How to Get AWS Data Engineer Certification: Step-by-Step Guide for 2025

Can a single click launch a data stream that ingests terabytes, cleans records in seconds, and updates dashboards before the next query arrives? That capability lives inside Amazon Web Services, and the AWS Data Engineer Certification verifies you can design it responsibly. The badge is now a preferred signal for hiring teams that run analytics on cloud‑native stacks. Earning it during 2025 will position you for roles focused on real‑time insights and large‑scale storage.

This guide explains every requirement, resource, and timeline milestone so you can move with confidence rather than trial and error.
Continue reading to map your current knowledge to each exam objective and build a study plan that works the first time.

AWS Data Engineer Certification: An Overview

An AWS Data Engineer works with pipelines, storage engines, and analytics services that process terabytes of data daily. The certification path proves you can design, build, and optimise those systems inside AWS. In 2025, businesses are steadily shifting toward real‑time dashboards and machine‑learning workloads. They need engineers who speak both infrastructure and data fluently.

Read: Amazon Web Services (AWS) – Beginners’ Guide

AWS Badges That Validate Data Engineering Skills

There is no single exam named “AWS Data Engineer.” Instead, two key certifications together meet what most recruiters seek.

1. Primary Certification: AWS Certified Data Analytics– Specialty
   

This badge validates skills in ingestion, storage, processing, and analysis. It covers services such as Kinesis, Glue, Redshift, Athena, and QuickSight.

2. Supporting Certification: AWS Certified Solutions Architect– Associate
   

This certificate proves your understanding of high availability, cost control, and system design. Since all data pipelines require solid architecture, employers often look for this in addition to the data-specific badge.

Benefits of AWS Data Engineer Certification

Here are the predominant perks of AWS Data Engineer Certification:  

1. Career acceleration: Certified data engineers earn over 10-20% more than non-certified peers on average.
2. Skill alignment: In-demand job roles list AWS Glue, Kinesis, and Redshift as baseline tools.
3. Community access: Certification grants entry to exclusive webinars, invite-only group, and pilot programs.
4. Cloud versatility: While Azure and Google Cloud offer strong features, AWS remains the first stop for many enterprise workloads.

Explore More: 10 Best AWS Cloud Computing Courses [Free+Paid]

Eligibility Criteria and Prerequisites

Anyone can register for the certification, but success comes easier when certain skills are already in place.

Who Can Apply?

• Final-year students who understand scripting and data structures
• IT professionals already managing data platforms or automation tools

Recommended Background

• At least 12 months working with data pipelines
• Experience writing SQL queries and Python scripts
• Comfort with Linux file operations and shell commands

Prerequisite AWS Certificates

Although there is no formal prerequisite, starting with AWS Cloud Practitioner helps build your understanding of identity, billing and architecture basics.

Technical Skills Checklist

Review these topics to prepare for certification-level study:

• Managing S3 versioning and lifecycle transitions
• Writing IAM policies with least privilege in mind
• Understanding common data formats such as Parquet and JSON
• Familiarity with Spark, MapReduce, or serverless ETL concepts

AWS Data Engineer Certification Exam Overview– Specialty and Associate Paths

Both certifications use a scenario-based multiple-choice format, but the domains and depth differ.

1. Exam Format

• Data Analytics Specialty: 65 questions, 180 minutes
• Solutions Architect Associate: 65 questions, 130 minutes

2. Delivery Options

You may choose in-person testing at a Pearson VUE center or remote proctoring at home with a webcam and stable internet. The format and scoring remain the same for both.

3. Topic Distribution for Data Analytics Specialty

This exam checks your ability to handle streaming, batch and analytic workloads across services.

• Collection systems: Kinesis, DMS, IoT Core
• Storage: S3 tiering, DynamoDB patterns, Redshift compression
• Processing: Glue scripting, EMR cluster tuning, Lambda stream filters
• Analytics and Visualisation: Athena, QuickSight, Redshift Spectrum
• Security and Governance: KMS encryption, Lake Formation permissions, CloudTrail

4. Topic Distribution for Solutions Architect Associate

This exam verifies your grasp on general AWS system architecture and cost‑effective deployments.

• Design for high availability using multi-AZ and failover strategies
• Enhance performance through load balancing, CloudFront, and database tuning
• Secure infrastructure with IAM roles, VPC networking, and encryption standards
• Cost optimisation via right-sizing, savings plans and lifecycle policies

5. Language Availability, Validity and Renewal

Exams are offered in English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. Each badge stays valid for three years. You can renew by retaking the same exam or earning a more advanced one that includes overlapping topics.

6. Industry Recognition

AWS holds the largest market share in global cloud infrastructure. Hiring managers trust AWS certifications to represent actual project experience rather than just theoretical familiarity.

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting AWS Data Engineer Certified

Clear action steps prevent scattered learning. Here is the roadmap explained for new candidates.

Step 1: Assess Current Skills and Identify Gaps

Start with a simple table. List tools you already know on one side. Match each to a certification topic. Any unmatched area becomes your immediate study focus.

Step 2: Select the Right Certification First

Pick Solutions Architect– Associate if you are new to AWS core concepts. Choose Data Analytics– Specialty if you have already built data pipelines. Many candidates take the Associate exam first for foundational fluency.

Step 3: Schedule the Exam and Set a Timeline

Visit the AWS Certification portal and select a test date 8 to 12 weeks out. Pre-paying creates commitment. If your internet is unreliable, opt for a test center instead of online proctoring.

Step 4: Create a Balanced Study Plan

Structure your learning with these resources:

• AWS Skill Builder: Self-paced lessons with topic-based quizzes
• Official whitepapers: Especially the Streaming Data Solutions and Lake Formation guides
• Hands-on labs: Try Qwiklabs or Cloud Academy for real console experience
• Practice tests: Tutorial Dojo and Whizlabs simulate exam pressure
• Mentor-driven platform: Use the GUVI AWS Course, which offers graded labs and live doubt-clearing

Practical tip: After watching a video on Kinesis, create a mini-lab that streams JSON events into S3 and observe delivery patterns.

Step 5: Take the AWS Exam with Focus

On exam day, arrive early or finish proctor setup in advance. Read each scenario carefully. Distractor options are common and differ by subtle security or cost detail. Flag long questions and return later if needed.

Step 6: Claim Your Badge and Showcase Projects

You’ll receive digital credentials within one business day. Update LinkedIn and upload portfolio projects. Build a sample ETL pipeline from S3 to Redshift and pair it with a QuickSight dashboard to demonstrate end-to-end understanding.

Top Resources to Prepare for AWS Data Engineer Certification

Learning styles differ. Some learners prefer visuals, while others absorb best through hands-on repetition. Below are resources curated for clarity, depth, and exam relevance.

1. Concept Clarity

• “Data Engineering on AWS” by Gareth Eagar. Breaks down cloud architectures with real-world data flow examples.
• AWS Whitepapers. Especially the Analytics Lens and Streaming Data Solutions papers for deep design insights.

2. Video Learning

• Stephane Maarek’s Udemy Courses. Clear, concise lessons on AWS services with exam-specific advice.
• AWS Skill Builder. Official video learning paths with service-focused modules and mini assessments.

3. Hands-On Practice

• Qwiklabs and Cloud Academy. Guided console labs that simulate exam use cases without surprise billing.
• Triple-method labs. Practice deploying services via Console, CLI and CloudFormation to build confidence in any setting.

4. Practice Tests

• Tutorial Dojo (Jon Bonso). Known for realistic question phrasing and difficulty.
• Whizlabs. Offers multiple practice exams with timed modes and explanations.

5. Mentorship and Feedback

• Enroll in the GUVI AWS Course for structured training, hands-on feedback, and live mentor sessions that turn knowledge into interview-ready confidence. This course is ideal for beginners who benefit from structured guidance and immediate feedback.

6. Study Community

• ExamPro Discord & Reddit’s r/AWSCertifications. Find study groups, real exam debriefs, and shared flashcards.
• AWS re: Post. Community Q&A with AWS staff and professionals across all certification paths.

Field-Tested Tips and Strategies to Pass the Exam

Even the best study material will not help if you approach the exam with poor habits or stress. These tips have helped thousands of successful candidates.

1. Time Management

• Associate exam. Spend no more than 90 seconds per question.
• Specialty exam. Allow 2 to 3 minutes per scenario. Flag long ones and return later.

2. Hands-On Confidence

• Build and break labs. Deliberately misconfigure IAM roles or buffering settings and trace logs.
• Repeat critical deployments via multiple methods. Console, CLI, and CloudFormation.

3. Avoid Common Mistakes

• Do not rely solely on theory. Practice matters.
• Never skip whitepapers. Questions often reuse key phrases.
• Do not memorize service limits or pricing. Focus on design and decision logic.

4. Retention and Focus

• Use the Pomodoro method. 50 minutes study plus 10 minutes break.
• Review recent exam debriefs. Note any unexpected services or topics mentioned.
• Summarize each chapter or lab in a notebook or digital doc. Rewrite tough concepts in your own words.

Career Opportunities After Earning the Badge

Once you earn your AWS Data Engineer Certification, the professional landscape opens up across levels, from foundational roles in startups to leadership tracks in established enterprises. Adding this badge to your resume sends a clear signal of your readiness to build scalable and analytics-driven cloud infrastructure.

Top Job Titles in the Indian Market for Professionals with AWS Data Engineer Certification 

Here are examples of roles that actively seek AWS-certified data professionals:

• AWS Data Engineer
• Cloud Data Platform Engineer
• Big Data Engineer
• Streaming Analytics Developer
• Analytics Solutions Architect
• Data Warehouse Specialist
• Redshift Administrator
• AWS BI Developer
• Cloud ETL Developer
• Senior AWS Data Architect

Each of these roles requires varying levels of experience, yet all expect core familiarity with services like S3, Redshift, Kinesis, and Glue.

Salary Ranges in India Based on Experience

Below is a general breakdown of compensation trends across the most active AWS data engineering roles, based on common hiring data reported on public portals like Glassdoor and verified salary trackers:

Source~Glassdoor

Conclusion

The journey to AWS Data Engineer Certification does not require genius. It needs structure, consistency, and hands-on learning. With this guide, you now have a full map.

• Assess skills
• Choose the right exam
• Anchor your timeline
• Study with labs, whitepapers, and practice tests
• Earn the badge
• Build and publish a real project

Your future as a cloud data engineer starts now. Take the first step today.

FAQs

Q1: How much does the AWS Data Analytics Specialty exam cost?
USD 300, payable through the AWS portal.

Q2: Can I retake the exam if I do not pass?
Yes. You can retake the exam after 14 days.

Q3: How long should I prepare before attempting the exam?
Around 100 to 120 hours spread over 8 to 12 weeks works well if you have some AWS experience.

Q4: Is AWS still the best cloud provider to certify on in 2025?
Yes. AWS remains the most widely adopted platform, especially in enterprise data environments.

Q5: Does AWS offer sample questions?
Yes. Each exam blueprint includes a few official sample questions and links to Skill Builder quiz previews.