{"id":470,"date":"2021-04-03T14:26:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-03T19:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/?p=470"},"modified":"2022-10-21T16:32:40","modified_gmt":"2022-10-21T21:32:40","slug":"exploring-aws-certification-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/exploring-aws-certification-levels\/","title":{"rendered":"AWS Certification Levels &#8211; Which AWS Certification Should I Get?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An Amazon Web Services <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(AWS) Certifications<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is like a badge of honor. With it, you\u2019re signifying that when it comes to one of the most widely-used and relied-upon cloud systems on planet Earth, you have a serviceable and useful level of expertise. Pat yourself on the back!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Looking to learn more about getting a certification? Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/aws-certification-training-classes.htm\">AWS Certifications<\/a> you can receive with ONLC.<\/p>\n<h2><b>What Is An AWS Certification?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AWS certifications prove that the holder has practical and theoretical knowledge of specific Amazon AWS systems and functions.\u00a0 Certifications demonstrate the skills necessary to deploy and manage AWS cloud computing systems.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Types Of AWS Certifications<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AWS certifications come in three levels; Foundational, Associate, and Professional.\u00a0 Each tier has a different scope (the degree of coverage of AWS services and systems in a certification exam) and depth (the degree of technical knowledge required for each exam).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wondering which type is the best AWS certification for you? Let\u2019s take a look at available AWS certification paths:<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Foundational Level\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification is an optional foundational level step that prepares users for a higher level associate certification and professional level certifications. This certification exam is designed to test show core knowledge of AWS cloud at a broad level.\u00a0 The AWS certified cloud practitioner will give you the knowledge of:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Core AWS services\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basic AWS architecture and foundations\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basics of AWS security and compliance functions\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud computing fundamentals<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Associate Level<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Associate level AWS certifications are a step up (a considerable measure up) from the foundational level.\u00a0 These certifications cover a broad spectrum of AWS at a mid-level depth, requiring the student to learn a large number of AWS services and systems at a mid to high level of technical skill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>AWS Certified Developer \u2013 Associate<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After completing this certification, you should understand core AWS services and the basic architecture best practices. You should also be able to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design, develop and deploy AWS cloud-based solutions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify techniques needed to code a cloud solution<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implement the correct architecture for development and testing environments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work with the various Amazon tools and services associated with databases, messaging, workflows, and notifications<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pick the right AWS services for a given application based on requirements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Write code for performance optimization of the AWS services utilized by an application.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>AWS Certified SysOps Administrator \u2013 Associate<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upon completing this certification, you should be able to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deploy, manage and operate scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant AWS systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Migrate on-premises systems to AWS<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implement and control AWS data flow<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Properly select the AWS service that is best for security, data, or computing requirements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Estimate AWS usage costs and identify cost controls<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having one or more years of experience working with AWS systems is required before becoming a candidate for this certification.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>AWS Certified Solutions Architect \u2013 Associate<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/outline.asp?ccode=ZARC16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">associate level of the AWS Solutions Architect <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">certification will prepare you to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formulate architectural best practices for AWS<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify cost control measures and estimate AWS costs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design data flow to and from AWS<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select the most appropriate AWS service based on security and data requirements and database design<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be fluent in the design and application of data security<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manage the lift and shift of an on-premises architecture to an AWS cloud-based architecture<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design and deploy highly available, secure, scalable, and fault-tolerant AWS systems<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Professional Level<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AWS professional level certifications show that the holder is an expert in both knowledge and skill.\u00a0 These certifications are aimed at two specific roles, Solutions Architects and DevOps Engineers.\u00a0 These certification exams are extremely challenging but can open high-level career paths for their holders.\u00a0 While not technically a prerequisite, taking an associate exam is a good idea before taking on a professional-level certification.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>AWS DevOps Engineer \u2013 Professional<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Completing this certification level should provide you with a commanding knowledge of AWS authentication, authorization, and accounting. With this AWS certification level, you will learn:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fluency in the administration of advanced roles and group management<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The intricacies of subnets and routing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proficiency with advanced networking using IPSec, BGP, Jumbo Frames, and Direct Connect<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development and advanced deployment techniques<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To assess cloud risk, compliance and governance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advanced use of cloud formation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Various tools provided by Amazon for monitoring, maintenance, and deployment<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>AWS Certified Solutions Architect\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Professional Solutions Architect certification is the highest AWS certification. You should be able to perform all of the duties of the previous certifications as well as the ones listed below.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify costs and implement complete cost control strategies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design and deploy enterprise-level scalable AWS operations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be able to formulate and carry out a strategy to migrate complex multi-tier applications to AWS<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select the correct AWS best practices to design and deploy applications based on the provided requirements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design and implement the various networking features of AWS<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Master the design and implementation of AWS connectivity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design and deploy dynamically reliable, scalable, fault-tolerant, highly available, and secure AWS applications<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Specialty Certifications<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specialty certifications are neither associate nor professional level, but instead are an expert level deep dive into certain AWS services.\u00a0 These exams cover a narrow scope and deep depth of knowledge.\u00a0 Some specialty certifications recommend five or more years of experience in your field before attempting them. \u00a0 Currently, there are seven specialty certifications available.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AWS Certified Security Specialty\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder Specialty\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AWS Certified Data Analytics Specialty\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AWS Certified Database Specialty\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Did you figure out which is the best AWS certification level for you to pursue? Are you ready to sharpen your pre-existing skills? <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/contact-onlc.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact ONLC today<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to learn more about our offerings and get signed up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certifications is like a badge of honor. With it, you\u2019re signifying that when it comes to one of the most widely-used and relied-upon cloud systems on planet Earth, you have a serviceable and useful level of expertise. Pat yourself on the back! Looking to learn more about getting a certification? [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":471,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-certifications"],"aioseo_notices":[],"modified_by":"blogadmin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=470"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1249,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470\/revisions\/1249"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}