AWS Certification Path in 2025: Step-by-Step Guide

Start your cloud journey with the AWS Certification Path! Explore Foundational, Associate, Professional, and Specialty certifications to boost your skills, career opportunities, and salary potential. Ducat India provides expert-led AWS training to help you pass exams and excel in cloud computing. Become AWS-certified and secure your future in tech!

AWS Certification Path in 2025: Step-by-Step Guide

In this blog, we will discuss the AWS Certification Path, what AWS Cloud Certification is, why it is important, and Which Certification is best for you.

As demand for cloud specialists in the tech industry is increasing day by day, without any hesitation, cloud computing is rapidly “integrating” itself into organizations. To choose the best career opportunities, Ducat India offers you the most reputable AWS certification course to help you have a successful cloud computing career and open the doors to job opportunities.

TOC

• What is AWS Cloud Certification?
• Why is AWS Certification Important?
• AWS Certification Path.
• Hierarchy of AWS Cloud Certification Path
  • FOUNDATION LEVEL CERTIFICATION
  • ASSOCIATE LEVEL CERTIFICATION
  • PROFESSIONAL LEVEL CERTIFICATION
  • SPECIALITY LEVEL CERTIFICATION
• Conclusion
• FAQs

If you are looking to boost your career in the cloud computing industry, Ducat India can help you achieve your career goals with the AWS certification course. Various certifications are available in cloud computing; Ducat India is the best platform to guide you on your AWS certification Path.

Our AWS Training & Certification from Ducat India is designed to provide in-depth knowledge about AWS services not only from certification but also from a job perspective.

AWS Certification Path

What is AWS Cloud Certification?

AWS (Amazon Web Service) is a cloud computing platform provided by Amazon for server hosting, development, mobile applications, networking, computing, email, migration, and security. Several companies are using this system nowadays, and it creates many job opportunities for candidates who know how to build, operate, and manage them.

AWS Certification Path shows your technical skills and knowledge to handle, develop, and support AWS systems. AWS is one of the most valuable tools for the cloud market in the tech industry.

Choose your preferred role in the AWS certification roadmap and start your AWS certification training to advance your career. Above AWS certification diagrams are the suggested paths. Candidates with an IT or STEM background can take the optional AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam.

Why is AWS Certification Important?

As AWS certified, it validates your most industry-centric knowledge, informed, and capable expertise in AWS systems. AWS certifications help IT backgrounds develop technical skills to become cloud experts and build and deploy cloud-based applications. Ducat India helps to pursue AWS cloud certifications, which validate your skills and objective measures and their familiarity with cloud systems and help your AWS Certification Path journey.

Benefits of Cloud Certifications

AWS certifications have several benefits for entry-level to experience levels in cloud computing careers, and Ducat India offers you a lot more for your job opportunities.

1. Career Opportunities:  AWS certification can improve your resume and make you more compelling to companies. Several companies prefer or demand AWS certification for cloud-related positions.
2. Higher Earning Potential: Certified professionals always bring higher packages than non-certified competitors. AWS certification can lead to more advanced roles, which generally pay better.
3. Validation of Skills: Certification validates your proficiency in AWS technologies and cloud computing. It objectively validates your skills and knowledge, which can build trust with employers and clients.
4. Access to Resources: Those who are certified often gain access to exclusive AWS resources, including training materials, webinars, and events, which can help with ongoing learning and staying updated on AWS developments.
5. Network Opportunities: Being certified can connect you with a community of other AWS professionals, which will help you to support knowledge sharing and potential job opportunities.
6. Career Growth: AWS Certifications can help you move into more specialized or advanced roles within your organization, such as cloud architect, DevOps engineer, or data engineer.

AWS Certification Path

Now, let’s start with the AWS Certification path: Currently, AWS offers 12+ certifications, including seven core and five significant certifications. AWS Certification path offers core certification in three parts, i.e., Foundational Level, Associate Level, and Professional Level Certifications.

• Foundational Level: This could only be for knowledge-based certification, where you learn the basic understanding of AWS Cloud. No experience is required.
• Associate Level: This could only be Role-based certifications that show our knowledge and skills on AWS and build your chance as an AWS cloud professional. Only strong IT background experience is recommended.
• Professional Level: These could be role-based certifications that show advanced skills and understanding of designing secure, optimized, and adapted applications and controlling AWS. Only available for 2 years of experience in AWS cloud computing.

Hierarchy of AWS Cloud Certification Path

What Experience is required?

Nowadays most of the candidates are confused about their career goals like “Where to Start?”, “What Experience is required for AWS Cloud Certification?” and “What are the job opportunities after the AWS Cloud Certification Course? In 2019, AWS removed all prerequisites from all AWS certifications, so now you can take any certification at any time; there is no need to take any other certifications first.   

Ducat India helps you achieve different levels of AWS Cloud Certifications quickly. Ducat is a top educational brand in Delhi NCR that uses a 100% practical learning approach with job opportunities. Ducat helps you to learn AWS certification training with best Industrial experts.

FOUNDATION LEVEL CERTIFICATION 

1. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification is an entry-level certification to AWS Certification Path which is designed for individuals seeking to establish and validate their fundamental understanding of the AWS Cloud. This certification is particularly beneficial for professionals in management, sales, technical support, finance, and procurement roles and those who work with AWS Cloud services. It involves a single exam, i.e., the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C01) exam.

We also offer an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner course with 100% practical guidance, which will help you gain fundamental strength in AWS Cloud Computing Courses.

• Who can join this course: College students or Freshers with no experience.
• What you’ll learn: Basic AWS cloud services, architecture, pricing, and basic security.

2. AWS Certified AI Practitioner

The AWS Certified AI Practitioner certification course provides a complete description of AI frameworks, concepts, and AWS technologies, with a special focus on generative AI. The exam content concerns AI, Machine Learning (ML), and Generative AI. Choosing the exam that best matches your interests and career goals is recommended.

Alternatively, you can review both certifications to showcase a robust understanding of AWS Cloud and AI/ML technologies.

• Who can join this course: This course is perfect for those familiar with AWS AI/ML and working in non-IT backgrounds.
• What you will learn in this course: This course covers Generative AI concepts, AI, ML, and responsible AI and AWS Security.

ASSOCIATE LEVEL CERTIFICATION

 AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

The Associate designation provides expertise across a range of AWS services and technologies. In AWS Certification Path this certification focuses on designing performance- and cost-optimization systems while highlighting a strong understanding of the AWS Well-Architected Framework. Earning this certification enhances your professional profile and earning potential and builds confidence and credibility when working with colleagues and customers.

Join one of the most popular and in-demand AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate courses and prepare for success in the certification exam.

• Who can join this course? I am looking for roles like Cloud Solutions Architect or Cloud Engineer.
• What you will learn in this course is how to architect secure and scalable AWS solutions, understand core AWS services, and learn best practices.

1. AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate

The Associate designation provides expertise across a range of AWS services and technologies. This certification focuses on designing performance- and cost-optimization systems while highlighting a strong understanding of the AWS Well-Architected Framework. Earning this certification enhances your professional profile and earning potential and builds confidence and credibility when working with colleagues and customers.

Join one of the most popular and in-demand AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate courses and prepare for success in the certification exam.

• Who can join this course? I am looking for roles like Cloud Solutions Architect or Cloud Engineer.
• What you will learn in this course is how to architect secure and scalable AWS solutions, understand core AWS services, and learn best practices.

2. AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer- Associate

The AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate certification equips professionals for technical roles in machine learning by validating their expertise in implementing and managing ML workloads on AWS. This certification is a valuable pathway to upgrade career integrity in high-demand areas such as backend development, DevOps, Data Engineering, MLOps, and Data Science.

• Who can join this course: Backend software developers, DevOps engineers, data engineers, MLOps engineers, and data scientists must have 1+ years of experience using Amazon SageMaker and AWS ML services.
• What you will learn in this course: Validate technical ability to implement ML workloads, covering data prep, feature engineering, model training, metrics, integration, deployment, optimization, and security on AWS.

3. AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate

This pathway offers a single certification, with the DevOps Engineer – Professional certification from the Developer path also overlapping with this AWS Certification Path. It focuses on providing expertise in the operations and deployment of various AWS services and architectures, including data migration and application deployment. This certification certifies your skills in managing operational activities on the AWS platform.

• Who can join this course: System administrators, operations professionals, and those responsible for deploying and managing AWS systems.
• What you will learn in this course: Is about system operations on AWS, including deploying, managing, and monitoring applications

4. AWS Certified Developer – Associate

This certification provides in-depth, code-level AWS application design, development, and maintenance knowledge. While not mandatory, it is highly recommended that you have at least one year of experience managing AWS applications before pursuing this certification. The developer certification focuses on creating applications for the AWS platform, an essential skill in cloud development.

• Who can join this course: Developers and software engineers working with AWS.
• What will I learn in this course: Developing applications on AWS, integrating AWS services, and optimizing applications for best performance.

 PROFESSIONAL LEVEL CERTIFICATION

1. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

This AWS certification path is specially created for software developers for those who are interested in learning how to develop and operate cloud applications on AWS. This certification recommends having at least two years of hands-on experience in provisioning and managing AWS environments. It equips professionals with knowledge of continuous deployment, automation of AWS processes, and implementation of these concepts within the AWS architecture.

Learn the essential skills needed to excel in the exam and advance your career with our AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional course.

• Who can join this course: Those focused on continuous delivery and automation, DevOps engineers, and system administrators.
• What you will learn in this course: Learn Advanced DevOps practices, including automation, security, and optimization.

2. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

This certification requires you to demonstrate expertise in complex AWS applications, including applying best practices for application design in an optimized manner and migrating applications to AWS. This is the ultimate level: the Professional certification. You should complete the Associate-level AWS Certified Solutions Architect exam and have at least two years of hands-on experience designing and deploying AWS systems.

• Who can join this course: For those who are Experienced Solutions Architects.
• What you will learn in this course: Learn Advanced architectural skills, including multi-tier applications, high availability, and disaster recovery.

 SPECIALITY LEVEL CERTIFICATION

1. AWS Certified Machine Learning – Speciality

This certification is specially designed for individuals in development or data science roles. It focuses on validating a candidate’s ability to design, implement, deploy, and maintain machine learning (ML) solutions tailored to specific problems. Just as machines learn and adapt, so can you!

So start your learning journey and prepare for success with our AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty course.

2. AWS Certified Security – Specialty

This certification focuses on significant topics, including the need for security professionals and teams to master fundamental security principles and best practices and develop a deep understanding of essential services unique to the AWS platform.

3. AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty

This certification is designed to certify a candidate’s expertise in performing advanced networking tasks on AWS and hybrid IT networking architectures at scale. It requires a strong background in developing and implementing network solutions and in-depth knowledge of AWS networking.

Advantages to join Ducat for AWS Cloud Certification Course

Here are the outstanding advantages of joining Ducat for an AWS certification course:

• Ducat enables you to use digital badges, certifications, and other services to promote your Cloud expertise to a global audience.
• When compared to others, Ducat provides you with the best industrial experts who have years of experience, which is helpful to your AWS Certification, and has access to the best career opportunities.

Conclusion

AWS certifications are the best platform to improve your proficiency and upgrade your career in cloud computing. There is a clear AWS Certification path for every skill set and objective with 13 certifications, i.e., Foundational, Associate, and Professional level. Ducat India offers a practical learning approach to acquiring these AWS Certification Path certifications and developing your skills in progressive areas like Machine Learning and CyberSecurity Experts.

FAQs

1. What are the prerequisites to join this certification?

In 2019, AWS removed all prerequisites from all AWS certifications, so now you can take any certification at any time. Even a person with a non-IT background can join this AWS Cloud Certification Course.

1. Why should I earn the AWS Cloud Certification?

AWS credentials not only add value to your career, but they also offer a higher salary package. With Amazon extending its services into the cloud industry, they are searching for cloud professionals.

1. How do I prepare for an AWS Certification exam?

• Study Resources: Use AWS official training, practice exams, and whitepapers.
• Hands-On Practice: Utilize the AWS Free Tier to gain real-world experience.
• Online Courses: Enroll in AWS-certified courses from trusted platforms.
• Community Support: Join AWS forums, study groups, and communities for guidance.

1. How many AWS Certifications are available?

AWS offers 12 certifications across four levels:

• Foundational: 1 certification (AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner)
• Associate: 3 certifications (Solutions Architect, Developer, SysOps Administrator)
• Professional: 2 certifications (Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer)
• Specialty: 6 certifications (Security, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Advanced Networking, Databases, and SAP on AWS)