I am planning my career roadmap for next year and need to know which AWS certification should beginners start with? to get certified within a month. I can dedicate about 10 hours a week to studying. Is it realistic to expect a certification in that timeframe, or should I give myself more breathing room to truly understand the core services?
3 answers
A one-month timeline is very realistic for the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam if you are consistent with your 10 hours per week. That gives you 40 hours of total study time, which is usually the "sweet spot" for that specific level. You should spend the first two weeks watching video content and the last two weeks taking as many practice exams as possible. The key is to not just memorize the answers but to understand why a specific service like S3 is used over EBS in certain scenarios. If you feel confident after the first three weeks, don't hesitate to book the exam early!
Do you think 10 hours a week is enough if I also want to do the hands-on labs, or should I double my study hours to cover the practical side?
I managed to do it in three weeks while working full-time. Focus on the 'Six Advantages of Cloud' and the 'Well-Architected Framework' to score high.
Great advice, Sandra! The Well-Architected Framework is a huge part of the exam and staying focused on those pillars really helps narrow down the study material effectively.
Matthew, for the Practitioner level, the labs are helpful but not strictly necessary to pass. However, if you're aiming for the Solutions Architect later, those labs are essential. I'd say stick to your 10 hours for now but focus heavily on the shared responsibility model and billing, as those topics appear frequently on the foundational exam and don't require much lab work.