This document provides an overview and introduction to AWS certifications. It describes the top AWS certifications including Cloud Practitioner, Developer Associate, SysOps Administrator Associate, Solutions Architect Associate, Solutions Architect Professional, and DevOps Engineer Professional. For each certification, it provides a description of the skills and experience tested, prerequisites, exam details like cost and duration, and links for more information. The document also discusses options for exam preparation like classroom training, self-study resources, practice exams, and exam centers.

1. Certification 101
Noel Healy
DevOps
Meetup

2. About the author:
Noel is an AWS Platform Engineer working with Cisco Systems
(Galway) and CloudLock (Boston). He has achieved three AWS
certifications in System Operations, Development and Solution
Architecture and his experience lies in infrastructure,
virtualization, automation and providing CI/CD platforms. He is
also an organiser for the DevOps Galway Meet-up and DevOps
Days Galway. Noel hopes this presentation will help people to
find the right path if they choose to go on the AWS journey.
noelhealy@gmail.com. www.linkedin.com/in/noel-healy

3. Why give this talk?
Amazon Web Service is the Gold standard of the Cloud and for people
wanting to show their skills there are a number of different
certification paths available. This brief talk, “AWS Certification - 101”,
will provide the basic facts on where to start, learning tools and which
path may be best for you.

4. • AWS changes constantly so some details may outdated/incorrect
• Much of the info in the slides is for reference..
• Prerequisites are a guide, not set in stone

5. Why certify on AWS?

6. AWS is Quickly Becoming the Gold Standard of the Cloud
AWS is leading the pack in almost every aspect. According to Gartner, Amazon’s cloud
is 10 times bigger than its next 14 competitors, combined! This is bad news for the folks
at Azure and Google Cloud Platform but it is great news for you me.

10. • Description:
• This is a good exam to start your AWS journey.
• High level introduction to Cloud Computing, AWS Cloud Services.
• Helps non-techies get to know what AWS has to offer.
• Prerequisites: None
• Exam Details
• Exam Cost: $100
• Number of questions: 65
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Certification details: https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-cloud-practitioner/

12. • Description: (New Exam 2018)
Understand:
• Core AWS services and basic AWS architecture best practices.
• Developing, deploying, and debugging cloud-based applications using AWS.
• SDKs, APIs, CLI, Security, Serverless and Core Development-Related Services.
• Prerequisites:
• Experience working in a development environment
• You don’t need to be a high-level programmer.
• Exam Details
• Exam Cost: $150
• Number of questions: 65
• Duration: 130 minutes
• Certification details: https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-developer-associate/

13. • Description:
• Geared toward system administrators.
• Its about deploying and managing operations on the AWS platform throughout a project's lifecycle.
• Passing this exam requires good hands on AWS experience.
• In depth focus on core services and cost control.
• Prerequisites: System Admin experience in virtualization, networking, OS administration and
monitoring. Hands on experience (1 year) with AWS Core Services
• Exam Details
• Exam Cost: $150
• Number of questions: 60
• Duration: 80 minutes
• Certification details: https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-sysops-admin-associate/

14. • Description: (New Exam 2018)
• The ability to design solutions on AWS based on customer requirements.
• Covers a large range of AWS services and how they can be combined to architect a solution
• Different solution focuses – Resiliency, Security, Performance, Cost.
• Prerequisites: AWS recommend you have 1 years experience working with AWS core services.
• Exam Details
• Exam Cost: $150
• Number of questions: 65
• Duration: 130 minutes
• Certification details: https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-solutions-architect-associate/

16. • Description:
Builds onto the Associate Architect experience, but at a much higher level
• Designing and deploying dynamically scalable, highly available, fault-tolerant, and reliable applications on AWS
• Migrating complex, multi-tier applications on AWS
• Hybrid Architecture, security architecture, scalability and elasticity.
• Prerequisites:
• AWS Solutions Architect Associate Certification,.
• Strong General IT experience.
• 2 years AWS experience.
• Exam Details
• Exam Cost: $300
• Number of questions: 80
• Duration: 170 minutes
• Certification details: https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-solutions-architect-professional/

17. • Description: The DevOps Engineer certification is all about provisioning, operating, and managing
applications on the AWS platform. This exam focuses heavily on continuous delivery (CD) and
automation of processes, two fundamental concepts of the DevOps movement.
• Prerequisites:
AWS Certified Developer – Associate Certification or
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate Certification
Good experience with systems administration and working in development environments.
2 years AWS experience.
• Exam Details
• Exam Cost: $300
• Number of questions: 80
• Duration: 170 minutes
• Certification details: https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-devops-engineer-professional/

19. • Classroom or Instructor led training.
• Big help with Associate and or Professional Levels
• 3-4 day courses, real life scenarios, lab work, exam prep.
• Video training
• A Gloud Guru
• Linux Academy
• Udemy
• And others..
• Subscription VS Purchase

20. • Labs or Hands on.
• AWS Free tier – DIY
• https://github.com/awslabs
• Qwiklabs
• Other Resources
• Exam Blue Prints – Percentage weighting before you start!!
• Jayendra's Blog
• “Key” White papers
• Reinvent vidoes – deep dives
• Study Buddy(s) - share the pain 
• Various Forums – 1 week before exams
• https://aws.amazon.com/faqs/

21. • Practice Exams
• Whizlabs, Braincert, Cloud Academy and others…
• Use forums to find correct level
• AWS official Practice Exam
• Exams
• Multiple choice - no brain dumping
• Pass level is 66-72%
• Certification last 2 years
• Recertification is ½ price
• Don’t leave long between exams

22. • Exam Centres

23. • Easy to get up and running
• They are Aliens
• Focus on Cost
• Range of managed services
• Security
• Support
• They are Humans
• Exam focus can change
• Service names
• Exam guides/books
• RDS lightly covered
• No local exam centre
• Pro exams – limited time
• Exams not aligned with updates

24. Thank You!! 
If you have questions, fell free to reach out to me
noelhealy@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/noel-healy