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AWS Certifications in 2026: Which One Should You Start With?

·9 min read

How many AWS certifications are there in 2026?

As of 2026, AWS offers over 12 active certifications across four levels: Foundational, Associate, Professional, and Specialty. This includes newer additions like the AWS Certified AI Practitioner (launched October 2024) and the Generative AI Developer at the Professional level.

AWS also rebranded the SysOps Administrator Associate as CloudOps Engineer Associate in March 2026, reflecting how cloud operations roles have evolved.

As of January 2025, there were 1.42 million active AWS certifications held by 1.05 million unique individuals globally. The certification landscape keeps expanding as AWS adds credentials for AI, ML, and generative AI skills.

Which AWS certification should beginners start with?

For most people, the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is the best starting point. It's the foundational-level cert designed for people with little to no AWS experience. The exam covers basic cloud concepts, core AWS services, security, billing, and pricing.

The Cloud Practitioner exam costs $100 USD (roughly £80) and most candidates study for 2-4 weeks at a moderate pace. It's not deeply technical. You don't need hands-on AWS experience to pass, though having some helps.

If you already have IT experience and want to move faster, you can skip Cloud Practitioner and go straight to Solutions Architect Associate. There's no prerequisite chain. AWS explicitly states you don't need to pass lower-level exams before attempting higher ones.

Cloud Practitioner vs Solutions Architect Associate

This is the most common question people ask, and the answer depends on where you are right now:

Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02): Best if you're new to cloud, in a non-technical role, or want to validate foundational knowledge first. $100, 90 minutes, high-level cloud concepts.

Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03): The most popular AWS cert and the one UK employers request most. Tests your ability to design real distributed systems. $150, 130 minutes, requires genuine AWS understanding.

Most candidates prepare for Solutions Architect Associate over 2-3 months, studying 10-15 hours per week. Hands-on practice using the AWS Free Tier is essential. This is not an exam you can pass from reading alone.

The complete AWS certification path

Foundational (entry level):

  • AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
  • AWS Certified AI Practitioner (new)

Associate (intermediate):

  • Solutions Architect Associate
  • Developer Associate
  • CloudOps Engineer Associate (formerly SysOps Administrator)

Professional (advanced):

  • Solutions Architect Professional
  • DevOps Engineer Professional
  • Generative AI Developer Professional (new)

Specialty:

  • Security, Database, Machine Learning, Data Analytics

All AWS certifications are valid for 3 years. After expiry, you get a 180-day grace period to recertify at a reduced fee of $75. You can also recertify by passing a higher-level exam or completing a free recertification assessment.

How long does it take to get AWS certified?

  • Cloud Practitioner: 2-4 weeks (10-15 hours total)
  • Solutions Architect Associate: 2-3 months (80-120 hours total)
  • Developer Associate: 2-3 months (requires coding experience)
  • Professional level: 3-6 months (needs Associate-level knowledge plus hands-on experience)

These assume you're studying alongside a full-time job. Bootcamps can compress the timeline to 1-2 weeks for Associate-level, but retention suffers without ongoing hands-on practice.

What do AWS certifications cost in the UK?

Foundational exams: $100 USD (~£80)

Associate exams: $150 USD (~£120)

Professional/Specialty: $300 USD (~£240)

After passing any AWS exam, you get a 50% discount voucher for your next one.

Training costs range from free (AWS Skill Builder, free digital courses) to £1,500+ (UK bootcamps). The most cost-effective path is combining free AWS digital training with a £20-50 online course, plus the AWS Free Tier for hands-on practice.

UK job market for AWS-certified professionals

Cloud computing is consistently the most in-demand skill in UK IT job postings. AWS and Microsoft Azure certifications are the top two requested credentials by UK employers in 2026, according to IT Job Board data published in March 2026.

UK salary ranges for AWS-certified professionals:

Early career (1-4 years): £51,831

Mid-career (5-9 years): £60,505

Late career (10-19 years): £68,505

Demand is strongest in London, the South East, Manchester, and Edinburgh. Financial services, government, healthcare, and media are among the heaviest AWS adopters in the UK.

Tips for passing your first AWS exam

Focus on understanding concepts, not memorising answers. AWS questions are scenario-based. They describe a situation and ask you to choose the best solution. You need to understand why one approach is better than another.

Use the AWS Free Tier to build real things. Even simple projects (hosting a static website on S3, setting up a VPC, deploying a Lambda function) give you practical context that makes exam questions easier to reason about.

Take at least two full practice exams under timed conditions before the real thing. If you're consistently scoring above 80%, you're ready.

If you want structured guidance through the process, Aris offers AI-powered courses for both AWS Cloud Practitioner and Solutions Architect. The AI tutor adapts to your level, tests you with quizzes after every lesson, and uses spaced repetition to make sure concepts stick. Once you pass, you can practise real cloud architecture scenarios through voice simulations before stepping into interviews.

Start your AWS certification journey with Aris

Adaptive AI lessons, quizzes, flashcards, practice simulations, and interview prep. Every AWS certification included, plus PRINCE2, Security+, and more. From £17.99/month.

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