Pick the right AWS certification, prep with a mentor who has already passed it, and put it to work in your next role. Updated for 2026.
Anyone can sign up for a certification course. But getting certified – and putting that knowledge to work – takes more than reading slides. A long-term mentor keeps you focused and gets you across the finish line faster.
The best AWS certification depends on your current role and target job. Most professionals start with a foundational AWS cert to validate core skills, then move to a role-specific track. Pairing exam prep with a AWS mentor on MentorCruise cuts study time and turns the cert into real, applied skills.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Based on 13 AWS certifications recommended by working mentors.
The 12 industry certs below, plus MentorCruise itself as the 1-on-1 prep path most mentees pair with whichever one they pick. Each cert is paired with prep notes from someone who has already passed it. Not sure which to start with? Talk to a AWS mentor first – the wrong cert costs you months.
DevOps on AWS specialization teaches you how to use the combination of DevOps philosophies, practices and tools to develop, deploy, and maintain applications in the AWS Cloud. Benefits of adopting DevOps include: rapid delivery, reliability, scalability, security and improved collaboration. Prices…
Consider reaching out to a coach specialized in AWS certifications. They can help you prepare for your exam, and provide you with the necessary resources to succeed. MentorCruise is the best place to find a coach for your AWS certification.
The AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional showcases individuals’ technical expertise in provisioning, operating, and managing distributed application systems on the AWS platform, giving them increased confidence and credibility with peers, stakeholders, and customers. Organizations with thes…
Gain Skills to understand the fundamentals of Machine Learning. Learn working with various AWS Services necessary for Machine Learning. Hands on Experience working with AWS Management Console. Prepare for AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty Certification Prices start at Free.
Welcome to AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials. If you’re new to the cloud, whether you’re in a technical or non-technical role such as finance, legal, sales, marketing, this course will provide you with an understanding of fundamental AWS Cloud concepts to help you gain confidence to contribute to y…
This professional certificate provides the knowledge and skills you need to start building your career in cloud architecture and helps you prepare for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate exam. You will start by learning key AWS Services for compute, storage, database, networking, moni…
Consider joining a workshop specialized in AWS. Workshops are a great way to learn new skills, and get hands-on experience. MentorCruise is the best place to find a workshop for your AWS certification.
AWS Certified AI Practitioner validates in-demand knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and generative AI concepts and use cases. Sharpen your competitive edge and position yourself for career growth and higher earnings. Prices start at $100.
This credential helps certified individuals showcase advanced knowledge and skills in providing complex solutions to complex problems, optimizing security, cost, and performance, and automating manual processes. This certification is a means for organizations to identify and develop talent with the…
This AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner specialization is designed for individuals seeking to develop proficiency in AWS cloud computing fundamentals. The specialization is aligned with the AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification exam structure and will help you prepare for the certification exam. Pric…
This credential helps organizations identify and develop talent with critical skills for implementing cloud initiatives. Earning AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty validates expertise in designing and maintaining network architecture for the breadth of AWS services. Prices start at $300.
This specialization gives current or aspiring IT professionals an overview of the features, benefits, and capabilities of Amazon Web Services (AWS). As you proceed through these four interconnected courses, you will gain a more vivid understanding of core AWS services, key AWS security concepts, st…
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate validates skills and knowledge in monitoring and maintaining AWS workloads, implementing security controls and networking concepts, performing business continuity procedures, and implementing cost and performance optimizations. Prices start at $150.
The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner validates foundational, high-level understanding of AWS Cloud, services, and terminology. This is a good starting point on the AWS Certification journey for individuals with no prior IT or cloud experience switching to a cloud career or for line-of-business emp…
A AWS cert is a starting point, not a finish line
A certificate proves you can pass an exam. A mentor proves you can apply the work. Most of our mentees pair their AWS cert with weekly 1-on-1 sessions so the knowledge sticks – and translates into a promotion, a new job, or a real project shipped.
There is no better source of accountability and motivation than having a personal mentor who has already passed the cert you're studying for. All mentors are vetted, certified, and hands-on.
Explore a curated network of vetted mentors – engineers, designers, founders, and more. Find someone who matches your goals, skills, and budget.
Choose a flexible plan that fits your pace – whether it's Q&A chats, regular calls, or something in between, your mentor will help you build a personalized roadmap.
Get ongoing support through regular calls, check-ins, and feedback. Your mentor stays with you for the long haul.
Mentees who stick with their mentor for 3+ months reach their goals 2x faster than they would on their own. Fewer dead ends, more breakthroughs.
A mentor who has already passed the AWS cert can spot weak areas in your prep, point you at the exam topics that actually matter, and save you a re-sit fee.
Cut down on failed attempts, abandoned courses, and bootcamp upsells. Work directly with someone who knows what worked and what didn't.
Self-paced learning is easy to drop. Mentorship adds structure and momentum, so you actually finish the cert you started.
Mentors help with more than the exam – they review portfolios, coach for interviews, and translate the cert into a promotion or new role.
Frequently asked
The questions AWS mentees ask most before picking a certification and starting prep.
Start with a foundational AWS certification if you're new to the field – it validates core concepts and is recognized everywhere. If you already have hands-on experience, jump to a role-specific or associate-level track. A AWS mentor can look at your background in one session and tell you which cert is the right starting point.
Most AWS certifications take 6 to 16 weeks of structured prep, depending on your starting point and the cert level. Foundational exams are closer to 6 weeks. Professional and specialty exams run longer. Mentees with weekly mentor sessions typically finish in the lower half of that range.
Yes, when paired with applied work. A AWS certification opens recruiter pipelines and signals baseline competence – hiring managers still look for evidence you can use the skill on real projects. That's why mentees who get certified alongside mentor-led portfolio work move into roles faster than those who only have the cert.
MentorCruise plans start at $120/month, which is roughly 70% less than most cert bootcamps. You get weekly 1-on-1 sessions with a AWS expert plus async messaging between sessions. Cancel anytime – you're not locked into a multi-month bootcamp contract.
Courses give you a curriculum. A mentor gives you a curriculum, accountability, and a feedback loop on the gaps you didn't know you had. Most mentees pair both – they consume a self-paced course and meet with a mentor weekly to debug their understanding. Pure self-study works for some, but completion rates are much lower.
Yes. Most MentorCruise mentors do production AWS work day-to-day. They'll guide you through portfolio projects, code reviews, architecture decisions, and the kind of real-world judgment calls that an exam can't test for. This is what closes the gap between "certified" and "actually employable".
A failed attempt is information, not a verdict. Most cert programs let you re-sit after a short waiting period. Your mentor will help you read the score report, identify which knowledge domains you missed, and rebuild the prep plan around those gaps. Mentees who fail once and re-sit with a mentor usually pass the second time.
Weekly 1-hour sessions are the sweet spot for most AWS certification tracks. It's frequent enough to stay accountable and unblock confusion early, but not so frequent that you don't have time to study between sessions. Bi-weekly works for longer prep cycles or part-time learners.
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Senior Software Engineer / Manager at Microsoft
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Lead SRE/Chaos Engineer/Speaker at Talend
Founder & Technical Mentor at From Scratch Code
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