<![CDATA[AWS Discussion Forum - Exams]]> https://letstalkaws.com/ Wed, 13 May 2026 10:13:22 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Solutions Architect certifications and associated roles]]> https://letstalkaws.com/thread-74.html Thu, 11 Aug 2022 08:19:15 +0000 fzs]]> https://letstalkaws.com/thread-74.html
Here's the way I'll put it. A Solutions Architect is ideally meant to be for a 'Systems Architect'. Someone who knows which 1 & 1 to put together to make 2. This know-how comes from years of working in different areas of tech like storage, networks, databases etc.  And a DevOps is ideally supposed be the person that actually makes that possible by doing the development & integration of those 1s to get 2.

If you have been following so far, you would see that a Solutions Architect is more of a hands off role designing the solutions but not necessarily doing the implementation rather supervising it. Granted that nowadays many organizations especially startups have mixed roles regardless of your actual designation or certification, a Solutions Architect has multiple DevOps reporting/working for them where as an SA, you design & oversee implementations.

If have already crossed 8+ yrs of experience in IT in roles that included different areas of tech, then go for the Solutions side as your future with regards to jobs will otherwise be along the lines of Individual Contributor. Solutions side will eventually open up roles into project management and higher executive business roles. DevOps side after those many years would sometimes mean you have to take a step down/salary cut to build up your career again as it's highly competitive and require eyes closed coding skills. But this can be highly rewarding if you are the person that gets satisfaction from getting their hands dirty and actually building things. IC roles will be what you most likely fit into for the rest of your career if you choose this route.

The individual certifications like ML, DB etc. are in it's true form meant for those who are going to be working on the actual implementation, i.e developer/admins. As an Solutions Architect, it will add credibility for you to design solutions in that area but not a requirement since you are only designing the solution, not implementing it.

What are your thoughts on this?]]>
Here's the way I'll put it. A Solutions Architect is ideally meant to be for a 'Systems Architect'. Someone who knows which 1 & 1 to put together to make 2. This know-how comes from years of working in different areas of tech like storage, networks, databases etc.  And a DevOps is ideally supposed be the person that actually makes that possible by doing the development & integration of those 1s to get 2.

If you have been following so far, you would see that a Solutions Architect is more of a hands off role designing the solutions but not necessarily doing the implementation rather supervising it. Granted that nowadays many organizations especially startups have mixed roles regardless of your actual designation or certification, a Solutions Architect has multiple DevOps reporting/working for them where as an SA, you design & oversee implementations.

If have already crossed 8+ yrs of experience in IT in roles that included different areas of tech, then go for the Solutions side as your future with regards to jobs will otherwise be along the lines of Individual Contributor. Solutions side will eventually open up roles into project management and higher executive business roles. DevOps side after those many years would sometimes mean you have to take a step down/salary cut to build up your career again as it's highly competitive and require eyes closed coding skills. But this can be highly rewarding if you are the person that gets satisfaction from getting their hands dirty and actually building things. IC roles will be what you most likely fit into for the rest of your career if you choose this route.

The individual certifications like ML, DB etc. are in it's true form meant for those who are going to be working on the actual implementation, i.e developer/admins. As an Solutions Architect, it will add credibility for you to design solutions in that area but not a requirement since you are only designing the solution, not implementing it.

What are your thoughts on this?]]> <![CDATA[Update: More Flexibility for AWS Certification Exams]]> https://letstalkaws.com/thread-38.html Tue, 16 Oct 2018 19:32:02 +0000 fzs]]> https://letstalkaws.com/thread-38.html In a recent exciting announcement which has come as a relief for many experienced professionals, AWS has now removed the pre-requisites for the Professional and Speciality certifications!

Prior to this, you needed an Associate level certification before being eligible to appear for the Professional certification examination and you needed either an Associate or Foundational level certificate to be eligible to appear for the Specialty certification examination.

Now, you are eligible to directly write the Professional examination without having to be forced to technically pay for 2 exams i.e both Associate and Professional. This is an extremely helpful step for those individuals who already have several years of hands on experience on AWS and shied away from paying for lower level exams like the Associate level.

Here is the full announcement from AWS:

Quote:AWS Certification exams validate skills and expertise with an industry-recognized credential. We’re updating our AWS Certification Program to give you more flexibility by removing exam pre-requisites. You can now choose the exam that’s right for you based on your expertise and goals.

We offer a total of 9 exams at the Foundational, Associate, and Professional level. In the past, we required you to pass an Associate or Foundational level exam before pursuing a Professional or Specialty certification. We listened to our customers, and heard you wanted more flexibility, so we are eliminating these requirements. You are no longer required to have an Associate certification before pursuing a Professional certification, and you are no longer required to hold a Foundational or Associate certification before pursuing Specialty certification.

Explore our recommended learning paths for guidance on how you can advance and validate your cloud skills. We offer digital and classroom training to help you build cloud skills and prepare for certification exams.

We’re making these updates in our system beginning on Thursday, October 11, and all candidates will be able to register for any exam by the end of the month

Source: AWS
]]> In a recent exciting announcement which has come as a relief for many experienced professionals, AWS has now removed the pre-requisites for the Professional and Speciality certifications!

Prior to this, you needed an Associate level certification before being eligible to appear for the Professional certification examination and you needed either an Associate or Foundational level certificate to be eligible to appear for the Specialty certification examination.

Now, you are eligible to directly write the Professional examination without having to be forced to technically pay for 2 exams i.e both Associate and Professional. This is an extremely helpful step for those individuals who already have several years of hands on experience on AWS and shied away from paying for lower level exams like the Associate level.

Here is the full announcement from AWS:

Quote:AWS Certification exams validate skills and expertise with an industry-recognized credential. We’re updating our AWS Certification Program to give you more flexibility by removing exam pre-requisites. You can now choose the exam that’s right for you based on your expertise and goals.

We offer a total of 9 exams at the Foundational, Associate, and Professional level. In the past, we required you to pass an Associate or Foundational level exam before pursuing a Professional or Specialty certification. We listened to our customers, and heard you wanted more flexibility, so we are eliminating these requirements. You are no longer required to have an Associate certification before pursuing a Professional certification, and you are no longer required to hold a Foundational or Associate certification before pursuing Specialty certification.

Explore our recommended learning paths for guidance on how you can advance and validate your cloud skills. We offer digital and classroom training to help you build cloud skills and prepare for certification exams.

We’re making these updates in our system beginning on Thursday, October 11, and all candidates will be able to register for any exam by the end of the month

Source: AWS
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