AWS Certifications
Sound Investment
Although many SAP professionals, BASIS administrators, and ABAP developers are still working in a predominantly on-premises environment, the future of cloud computing is approaching fast.
SAP partners with all mayor cloud providers (the “hyperscalers”) and this includes Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Why Bother?
Achieve professional credibility and personal satisfaction, that’s how AWS summarises why you might want to consider to get certified [AWS Certification e-book].
Whether or not you get a promotion or wage hike, studying for a certification provides an effective way to learn new skills. It sets a goal, helps to stay focused, and rewards the effort.
For AWS, the certification benefits include
- 50% exam discounts (for your next exam)
- Free practice exam (idem)
- Access to the AWS Certified Global Community on LinkedIn (group)
- Access to AWS Certified Store (for swag)
Certification Program
For general information about the AWS certification program, see
Cloud Practitioner Exam
How Hard Can It Be?
Although Foundational, the exam is still challenging as it covers a broad scope with questions about many of the AWS services. This is exactly also the reason why you might want to consider preparing for the certification as it will help you to get familiar with the Periodic Table of Amazon Web Services.
Exam Guide
Everything you need to now about the exam is clearly listed on the exam page of the WAS certification website. This is also where you can schedule your exam.
The link to the exam guide contains information about the what you need to know and relative weight.
The exam page also includes some sample questions (with explanation).
Credly
Like SAP, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, and other vendors, AWS uses Credly (f.k.a Acclaim) for cross-vendor overview, record keeping, and social media sharing. This requires your agreement, of course.
How To Prepare
To prepare for the exam, all you need to do is follow the recommendations from AWS.
Although you can get (additional) preparation from online platforms like Pluralsight or LinkedIn Learning, should you prefer this format, for this entry-level exam the AWS-provided content suffices.
Global Challenge
For some additional motivation, you can sign up for the Global Challenge to receive additional tips and reminders.
This includes links to self-paces labs for hands-on experience.
Live Stream
Instead of online learning, you can also opt for the live show with Q&A on Twitch
From the Bookstore
Cybex (Wiley)
For those that prefer to read books, there is a study guide for the exam from Cybex.
Online Training
AWS
To prepare for the exam, AWS offers a free 6-hour online course.
Coursera and edX
The same course is also available on two popular MOOC platforms, should you prefer this format.
- AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials | Coursera
- AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials | edX
Pluralsight, LinkedIn Learning, Cloud Academy, …
For those with a subscription to an online learning platform, you can also decide to watch their exam prep courses.
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C01) | Pluralsight | ~10h (includes exam prep)
- Prepare for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam | LinkedIn Learning | ~4h
- AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification Preparation | Cloud Academy | 17h (includes labs)
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner 2020 | A Cloud Guru | 7h (includes labs)
YouTube
For those without a subscription to an online learning platform, you can also decide to go for some binge watching on YouTube. Although there is a risk to waste precious time, there is also some good material available for free.
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Training 2020 | freeCodeCamp
- Live study session: AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam by David Tucker
Practice Test
AWS
To deflate the hoopla around practice exams, AWS generously provides practice exams to assess your readiness. These exams are provided by the same companies that act as proctor the real exam (PSI and Pearson VUE). If you are looking for a good dry-run, look no further. There is a small charge.
Kaplan/Cybervista via Pluralsight
Pluralsight partners with Kaplan/Cybervista, which provides free access to a practice exam (and other study tools).
Cloud Academy
The AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification Preparation learning path includes a preparation exam.
Non-official Practice Tests
The Google search engine returns a few million results when searching for “AWS Cloud Practitioner exam questions”. Many website offer dubious material at a charge (old exam questions with incorrect answers) with little to no educational value.
The more serious efforts can be found on platforms like Udemy (Über for online learning), usually reasonably priced and with clear explanations. You might want to check the reviews and look up the course instructor on YouTube or LinkedIn before purchase.
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