Journey to the Top
My AWS Solutions Architect Professional Cert Adventure
Last year, I earned the AWS Solutions Architect Professional Certification, a challenging yet fulfilling achievement that marks a new high in my cloud computing expertise.
This was a significant milestone in my AWS journey. I would like to share my experience and some tips and resources to aid you in facing this all-encompassing exam.
Pre-requisites for the exam
The AWS Solutions Architect Professional certification is designed for individuals who have a deep understanding of AWS services and can design complex solutions. It’s recommended to have two or more years of hands-on experience designing and deploying cloud architecture on AWS.
If you’re someone who loves solving intricate problems and designing scalable, efficient, and cost-effective systems in AWS, this certification is for you. It’s particularly beneficial for those in roles like cloud architects, solutions architects, and DevOps professionals.
Have a look at the AWS website for this certification and the official exam guide for more detailed information.
Any Benefits?
Absolutely! This certification is known as one of the most challenging ones offered by AWS. It tests not just your knowledge of the entire AWS ecosystem, but also your ability to design and deploy robust and secure applications on AWS technologies. Acquiring this certification sets you apart in the field of cloud computing, enhancing your credibility and opening doors to advanced opportunities.
You get a digital badge to share with your social network and a 50% discount on your next exam.
You can access the AWS Certified Global Community for collaboration with members who have similar interests and career goals, keep up with the latest trends in tech, and also join the group on LinkedIn.
One unique and interesting feature to take advantage of is to apply for the AWS Subject Matter Expert program to help create and review AWS exam questions, determine exam topics, and validate current passing scores.
My Preparation Journey
The path to this certification was intense. I had a free voucher from the AWS All Builders Welcome Grant (the exam cost is 300 USD), which was both a motivation and a resource-saver. The preparation involved understanding a wide range of AWS services, mastering best practices, and developing a knack for solving complex, scenario-based problems.
Resources that proved invaluable include:
- AWS official sample questions
- AWS SAP Exam Prep Official Practice Question Set
- Cloud Quest roles and AWS JAM Journeys for hands-on experience and familiarity with the console and the CLI
(I did these in the earlier part of the year with a free 7-day trial AWS Skillbuilder subscription, and I quite honestly believe that I was able to understand the integration of various services and their particular use cases due to learning better via gamification).
Some other resources I would recommend are:
- Stephane Maarek’s course on Udemy
- Jon Bonso’s practice exams on Udemy
- Exam Prep Enhanced Course on AWS
I scheduled the exam in the AWS Certification portal with the voucher (which thankfully was a time-limited one, or else I would have kept rescheduling endlessly!)
As I was taking the exam remotely with online proctoring, I ensured that my testing environment, machine requirements, and ID were in order, and checked in 30 minutes before the exam appointment.
The Big Day: Exam Experience
The exam is a whopping 3 hours, and it has 75 multiple-choice or multiple-response questions.
It took me the entire length of the exam to complete it, and here I adopted a rather unconventional approach of giving each question my full focus and choosing what I felt to be the right answer, with no intention of coming back for a second look.
In almost all of my previous certifications, I have generously made use of the Flag for Review option, which is perhaps the more cautious approach.
However, I have often felt that trusting one’s gut instinct proves to be more correct than otherwise.
The exam was as tough as anticipated, filled with essay-length, scenario-based questions that thoroughly tested my knowledge and endurance. The depth and breadth of the questions required not only a theoretical understanding but also practical knowledge of AWS architectures and services.
I had to wait for the results to pop up in my email inbox a day later, and thus endeth my journey of gaining my first Professional Cloud certification!
Applying My Knowledge
This certification aligns perfectly with my goals. It equips me with advanced skills and insights that I’m excited to apply in developing and implementing cloud solutions for enterprise clients.
A Word of Encouragement
For those contemplating this certification, my advice is to embrace the challenge. The journey is rigorous but incredibly rewarding. Engage with the AWS community, utilize the available resources, and most importantly, believe in your ability to conquer this elephant of a certification.
Achieving the AWS Solutions Architect Professional Certification is a testament to dedication and expertise not just in the cloud space but in all of IT.
Feel free to connect if you’re on a similar journey or considering this certification. Let’s keep learning and growing together in this exciting tech world!
