hybrid cloud architectures, disaster recovery, governance, networking, security, and cost optimisation are some of the key topics covered. If your work involves designing cloud infrastructure and making architecture decisions, this certification can help deepen your understanding of cloud architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/v\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AWS Certified DevOps Engineer \u2013 Professional<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This certification covers deployment automation and cloud operations. CI\/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), monitoring, incident response, compliance, and release management form a major part of the syllabus. If you&#8217;re working with deployments, automation, and cloud infrastructure, this certification aligns closely with those responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should also keep in mind that Professional certifications assume you already understand core AWS services such as EC2, S3, IAM, VPC, and Route 53. So, your focus should be on applying that knowledge across larger projects and more complex requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the DevOps Engineer Professional is one of your target certifications, you can also read more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/aws-devops\/\">AWS DevOps<\/a> and follow a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/devops-roadmap\/\">DevOps roadmap<\/a> to strengthen the skills covered in the exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check out: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/devops-course\/\">Scaler&#8217;s DevOps programme<\/a> for a more structured learning.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"level-4-specialty-certifications\"><\/span><strong>Level 4: Specialty Certifications<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While both Associate and Professional certifications aim at giving comprehensive knowledge about cloud computing, AWS specialty certifications do not have such an aim. They cover narrow domains and are useful mostly for those who specialize in particular areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your field of expertise falls into areas such as Identity Management, Compliance, Threat Detection, Encryption, and Cloud Security Architecture, then this certification pathway is the perfect path to take. This certificate is popular among Security Engineers, Cloud Security Specialists, and cybersecurity experts who deal with AWS environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/kubernetes\/\">Kubernetes Tutorial<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Advanced Networking<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Networking Certifications are meant for those engineers who frequently engage with hybrid clouds, routing, connectivity, DNS, load balancing, and networking at scale. It is likely that Networking certifications will be useful for Network Engineers and Infrastructure Architects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Machine Learning &amp; AI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the continued increase in the use of AI, AWS certifications focused on machine learning, and AI can be beneficial for Data Scientists, ML Engineers, and those who practice AI. Such certifications are usually very relevant to those developing and deploying models as well as applications that are powered by AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Data &amp; Analytics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This path is all about working with big data platforms, analytics processes, and data engineering tools on AWS. It is usually a good choice for Data Engineers, Analytics Engineers, and other people who develop data pipelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most frequent mistake made by candidates is specializing in a certain certification track prematurely. Usually, it would be better to start with gaining a solid base by completing either an Associate or a Professional-level certification, and then go for specialization depending on the work you like. The specialty certification becomes useful only when it complements your existing skill set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also check out: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/data-science-course\/\">Data Science &amp; ML Course with AI Specialization<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"which-aws-certification-should-you-take-first\"><\/span><strong>Which AWS Certification Should You Take First?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your choice of aws certification should be in accordance with your background. While AWS offers multiple certification paths, not all candidates have to start from the same level.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Your Background&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Recommended First Certification&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Why?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Student or Complete Beginner&nbsp;<\/td><td>AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner&nbsp;<\/td><td>Introduces core cloud concepts and AWS fundamentals without requiring deep technical knowledge.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Software Developer&nbsp;<\/td><td>AWS Certified Solutions Architect \u2013 Associate or Developer Associate&nbsp;<\/td><td>Builds practical knowledge of cloud architecture and application deployment.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>System Administrator \/ IT Professional&nbsp;<\/td><td>AWS Certified Solutions Architect \u2013 Associate or SysOps Administrator Associate&nbsp;<\/td><td>Leverages existing infrastructure, networking, and operations experience.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>DevOps Engineer&nbsp;<\/td><td>AWS Certified Solutions Architect \u2013 Associate&nbsp;<\/td><td>Provides a strong foundation before progressing to DevOps Engineer \u2013 Professional.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Career Switcher (Non-Technical Background)&nbsp;<\/td><td>AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner&nbsp;<\/td><td>Helps build cloud fundamentals before moving to Associate-level certifications.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re still unsure, AWS Certified Solutions Architect \u2013 Associate is often the safest recommendation for technical professionals. It covers a broad range of AWS services and cloud architecture concepts, making it useful for developers, cloud engineers, DevOps professionals, and aspiring architects alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cloud Practitioner is still the easiest route for those without previous technical experience. The aim should not be to accumulate certifications in the fastest manner, but rather to opt for the course that best fits your skill set and helps you build practical AWS knowledge gradually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/cloud-computing-syllabus\/\">Cloud Computing Syllabus 2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-to-prepare-resources-labs-exam-tips\"><\/span><strong>How to Prepare: Resources, Labs &amp; Exam Tips<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The biggest misconception among AWS certification preparation candidates is thinking that memorizing rote will be enough. As AWS certifications focus on service interoperability, practical experience could actually be more helpful than going through documentation over and over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also note: AWS occasionally updates, retires, or introduces certifications, so you should always refer to the official <a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/training\/?trk=58028832-ac33-4f84-bcf0-7bbe44ed727d&amp;sc_channel=ps&amp;trk=58028832-ac33-4f84-bcf0-7bbe44ed727d&amp;sc_channel=ps&amp;ef_id=CjwKCAjw3ejRBhAdEiwADkqPnz9pC52N8ym5SRM44rOq-BV2W1pOQSaS7RZrozIJefeTxqi47GQI8hoCvKgQAvD_BwE:G:s&amp;s_kwcid=AL!4422!3!808746702880!e!!g!!certification%20of%20aws!23846236301!198027698522&amp;gad_campaignid=23846236301&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADjHtp-kb4SgTsd1YKjJYwh4zrB15&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw3ejRBhAdEiwADkqPnz9pC52N8ym5SRM44rOq-BV2W1pOQSaS7RZrozIJefeTxqi47GQI8hoCvKgQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AWS Certification website<\/a> for the latest certification catalog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need help to get just started, you can follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Step 1: Learn the Concepts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, note down all the details available for the exam and what AWS services will be examined in the certification. That being said, you need not learn every single nook and cranny of the concepts; keep your focus on how they are applied to the services.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Step 2: Build Small Projects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn how to build simple AWS environments and experiment with AWS services under study. Launch an application using EC2, set up your IAM permissions, create an S3 bucket, or build a simple VPC. It is important to understand how AWS services work in reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Step 3: Practice with Labs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hands-on labs will allow reinforcing concepts and getting acquainted with the most typical AWS environment configuration process. It will also become much easier for you to deal with scenario-based tasks, which appear in certification exams often enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Step 4: Take Practice Tests<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you&#8217;re done learning the core concepts, use practice exams to identify weak areas. Focus on understanding why an answer is correct rather than simply memorizing solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many candidates discover that a single hands-on project teaches more than hours of passive study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Exam-Day Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Carefully read scenario-based questions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First, eliminate those options that are evidently wrong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for key terms like cost, security, scalability, and reliability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Think about AWS best practices instead of your own preference.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Manage time wisely and do not spend too much time on one question.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An effective strategy would be to spend about 70% of your preparation time on learning and developing, and the remaining 30% on reviewing and taking mock tests. Test takers who make actual use of AWS solutions in their preparations usually find it much easier compared to those who just study theoretically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can start your learning journey with these free resources: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/courses\/\">Programming and Coding Courses Online<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"career-value-salary-impact-of-aws-certifications\"><\/span><strong>Career Value &amp; Salary Impact of AWS Certifications<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">aws certifications add great value to your resume, but their purpose is to validate your skills. So, these certification itself won\u2019t necessarily get you a salary hike, but yes, you can have a career progression in a way that opens more rewarding opportunities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As professionals move through the AWS certification path, they often transition into roles such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Certification Level&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Common Roles&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Foundational&nbsp;<\/td><td>Cloud Support Associate, Technical Support Engineer&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Associate&nbsp;<\/td><td>Cloud Engineer, Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Professional&nbsp;<\/td><td>Senior Cloud Engineer, Cloud Architect, Platform Engineer&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Specialty&nbsp;<\/td><td>Cloud Security Engineer, Network Architect, ML Engineer, Data Engineer&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your AWS certified salary will depend on many things, including your experience, skillset, domain knowledge, and the complexity of systems you deal with. In the case of a professional with production experience in AWS, who is familiar with products such as EC2, IAM, VPC, RDS, and Kubernetes, his perception of himself will differ significantly from that of another person with only certification to their name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In reality, certifications act as career enhancers. They offer a defined path through which you can acquire knowledge about cloud technology and help you qualify for careers in cloud engineering, architecture, DevOps, security, platforms, etc. Eventually, it will be your skills in designing and managing cloud systems that will make the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn more about cloud careers and salary trends: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/devops-engineer-salary\/\">DevOps Engineer Salaries in India: How Much Can You Really Earn?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-to-choose-an-aws-learning-path-in-2026\"><\/span><strong>How to Choose an AWS Learning Path in 2026<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no single right way to learn AWS. Some learners prefer self-study using documentation, hands-on labs, and certification resources, while others benefit from a more structured environment that provides guidance, projects, and mentorship. The best approach depends on your background, learning style, and career goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Self-study can work well if you already have experience with software development, system administration, networking, or cloud technologies. AWS provides extensive documentation and learning resources, making it possible to build cloud skills independently. However, one common challenge is knowing what to learn next and how to connect individual services into complete cloud solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A structured AWS course can help reduce that uncertainty by providing a defined learning path, practical projects, and industry-relevant guidance. This approach is often useful for beginners, career switchers, and professionals looking to accelerate their transition into cloud or DevOps roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whichever path you choose, prioritize hands-on experience. Certifications, courses, and learning resources are most valuable when combined with real-world practice. Building cloud infrastructure, deploying applications, working with AWS services, and solving practical problems will ultimately contribute more to your growth than simply completing a certification exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/devops-course\/\">Scaler\u2019s DevOps Programme<\/a> to get started with your learning journey!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faqs\"><\/span><strong>FAQs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q1. Which AWS certification should I take first?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most beginners, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is a good starting point. Candidates with technical or cloud experience may choose to start directly with the Solutions Architect Associate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q2. How many AWS certifications are there?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AWS certifications are grouped into four levels: Foundational, Associate, Professional, and Specialty. Always check the official AWS Certification website for the latest list and updates.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q3. Are AWS certifications worth it in 2026?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, especially when combined with hands-on experience. Certifications provide a structured way to learn AWS and validate your cloud skills.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q4. Do I need coding experience for AWS certifications?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not necessarily. Cloud Practitioner requires very little coding, while Developer and Professional-level certifications benefit from programming and automation knowledge.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q5. How long does it take to prepare for an AWS certification?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It depends on the certification level and your background. Most candidates spend a few weeks to a few months preparing, depending on their experience and the certification level.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q6. How much do AWS certifications cost?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exam fees vary by certification level and region. Refer to the official <a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/training\/?trk=58028832-ac33-4f84-bcf0-7bbe44ed727d&amp;sc_channel=ps&amp;trk=58028832-ac33-4f84-bcf0-7bbe44ed727d&amp;sc_channel=ps&amp;ef_id=CjwKCAjw3ejRBhAdEiwADkqPnz9pC52N8ym5SRM44rOq-BV2W1pOQSaS7RZrozIJefeTxqi47GQI8hoCvKgQAvD_BwE:G:s&amp;s_kwcid=AL!4422!3!808746702880!e!!g!!certification%20of%20aws!23846236301!198027698522&amp;gad_campaignid=23846236301&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADjHtp-kb4SgTsd1YKjJYwh4zrB15&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw3ejRBhAdEiwADkqPnz9pC52N8ym5SRM44rOq-BV2W1pOQSaS7RZrozIJefeTxqi47GQI8hoCvKgQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AWS Certification website<\/a> for the most up-to-date pricing information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AWS certifications are often one of the first milestones people set for themselves when entering cloud computing. The problem is that there isn&#8217;t a single certification designed for everyone. AWS has certifications for architects, developers, system administrators, DevOps engineers, security professionals, machine learning engineers, and more, which makes choosing the right starting point far more [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":210,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,333],"tags":[439,249],"class_list":["post-12896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-devops","category-roadmap","tag-aws","tag-devops"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/210"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12896"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12898,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12896\/revisions\/12898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}