AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner: A Complete Guide

Exam Overview

The exam, identified by the code CLF-C02, consists of 65 multiple-choice and multiple-response questions that test a candidate’s understanding of key cloud concepts, security and compliance principles, technology, and AWS billing and pricing. 

The questions assess conceptual knowledge and practical understanding of how AWS services work together to support various business needs. To pass, candidates must score 700 out of 1000, with the exam typically lasting 90 minutes.

There are no formal prerequisites for taking the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam, making it accessible to anyone interested in gaining a solid foundation in cloud computing. However, it is recommended that candidates have at least a basic understanding of IT services and how they are used within the AWS Cloud. 

Familiarity with the AWS billing system and general cloud concepts will also be beneficial.

The exam is available in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, ensuring broad accessibility. Candidates can take the exam online via remote proctoring or in person at a designated testing center.

The certification is valid for three years, after which recertification is required, either by retaking the exam or achieving a higher-level AWS certification.

Here’s a table summarizing the key characteristics of the AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification exam:

Exam domains and objectives

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam is structured around four primary domains:

• Cloud Concepts (26%)
• Understand the AWS Cloud and its value proposition: Define the benefits of cloud computing and the AWS Cloud, including scalability, elasticity, agility, and cost savings.
• Identify aspects of AWS Cloud economics: Understand the pay-as-you-go pricing model, cost-effective solutions, and how the cloud can reduce upfront capital expenditure.
• Describe the AWS Cloud architecture principles: Explain the basic concepts of cloud architecture and design, including the AWS global infrastructure, regions, availability zones, and edge locations.

• Security and Compliance (25%)
• Define the AWS shared responsibility model: Understand the division of responsibilities between AWS and the customer, particularly regarding security and compliance.
• Define AWS Cloud security and compliance concepts: Describe AWS security and compliance features, including data encryption, Identity and Access Management (IAM), and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Identify AWS access management capabilities: Explain how AWS services and tools (such as IAM) help securely manage access to AWS resources.
• Identify resources for security support: Recognize the various available AWS security resources, such as AWS Trusted Advisor, AWS Inspector, and AWS Artifact.

• Technology (33%)
• Define methods of deploying and operating in the AWS Cloud: Understand the core AWS services for compute (e.g., EC2, Lambda), networking (e.g., VPC, Route 53), storage (e.g., S3, EBS), and databases (e.g., RDS, DynamoDB).
• Define the AWS global infrastructure: Understand the basic concepts of AWS regions, availability zones, edge locations and how they relate to data sovereignty and redundancy.
• Identify AWS services: Recognize and describe key AWS services, including those for computing, storage, databases, networking, and content delivery.
• Explain the core AWS services and their use cases: Understand the primary use cases for AWS services, such as hosting applications, storage solutions, data processing, and big data analytics.
• Identify resources for technology support: Recognize the resources and tools available for technical support, including AWS documentation, whitepapers, and support plans.

•  Billing and Pricing (16%)
• Compare and contrast the various pricing models for AWS: Understand the different pricing models available in AWS, including On-Demand, Reserved Instances, and Spot Instances.
• Recognize the various account structures concerning AWS billing and pricing: Explain the concepts of consolidated billing, AWS Organizations, and how they can optimize costs across multiple AWS accounts.
• Identify resources available for billing support: Understand how to use AWS billing tools and resources like the AWS Billing and Cost Management Dashboard, AWS Cost Explorer, and AWS Budgets to monitor and manage costs effectively.

These domains collectively cover the breadth of knowledge required to understand the AWS Cloud at a foundational level.

Resources To Study and Prepare for the Exam

The effectiveness of your preparation amplifies when you use the right resources. The following resources are worth considering: 

Official resources

The official AWS exam guide outlines the key topics and objectives. AWS also offers comprehensive study guides, online training courses like the AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials, and whitepapers to refresh and deepen your knowledge. 

Practice exams and sample questions are available to help you familiarize yourself with the exam format. In contrast, exam readiness assessments allow you to gauge your preparedness and identify areas needing further review. 

These resources collectively provide a solid foundation for successfully passing the certification exam.

Online courses

Today, any skill you want to learn is available online, including AWS. Whether you are looking for free resources or are ready to pay, plenty of options exist. 

Datacamp offers a range of free courses, from beginner to advanced levels. If you are new to AWS, start with our Introduction to AWS course. For those looking for hands-on experience, our AWS cloud technology and services course contains practical exercises. 

Community

Engaging with the AWS community is a valuable aspect of preparing for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam. The community offers a wealth of knowledge through forums and study groups where you can connect with others preparing for the exam. 

By participating in these communities, you can share study tips, ask questions, and gain insights from those who have already passed the exam.

A Step-by-Step Study Plan

Earning a professional certification requires commitment and a structured plan. We’ll help you create a study plan to succeed in the certification exam. 

Step 1: Book the exam date

Without a fixed target and timeline, it’s easy to lose focus. So, decide your exam date and book it—this should be the first step of your plan. 

Estimate how much time you’ll need to prepare for the exam and book your date accordingly. This approach gives you enough time to study while motivating you to reach your goal within a defined timeline.

Step 2: Block study time slots 

Studies say it takes 21 days to build a habit. If you can commit to studying daily for 21 days, you will likely stick with your plan. 

Estimate how much time you have in a day, how far away your exam date is, and how much you need to cover, then allocate dedicated time slots accordingly.

This approach ensures you stay on track with the exam preparation while managing your daily responsibilities effectively. 

Step 3: Get preparation material

Start your journey with online introductory courses and tutorials like the ones mentioned before. Once you grasp the basics well, move to more structured courses like AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials or Datacamp’s AWS Cloud Technology and Services course. 

Additionally, applying what you’ve learned is crucial to clear any exam. Amazon provides an official practice exam that replicates the actual exam environment. DataCamp courses also come with hands-on exercises and assessments that you shouldn’t skip to score well in the exam. 

Step 4: Take notes and revise 

Taking notes during your preparation is a real savior when it's time for revision. You won't have the luxury of time you had in your initial study phase. Instead, you should recap all the key concepts in a limited time.

So, ensure you take detailed notes to help you revise. Your notes should include the key concepts you've learned and any tricky questions encountered during mock tests.

Step 5: Connect with study groups 

We recommend building connections with industry peers and like-minded people. Joining relevant study groups helps you understand industry trends and what your peers are up to. 

Whenever you are stuck, you can turn to these groups for support and keep moving forward with your preparation. You might also find friends who motivate, inspire, and study with you towards a common goal.

Step 6: Take the exam! 

AWS cloud certification exams can be taken online through a proctored setup or at in-person test centers. 

• If you take the exam online, ensure you set up a distraction-free environment with a working camera, computer, and microphone. For an in-person exam, arrive early at the location and allow yourself to get settled. 
• Take a few minutes to carefully read the exam instructions and ensure all requirements are satisfied. 
• Bring all necessary supplies, such as an identity card, a whiteboard or paper, a pen, and anything else mentioned.
• Allocate your time to questions based on their weightage and difficulty level. Don’t spend too much time on any single question.
• Keep the last 10-15 min to review your answers and spot any overlooked mistakes.

Career Opportunities and Salary Expectations

According to a report by Arcserve, 200 zettabytes of data are expected to be stored in the cloud by 2025. With such massive growth, the industry will need more skilled cloud practitioners to support migration and maintain data on the cloud.

Earning an AWS Cloud Practitioner certification opens up many opportunities and job roles. A few of them are:

• Cloud consultant: The person helps companies make better decisions to enhance or optimize their cloud infrastructure and improve efficiency. They provide expert advice on architectural design, migration strategies, and cost-efficient solutions. 
• Cloud consultant average salary: $120K per year
• Cloud engineer: Cloud engineers can build, deploy, and optimize cloud applications. They create and integrate applications into the cloud while satisfying the user’s requirements and ensuring security standards. 
• Cloud engineer average salary: $127K per year
• AWS cloud architect: Cloud architects design the architecture of cloud solutions. They interact with users and business stakeholders to understand requirements and develop strategic plans for cloud applications or infrastructure. 
• Amazon cloud architect's average salary: $140K per year
• SysOps Administrator: This job role deals with day-to-day operations and maintenance of cloud infrastructure. They monitor the usage of AWS resources, maintain backups, optimize costs, and manage security protocols and access controls. 
• SysOps Administrator average salary: $85K per year

Note that many, many careers in tech would benefit from this certification!

Why A Role-Based Certification May Be Better

While mastering specific tools like AWS is invaluable, it's also important to consider the broader scope of your career. Role-based certifications, which focus on the skills and knowledge needed for specific job roles, can sometimes offer more comprehensive benefits than tool-specific certifications. 

Let's explore the value of both types of certifications.

The value of tool-based certifications

Tool-based certifications, such as those offered by AWS, validate your proficiency in using a particular cloud service or tool. They are particularly beneficial in fields where expertise in a specific tool is highly valued or required.

The value of role-based certifications

Role-based certifications assess your ability to perform specific job functions and solve real-world problems, often requiring knowledge of multiple tools and methodologies. They are designed to demonstrate your technical skills and your ability to apply those skills in practical scenarios. 

Such certifications provide a more holistic view of your capabilities to potential employers.

An overview of DataCamp certifications

Data Scientist (Associate & Professional)

• What is it: Role-based certification focused on end-to-end data science skills.
• Skills tested: Exploratory analysis, data management, model development, statistical experimentation, data science programming, communication, using Python or R alongside SQL.
• Prerequisites: Advanced use of SQL, familiarity with relational databases, and comfort using Python or R for data science tasks.
• Who is it for: Individuals seeking to demonstrate their data science knowledge and skills, aiming for in-demand data science roles.
• Cost: Included in DataCamp's Premium Subscription.
• Exam format: Timed exams covering various aspects of data science, including practical exams where candidates analyze datasets and present conclusions
• Registration: Get started here

Data Analyst (Associate & Professional)

• What is it: Role-based certification focused on data analysis and data-driven decisions.
• Skills tested: Data management, exploratory analysis, analytics fundamentals, data communication, coding for production, and statistical experimentation.
• Prerequisites: Familiarity with relational databases and SQL, proficiency in Python or R for data tasks.
• Who is it for: Those aiming to prove their data analysis skills and qualify for in-demand data jobs.
• Cost: Included in DataCamp's Premium Subscription.
• Exam format: Timed online tasks covering a range of data analysis skills using Python or R and SQL.
• Registration: Get started here

Data Engineer (Associate)

• What is it: Role-based certification focused on data engineering, including building and maintaining data pipelines.
• Skills tested: Data management and exploratory analysis using SQL, programming for data engineering using Python, including practical tasks like data extraction, cleaning, and quality assessment.
• Prerequisites: Advanced SQL knowledge, familiarity with relational databases, and programming in Python for data engineering tasks.
• Who is it for: Those aiming to start their career in data engineering, providing proof of their skills to prospective employers.
• Cost: Included in DataCamp's Premium Subscription.
• Exam format: Two timed exams covering SQL and Python programming, plus a practical exam simulating real-world data engineering tasks.
• Registration: Get started here

Conclusion

Achieving the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification equips you with the foundational knowledge required to start your career in cloud technology. This certification indicates your commitment to mastering AWS skills to stand out in the job market.

You can study from official AWS resources and also consider Datacamp’s AWS courses, which are available at all levels, from beginner to advanced.