Top 10 AWS Certifications to Get in 2025

Ever wonder what it takes to build a successful AWS cloud career? The answer often starts with a powerful credential: an AWS certification. Think of it as a badge of honor, proving to employers (and yourself!) that you have the skills to thrive in the exciting world of Amazon Web Services (AWS).

AWS is the undisputed king of the cloud, powering everything from Netflix to your favorite online games. It's a massive platform packed with tools and services that help businesses innovate, scale, and stay competitive. Mastering AWS can open doors to incredible opportunities and a fulfilling career.

This guide is your friendly companion on your AWS certification journey. We'll ditch the technical jargon and break down everything you need to know: which certifications are hot right now, how to choose the right path for your goals, and how to make the learning process fun (yes, fun!).

AWS certifications are like official stamps of approval, verifying your expertise in different areas of the AWS cloud. They're designed for various skill levels, from cloud newbies to seasoned professionals.

Think of them like levels in a video game:

• Foundational (Level 1): The perfect starting point if you're new to the cloud. It's like the tutorial level, teaching you the basics of AWS and cloud computing.
• Associate (Level 2): Choose your character class! This level focuses on specific roles like Solutions Architect, Developer, or SysOps Administrator.
• Professional (Level 3): You're a pro! This level is for experienced cloud experts who can design and manage complex AWS environments.
• Specialty (Bonus Levels!): Deep dive into specific areas like Security, Machine Learning, or Data Analytics.

1. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

2. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

3. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

4. AWS Certified Security – Specialty

5. AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty

6. AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty

7. AWS Certified Database – Specialty

8. AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate

9. AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty

10. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

This can be a good move in one's career by starting their cloud journey with AWS certifications. For beginners, however, there is a correct certification to select to develop a solid base and gain industry-relevant knowledge. The best AWS certifications for entry-level professionals are as follows:

AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials

The AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials course lays the groundwork for understanding AWS services and cloud computing principles. It introduces fundamental AWS services, including Amazon EC2, Elastic Load Balancing, and the AWS global infrastructure.

Importance: It provides crucial cloud and AWS understanding, enabling informed decisions and career advancement.

Skills Gained: This course delivers foundational cloud knowledge, core AWS service familiarity, security understanding, and pricing model insights.

Job Roles: Potential careers include AWS cloud architect, SysOps administrator, and cloud developer.

Salary Potential: According to Ziprecuriter Entry-level salaries range widely, with most between $50,500 and $117,000 annually.

AWS Cloud for Finance Professionals

The purpose of the AWS Cloud for Finance Professionals is to equip finance professionals with the knowledge to effectively manage AWS expenses, including the Well-Architected Framework, AWS pricing structures, and cloud expense decision-making.

Importance: It optimizes cloud costs through pricing, governance, and strategic financial decision-making.

Skills Gained: This course develops cloud financial management, cost optimization, and AWS pricing strategy skills.

Job Roles: This prepares for roles like Cloud Financial Analyst, Cost Manager, and Finance Manager.

Salary Potential: Salaries range widely, with most between $70,000 and $110,500 annually.

AWS Technical Essentials

The AWS Technical Essentials course provides a detailed overview of fundamental AWS services, including AWS Compute (EC2 & Lambda), Networking (Amazon VPC), and Storage (S3, EBS).

Importance: It provides core AWS knowledge, enabling efficient resource management and informed cloud solutions.

Skills Gained: This course delivers foundational AWS knowledge, console navigation, and core service understanding.

Job Roles: This prepares for roles like IT Consultant, Cloud Engineer, and Administrator.

Salary Potential: Entry-level salaries range widely, with most between $50,500 and $117,000 annually.

The intermediate top AWS certifications provide professionals with advanced knowledge and skills to implement robust and efficient cloud solutions. Here are four highly sought-after certifications for intermediate learners:

Advanced AWS Well-Architected Best Practices

This course offers an in-depth, insightful analysis of the AWS Well-Architected Framework. It focuses on review phases, risk prioritization, and the use of the Well-Architected Tool for architecture reviews.

Importance: It ensures secure, efficient AWS architectures through structured reviews and risk mitigation.

Skills Gained: This course develops skills in conducting reviews, risk management, and cloud optimization.

Job Roles: This prepares for roles like Cloud Architect, Solution Designer, and Technical Consultant.

Salary Potential: Hourly wages range widely, with most between $62.26 and $81.73.

Advanced Developing on AWS

An on-premises monolithic application is modified into a serverless microservices architecture in a real-world example in the Advanced Developing on AWS course. It focuses on advanced development methods to develop scalable and reliable solutions.

Importance: It helps modernize applications with AWS, enabling efficient migration and scalability.

Skills Gained: This course teaches refactoring, AWS service usage, and DevOps integration.

Job Roles: This prepares for roles like AWS Developer, Cloud Software Engineer, and Application Architect.

Salary Potential: Hourly wages range widely, with most between $38.70 and $64.42.

Cloud Operations on AWS

The Cloud Operations on AWS course prepares professionals to manage and optimize cloud environments via AWS tools. It covers the AWS Well-Architected Framework, Identity and Access Management (IAM), and resource discovery tools for effective cloud operations.

Importance: It equips professionals with AWS management skills, enhancing efficiency and security.

Skills Gained: This course develops AWS infrastructure management, automation, and security skills.

Job Roles: This prepares for roles like Cloud Operations Engineer, Systems Administrator, and Cloud Analyst.

Salary Potential: Annual salaries range widely, with most between $104,500 and $147,500.

DevOps Engineering on AWS

The DevOps Engineering on AWS course equips professionals with the skills to implement DevOps practices using AWS tools. It covers infrastructure automation with AWS CloudFormation, deployment strategies with Amazon EC2, and CI/CD pipelines via AWS CodePipeline, CodeDeploy, and CodeBuild.

Importance: It enables deployment automation, collaboration, and optimized cloud infrastructure.

Skills Gained: This course develops automation, CI/CD, and infrastructure as code skills.

Job Roles: This prepares for roles like DevOps Engineer, Cloud Automation Specialist, and Infrastructure Engineer.

Salary Potential: Hourly wages range widely, with most between $50.72 and $69.47.

Professionals who aim to reach the pinnacle of AWS expertise, advanced-level certifications, and courses focus on high-level concepts. Below are two of the best certifications for advanced AWS professionals:

Advanced Architecting on AWS

Advanced networks such as AWS Direct Connect and multi-account situations are the main topics of the Advanced Architecting on AWS course. To ensure company continuity, participants learn how to install large-scale applications, manage data effectively, and put failover solutions into place.

Importance: It teaches designing secure, scalable cloud solutions using advanced AWS services and best practices.

Skills Gained: This course develops skills in designing architectures, implementing hybrid solutions, and optimizing performance.

Job Roles: This prepares for roles like Enterprise Architect, Cloud Architect Lead, and Technical Solutions Architect.

Salary Potential: Hourly wages range widely, with most between $61.06 and $83.65.

Developing Generative AI Applications on AWS

Building generative AI applications with AWS services like Amazon SageMaker, AWS Lambda, and other AI-driven technologies is introduced to participants in this course. For tasks like content production, imagine generation, and intelligent automation, it focuses on developing real-time AI-powered solutions.

Importance: It enables leveraging AWS AI for scalable solutions, driving innovation and automation.

Skills Gained: This course teaches building AI applications, working with models, and managing machine learning workflows.

Job Roles: This prepares for roles like AI Engineer, ML Specialist, and Cloud AI Solutions Architect.

Salary Potential: Annual salaries range widely, with most between $83,000 and $151,500.

Thinking about getting an AWS certification but wondering if it's worth the investment? The short answer: absolutely! AWS certifications are a powerful tool for advancing your cloud career.

Higher Earning Potential: Certified AWS professionals often command higher salaries than their non-certified counterparts. Employers are willing to pay a premium for validated skills.

Increased Job Opportunities: AWS certifications open doors to a wider range of job roles and companies. They demonstrate your expertise and make you a more attractive candidate.

Enhanced Credibility: Certifications validate your knowledge and skills, giving you more confidence and credibility in the workplace.

AWS certifications are more than just badges on your LinkedIn profile. They represent a commitment to excellence and a dedication to mastering cloud technology. But what are the real benefits you can expect?

Enhanced Industry Knowledge : AWS certification preparation updates your cloud knowledge, ensuring awareness of AWS innovations and best practices, enhancing professional adaptability across industries.

Improved Job Efficiency: AWS certification enables faster, more accurate cloud task completion through real-world training, improving design, deployment, and management of AWS solutions.

Skill Verification: AWS certification validates technical expertise, with over 90% of organizations prioritizing it during hiring, confirming ability to design scalable, secure cloud systems.

Employer Trust: Being AWS-certified increases employer trust, demonstrating commitment and expertise, leading to greater responsibilities and rewards in critical cloud projects.

Confidence in Complex Tasks: AWS certification builds confidence through hands-on experience, improving ability to manage demanding cloud tasks and mentor others.

Feeling overwhelmed by the options? Choosing the right AWS certification can feel like a daunting task. Here's a simple framework to help you find your perfect fit:

Assess Your Experience: Are you new to the cloud, or do you have existing experience with AWS or other cloud platforms?

Define Your Career Goals: What type of cloud role are you interested in? (e.g., Solutions Architect, Developer, Security Engineer, Data Scientist).

Explore Your Interests: What areas of cloud computing are you most passionate about? (e.g., architecture, development, security, data analytics).

Review the Exam Guides: Download the official AWS exam guides for the certifications you're considering. Pay close attention to the exam domains and required skills.

Ready to conquer your AWS certification exam? These proven strategies can help you maximize your chances of success:

Step 1: Break Down Your Preparation: First, use the Official Practice Question Sets in AWS Skill Builder to divide your study sessions into smaller, more manageable portions. Review answers immediately to understand concepts better. Gradually increase your practice, and attempt a full-length mock exam before the official one.

Step 2: Use the Process of Elimination: Use the process of elimination to discard wrong answers during the exam. This will help narrow down the most relevant answers, which will save time.

Step 3: Focus on Key Concepts: Read the exam guide to find out the weightage and key domains to be studied. Learn core concepts from the Official Practice Question Sets. Most often, these appear in some form on the actual test.

Step 4: Build Practical Knowledge: Success requires real-world experience. Spend most of your preparation time building real-world projects in your AWS account. Hands-on practice solidifies your understanding better than theory alone. Utilize tools like AWS Builder Labs for immersive training.

Ready to launch your cloud career with AWS? Here's a step-by-step guide to getting started:

Set Clear Goals: Define career objectives before choosing AWS certifications; start with foundational qualifications if new, ensuring focused progression.

Follow Your Interest: Select certifications aligned with your interests and career path, promoting motivation and targeted professional development.

Balance Theory and Practice: Prioritize training combining theory with hands-on labs, like those from AWS Skill Builder, for real-world AWS proficiency.

Choose Authorized Training Providers: Opt for certified AWS education providers, like Netcom Learning, for reliable, updated training and practical labs.

Research Certification Value: Evaluate certifications based on industry relevance, time commitment, and retake policies to maximize career benefits.

AWS certifications are a valuable investment in your career. By choosing the right certifications, mastering the necessary skills, and following a structured study plan, you can unlock exciting new opportunities in the cloud.

Ready to take the next step? Explore our comprehensive AWS training courses and get certified!