My (Highly) Recommended AWS Exam Resources For A Beginner

Thinking of taking an AWS certification? You’ll soon discover that there’s an insane amount of resources out there. But, since I’d rather see you spend your time learning than endlessly researching, let me speed things up by giving you my top recommendations for taking an AWS certification.

Disclaimer: Just so you know, I don’t think it’s essential that you pay for any resources to pass your AWS exam—however, paid resources can give you things like nice structure in your learning so I do recommend it if you have the cash, but just know that it’s not essential, so don’t feel pressured!

TL;DR; What I Recommend

If you’re short of time, here’s what I’d recommend:

The Udemy Course I’d Recommend

The starting point course for getting started with cloud and AWS that I’d recommend is: Stephane Mareeks Cloud Practitioner Course (check out the current price on Udemy).

Why Cloud Practitioner? If you didn’t know already, the AWS exams are broken down into different tiers, with the foundational exam being this exam, the cloud practitioner. It’s the best introductory AWS exam no matter your background. The associate exams are also a good choice, but if I’m pushed to recommend one exam, cloud practitioner is the clear winner, not the associates.

Why Stephane Mareek? I didn’t just pick any course, Stephane is the highest-rated instructor for AWS certifications on Udemy, Stephane knows what he’s talking about. Stephane has also got many other courses on Udemy, so if you like this one, you can go and take another. Stephane’s name comes up time and time again when I’m reading through forums (go look for yourself, you’ll see what I mean), so it’s not just me who thinks his courses are high quality.

Why Udemy? There are lots of membership platforms out there that are worth checking out. But as a top recommendation, Udemy is the best single choice. Why? Because Udemy is a one-time payment, which allows you to practice for your exam in your own time, and that’s easier to budget for.

That’s why my one big pick for an AWS certification course is: Stephane Mareeks Cloud Practitioner Course (check out the current price on Udemy).

The Practice Exams I’d Recommend

In addition to regular course content, I’d really recommend that you get yourself some practice exams, specifically: Jon Bonso Practice Exams (check out the current prices of his courses on Udemy). The practice exams will help you prep for the exam and give you that extra confidence boost, and hopefully save you money as you’ll not waste the fee you paid for the exam if you fail!

Why Jon Bonso? Jon has put together some seriously good practice exam packages that have helped many exam takers over time. As with Stephane Mareek, Jon’s name comes up time and time again when I’m in cloud communities online, so it’s not just a personal recommendation.

Why practice exams? This isn’t a course, it’s a set of practice exams. Practice exams are a great way to validate your knowledge and build your confidence before you take the leap to take your AWS exam. You don’t need to take any practice exams, but it’s very common to, and it can greatly increase your chances of passing the first time.

Go check out: Jon Bonso Practice Exams (check out the current prices of his courses on Udemy).