What Is the Best AWS Certification for Java Developers?


I am a Java Developer looking to validate my technical skills and I was wondering which AWS certification is right for me. Many people say that of the eleven AWS certifications, Certified Developer, SysOps Administrator, DevOps Engineer, and Solutions Architect is the best for developers to look at. Finding the right one can save time and help me to reach my professional goals sooner.

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What is the best AWS certification for JAVA developers? The AWS Certified Developer certification is the best for Java developers to look at because it will help you to integrate your programming skills with what you are developing for AWS services.

With the AWS certification, you will learn how to pick the right AWS services for the application that you are developing. You will also learn how to leverage AWS SDK’s that interact with your application’s AWS services. If you are actively involved with the server-side of deploying java applications,  you may also want to apply for the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator certification.

Why Is the AWS Certified Developer Certification the Best Fit for Java Developers?

There are eleven different AWS certifications that people can apply for. The AWS Certified Developer certification is an associate-level certification aimed at developers who have several years of hands-on experience maintaining and developing AWS-based applications. This industry-recognized credential is a  certificate that allows you to validate your technical skills and expertise so that you can grow your career Trusted source.

As a Java developer, this certification is a great place to start because it validates your ability to demonstrate an understanding of core AWS services and AWS architecture best practices. Having this certificate will show people that you know how to demonstrate proficiency in developing, deploying, and debugging cloud-based applications. Aside from having your abilities validated by an industry-recognized credential, there are also many other benefits to obtaining this AWS certification.

Developers that have an AWS Certified Developer Certification typically have many more profitable career avenues open up to them. AWS Certified Developers are consistently listed among the top-paying info-tech certifications globally.  This means that you will be able to obtain a higher salary and enjoy an increased quality of life.

As a Java Developer, it is an excellent idea to get AWS certified because this is quickly becoming the gold standard for cloud computing. Having a cloud that is 10 times bigger than it’s next 14 competitors,  Amazon and AWS is leading the pack in this field of technological advancement. This is why taking advantage of Amazon’s platform will make your life much easier.

Also because Amazon’s certification is feasible and within reach of the average Java developer, it offers a realistic certification path that doesn’t demand highly specialized training as a starting requirement. This means that you won’t have to quit your job and fork out money on expensive courses to get your first AWS certification.

If you already have some hands-on programming experience in developing cloud-based applications, obtaining your AWS Certified Developer certification will be even easier. This will be a very positive career move because AWS is in high demand and among the top-paying jobs. There has never been a better time to transition from developer to AWS cloud specialist.

What Does a Possible Learning Path for a Developer Transitioning to Cloud Specialist Look Like?

Once you have become an AWS Certified Developer you will be classed as an intermediate AWS cloud specialist in the eyes of employers and professionals. The Next milestone would be to go for the AWS Certified SysOps certification. From this point on If you want to be validated as an expert developer/cloud specialist, you should look towards the AWS Certified DevOps Administrator certification.

The AWS Certified SysOps Administrator certification will help you to become acquainted with the role of deployment, management, and operations in AWS. Of Course, having prior experience as a systems administrator in a systems operations role will be beneficial. Hands-on experience with AWS CLI and SDKs/API tools is recommended.

This certification is also classed in the associate level along with the  AWS Certified Developer certification and will greatly help you towards your goal of becoming AWS DevOps certified. This is because AWS SysOps admins can deploy, manage, and operate highly-scalable fault-tolerant systems on AWS. They can also implement and control the flow of data to and from AWS Trusted Source.

By receiving this AWS certification you will validate your ability to select the proper AWS service based on data or security requirements. You will also show that you know how to identify the appropriate use of AWS operational best practices and migrate on-premises workloads to AWS. This essential knowledge will help you a great deal when you eventually want to move on to getting an expert-level certification.

Once you have completed both the AWS Certified Developer and AWS Certified SysOps exams successfully you are ready to move on to AWS Certified DevOps Engineer. This certification is classed in the professional category you will be viewed as an expert with this qualification. When you have reached this point you will be validated as a professional developer/cloud specialist.

This certification shows that you will be able to implement and manage continuous delivery systems and methodologies on AWS. Your skill in automating security controls and governance processes will also be validated. AWS Certified DevOps Engineers are also proficient at monitoring, metrics, and logging systems on AWS Trusted Source.

The AWS Certified DevOps Engineer is an advanced certification and it is recommended that you have knowledge of developing code in a high-level programming language like Java. This is why it is a great choice for people who already have experience in developing Java applications. If you have prior experience in building highly automated infrastructures it will benefit you greatly.

Being able to understand modern development, operations processes and methodologies is another reason why this certification is a great fit for Java developers. If you have experienced at administering operating systems it will be a great asset in achieving this certification.

What About the AWS Solutions Architect Certification?

Although having a good understanding of java programming will be a great asset, there are some differences between the roles of AWS Developer/SysOps and AWS Solutions Architect. For those who want an overview of all the services the Solutions Architect path is recommended. However, for those who want to develop on the AWS platforms, the Developer exam is recommended.

There are also many benefits in following the AWS Solutions Architect path. If you already have an AWS Tech Essential Certification or a background as java developer, then the next step will be the AWS Solutions Architect exam. This is an associate-level qualification and will validate your skills degree as intermediate cloud practitioner Trusted Source.

Knowing how to architect and deploy secure and robust applications on AWS technologies is essential for AWS Certified Solution Architects. Having this certification means that your skills at defining solutions using architectural design principles based on customer requirements will be validated. It will also show that you know how to provide implementation guidance based on best practices to organizations throughout the life cycles of their projects.

After completing your AWS Certified Solutions Architect course the next milestone that you should aim for is the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional certification. By doing this course you will validate that you have advanced technical skills and experience in designing distributed systems and applications on the AWS platform. Getting an AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional certification is the next step to becoming a qualified expert in this field of cloud computing.

Related Questions

What are the Eleven AWS Certifications?

  • Entry-level – AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
  • Associate level – AWS Certified Developer
  • Associate level – AWS Certified SysOps Administrator
  • Associate level- AWS Certified Solutions Architect
  • Professional-level- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
  • Professional-level- AWS Certified Solutions Architect
  • Specialty- AWS Certified Big Data
  • Specialty- AWS Certified Advanced Networking
  • Specialty AWS Certified Security
  • Specialty AWS Certified Alex Skill Builder
  • Specialty AWS Certified Machine Learning

Do AWS certifications stay relevant?

Following the date on which you successfully pass the applicable exam your AWS certification stays relevant for a period of three years. Cloud Specialists are required to periodically demonstrate their continued expertise through a process called recertification. This process of recertification ensures that AWS qualifications stay relevant Trusted Source.

Can I still become an AWS Certified DevOps Engineer if I am not a Java Developer?

If you don’t have any experience in developing applications you can still follow the AWS Developer path. The best place to start would be to do the entry-level AWS Tech Essential Certification and then move on to AWS Certified Developer form there. While doing your entry-level course you can greatly benefit from learning a high-level programming language like Java on the side.

Is the AWS Developer path better that the Solutions Architect path?

Each AWS learning path is individual to its relevant role in the cloud computing sector of industry. If you want to actively engage in a role where you develop on the AWS platforms then the Developer path will be right for you. However, the AWS Solutions Architect path is for those who want an overview of all of the cloud computing services.

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