How much does AWS certification cost?
New Delhi : With cloud computing becoming one of the most sought-after skills in the last five years, an AWS certification makes you a viable resource for any employer. But before you opt for the certification, it is important to have a fair idea about the cost involved. So, from the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner course to the AWS Solutions Architect Certification Training Course, here are all the costs involved.
Understanding the categorization of AWS certification courses
Before getting into the cost specifications, it is important to understand the categorization of the AWS certification courses.
AWS certifications can be broadly divided into the following categories:
● Core certifications
● Specialty certifications
Now, the core certifications are further subdivided into three categories based on the area of knowledge:
● Architecture
● Development
● Operations
Moreover, the core certifications are also categorized into three types based on aptitude levels:
● Foundational
● Associate
● Professional
Overall, the entire structure of AWS certification looks like this:
Core certifications
Foundational courses
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Associate courses
- AWS Certified Solution Architect
- AWS Certified Developer
- AWS Certified SysOps Administrator
Professional courses
- AWS Certified Solution Architect
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
Specialty certifications
- AWS Certified Big Data
- AWS Certified Advanced Networking
- AWS Certified Security
The cost and other details about the AWS certifications: 2022 version
Now that you have a fair idea about the structure of the AWS certifications let’s get into further details about cost and more.
Core certifications
Foundational courses
The foundational level is for beginners and focuses mainly on the basic facts and features of the AWS cloud.
#1 AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
If you have at least six months of experience in using AWS Cloud and a fundamental understanding of this platform, you can opt for this entry-level certification.
● Cost – 100 USD (20 USD for practice exams)
● Examination Format – Multiple Choice Questions
● Duration – 90 Minutes
Associate courses
The associate level is for individuals with a broader knowledge and greater understanding of the specific domain. Naturally, the foundational level is easier than the exams.
#1 AWS Certified Solution Architect
You will need to have an experience of a minimum of one year in distributed application designing and solution implementation in AWS Cloud. Expect to show your designing, management, and deployment skills related to the AWS platform to get this certification.
● Cost – 150 USD (20 USD for practice exams)
● Examination Format – Multiple Choice Questions
● Duration – 130 Minutes
#2 AWS Certified Developer
This certification is for you if you have at least one year of development experience and are adept at developing and maintaining applications on the platform. Apart from knowing the basic and core aspects of AWS services and architecture, you will also need a good knowledge of programming languages.
● Cost – 150 USD (20 USD for practice exams)
● Examination Format – Multiple Choice Questions
● Duration – 130 Minutes
#3 AWS Certified SysOps Administrator
This one is for system administration professionals with an industry experience of one year or more in AWS deployment and operations. Apart from deploying and managing the AWS applications, it also involves handling data transfers between AWS and data centers.
● Cost – 150 USD (20 USD for practice exams)
● Examination Format – Multiple Choice Questions
● Duration – 130 Minutes
Professional courses
The final level of core certifications is the professional level in which you gain expert knowledge in different AWS functions. All the certifications that come under the foundational and associate levels are prerequisites for the professional level.
#1 AWS Certified Solution Architect
You will require at least two years of experience as a solutions architect working in the cloud industry to be an AWS Certified Solution Architect. Also, you need to be an AWS Certified Solutions Architect (Associate) to opt for this examination.
● Cost – 300 USD (40 USD for practice exams)
● Examination Format – Multiple Choice Questions
● Duration – 180 Minutes
#2 AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
With two years of experience in providing and managing AWS architecture, you can become an AWS Certified DevOps Engineer. You will also need to acquire either AWS Developer (Associate) or AWS SysOps Administrator (Associate) certifications to be eligible to appear for this exam.
● Cost – 300 USD (40 USD for practice exams)
● Examination Format – Multiple Choice Questions
● Duration – 180 Minutes
Specialty certifications
For specialty certifications, in-depth domain knowledge is necessary because the exam level increases and the questions become more difficult.
#1 AWS Certified Big Data
It is for professionals with a keen knowledge of data assessments and proven experience in managing and organizing huge data plans.
● Cost – 300 USD (40 USD for practice exams)
● Examination Format – Multiple Choice Questions
● Duration – 170 Minutes
#2 AWS Certified Advanced Networking
This certification proves your ability and involvement in carrying out a wide range of operations related to system administration on AWS.
● Cost – 300 USD (40 USD for practice exams)
● Examination Format – Multiple Choice Questions
● Duration – 170 Minutes
#3 AWS Certified Security
You become skilled in designing and deploying AWS as a part of the IT networking framework. You’ll be expected to offer knowledge regarding the important resources in the AWS networking framework.
● Cost – 300 USD (40 USD for practice exams)
● Examination Format – Multiple Choice Questions
● Duration – 170 Minutes
Reasons to get an AWS certification
You have a clear idea about the cost associated with different AWS certifications. Now, the question is: why would you want to get certified? The reason is that these certifications:
● ensure sustained career growth as the skills you acquire are highly valued by the employers
● are the proof of your dedication and credibility to the cloud computation career path
● are the validation of expertise and skill level in a widely recognized cloud computing platform
● let you access a complete network of like-minded professionals and thought leaders from your chosen field
● help you to understand and leverage the shared security and responsibility model of AWS
Hopefully, you have a clear idea about the cost involved for each AWS certification. However, remember that these costs are based on the current figures and are subject to changes.
