Amazon Web Services is the global leader in cloud services, commanding over 32% of the entire public cloud market in 2026. With growing demand for cloud computing experts, AWS certifications have become one of the most valued proofs of competence in the IT industry. According to the “2025 IT Skills and Salary Survey” report published by Global Knowledge, certified AWS specialists can expect salaries 15-20% higher than their non-certified counterparts.
In this comprehensive guide, we present the current roadmap of all AWS certifications available in 2026. You’ll find detailed information about each certification path, requirements, costs, and recommended preparation strategies. Whether you’re just starting your cloud journey or are an experienced solutions architect, this guide will help you choose the optimal development path.
Quick navigation
- What is the structure of AWS certifications in 2026?
- AWS Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) — is it a good starting point?
- Associate-level certificates — which path for whom?
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate — the most popular AWS certificate
- AWS Certified Developer - Associate — for cloud application developers
- AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate — for systems administrators
- Professional-level certificates — the pinnacle of AWS competence
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional — advanced cloud architecture
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional — for CI/CD specialists
- Specialty certificates — specialisation in specific domains
- AWS Certified Security — cloud security
- AWS Certified Machine Learning — artificial intelligence and ML
- AWS Certified Database — database specialisation
- AWS Certified Advanced Networking — advanced networking
- AWS Certified Data Analytics — data analytics in AWS
- AWS Certified SAP on AWS — SAP systems migration and management
- What certification path for a developer?
- What certification path for a systems administrator?
- What certification path for a solutions architect?
- How much time is needed to complete the entire certification path?
- How does EITT support AWS certification preparation?
What is the structure of AWS certifications in 2026?
Amazon Web Services offers a comprehensive certification programme in 2026 comprising four main levels: Foundational, Associate, Professional, and Specialty. This structure has been designed to support competence development from basic cloud knowledge to advanced specialisation in specific technological areas.
The Foundational level is the entry point to the AWS world and is intended for people who are just beginning their journey with cloud technologies. It requires no prior technical experience and focuses on basic business and conceptual knowledge about the AWS cloud.
The Associate level consists of three parallel paths, each corresponding to a different professional role: Solutions Architect, Developer, and SysOps Administrator. Certificates at this level already require practical experience with AWS and deeper technical knowledge. AWS recommends having at least 6-12 months of practical work with the platform before attempting Associate exams.
The Professional level comprises the two most demanding general certificates in the AWS portfolio: Solutions Architect - Professional and DevOps Engineer - Professional. Exams at this level are known for their high difficulty and require not only deep technical knowledge but also the ability to design complex, scalable, and fault-tolerant cloud systems.
The Specialty level includes six certificates focusing on specialised areas: Security, Machine Learning, Database, Advanced Networking, Data Analytics, and SAP on AWS. These certificates are intended for experts who wish to confirm their advanced competencies in a specific technological domain.
All AWS certificates are valid for three years from the date of achievement. After this period, it is necessary to take a recertification exam or obtain a higher-level certificate to maintain active certification status.
Four levels of AWS certification
- Foundational: Basic cloud knowledge (Cloud Practitioner)
- Associate: Three paths — architect, developer, sysops (6-12 months’ experience)
- Professional: Advanced design and implementation (2+ years’ experience)
- Specialty: Specialisation in specific domains (depends on area)
AWS Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) — is it a good starting point?
The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) certificate is the ideal entry point for everyone who wants to begin their journey with Amazon Web Services. It is the only Foundational-level certificate in the AWS portfolio and has been designed to be accessible to people without prior technical experience with the cloud.
The CLF-C02 exam, introduced in 2023 as the successor to CLF-C01, focuses on four main areas of knowledge. The first is cloud computing concepts — understanding what cloud computing is, what its business advantages are, and how AWS defines its responsibility in the Shared Responsibility Model. The second area is security and compliance — fundamentals of AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), various security layers, and key AWS compliance programmes.
The third area is AWS technologies and services — getting to know key services from the categories of compute (EC2, Lambda), storage (S3, EBS), databases (RDS, DynamoDB), and networking (VPC, CloudFront). You don’t need to know the configuration details of each service, but you should understand what it’s for and when to use it. The fourth area is billing and pricing — understanding the pay-as-you-go model, cost monitoring tools, and available AWS support plans.
The CLF-C02 exam format includes 65 questions (50 scored plus 15 unscored pilot questions) in multiple-choice and multiple-response formats. The exam duration is 90 minutes, and the passing threshold is 700 points out of a possible 1000. The exam price in 2026 is 100 USD. The exam is available in Polish, which significantly facilitates preparation for Polish candidates.
Preparation for CLF-C02 typically takes from two to four weeks of intensive study, depending on prior experience with IT technologies. AWS offers free educational materials in the form of AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials, as well as a free account with free access to many services (AWS Free Tier), which allows practical familiarisation with the platform.
The Cloud Practitioner certificate is particularly valuable for project managers, business analysts, sales representatives, and all other non-engineering roles that need a solid understanding of AWS capabilities. It’s also an excellent foundation before attempting Associate-level certificates.
Key information about Cloud Practitioner
- Exam code: CLF-C02
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Number of questions: 65 (50 scored + 15 pilot)
- Cost: 100 USD (2026)
- Passing threshold: 700/1000 points
- Recommended preparation time: 2-4 weeks
- For whom: All roles — beginning of AWS path
Associate-level certificates — which path for whom?
The Associate level is the first level of AWS certification requiring practical technical experience and represents a natural step after obtaining Cloud Practitioner. In 2026, three Associate certificates are available, each focusing on a different career path in the cloud.
The choice of the appropriate Associate certificate should be dictated by your current professional role and planned career development direction. Solutions Architect - Associate is the best choice for people involved in designing solutions and systems architecture. Developer - Associate is ideal for application programmers who want to create and deploy cloud-native applications. SysOps Administrator - Associate is designed for systems administrators responsible for day-to-day management and operations in the AWS environment.
It’s worth noting that although AWS does not formally require having Cloud Practitioner before attempting Associate exams, it is recommended to obtain this certificate or equivalent knowledge, as Associate exams assume knowledge of basic AWS concepts. However, you can skip Cloud Practitioner and proceed directly to an Associate certificate if you already have practical experience with AWS.
The costs of all three Associate exams in 2026 are identical at 150 USD per exam. Each exam lasts 130 minutes and consists of 65 questions (of which 15 are pilot questions that are not scored). The passing threshold for all Associate exams is 720 points out of 1000 possible.
AWS recommends having at least six months of practical AWS experience before attempting any of the Associate exams. In practice, most candidates need approximately 8-12 months of regular work with the platform and 4-8 weeks of intensive exam preparation to feel comfortable with the material.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate — the most popular AWS certificate
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate (SAA-C03) is the most recognisable and popular certificate in the entire AWS portfolio. According to AWS statistics from 2025, it is also the most frequently chosen first technical certificate by professionals beginning their cloud journey.
The SAA-C03 exam focuses on four main knowledge domains. Designing secure architectures comprises 30% of the exam and includes designing secure access to AWS resources, designing security for applications and workloads running on AWS, and determining appropriate access control mechanisms. You must understand how to use IAM, security groups, Network ACLs, AWS Organizations, and AWS Shield.
Designing resilient architectures is 26% of the exam and focuses on creating systems that are scalable and fault-tolerant. Key is understanding the concepts of high availability, multi-tier design, backup and disaster recovery strategies, and utilising services such as Auto Scaling, Elastic Load Balancing, and Amazon Route 53.
Designing high-performing architectures comprises 24% of the exam. This includes selecting appropriate storage solutions (S3, EFS, EBS), databases (RDS, DynamoDB, Aurora, Redshift), compute services (EC2, Lambda, ECS, EKS), and networking services (VPC, Direct Connect, VPN) depending on application performance requirements.
Designing cost-optimised architectures is 20% of the exam and focuses on selecting the most cost-effective solutions. You must understand different EC2 pricing models (On-Demand, Reserved Instances, Spot Instances, Savings Plans), storage cost optimisation strategies, and cost monitoring using tools such as AWS Cost Explorer and AWS Budgets.
Preparation for SAA-C03 typically requires 6-8 weeks of intensive study, including a significant amount of hands-on practice. Key is not only theoretical understanding of services but above all the ability to select appropriate solutions based on specific business and technical requirements presented in exam questions.
This certificate is particularly valued by employers because it confirms the ability to design complete, working systems in AWS. It also provides an excellent foundation for further specialisation — both towards Professional certification and any of the Specialty certificates.
Key information about Solutions Architect - Associate
- Exam code: SAA-C03
- Duration: 130 minutes
- Number of questions: 65 (50 scored + 15 pilot)
- Cost: 150 USD (2026)
- Passing threshold: 720/1000 points
- Domains: Security (30%), Resilience (26%), Performance (24%), Cost optimisation (20%)
- Recommended preparation time: 6-8 weeks
- For whom: Solutions architects, systems engineers
AWS Certified Developer - Associate — for cloud application developers
AWS Certified Developer - Associate (DVA-C02) is a certificate designed specifically for application developers who create and maintain solutions based on the AWS platform. Unlike the Solutions Architect certificate, which focuses on infrastructure design, Developer - Associate concentrates on writing application code, deploying them in the cloud, and integrating with AWS services.
The DVA-C02 exam covers four main domains. Development with AWS services comprises 32% of the exam and focuses on practical use of AWS SDK, CLI, and various AWS services in application code. You must be able to write code interacting with S3, DynamoDB, SQS, SNS, and other key services. Knowledge of at least one programming language supported by AWS (Python, Java, Node.js, C#, Go) is essential.
Security is 26% of the exam and includes implementing authentication and authorisation mechanisms using IAM, Amazon Cognito, and various secrets management strategies (AWS Secrets Manager, Systems Manager Parameter Store). Key is understanding how to securely manage API keys, database passwords, and other sensitive data in cloud applications.
Deployment comprises 24% of the exam and focuses on practical use of CI/CD tools available in AWS. You must understand AWS CodeCommit, CodeBuild, CodeDeploy, CodePipeline, and CloudFormation. Particular emphasis is placed on automating the application deployment process and blue-green and canary deployment strategies.
Troubleshooting and optimisation is 18% of the exam and includes using tools such as AWS X-Ray for distributed tracing, CloudWatch for monitoring and logging, and CloudTrail for auditing. You must be able to diagnose application performance problems, identify bottlenecks, and implement optimisations.
The Developer - Associate exam places particular emphasis on AWS Lambda and serverless architecture. In 2026, a significant portion of exam questions concerns creating Lambda functions, managing their configuration, integrating with Amazon API Gateway, and implementing event-driven architectures using EventBridge and Step Functions.
Preparation for DVA-C02 typically takes 5-7 weeks, assuming you already have practical programming experience. Key is hands-on lab practice — you must actually write code, deploy applications, and experiment with various AWS services in practice.
Key information about Developer - Associate
- Exam code: DVA-C02
- Duration: 130 minutes
- Number of questions: 65 (50 scored + 15 pilot)
- Cost: 150 USD (2026)
- Passing threshold: 720/1000 points
- Domains: Development (32%), Security (26%), Deployment (24%), Troubleshooting (18%)
- Recommended preparation time: 5-7 weeks
- For whom: Application developers, software engineers
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate — for systems administrators
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate (SOA-C02) is a certificate intended for systems administrators responsible for day-to-day operational management of infrastructure in AWS. It is the most practical and operational of the three Associate certificates, focusing on real cloud environment administration.
The SOA-C02 exam is distinguished by its unique structure — as the only Associate exam in the AWS portfolio, it contains not only multiple-choice questions but also a hands-on lab section, in which you must perform actual configuration tasks in the AWS console. This makes it considered the most difficult of the Associate certificates, requiring not only theoretical knowledge but above all practical skills.
Monitoring, logging, and remediation comprises 20% of the theoretical part of the exam and focuses on using CloudWatch (metrics, logs, alarms), CloudTrail, AWS Config, and EventBridge to monitor environment state and automatically respond to incidents. You must understand how to configure effective monitoring, create dashboards, and implement automated responses to events.
Reliability and business continuity is 16% of the exam and includes implementing backup and disaster recovery strategies, configuring high availability, managing Auto Scaling, and implementing fault-tolerant architectures. Key is practical experience with Route 53, ELB, RDS Multi-AZ, and various data replication strategies.
Deployment, provisioning, and automation comprises 18% of the exam and focuses on using Infrastructure as Code with CloudFormation and AWS CLI. You must be able to create and manage CloudFormation stacks, automate administrative tasks, and implement CI/CD for infrastructure.
Security and compliance is 16% of the exam and includes practical management of IAM policies, implementing encryption mechanisms for data at rest and in transit, configuring security groups and Network ACLs, and compliance auditing using AWS Config and other tools.
Networking and content delivery comprises 18% of the exam and focuses on configuring VPC, subnets, routing tables, NAT gateways, VPN connections, and using CloudFront and Global Accelerator. The laboratory part of the exam often requires practical configuration of complex network topologies.
Cost and performance management is 12% of the exam and includes using AWS Cost Explorer, Budgets, Trusted Advisor, and implementing cost optimisation strategies such as right-sizing EC2 instances and using Reserved Instances and Savings Plans.
Preparation for SOA-C02 typically requires 8-10 weeks of intensive study and above all hands-on practice. The laboratory section of the exam requires comfortable navigation of the AWS console and quick execution of configuration tasks under time pressure.
Key information about SysOps Administrator - Associate
- Exam code: SOA-C02
- Duration: 180 minutes (130 min questions + 50 min labs)
- Format: Multiple-choice questions + laboratory section
- Cost: 150 USD (2026)
- Passing threshold: 720/1000 points
- Recommended preparation time: 8-10 weeks
- For whom: Systems administrators, SysOps engineers, DevOps engineers
Professional-level certificates — the pinnacle of AWS competence
The Professional level represents the highest level of general AWS certifications and is intended for experienced specialists with a minimum of two years’ practical work with the AWS platform. In 2026, two Professional certificates are available: Solutions Architect - Professional and DevOps Engineer - Professional.
Professional exams are significantly more difficult than Associate exams and require not only deep technical knowledge of AWS services but above all the ability to design complex, multi-tier distributed systems meeting advanced business requirements. Exam questions often present complicated business scenarios requiring analysis of trade-offs between different architectural approaches.
Both Professional exams last 180 minutes (3 hours) and consist of 75 questions (of which 15 are pilot questions). The passing threshold is 750 points out of 1000 possible. The price of each Professional exam in 2026 is 300 USD — exactly twice as much as Associate exams, reflecting their higher level of difficulty and market value.
AWS recommends having a Solutions Architect - Associate certificate before attempting Solutions Architect - Professional and either Developer - Associate or SysOps Administrator - Associate before attempting DevOps Engineer - Professional. Although this is not a formal requirement, attempting to skip levels rarely ends in success due to the significant difference in difficulty level.
Preparation for Professional exams typically requires 10-16 weeks of intensive study, assuming solid practical experience. Key is studying the AWS Well-Architected Framework, white papers, and case studies of real implementations. Many people need two or even three attempts at the Professional exam before achieving a passing score.
Professional certificates are particularly valued by employers and are often associated with markedly higher salaries. In Poland in 2026, a senior architect with a Solutions Architect Professional certificate can expect a salary 3000-5000 PLN higher than without the certificate.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional — advanced cloud architecture
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional (SAP-C02) is the most prestigious and simultaneously most difficult general certificate in the AWS portfolio. It is recognised as the ultimate test of the ability to design complex, scalable, secure, and fault-tolerant distributed systems in the AWS cloud.
The SAP-C02 exam focuses on four knowledge domains. Design for organisational complexity comprises 26% of the exam and includes designing architectures for large, multi-account organisations. You must understand AWS Organizations, Service Control Policies, cross-account access patterns, billing consolidation strategies, and implementing landing zones using AWS Control Tower.
Design for new solutions is 29% of the exam and focuses on selecting appropriate services and architectural patterns for new applications. Key is understanding when to use serverless, container-based, or traditional compute solutions, how to design event-driven architectures, and how to implement microservices patterns in AWS.
Continuous improvement of existing solutions comprises 25% of the exam and includes cloud migration strategy (6 Rs: Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Retire, Retain, Relocate), modernising legacy applications, optimising costs and performance, and implementing continuous improvement practices.
Accelerating workload migration and modernisation is 20% of the exam and focuses on practical strategies for moving applications to AWS. You must understand AWS Migration Hub, Application Discovery Service, Database Migration Service, Server Migration Service, and strategies for migrating large data volumes using AWS DataSync, Transfer Family, and Snow Family.
The SAP-C02 exam requires deep understanding not only of AWS services but also broader concepts of distributed systems architecture, design patterns, and trade-offs between different approaches. Questions often present complex scenarios requiring analysis of multiple factors: performance, costs, security, regulatory compliance, and operational complexity.
Preparation for SAP-C02 typically requires 12-16 weeks of intensive study and a minimum of two years’ practical experience designing and implementing systems in AWS. Key is studying the AWS Well-Architected Framework, numerous AWS white papers, and practice with designing complex architectures on paper and in diagram form.
Key information about Solutions Architect - Professional
- Exam code: SAP-C02
- Duration: 180 minutes
- Number of questions: 75 (60 scored + 15 pilot)
- Cost: 300 USD (2026)
- Passing threshold: 750/1000 points
- Recommended experience: 2+ years’ practical work with AWS
- Recommended preparation time: 12-16 weeks
- For whom: Senior architects, principal engineers, tech leads
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional — for CI/CD specialists
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional (DOP-C02) is a certificate designed for experienced DevOps engineers who design and implement CI/CD processes, infrastructure automation, and monitoring and logging strategies in the AWS environment. It is the second of two Professional certificates and represents a similar difficulty level to Solutions Architect - Professional.
The DOP-C02 exam focuses on six main domains. Implementing and managing CI/CD pipelines comprises 22% of the exam and includes designing and configuring AWS CodePipeline, CodeBuild, CodeDeploy, and integration with third-party tools such as Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions. You must understand different deployment strategies (blue-green, canary, rolling) and automatic rollback mechanisms.
Configuration management and Infrastructure as Code is 17% of the exam and focuses on advanced use of AWS CloudFormation, AWS CDK, Terraform, and configuration management using AWS Systems Manager, OpsWorks, Ansible, or Puppet. Key is understanding how to manage complex infrastructure stacks and how to implement reusable templates and modules.
Monitoring and logging comprises 15% of the exam and includes designing comprehensive observability solutions using CloudWatch, X-Ray, CloudTrail, and third-party tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, or ELK stack. You must understand how to implement distributed tracing, how to aggregate logs from multiple sources, and how to create effective dashboards and alerts.
Policy and standards automation is 11% of the exam and focuses on automating operational tasks, managing compliance using AWS Config, implementing guardrails, and automated responses to security policy violations.
Incident and event management comprises 18% of the exam and includes designing disaster recovery strategies, implementing automated remediation mechanisms, managing events using EventBridge, and using AWS Systems Manager Incident Manager to coordinate incident response.
Security and compliance is 17% of the exam and focuses on implementing security best practices in CI/CD processes, managing secrets using Secrets Manager and Parameter Store, implementing encryption, and automatic compliance auditing.
The DevOps Professional exam requires not only deep knowledge of AWS services but also broad understanding of DevOps philosophy, CI/CD practices, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), and automation culture. It is particularly valued in organisations implementing modern software delivery practices.
Key information about DevOps Engineer - Professional
- Exam code: DOP-C02
- Duration: 180 minutes
- Number of questions: 75 (60 scored + 15 pilot)
- Cost: 300 USD (2026)
- Passing threshold: 750/1000 points
- Recommended experience: 2+ years’ DevOps work with AWS
- Recommended preparation time: 10-16 weeks
- For whom: DevOps engineers, SRE, platform engineers
Specialty certificates — specialisation in specific domains
Specialty certificates represent the highest level of specialisation in specific AWS technological areas. Unlike Professional certificates, which are general in nature, each Specialty certificate focuses on one specific domain — security, machine learning, databases, networking, data analytics, or SAP systems.
In 2026, AWS offers six Specialty certificates: Security, Machine Learning, Database, Advanced Networking, Data Analytics, and SAP on AWS. Each of these certificates is intended for specialists with deep knowledge in the field and practical experience implementing AWS solutions in that area.
All Specialty exams have an identical format: 65 questions (of which 15 are pilot questions), 170 minutes of time, a passing threshold of 750/1000 points, and a price of 300 USD per exam. They are comparable in difficulty level to Professional exams and require both deep technical knowledge and practical experience.
AWS does not formally require having any prior certificate before attempting a Specialty exam, however in practice it is recommended to have at least one Associate certificate and a minimum of one year’s practical experience in the field. Some organisations treat Specialty certificates as equivalent to or even more valuable than Professional certificates, especially if they are seeking experts in a specific domain.
Preparation for a Specialty exam typically takes 8-12 weeks, assuming practical experience in the area. Key is not only understanding AWS services specific to the domain but also broader industry knowledge and best practices extending beyond the AWS platform.
AWS Certified Security — cloud security
AWS Certified Security - Specialty (SCS-C02) is a certificate for cybersecurity specialists responsible for designing and implementing secure solutions in AWS. In an era of growing cyber threats, it is one of the most sought-after Specialty certificates on the market.
The exam focuses on five main areas. Identity and access management is 20% of the exam and includes advanced IAM strategies, identity federation using SAML and OIDC, AWS Single Sign-On (IAM Identity Center), implementing least privilege access, and attribute-based access control (ABAC).
Incident detection and response comprises 16% of the exam and focuses on using AWS GuardDuty, Security Hub, Detective, Macie, and CloudTrail to detect threats and automatically respond to security incidents. You must understand how to integrate these tools with SIEM systems and how to implement automated incident response.
Infrastructure protection is 20% of the exam and includes securing network architecture using VPC, security groups, Network ACLs, AWS WAF, Shield, and Firewall Manager. Key is understanding how to design secure network topologies and how to protect applications against DDoS attacks and OWASP Top 10.
Data management comprises 18% of the exam and focuses on implementing encryption for data at rest and in transit using AWS KMS, CloudHSM, Certificate Manager, and Secrets Manager. You must understand different key management strategies and compliance requirements for different types of data.
Compliance and risk management is 16% of the exam and includes using AWS Config, AWS Audit Manager, Artifact, and implementing automated compliance checks. You must understand the requirements of different compliance standards (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, GDPR, SOC2) and how to implement them in AWS.
The Security Specialty certificate is particularly valuable for Security Architects, Security Engineers, Compliance Officers, and all roles responsible for cloud systems security.
Key information about Security Specialty
- Exam code: SCS-C02
- For whom: Security architects, security engineers, compliance officers
- Recommended experience: 2+ years in cybersecurity + 1+ year AWS
- Key services: IAM, GuardDuty, Security Hub, KMS, WAF, Shield
AWS Certified Machine Learning — artificial intelligence and ML
AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty (MLS-C01) is a certificate for data scientists, ML engineers, and AI specialists designing, implementing, and maintaining machine learning solutions in AWS. With the growing importance of AI in business, this is one of the most promising certificates in the AWS portfolio.
The exam focuses on four main areas. Data engineering comprises 20% of the exam and includes collecting, preparing, and processing data for training ML models. You must understand AWS Glue, Data Pipeline, Kinesis, Lambda, and various feature engineering and data augmentation strategies.
Exploratory data analysis is 24% of the exam and focuses on using Amazon SageMaker, Amazon Athena, Amazon QuickSight, and various statistical techniques for data analysis and visualisation. Key is understanding how to identify bias in data and how to conduct exploratory data analysis (EDA).
Modelling comprises 36% of the exam — the largest area — and includes selecting appropriate ML algorithms, training models using SageMaker, hyperparameter optimisation, model validation, and implementing AutoML. You must understand differences between supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning and know the main algorithms from each category.
ML implementation and operations is 20% of the exam and focuses on deploying models in production, implementing CI/CD for ML workflows (MLOps), monitoring models in production, detecting model drift, and implementing A/B testing for models.
The exam requires not only knowledge of AWS ML/AI services (primarily SageMaker) but also solid knowledge of machine learning, deep learning, statistics, and data science. It is considered one of the more difficult Specialty exams due to the broad scope of required knowledge.
Key information about Machine Learning Specialty
- Exam code: MLS-C01
- For whom: Data scientists, ML engineers, AI specialists
- Recommended experience: 1-2 years’ ML development in AWS
- Key services: SageMaker, Glue, Kinesis, Comprehend, Rekognition
AWS Certified Database — database specialisation
AWS Certified Database - Specialty (DBS-C01) is a certificate for database administrators, database architects, and data engineers specialising in designing, migrating, and managing database solutions in AWS. In a world where data is an organisation’s most valuable asset, this certificate confirms expert knowledge of cloud data management.
The exam focuses on five main areas. Database design comprises 26% of the exam and includes selecting appropriate database engines (RDS, Aurora, DynamoDB, DocumentDB, Neptune, Timestream, QLDB), designing schemas, partitioning strategies, indexing, and performance optimisation. You must understand differences between relational and NoSQL databases and when to apply each type.
Database deployment and migration is 20% of the exam and focuses on practical use of AWS Database Migration Service (DMS), Schema Conversion Tool (SCT), and strategies for migrating from on-premises to the cloud. Key is understanding different migration patterns (homogeneous, heterogeneous) and how to minimise downtime during production database migrations.
Database management comprises 24% of the exam and includes monitoring (CloudWatch, Performance Insights), backup and restore strategies, patch management, scaling management, and implementing high availability and disaster recovery. You must understand RDS Multi-AZ, Aurora Global Databases, DynamoDB Global Tables, and various replication strategies.
Monitoring and troubleshooting is 14% of the exam and focuses on diagnosing performance problems, identifying slow queries, analysing query execution plans, and using tools such as RDS Performance Insights, Enhanced Monitoring, and CloudWatch Logs Insights.
Database security comprises 16% of the exam and includes encryption at rest and in transit, managing access using IAM database authentication, implementing network isolation in VPC, auditing using CloudTrail, and compliance for sensitive data.
The exam requires deep knowledge of different types of databases offered by AWS, their limitations, usage patterns, and best practices. It is particularly valued in organisations managing large data volumes.
Key information about Database Specialty
- Exam code: DBS-C01
- For whom: Database administrators, database architects, data engineers
- Recommended experience: 2+ years working with databases + 1+ year AWS
- Key services: RDS, Aurora, DynamoDB, Redshift, DMS, Neptune
AWS Certified Advanced Networking — advanced networking
AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty (ANS-C01) is a certificate for network architects, network engineers, and solutions architects specialising in designing and implementing advanced networking solutions in AWS. It is considered one of the most difficult Specialty certificates due to the complexity of the subject matter.
The exam focuses on five main areas. Design and implementation of AWS networks comprises 30% of the exam and includes advanced VPC configurations, routing, BGP, hybrid connectivity (Direct Connect, VPN), Transit Gateway, AWS PrivateLink, and designing multi-region and multi-account network architectures.
Design and implementation of hybrid IT network architectures is 26% of the exam and focuses on connecting on-premises environments with AWS using Direct Connect, VPN, Transit Gateway, and implementing hub-and-spoke architectures. You must understand redundancy, failover, routing policies, and how to design highly available hybrid connectivity.
AWS network automation comprises 8% of the exam and includes using CloudFormation, AWS CLI, SDKs, and Infrastructure as Code to automate network configurations. Key is understanding how to programmatically manage complex network topologies.
Network integration with application services is 14% of the exam and focuses on integrating network services with load balancers (ALB, NLB, CLB), API Gateway, CloudFront, Global Accelerator, and Route 53. You must understand how to optimise application delivery and how to implement advanced routing patterns.
Network security and compliance comprises 12% of the exam and includes security groups, Network ACLs, AWS WAF, Shield, Firewall Manager, Network Firewall, and implementing compliance requirements for network architecture.
Management, optimisation, and troubleshooting is 10% of the exam and focuses on monitoring networks using VPC Flow Logs, CloudWatch, Network Manager, and diagnosing connectivity, performance, and routing problems.
The exam requires deep understanding of network protocols (TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF), routing, subnetting, NAT, and other fundamental networking concepts, as well as knowledge of how AWS implements these concepts in the cloud.
Key information about Advanced Networking Specialty
- Exam code: ANS-C01
- For whom: Network architects, network engineers, solutions architects
- Recommended experience: 5+ years in networking + 2+ years AWS networking
- Key services: VPC, Direct Connect, Transit Gateway, Route 53, CloudFront
AWS Certified Data Analytics — data analytics in AWS
AWS Certified Data Analytics - Specialty (DAS-C01) — formerly known as Big Data Specialty — is a certificate for data engineers, data analysts, and solutions architects designing solutions for collecting, storing, processing, and analysing large data volumes in AWS.
The exam focuses on five main areas. Data collection comprises 18% of the exam and includes designing solutions for ingesting data in real-time (Kinesis Data Streams, Kinesis Data Firehose) and batch processing (AWS Glue, Data Pipeline, Database Migration Service). You must understand different ingestion patterns and how to design scalable data collection systems.
Storage and data management is 22% of the exam and focuses on selecting appropriate storage solutions (S3, S3 Glacier, Lake Formation) and designing data lakes and data warehouses. Key is understanding partitioning strategies, data lifecycle policies, and how to manage metadata using AWS Glue Data Catalog.
Data processing comprises 24% of the exam — the largest area — and includes designing ETL pipelines using AWS Glue, EMR (Elastic MapReduce), Lambda, and using frameworks such as Apache Spark, Hadoop, Presto. You must understand differences between batch and stream processing and when to apply each approach.
Analysis and visualisation is 18% of the exam and focuses on using Amazon Athena, Redshift, OpenSearch (formerly Elasticsearch), QuickSight, and various data analysis techniques. Key is understanding query optimisation, indexing strategies, and how to design performant analytics solutions.
Data security comprises 18% of the exam and includes encryption, access control using IAM and Lake Formation permissions, data masking, auditing using CloudTrail, and compliance for sensitive data (PII, HIPAA, GDPR).
The exam requires practical experience designing end-to-end data analytics solutions — from ingestion, through processing and storage, to analysis and visualisation. It is particularly valued in data-driven organisations.
Key information about Data Analytics Specialty
- Exam code: DAS-C01
- For whom: Data engineers, data analysts, solutions architects
- Recommended experience: 2+ years in data analytics + 1+ year AWS
- Key services: Kinesis, Glue, EMR, Athena, Redshift, QuickSight
AWS Certified SAP on AWS — SAP systems migration and management
AWS Certified SAP on AWS - Specialty (PAS-C01) is the most niche certificate in the AWS portfolio, designed specifically for specialists dealing with migration, deployment, and management of SAP systems in the AWS cloud. It is intended for a narrow group of experts combining SAP systems knowledge with AWS competencies.
The exam focuses on four main areas. Designing SAP architecture on AWS comprises 30% of the exam and includes selecting appropriate EC2 instances for different SAP components (SAP HANA, NetWeaver), designing high-performance storage systems (EBS, FSx for NetApp ONTAP), implementing high availability and disaster recovery, and optimising performance for SAP workloads.
SAP implementation and deployment on AWS is 25% of the exam and focuses on practical migration of SAP systems to the cloud using different strategies (lift-and-shift, selective re-platforming), using AWS Launch Wizard for SAP, SAP Cloud Appliance Library, and automating deployments using CloudFormation and Terraform.
SAP operational management on AWS comprises 25% of the exam and includes monitoring SAP systems using CloudWatch, Systems Manager, backup and restore using AWS Backup, patch management, scaling strategies, and implementing automated operations. Key is understanding the operational specifics of SAP systems in the cloud.
SAP migration and modernisation is 20% of the exam and focuses on migration strategies (homogeneous, heterogeneous, move to SAP HANA), using AWS Application Migration Service, Database Migration Service, and implementing SAP S/4HANA transformations.
The exam requires not only deep AWS knowledge but above all practical experience with SAP systems — their architecture, components, specific performance and operational requirements. This is a certificate for a very narrow group of specialists, particularly valued in large corporate organisations using SAP.
Key information about SAP on AWS Specialty
- Exam code: PAS-C01
- For whom: SAP architects, SAP basis administrators, migration specialists
- Recommended experience: 2+ years with SAP + 1+ year AWS
- Key services: EC2 (SAP-certified instances), FSx, AWS Backup, Launch Wizard
What certification path for a developer?
For application developers, the optimal certification path should focus on services related to creating, deploying, and maintaining cloud applications. The recommended path for a developer looks as follows:
Step 1: AWS Cloud Practitioner (optional) — if you’re just starting your AWS journey, begin with Cloud Practitioner to build solid foundations. If you already have basic AWS experience, you can skip this step.
Step 2: AWS Certified Developer - Associate (priority) — this is the natural first technical certificate for a programmer. It focuses on programming using AWS SDK, AWS Lambda, DynamoDB, S3, SQS, SNS, and CI/CD tools (CodePipeline, CodeBuild, CodeDeploy). Preparation typically takes 5-7 weeks.
Step 3: AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate (recommended) — although not directly related to programming, this certificate significantly broadens a developer’s perspective, teaching the design of complete application architectures. Developers with this certificate better understand the infrastructure in which their applications operate. Preparation takes 6-8 weeks.
Step 4: AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional — a natural next step for experienced developers. Focuses on automation, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, and the complete application lifecycle from development through testing to production. At least 2 years’ experience is required. Preparation takes 10-14 weeks.
Optionally: Specialty certificates — depending on specialisation, a developer may consider:
- Machine Learning Specialty — if you work with AI/ML
- Database Specialty — if you work intensively with databases
- Security Specialty — if you deal with secure coding and AppSec
The total time to complete the path from Developer Associate to DevOps Professional is typically 18-24 months, assuming active work with AWS during this time.
What certification path for a systems administrator?
For systems administrators and SysOps engineers, the optimal path is to concentrate on operations, monitoring, automation, and high system availability. The recommended path looks as follows:
Step 1: AWS Cloud Practitioner (optional) — a good starting point for administrators transitioning from on-premises to the cloud. Helps understand the AWS responsibility model and basic services.
Step 2: AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate (priority) — absolutely crucial certificate for administrators. It is the only Associate exam with a laboratory section, making it the most practical. Focuses on day-to-day operations: monitoring (CloudWatch), high availability (Auto Scaling, Load Balancing), backup and disaster recovery, security groups, automation, and cost optimisation. Preparation takes 8-10 weeks.
Step 3: AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate (recommended) — complements an administrator’s perspective with the ability to design holistic solutions, not just manage them. Administrators with this certificate better understand architectural decisions and can collaborate more effectively with development teams. Preparation takes 6-8 weeks.
Step 4: AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional — a natural progression path for experienced administrators. Focuses on automation, Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD, monitoring, and incident management. At least 2 years’ experience is required. Preparation takes 10-14 weeks.
Optionally: Specialty certificates — depending on specialisation:
- Security Specialty — for administrators dealing with security operations
- Advanced Networking Specialty — for network administrators
- Database Specialty — for DBAs transitioning to the cloud
The total time to complete the path from SysOps Administrator Associate to DevOps Professional is typically 18-24 months with regular AWS work.
What certification path for a solutions architect?
For solutions architects, the ability to design complete, scalable, secure, and economically optimised systems is key. This is the most demanding certification path, leading to the most prestigious certificate in the AWS portfolio.
Step 1: AWS Cloud Practitioner (optional) — architects with technical experience can skip this step and proceed directly to Solutions Architect Associate.
Step 2: AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate (absolute priority) — this is the most important first certificate for an architect. Focuses on designing secure, resilient, performant, and economical architectures. Covers all key AWS services and fundamental architectural patterns. It is the most popular AWS certificate and provides the foundation for further development. Preparation takes 6-8 weeks.
Step 3: AWS Certified Developer - Associate or SysOps Administrator - Associate (recommended) — obtaining a second Associate certificate broadens perspective. Developer Associate teaches how applications are created and deployed, SysOps teaches how they are managed in production. Many architects obtain both. Preparation for each takes 5-8 weeks.
Step 4: AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional (main goal) — this is the pinnacle of the architect’s path and the most difficult general exam in the AWS portfolio. Requires deep understanding of complex, multi-tier architectures, multi-account strategies, hybrid connectivity, migrations, and continuous optimisation. A minimum of 2 years’ practical experience designing solutions in AWS is recommended before attempting this exam. Preparation takes 12-16 weeks.
Optionally: Specialty certificates — architects often obtain one or more Specialty certificates in their specialisation areas:
- Security Specialty — for security architects
- Advanced Networking Specialty — for network architects
- Database Specialty — for data architects
- Machine Learning Specialty — for AI/ML solutions architects
The total time to complete the full architect’s path (SA Associate → SA Professional + Specialty) is typically 24-36 months with active solution design in AWS.
How much time is needed to complete the entire certification path?
The time needed to complete the full AWS certification path depends on many factors: your prior experience, study intensity, time availability for preparation, and practical work with AWS. Below we present realistic timeframes for different scenarios.
Minimum path (Associate level only): Cloud Practitioner → Solutions Architect Associate is approximately 3-4 months assuming 10-15 hours of study per week and parallel practical work with AWS. This is a good entry point for people beginning their cloud journey.
Standard developer path: Cloud Practitioner → Developer Associate → Solutions Architect Associate → DevOps Professional is typically 18-24 months. The pace depends on the intensity of practical work with AWS between certifications — the more practical experience, the easier it is to assimilate material for subsequent exams.
Standard architect path: Cloud Practitioner → Solutions Architect Associate → second Associate certificate → Solutions Architect Professional is approximately 24-30 months. Solutions Architect Professional requires particularly long preparation time (12-16 weeks) and a minimum of 2 years’ practical experience designing solutions in AWS.
Full path with Specialty: Progressing from zero to Professional level plus one or two Specialty certificates is typically 3-4 years. This is a realistic timeframe for someone building an AWS expert career, assuming regular practical work with the platform and systematic preparation for successive certifications.
Intensive vs spaced preparation: Some professionals prefer intensive bootcamp-style preparation (8-12 weeks full-time focus), others prefer spaced-out preparation (a few hours per week over several months). There is no single correct path — choose an approach matching your learning style and time availability.
Key success factor: The most important factor determining the pace of completing the certification path is practical work with AWS between certifications. People actively working with the platform assimilate material much faster and pass exams more easily than those who study only theoretically. Try to maximise hands-on practice through work projects, your own side-projects, or an AWS Free Tier sandbox environment.
Realistic timeframes
- Cloud Practitioner: 2-4 weeks preparation
- Associate certificate: 5-10 weeks preparation (depends on which)
- Professional certificate: 10-16 weeks preparation
- Specialty certificate: 8-12 weeks preparation
- Full path (zero to Professional + Specialty): 3-4 years
How does EITT support AWS certification preparation?
EITT is the leading IT training provider in Poland with over 500 experts who have delivered over 2,500 training courses for companies and individual participants. We offer comprehensive support in preparing for all AWS certifications — from Cloud Practitioner to advanced Professional and Specialty certificates.
Proprietary certification training courses: Our AWS training courses are conducted by certified instructors with practical experience implementing cloud solutions. We don’t limit ourselves to dry theory — each training course contains an extensive practical part (hands-on labs), where participants actually configure and manage AWS services in a real environment. The average rating of our AWS training courses is 4.8/5, placing us amongst the highest-rated IT training providers in Poland.
Flexible training formats: We understand that everyone learns differently. Therefore, we offer training in various formats: on-site in our training rooms in Poland’s largest cities, online live (with an instructor in real-time), and hybrid. All online training courses are fully interactive — they are not recordings, but live sessions with the opportunity to ask questions and collaborate with the instructor.
Comprehensive training materials: Each participant receives access to proprietary training materials, including documentation, practical laboratories, exam questions, and additional resources for independent study after the training ends. Materials are regularly updated to reflect the latest changes in AWS services and exam formats.
Preparation for specific exams: We offer dedicated training courses preparing for the most important AWS certifications:
Support beyond training: We don’t end our cooperation with participants after training ends. We offer additional support in the form of consultations with instructors, access to a community of our training participants, and regular webinars with updates on AWS changes and new services.
Corporate training: For organisations planning AWS implementation or raising entire teams’ competencies, we offer dedicated in-company training tailored to industry specifics and concrete business needs. We can design complete certification paths for your employees and support the cloud migration process with training matched to successive project stages.
Would you like to learn more about our AWS training courses? Check our complete cloud training offer or contact us to discuss your training needs.
Frequently asked questions about AWS certifications
Must I take AWS certificates in a specific order?
No, AWS does not formally require taking certificates in a specific order. You can attempt a Professional or Specialty exam directly without having any prior certificates. However, in practice it is recommended to progress through the Associate level before attempting Professional, as Professional exams assume knowledge of Associate-level material. Statistics show that people who try to “skip” levels have significantly lower pass rates.
How much do AWS certification exams cost in 2026?
AWS exam prices in 2026 are as follows: Cloud Practitioner (Foundational) — 100 USD, all Associate certificates — 150 USD, all Professional certificates — 300 USD, all Specialty certificates — 300 USD. Prices are uniform globally and payable in USD. After passing an exam, you receive a 50% discount on your next exam, encouraging continuation of the certification path.
How long are AWS certificates valid?
All AWS certificates are valid for three years from the date of achievement. After this period, you must take a recertification exam (the same or a newer version) or obtain a higher-level certificate. For example, if you have Solutions Architect Associate and pass Solutions Architect Professional, your Associate certificate is automatically renewed for another three years.
Are AWS exams available in Polish?
The Cloud Practitioner exam is available in Polish. All other AWS exams (Associate, Professional, Specialty) are available only in English. For people for whom English is not their native language, AWS offers an additional 30 minutes’ time on Associate, Professional, and Specialty exams after submitting an appropriate request (ESL +30 request).
What is the pass rate for AWS exams?
AWS does not publish official pass rate statistics, however based on community data it is estimated that the pass rate for Cloud Practitioner is approximately 70-75%, for Associate certificates approximately 60-65%, for Professional approximately 45-50%, and for Specialty approximately 50-60%. Professional exams, particularly Solutions Architect Professional, are known for their high difficulty level, and many candidates need two or three attempts.
Do AWS certificates increase salary?
Yes, definitely. According to the “2025 IT Skills and Salary Survey” report, certified AWS specialists earn on average 15-20% more than their non-certified counterparts in similar positions. Professional and Specialty certificates can increase salary by 25-35%. In Poland in 2026, a senior architect with a Solutions Architect Professional certificate can expect a salary 3,000-5,000 PLN higher than without the certificate.
Can I take the exam remotely?
Yes, all AWS exams can be taken remotely (online proctoring) from any location with internet access. A computer with camera, microphone, and stable internet connection are required. Alternatively, you can take the exam at a Pearson VUE test centre. Remote exams are monitored by a proctor (supervisor) via camera and screen sharing.
What is the question format on AWS exams?
Most questions are multiple-choice questions (select one correct answer) and multiple-response questions (select two or three correct answers). Questions often present business scenarios and ask you to select the most appropriate solution meeting specified requirements. The exception is SysOps Administrator Associate, which also contains a laboratory section with practical tasks performed in the AWS console.
Ready to begin your AWS certification journey? EITT offers comprehensive training courses preparing for all key AWS certifications — from Cloud Practitioner to advanced Professional certificates. Our training courses combine solid theory with extensive hands-on practice, conducted by certified instructors with real experience designing cloud solutions.
Check our AWS training courses or contact us to discuss your individual certification path and find the optimal training solution.
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