AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam is the most basic AWS certification exam for individuals to demonstrate an overall understanding of AWS Cloud.
AWS recommends that candidates come in with at least 6 months of experience with AWS Cloud, and to have a basic understanding of IT services before taking this exam.
Ready to get started? Check out our Intro to AWS for Newbies eBook! I also teach “Introduction to AWS for Non-Engineers“ courses on LinkedIn Learning! Keep on reading for more resource recommendations and practice exams!
Want a community of peers to study with? Check out Cloud Newbies Society!
Looking for a one-page digest that breaks down the exam? Check out the “go-to” guide I’ve written recently: Your guide to the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam
Cloud Practitioner Exam: Content Breakdown
Domain 1: Cloud Concepts (26%)
- Define the AWS Cloud and its value proposition
- Identify aspects of AWS Cloud economics
- List the different cloud architecture design principles
Domain 2: Security (25%)
- Define the AWS Shared Responsibility model
- Define AWS Cloud security and compliance concepts
- Identify AWS access management capabilities
- Identify resources for security support
Domain 3: Technology (33%)
- Define methods of deploying and operating in the AWS Cloud
- Define the AWS global infrastructure
- Identify the core AWS services
- Identify resources for technology support
Domain 4: Billing and Pricing (16%)
- Compare and contrast the various pricing models for AWS
- Recognize the various account structures in relation to AWS billing and pricing
- Identify resources available for billing support
Exam Resources
Below, I have listed some resources I’ve utilized in my studying for the certification exam. The most useful exam prep resources were the sample exam on A Cloud Guru and the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner 2020 Practice Questions eBook from Amazon Kindle.
Introduction to AWS/Cloud Computing
- Intro to AWS for Newbies eBook (AWS Newbies)
- Intro to AWS for Newbies Newsletter Course (Free AWS Newbies)
- Introduction to AWS for Non-Engineers: 1 Cloud Concepts (LinkedIn Learning)
- Introduction to AWS for Non-Engineers: 2 Security (LinkedIn Learning)
- Introduction to AWS for Non-Engineers: 3 Core Services (LinkedIn Learning)
- Introduction to AWS for Non-Engineers: 4 Billing and Pricing (LinkedIn Learning)
- Learning Path: From Zero to AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam (LinkedIn Learning)
Practice Exams
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Practice Tests 2020: 390 Practice Exam Questions with Answers, Links, and Detailed Explanations (Amazon Kindle – free w/ trial subscription!)
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Practice Exams – 2020 (Udemy)
- A Cloud Guru also has practice exam modules
Online Courses
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Course (A Cloud Guru)
- AWS Certification Prep (AWS)
- AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials Course (AWS)
AWS
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (AWS)
- Sign up for Exam (AWS)
Exam Overview
- Cost: $100 (USD)
- Length: 90 minutes
- Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese
Candidate Overview
- Define what the AWS Cloud is and the basic global infrastructure
- Describe basic AWS Cloud architectural principles
- Describe the AWS Cloud value proposition
- Describe key services on the AWS platform and their common use cases
- Describe basic security and compliance aspects of the AWS platform and the shared security model
- Define the billing, account management, and pricing models
- Identify sources of documentation or technical assistance
- Describe basic/core characteristics of deploying and operating in the AWS Cloud
(Source: Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam)