AWS Certifications: Roadway to Recognition

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is undeniably the world's most comprehensive cloud platform today. Several available AWS Certification Paths award AWS Cloud Certifications to candidates who successfully pass the exams. These certifications are a demonstrated proof of expertise in cloud computing by the IT industry. 

Several AWS Certification Paths are available – each targeting a different IT professional like a cloud practitioner, an associate, an architect, a developer, an operations professional, and the like. For example, AWS Cloud Developer is for developers building applications in the cloud; AWS DevOps Cloud Certification aims to hone a candidate's agile methodology skills. 

Additionally, specializations like Cloud Security focus knowledge and credibility towards specific, niche subjects.

The duration and cost for each of these certification exams vary between levels.

● The cloud practitioner exam is slated for 90 minutes and costs US$100

● Mid-level associate exams are US$150 per attempt and give a candidate 130 minutes to complete 

● Higher-level specialisation certification exams have 170 minutes allotted to them and have a price point of US$300.

Each examination checks the candidate's knowledge of AWS Services and Tools with a mixture of conceptual and scenario-based questions. After completing the exam, the results are posted within 72 hours and accessed via logging into the individual's AWS Certification Account. Credentials for all AWS Certification Paths are valid for only two years, and candidates are required to re-appear for the exams for recertification.

AWS provides a dedicated AWS training and certification portal which contains a plethora of free and paid AWS certification training options for each AWS certification path, including:

● Training courses delivered by AWS professionals themselves, practice exams, self-paced labs, and other study materials

● Instructor-led AWS certification courses by third-party knowledge providers 

● Detailed documentation and whitepapers are also available for free for all AWS service offerings.

Overall, deciding on the AWS certification path and planning with available resources are the keys for acing these examinations. AWS certifications currently have a very high industry recognition value, with certified IT professionals earning anywhere between US$115,000 - US$143,000 per year in the USA.

Also Read: Know the AWS Certification Levels & Which Certification Should I Opt