How I Became A Certified AWS Solution Architect

Today, you cannot talk about cloud computing without mentioning Amazon Web Services (AWS). Aws commands 47.1% of the cloud computing marketing and is considered the largest global cloud computing service provider.

In light of this, it doesn’t take much to understand why IT professionals with AWS Online training certification are so highly demanded. I have always been interested in finding ways to do things faster, to make processes cheaper – in short, I like solving problems. Thus, if I had to define my passion it would be architecting solutions. The cloud offers limitless opportunities for this and I decided to work towards AWS Solution Architect training. This is my story.

AWS certification follows role-based paths. AWS Architect training has two levels – the associate level and the professional level. To reach the latter, you must first become an AWS Certified Solutions Associate.

My Journey: The First Step towards AWS Solution Architect training

When I started my certification journey, I had significant experience designing and implementing solutions for large-scale networks. That said, I still needed to build a foundation in AWS. So, I started with learning AWS Technical Essentials. I followed this with AWS Cloud practitioner essentials.

They’re short courses that can be completed in a day or two. From these courses, I learned about how the cloud works, the different deployment models available, AWS security features, databases, management tools, – all the basics for a thorough technical understanding of the AWS services.

While the AWS Technical Essentials course is popular amongst professionals on the AWS architect training path, the AWS Cloud practitioner essentials is considered by many to be optional.

Step 2: Becoming a Certified Associate

There is no dearth of material and documentation available online to introduce you to architecting on AWS. However, I found that participating in a structured course helped me prepare for the Associate level certification exam. The learning path suggests two courses; Architecting on AWS and Architecting on AWS Accelerator.

They are both short courses that can be attended as private classes or in a public program. To benefit from these courses, you should ideally already be familiar with cloud computing concepts and have a working knowledge of multi-tier architectures and distributed systems.

I wouldn’t advise sitting for the exam immediately after finishing the course. Instead, it is better to spend some time practicing what you learn and gaining hands-on experience before attempting the certification. I gave myself a month to study for the exam.

The exam is structured as a multiple-choice paper that must be completed in 130 minutes.

Step 3: Becoming a Professional

AWS training certification at the Associate level itself made a big difference to my productivity as a solutions architect. So, I was determined to get certified as a professional too. The Advanced Architecting on AWS course helped me prepare for this exam.

The professional certification too is a multiple-choice exam but significantly harder than the Associate level exam. Many of the questions are scenario-based and there’s a lot more to read and assess. Thus, before you sit for the exam, make sure you are familiar not only with the technical aspects but you also know how to apply the AWS services to fulfill requirements. It is recommended that you have at least 2 years of working experience before attempting the exam.

Certification is Not the End

Like any other technology, AWS is constantly evolving. So, even after I completed the certification, I have had to keep learning and researching the new features, updates and services by AWS. I would recommend being an active participant on online discussion boards. I got a lot of tips from here that helped me prepare for the exams and that have subsequently helped me advance my career.

As an AWS Solutions Architect, every day brings a new challenge. Some days, I’m troubleshooting while on others, I’m working on writing new scripts and migrations. If you think you would enjoy this, then get started with your training today.