handbook/handbook-main/guides/cloud/aws_certification_advice.txt

# AWS Certification Advice

- [AWS Certification Advice](#aws-certification-advice)
  - [Purpose of this guide](#purpose-of-this-guide)
  - [General](#general)
  - [Certification Costs](#certification-costs)
    - [Expensing an Exam](#expensing-an-exam)
      - [Exams charged in USD](#exams-charged-in-usd)
  - [AWS Business Training](#aws-business-training)
  - [AWS Technical Training](#aws-technical-training)
  - [AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner](#aws-certified-cloud-practitioner)
      - [Recommended Online Training](#recommended-online-training)
  - [AWS DevOps Engineer Pathway](#aws-devops-engineer-pathway)
    - [AWS Certified Developer - Associate](#aws-certified-developer---associate)
      - [Recommended Online Training](#recommended-online-training-1)
    - [AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate](#aws-certified-sysops-administrator---associate)
      - [Recommended Online Training](#recommended-online-training-2)
    - [AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional](#aws-certified-devops-engineer---professional)
      - [Recommended Online Training](#recommended-online-training-3)
  - [AWS Solutions Architect Pathway](#aws-solutions-architect-pathway)
    - [AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate](#aws-certified-solutions-architect---associate)
      - [Recommended Online Training](#recommended-online-training-4)
    - [AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional](#aws-certified-solutions-architect---professional)
      - [Recommended Online Training](#recommended-online-training-5)
  - [AWS Speciality Certifications](#aws-speciality-certifications)

## Purpose of this guide

Made Tech are an [AWS Advanced Consulting Partner](https://partners.amazonaws.com/partners/001E0000016ppWOIAY/Made%20Tech) and encourage both technical and non-technical staff to undertake AWS Training and Certifications. This guide will detail some training paths and associated costs.

AWS provides some non-technical training via the AWS Partner Portal. Guidance on how to create an account and take advantage of this training can be found [here](aws_partner_certs.md). 

## General

A guide on how to create an AWS Certification account and link it to your Made Tech AWS Partner Account is located [here](aws_partner_certs.md#creating-your-accounts)

All AWS Exams can be taken remotely from home with either PSI or Pearson Vue.

## Certification Costs

Booking an AWS exam costs vary depending on the level of the exam.

| Exam | Cost | Cost inc tax |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AWS Cloud Practitioner | $100 | $120 |
| AWS Associate Level (Developer, SysOps, Architect) | $150 | $180 |
| AWS Professional Level (DevOps Engineer, Architect) | $300 | $360 |
| AWS Speciality Exams (Security, Networking, Database, ML, Data) | $300 | $360 |

Each time you pass an AWS Exam you receive a [free practice exam and 50% off voucher](https://www.certmetrics.com/amazon/candidate/benefit_summary.aspx) for the next exam.

This means an individual could achieve all 11 AWS Certifications for $1650!

### Expensing an Exam

An exam can be expensed. In order to do this, follow the [expenses guide](https://github.com/madetech/handbook/blob/main/guides/compensation/expenses.md). The account should be set to `Other Training Costs` and the name of the exam used as the description.

#### Exams charged in USD

If the exam is charged in USD, there are two ways you can submit your expense claim in Xero.

1. (recommended) Use the currency selection drop down within the “purchase amount” field, select `USD` and enter the amount shown on your invoice. Xero will automatically convert your expense for you to GBP. The amount converted may vary slightly compared to what you were charged.
1. Input the amount you were charged in GBP. You will then need to provide proof of purchase (bank statement etc.) which you will have to edit/merge onto the same attachment as the invoice, since Xero only allows 1 attachment.

## AWS Business Training

All non-tech employees are encouraged to undertake the [AWS Business Professional Training](https://aws.amazon.com/partners/training/path-bus-pro/) from the AWS Partner Portal.

## AWS Technical Training

All technical employees are encouraged to undertake the [AWS Technical Professional Training](https://aws.amazon.com/partners/training/path-tech-pro/) from the AWS Partner Portal.

## AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

The next stage in the AWS Certification journey is the [AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-cloud-practitioner) which is easily achievable by both tech and non-tech employees.

#### Recommended Online Training
1. [Stephane Maarek - Udemy](https://www.udemy.com/course/aws-certified-cloud-practitioner-new/)
2. [Pluralsight](https://www.pluralsight.com/paths/aws-certified-cloud-practitioner-clf-c02)
3. [Whizlabs](https://www.whizlabs.com/aws-certified-cloud-practitioner/)
   You can do shorter tests on specific areas (databases, compute, etc.) so you can target specific knowledge.
   Also if you run through them in Practice mode you can view answers and explanations as you go


## AWS DevOps Engineer Pathway

After following the basic training and achieving the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification, Engineers working towards achieving the AWS DevOps Professional Certification should follow this pathway.

### AWS Certified Developer - Associate

The [AWS Certified Developer - Associate](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-developer-associate) is probably the most enjoyable certification to work towards for software developers, covering a lot of the developer tools and fun things like Lambda/API Gateway/SQS/SNS etc...

#### Recommended Online Training
1. [Stephane Maarek - Udemy](https://www.udemy.com/course/aws-certified-developer-associate-dva-c01/)
2. [Pluralsight](https://www.pluralsight.com/paths/aws-certified-developer-associate-dva-c01)

### AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate

The [AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-sysops-admin-associate) is the next step towards the DevOps Pro certification, covering the following domains. Monitoring & Reporting, High Availability, Deployment & Provisioning, Storage & Data Management, Security & Compliance, Networking and Automation & Optimisation.

#### Recommended Online Training
1. [Cantrill.io](https://learn.cantrill.io/p/aws-certified-sysops-administrator-associate)
2. [ACloudGuru](https://learn.acloud.guru/course/aws-certified-sysops-administrator-associate)

### AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional

The [AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-devops-engineer-professional/) is the last step in the DevOps Pro certification pathway, covering the following domains. SDLC Automation, Configuration Management & Infrastructure as Code, Monitoring & Logging, Policies & Standards Automation, Incident & Event Response, High Availability, Fault Tolerance & Disaster Recovery.

#### Recommended Online Training
1. [Stephane Maarek - Udemy](https://www.udemy.com/course/aws-certified-devops-engineer-professional-hands-on/)
2. [Pluralsight](https://www.pluralsight.com/paths/aws-certified-devops-engineer-professional)


## AWS Solutions Architect Pathway

After following the basic training and achieving the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification, Engineers working towards achieving the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional should follow this pathway.

This pathway only consists of the Associate and Pro level Solutions Architect exams, but I would advise looking at other the Associate level courses before undertaking the AWS Solutions Architect Pro, is it is very difficult exam!

### AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate

The [AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-solutions-architect-associate/) is the Associate level Solutions Architect Certification and covers the following domains. Design Resilient Architectures, Design High-Performing Architectures, Design Secure Application & Architectures and Design Cost-Optimisted Architectures.

#### Recommended Online Training
1. [Cantrill.io](https://learn.cantrill.io/p/aws-certified-solutions-architect-associate-saa-c02)
2. [ACloudGuru](https://learn.acloud.guru/course/aws-certified-solutions-architect-associate)

### AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional

The [AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-solutions-architect-professional) is the professional level Solutions Architect Certification and probably the most difficult AWS Exam. It covers the following domains. Design for Organisational Complexity, Design for New Solutions, Migration Planning, Cost Control and Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions.

#### Recommended Online Training
1. [Cantrill.io](https://learn.cantrill.io/p/aws-certified-solutions-architect-professional)
2. [ACloudGuru](https://learn.acloud.guru/course/aws-certified-solutions-architect-professional/dashboard)


## AWS Speciality Certifications

1. [AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-advanced-networking-specialty)
2. [AWS Certified Data Analytics - Specialty](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-data-analytics-specialty)
3. [AWS Certified Database - Specialty](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-database-specialty)
4. [AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-machine-learning-specialty)
5. [AWS Certified Security - Specialty](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-security-specialty)