How to Become an AWS Certified Solutions Architect in 2025

Understanding the AWS Solutions Architect Certification

AWS Solutions Architect Certifications

We start this article by going over what an AWS certified solutions architect is and the recommended pathway of certifications that should be followed to start a career as a solutions architect. You can read our full guide to AWS certifications to learn more. 

We also answer two important questions about the AWS certification exams: how difficult they are and whether or not they're worth it.

What is an AWS certified solutions architect?

An AWS certified solutions architect is a cloud network specialist who designs, creates, and maintains AWS services.

Solutions architects have a deep understanding of all the services offered by AWS and use this knowledge to design highly available, fault-tolerant, and cost-effective solutions on the cloud platform.

The roles and responsibilities of an AWS certified solutions architect can vary depending on a few factors. Some of these factors include the size and complexity of your organization, the requirements of your cloud environment, and the scope of individual projects.

However, there are a few core responsibilities of an AWS certified solutions architect, such as:

• Design and deploy scalable AWS solutions that integrate core services like EC2, S3, RDS, and Lambda while ensuring high availability.
• Create and execute migration plans to transition existing applications to AWS.
• Effectively manage costs and optimize AWS cloud spending.
• Monitor and fine-tune system performance using AWS tools like CloudWatch and X-Ray to maintain peak efficiency.
• Implement comprehensive security measures across all architectural layers.
• Ensure all cloud solutions meet required regulatory standards and maintain proper documentation and audit trails.
• Stay current with new AWS services and features

AWS certification path for solutions architects

AWS certifications serve as proof that you have the required skills and expertise in AWS. Completing a certification can expand your knowledge base and show your commitment to potential employers.

In general, it is recommended that the AWS certifications be taken in a particular order.

In the case of solutions architects, these are the certifications you would take, in this order:

• Cloud Practitioner - Foundational
• (Optional, if leveraging AI): AI Practitioner - Foundational
• Solutions Architect - Associate
• Solutions Architect - Professional
• (Optional) Deep dive: Security - Specialty

Each certification builds on the last, expanding your skillset and knowledge as you go. There is also quite a bit of overlap between them, making it useful to build your knowledge in stages. As you strengthen your foundational knowledge, you gradually add more services to your repertoire.

How difficult are the AWS solutions architect exams?

The answer is: it depends.

Due to the way the exams are structured, certifications build on each other with plenty of overlap. For example, if you take the Cloud Practitioner certification, you will have an easier time transitioning to the Solutions Architects - Associate exam.

In addition, your own prior knowledge and experience in AWS or cloud computing in general will influence how easily you grasp new concepts or learn a new AWS service.

For this reason, how easy or difficult you find an exam is largely subjective and unique to you.

However, if you're starting from zero and have no prior experience in cloud computing, you will probably find the solutions architect exams quite challenging.

Luckily, this doesn't mean that these certifications are out of reach. By following this guide and dedicating yourself to studying and preparing for the exams, it is absolutely possible to pass them.

Is becoming an AWS certified solutions architect worth it?

Certifications are proof of knowledge. If you have little to no experience in cloud computing, having a certification is one of the best ways to demonstrate your skills. They can open doors and are highly valuable additions to your resume.

More specifically, the AWS solution architect certifications enable you to:

• Build a deep understanding of AWS services and cloud architecture best practices.
• Demonstrate commitment to professional growth and stand out in a competitive job market.
• Increase your chances of securing higher-paying roles in cloud computing.
• Connect with a global community of AWS-certified professionals and industry leaders.

How to Become an AWS Certified Solutions Architect

In this section, we cover the six steps you should follow to become an AWS certified solutions architect.

Step 1: Choose your certification level

AWS certifications come in four levels:

• Foundational
• Associate
• Professional
• Specialty

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is a beginner-friendly certification. It is at the foundational level, so you don't need any prior experience to get this certification. This makes it an excellent starting point if you're new to the field.

The solutions architect certifications come in two levels: Associate and Professional. They both require some amount of experience and considerable dedicated study and preparation before you tackle them.

You can also choose to get some certifications at the Specialty level. We recommend the Security specialty certification as it covers a broad range of topics related to security that you will undoubtedly encounter as a professional solutions architect.

After completing your examination at each level, you will increase your exposure and experience with AWS products and services. 

Step 2: Study and prepare

The most important thing for passing the certification exam is to be consistent and study regularly.

AWS study roadmap

To help you get started and guide you as you study and prepare for these certifications, AWS recommends four steps:

• Get to know the exam
• Refresh your AWS knowledge and skills
• Review and practice for the exam
• Assess your exam readiness

AWS 4-step exam prep plan

Below is a quick breakdown of each of these steps.

Step 3: Gain practical experience

The AWS free tier should become your best friend as you study and prepare for the AWS certification exams. One of the most effective ways to learn and master the concepts you need for the exams is to get hands-on practical experience with them. The AWS free tier allows you to do this.

If it’s your first time using AWS, learn how to set up and configure your AWS account with our comprehensive tutorial.

If you follow the tutorials provided by AWS, they will guide you on how to maximize your free tier benefits and also explain how to properly clean up the resources you use so that you don't incur any unexpected costs.

Take your time and do as many practical projects as you can. We have a tutorial on the top AWS projects to give you some ideas of the kinds of projects you can do.

Your goal should be to design and implement systems with AWS and hands-on experience is the only way to deeply understand how things work and how the different AWS services fit into each other.

Step 4: Take the certification exam

The first thing you need to do to take the certification exam is to register. You do this by creating an AWS certification account, selecting the certification you want to register for, and then selecting your preferred date and time for the exam. Available spots can fill up quickly, so make sure you register well in advance.

During the registration process, you will need to pay the exam fee and select the exam format. You can choose between taking the exam in person or virtually.

If you go the virtual route remember that you, your screen, and your voice will be recorded all the time and you’re supervised by a proctor with very strict rules to follow during the exam.

Step 5: Go job hunting

There are a few ways you can approach the job-hunting stage of your career.

Here are some examples:

• You can apply to job listings, sending your resume to as many different companies as possible and hope they notice you.
• You can start with an internship to get valuable entry-level experience that most jobs require, even for junior roles.
• You can build your network and make connections with professionals in the industry you are interested in working in and then leverage that network to land a job.
• You can become an authority in your field using social media and online platforms and then leverage your online portfolio to land a job.

There's no reason why you can't do all of these things. In fact, it's probably a good idea to try multiple different approaches when job hunting.

However, networking is by far the most effective method. Most companies prefer to hire based on referrals from their own employees and will even offer referral bonuses to incentivize this.

Step 6: Maintain your certification

AWS certifications are valid for three years. After this, you must go through a recertification process. This usually means that you need to retake (and pass) the exam for the certification you are updating.

You can also refresh your certification by taking an exam that is a level higher than the certification you have. For example, if you already have the Solutions Architect - Associate certification, once you take (and pass) the professional-level certification, your associate-level certification will be refreshed.

However, once you reach the professional level, you can only recertify by taking the latest exam for that level. Luckily, AWS offers a 50% discount for taking a recertification exam. Simply register for the exam and apply the discount from your AWS Certification Account.

Career Opportunities and Salary Expectations

Job roles and industries

AWS certified solutions architects are in high demand across all industries, such as tech, finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and more. This means that there is a wide variety of career opportunities available.

Here are three of the largest industries that hire solutions architects:

• Technology and software development: AWS is widely used in tech companies for application hosting, big data, and DevOps. Think Amazon themselves, Netflix, and Adobe.
• Finance and fintech: The finance sector leverages AWS for secure, scalable, and compliant cloud solutions. Examples of companies in this space are Stripe, JP Morgan, and Capital One.
• Healthcare: AWS supports healthcare organizations with HIPAA-compliant services for data storage, analysis, and machine learning. Companies in this space are highly dependent on skilled solutions architects.

As a solutions architect, you play a crucial role in tech teams, blending strategy with technical expertise. This can make the job challenging but also highly rewarding.

Job titles can also vary by industry or they may depend on the unique responsibilities of the role. Some examples are cloud architect, cloud consultant, or solutions architect.

Salary expectations

The AWS solutions architect certification is among the highest-paid technical certifications in the United States.

As we explore in our guide to the AWS Solutions Architect Associate salaries guide, the average salary is around $147,000 for solutions architects at the associate level. If you choose to get the professional-level solutions architect certifications, the average salary jumps up to $221,069.

According to Indeed, the national average salary for AWS solutions architects in the United States is $145,243 per year.

However, bear in mind that your earning potential as an AWS solutions architect may vary depending on your work experience, certification level, geographic location, and employer.

Conclusion

Continuous learning and development are non-negotiable in technical fields.

The AWS Training and Certification resources are readily available and can go a long way in preparing you for the certification exams.

With DataCamp, you get access to the most up-to-date AWS content, with an extensive library of AWS courses and tutorials to lay the foundation you need to tackle the AWS solutions architect certifications.

If you’re totally new, the best place to start is with our Introduction to AWS course, which covers the foundations you need to get started toward certification. You can also take the AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification (CLF-C02) through DataCamp.