Choosing the right AWS certification and the value

Do you know that getting AWS certification shows that you have some of the currently most hunted and profitable skills as validated by one of the top cloud computing companies? Back in the enterprise, getting a certification proves that you have the understanding needed in the platform, a shared terminology, and a given level of cloud computing expertise that can escalate time and value for other cloud computing projects.

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Why is AWS Machine Learning certification important?

Well, enterprises are adopting multi-cloud strategies though this still doesn’t diminish the value of acquiring an AWS certification. Do you know that with greater than one million customers, AWS is still the provider of choice for public cloud computing? 64% of the enterprises and 68% of SMBs are currently running applications, as stated by the 2018 RightScale State of the Cloud Report. Again, gradual financial performance, several new services, and a gradual geographic expansion have been witnessed. This is a clear sign that there is still more to expect in this industry.

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How much does it cost to get AWS Machine Learning Certified?

All you should know is that the prices of the exams are different based on the level of certification that you need. Which level are you after? Check out its price below:

· Practitioner = $100

· Associate = $150

· Professional = 300

· Specialty = $300

Candidate certifications

AWS certifications are popularly known to stand out for themselves for their complexity and thoroughness in determining a candidate’s skills, together with the level of experience and also best practices. Are you currently working with AWS? Developing an interest in preparing for certification can help you strengthen your knowledge and also clarify key concepts. In the same way, if you are new to AWS, it can help you learn the foundational knowledge and skills that will help you work on the way as you wait to work with AWS services and solutions. For the organizations that are looking for new recruits, AWS certifications prove a candidate’s knowledge and expertise in cloud architecture, management, and security.

How long does it take to become AWS Machine Learning certified?

Are you planning to start your AWS lessons, and you are worried about how long this whole process will take and the time you need to dedicate? Well, with a full-time job and even other commitments, if you choose to dedicate 80 hours, it will take you two months. If you are a starter to AWS, it’s always advisable that you dedicate about 120 hours, even three months to prepare. The right place to start with is to know the fundamentals, and then you move to Solutions Architect –Associate Learning Path.

Generally, this largely depends on your existing experience and knowledge of AWS, the certification level that you are looking for, Practitioner, Associate, Professional or Specialty. You should also look for the AWS exam guide because it clearly states a suggested prerequisite amount of experience before doing any of the exams for any certification.

If you dedicate time and decide to study, you will soon be familiar with the console and other services, and with that, you can pass your exams without meeting these criteria. All you need to do is to maintain your study schedule, and it’s always advisable that you commit at least 1 hour of study per day for the Practitioner and Associate level, but if you are thinking about the Professional or Specialty level, then you will have to maximize this.

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Is AWS Machine Learning Certification the best?

Well, do you know that AWS is currently offering 12 certifications? A foundational certification, three associate level certifications, and even two professional level certifications and six penalty certifications. However, back to our case, Machine Learning certification is among the top certifications that you can opt for. Other certifications include:

· AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

· AWS Certified Developer Associate

· AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate

· AWS Certified Security Specialty

· AWS Certified Database

· AWS Certified Data Analytics

· AWS Certified Advanced Networking

· AWS DevOps Engineer

· AWS Solutions Architecture

· AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder

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How do I become AWS Machine Learning Certified?

There are no set steps to studying for the AWS Machine Learning certification, but the following steps are more straightforward and will help you through the whole process. These steps include:

· The first step is to enroll in an AWS training class, just as mentioned earlier, and this will increase your knowledge of cloud computing and AWS.

· Proceed by reviewing any Study or Exam Guides that are present.

· Read several AWS whitepapers. You will notice that these have some invaluable information that will answer most of the questions that you may have.

· The other step is to practice and practice more. Practicing exams will always make you more relaxed and get rid of any worries about the exams that you may have.

· Once you think that you are ready, you should schedule the exams. You only need to ensure that you have been practicing for about 80 – 120 hours before you decide to undertake exams.

Types of AWS Certification Exams

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

This is the newest AWS certification. It’s also an entry-level certification that is mainly designed to prove a candidate’s general understanding of the AWS cloud.

· Prerequisites: Minimum of 6 months of general AWS cloud experience in any given role ( both technical and managerial is always recommended.)

· Format: There are multiple-choice questions.

· Length:90 minutes

· Cost: 100 USD

Areas Covered:

· Knowledge of basics of AWS architectural principles

· The value of the proposition of the AWS cloud

· Key AWS services and even their common use cases

· Basic security and compliance, the distributed responsibility model for security

· Major deployment and operating principles

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Associate Level Certifications

AWS Certified Solutions Architect

This exam is mainly designed for those that have some experience in designing distributed applications. Candidates at this level are required to demonstrate their ability to design, manage and even implement applications with the help of tools and services that are present in the AWS platform. This exam was updated back in 2018 to compromise more AWS services and best practices.

Format: Multiple choice/ multi answer

Time: 130 minutes

Cost: 150 USD

Areas Covered:

· Network technologies and how they work in AWS

· How AWS based applications work and how client interfaces connect to the AWS platform

· How to build secure and reliable applications on the AWS platform

· Deploying hybrid systems – those with data center premises and AWS components

· The exam domains comprise the design of highly available and scalable systems (this will require knowledge in AWS infrastructure and concepts), implementations and deployment in AWS, AWS – related data security practices, disaster recovery techniques and even troubleshooting.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate

Here, this exam is to cover the development and maintaining of AWS-based applications. All that you are required to do here is to know how to write actual code that uses AWS software to access applications from your normal business applications.

· Format: Multiple choice, multiple answers

· Time: 80 minutes

· Cost: 150 USD

Areas Covered:

· Deep knowledge in the basics of AWS architecture and even the core AWS services

· You should also know how to design, develop, deploy and even maintain applications

· You should also have a working knowledge of the applications that utilize core AWS services that are not limited to AWS databases, notifications, workflow services and even services for storage and change management.

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AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate

Are you after being a system administrator? If so, then you need to start thinking about doing this exam. This is the only available exam that is for system administrators. For you to be able to pass this type of exam, you must have an understanding of both the technical expertise and even have a conceptual knowledge of operating all elements of the AWS platform. Have you been a Linux or Windows administrator? If so, then that is an added advantage.

· Format: Multiple choice, multiple answers

· Time: 80 minutes

· Cost: 150 USD

Areas Covered:

· Being able to deploy applications to the AWS platform

· Receiving and sending data across data centers and AWS

· Choosing the best AWS services to meet an organization’s needs

· Managing, provisioning and even securing systems in an AWS environment

Professional Level Certifications

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

Are you after evaluating an organization’s needs and making recommendations and even architectural recommendations that are used in implementing and deploying applications on AWS? If so, then this is the exam that you need to do. Here, all that is required is a high level of technical skill and experience in designing AWS-based applications.

· Format: Multiple choice, multiple answers

· Time: 170 minutes

· Cost: 300 USD

· Two years of experience in designing and even deploying cloud architecture on AWS and also deep knowledge in multi-application architectural design

· Prerequisites: Status as AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

Areas Covered:

· High level of architecting the designing of applications on AWS

· Choosing the perfect AWS service for the requirements of an application

· Transferring of complex application system to AWS

· Knowledge of cost optimization strategies

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer- Professional

All you need to know about this exam is that you have to have enough knowledge in provisioning and even managing applications on the AWS platform. Again, this exam does focus majorly on continuous delivery and the automation of processes that are the major concepts of the DevOps movement.

· Prerequisites: Status as AWS Certified Developer- Associate or AWS Certified SysOps Administrator- Associate. High understanding of provisioning and managing AWS-based applications and even a firm understanding of the modern applications development that is not limited to agile development methodology is highly recommended.

· Format: Multiple choice, multiple answers

· Time: 170 minutes

· Cost: 300 USD

Areas Covered:

· All about the basics of the modern CD methodologies

· How to implement CD systems

· Setting up, monitoring and even logging systems on AWS

· How one can implement highly available and scalable systems on AWS platform

· How to design and even manage tools that allow automation of production operations

· Specialty Certification

Have you been thinking about AWS specialty certifications? If so, do you know that these certifications are only designed to validate a candidate’s skills in big data and even networking?

· Prerequisites: Current associate level certifications and a minimum of five years that is relevant

· Format: Multiple choice, multiple answers

· Time: 3 hours

· Cost: 300 USD

Specialty Certifications

AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty

Well, this exam is mainly for those that have a background in data analytics and experience in using AWS services for designing and architecting massive data solutions. This exam is invented to validate a candidate’s experience in extracting value from data using AWS services.

Areas Covered:

· High level of architecting for implementing core AWS massive data services

· Designing and maintaining massive data

· AWS tools for automating data analysis

· High understanding of security of massive data solutions

· AWS services that are also covered are not limited to Kinesis, Athena, Quicksight, and Rekognition

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AWS Certified Advanced Networking- Specialty

The AWS Certified, Advanced Networking Specialty certification, is invented to prove a candidate’s skills and experience in connection with operating complex networking activities on AWS and even hybrid IT networking architecting and implementing network solutions and advanced understanding of networking on AWS.

Areas Covered:

· Designing, developing and even deploying cloud solutions with AWS

· Implementing major services according to deep architectural knowledge

· Automation for AWS activities for network deployment

· Security and compliance design and implementation

· Network optimization and troubleshooting

AWS Certified Security – Specialty

Here, topics surrounding security pros and teams, the need to master security fundamentals, following best practices and building unique services to the AWS platform are tested. This exam is mainly designed to prove your knowledge across all security topics that are not limited to data protection and encryption, infrastructure security, incident response, identity and access management, and even monitoring and logging.

Areas Covered:

· Selecting the most perfect and appropriate data protection techniques, including encryption techniques

· Implementing logging and monitoring solutions that detect and analyzes security vulnerabilities and weaknesses of a given system infrastructure

· Use of a variety of services to choose the appropriate level of security based on your deployments and the sensitivity of your data

· AWS services that are covered are not limited to: AWS Identity and Access Management, AWS CloudTrail, AWS Config, Amazon Inspector, AWS Trusted Advisor, Amazon GuardDuty, Amazon CloudWatch, and Amazon Key Management Service.

AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder – Specialty

The AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder- Specialty certification proves your technical expertise when it comes to creating, testing, and even deploying Amazon Alexa skills. This exam is usually for anyone who plays a role as an Alexa skill builder. All you need here is to have at least six months of hands-on experience building Alexa skills with the aid of the Alexa Skills Kit and you should also be proficient in a programming language.

Areas Covered:

· Learning about the importance of the voice

· User experience design

· Follow AWS and Alexa best practices for security

· Creating, testing and even validating for the skill

· Working with Alexa Developer Console

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AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty

Well, this is our main area of interest, right? The AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty certifications prove your capability in creating, implementing, and maintaining machine learning solutions for various business problems. This exam is usually for anyone who decides to perform any development or even data science role. For you to be shortlisted, you should have one to two years of experience using ML and or even deep learning on the AWS Cloud.

Areas Covered:

· Selecting and defending the best ML approach for a given business design

· Identifying relevant AWS solutions to help you create and deploy your ML solution

· Designing and even implementing cost-optimized, scalable, secure and reliable ML solutions.

AWS Certified Database –Specialty

The AWS Certified Database – Specialty exam proves that you have a general comprehension of all the AWS database services that are offered, and even how to add value to your business using optimized database integration and architecting. This exam is done with anyone who works hand in hand with databases and implements DB solutions. For you to qualify, you should have at least two years of experience working with both the AWS Cloud-based and on-premises relational and NoSQL databases.

Areas Covered:

· Database design

· Deployment and Migration

· Management and Operations

· Monitoring and Troubleshooting

· Security

Recertification and Staying Up-to-Date

As you know, the number of new AWS features and services are versatile and keeps changing every year. For you to strongly demonstrate consistent expertise and deep knowledge of the best practices for the most up-to-date AWS services, then as a certification holder, you are required to recertify every two years.

There are various options that you can choose from. In this case, you may recertify by either passing a professional level exam for the same certification or, alternatively, by passing a recertification exam for your current certification. Are you wondering how much it will cost you for the recertification exam? Well, the recertification exam takes about 80 minutes and will also cost you 75 USD.

You should also keep in mind that certifications are there to mainly represent your knowledge at a specific time. It’s advisable that you don’t have to wait until your certification expires. All you need to do is try to build good habits to help you be updated and also be obsessed with learning new things each day. Some of the tips that will help you keep your skill current are not limited to:

· You should read consistently. You can also subscribe to the AWS Release Notes newsletter, the Cloud Academy AWS blog posts and even others to help you receive the latest updates.

· You should also learn by doing. Get your hands busy by experimenting with new services majorly in Machine Learning and AI using Cloud Academy Hands-on Labs

· Test your skills. You can do this by taking AWS practice exams regardless of whether you have any exams to sit or not

· Suggest training at work. As the phrase goes, excellence begets excellence. All you should do in this case is to look for individuals that are well informed and always want to learn something new every day. If you do this, you will really move so fast.

Can I get AWS Machine Learning Certification Online?

Do you want to get certified online? Well, the answer is a big yes! You can take AWS certification online and from the comfort of any place you wish to be. That can be either from home or anywhere you feel comfortable. However, there are some points that you should know of everything that can be found online.

Just to summarize and mention a few, here are some of the key elements that you should have in mind:

· You must be able to talk with an English speaking proctor. Well, you can take all your exams in any language that you prefer but taking with an English proctor must be in English.

· Certifications are currently limited to those living in mainland China, Japan, Slovenia or South Korea

· You must make sure that your computer meets all the system requirements for online proctoring

· When the exam is underway, you are required to sit in a quiet and private place. You should also ensure that there are no disruptions

· You are not allowed to move out of your webcam

Is AWS Machine Learning Worth it?

Just like any other certification that demonstrates your knowledge and expertise in the I.T industry, this certification is worth obtaining. Amid several candidates, you will be able to stand out from the crowd and get noticed on your journey to achieving professional goals. Good luck!

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