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Learning about Amazon Web Services – Common Questions about Certification
If you’re standing at the edge of the cloud-computing world wondering where to start—or where to go next—you’ve probably run into this question: Should I focus on cloud fundamentals, or aim straight for becoming a Certified AWS Engineer?
They sound related (and they are), but they serve very different purposes. To know which works better for you personally, we need to define what makes the two unique. Understanding the difference can save you time, money, and a lot of frustration.
Cloud fundamentals are the basics of Cloud Computing. It explains how the cloud works, while being non-specific to service providers. Key topics include:
Cloud fundamentals are ideal for beginners with little to no cloud experience, those with non-technical roles, students, career switchers, or anyone who wants a strong conceptual foundation in cloud computing.
Cloud fundamentals are easy to learn, not tied to a singular cloud provider (meaning the knowledge can be applied anywhere), and helps users understand exactly why the cloud works the way it does.
However, cloud fundamentals are not perfect. For one, they aren’t actually enough for a hands-on engineering role. This is because cloud computing doesn’t prove to employers that an individual has deep technical skills.
What makes being a Certified AWS Engineer different? We’ll get into that next!
A Certified AWS Engineer is someone who has demonstrated hands-on expertise with Amazon Web Services through official certifications such as:
(Recommended courses: Architecting on AWS, Advanced Architecting on AWS
Optional: AWS Well-Architected Best Practices, AWS Technical Essentials, AWS Well-Architected Best Practices, Migrating to AWS, Designing and Implementing Storage on AWS)
(Recommended courses: Developing on AWS
Optional: Developing Serverless Solutions on AWS, Build Modern Applications with AWS NoSQL Databases)
(Recommended courses: DevOps Engineering on AWS
Optional: Developing on AWS, Cloud Operations on AWS)
AWS Engineering focuses on designing and deploying AWS architectures, configuring EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda, and VPCs, managing IAM roles and security policies, monitoring with CloudWatch, automating infrastructure with CloudFormation or Terraform, and optimizing performance, reliability, and cost.
This path is for those who are looking to be cloud engineers, developers working with AWS hosted applications, IT professionals upgrading their skillsets, and people targeting AWS specific roles.
The benefits of being an AWS Certified Engineer include being highly valued by employers, being able to demonstrate practical, job ready skills, and being an AWS Certified Engineer can boost salary potential.
However, there is a steeper learning curve when it comes to being an AWS Certified Engineer. Another issue that you might face might be that AWS skills may not transfer to other cloud systems such as Azure or CGP. It also requires hands on practice and ongoing updates to keep up with ever evolving systems.
Start with cloud fundamentals if:
Cloud fundamentals help you build confidence and avoid blindly memorizing commands without context.
Go for AWS certification if:
AWS certifications are especially powerful when paired with real projects and labs.
In conclusion, Cloud fundamentals and Certified AWS Engineer paths aren’t competitors—they’re teammates.
If cloud computing is a language, fundamentals teach you the grammar, while AWS engineering teaches you how to write production-ready code that businesses actually use.
Whether you’re just starting out or levelling up, choosing the right step at the right time can make your cloud journey smoother, faster, and way more enjoyable.
The cloud isn’t going anywhere. The real question is: how deep do you want to go?
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