Top 10 Cloud Consultant Certifications

Certifications are an important part of being a successful cloud consultant in today's job market. They demonstrate that the individual has the knowledge and skills necessary to work with cloud technologies, as well as an understanding of best practices and industry standards. Certifications can also be used to prove competency to potential employers, helping to create a competitive edge when competing for jobs. Additionally, certifications can open up new career opportunities by providing access to higher-level positions or specialized roles within the cloud technology space. Finally, certifications can provide recognition for individuals who have achieved a certain level of expertise in their field and can help them stand out from other applicants.

The article reviews some of the top certifications for Cloud Consultants and explains how they can help to advance a cloud consultant's career.

What are Cloud Consultant Certifications?

Cloud consultant certification is a professional credential that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge and proficiency with cloud computing technologies. It is designed to be a comprehensive program that covers all aspects of cloud computing, including architecture, design, development, deployment, security, and management. This certification can help individuals demonstrate their expertise in the field and become more competitive in the job market. Additionally, it can help organizations select qualified professionals for cloud-related roles. Cloud consultants are typically responsible for designing and implementing cloud solutions for businesses or organizations, so having a certification can be a great way to show potential employers that you have the necessary skills to do the job. Furthermore, this certification can also give you a better understanding of how different cloud technologies work together, which can help you develop more efficient solutions for your clients.

Pro Tip: When looking for a cloud consultant certification, make sure to research the requirements and ensure that the program is accredited by an industry-recognized body. Additionally, look for certifications that are specific to the type of cloud technology you need help with, such as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure. Finally, consider the cost and time commitment required for the certification and if it fits within your budget.

Related: What does a Cloud Consultant do?

Top 10 Cloud Consultant Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Cloud Consultants today.

1. Amazon Web Services Certified Solutions Architect

Amazon Web Services Certified Solutions Architect is a certification program offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It is designed to validate an individual’s technical skills and knowledge of AWS services and solutions. The certification is intended for individuals who have experience designing distributed applications and systems on the AWS platform.

In order to become certified, individuals must pass two exams: the Foundational Exam and the Associate Exam. The Foundational Exam covers basic AWS concepts, such as cloud computing, security, networking, storage, database, analytics, application services, deployment and operations. The Associate Exam tests more advanced topics such as architecture design principles and best practices for deploying applications on AWS.

The amount of time it takes to get certified depends on how much time an individual has available for studying and practice. Generally speaking, it can take anywhere from several weeks to several months depending on the individual's level of experience with AWS technologies.

To get certified in Amazon Web Services Certified Solutions Architect, individuals must first register for an exam through AWS Certification Central. Once registered, they will be able to access study materials such as practice exams and sample questions that can help them prepare for the exam. Additionally, there are numerous online resources available that provide additional guidance on preparing for the exam.

The cost of becoming Amazon Web Services Certified Solutions Architect varies depending on which country you live in. In the United States, the cost is $150 USD per exam while in other countries it may be slightly higher or lower depending on local taxes or currency exchange rates.

2. Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert is a certification that validates an individual’s expertise in designing, building, and managing applications and services on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. It is the highest-level certification from Microsoft for its cloud computing platform.

To become a Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, you must first pass two exams: AZ-300 and AZ-301. The AZ-300 exam covers topics such as designing compute infrastructure, designing storage solutions, designing security solutions, and designing for cost optimization. The AZ-301 exam covers topics such as deploying applications and services to Azure, implementing authentication and secure data, developing for the cloud, managing identities in the cloud, and monitoring and troubleshooting solutions.

The exams can be taken at any Pearson VUE or Prometric testing center or online via remote proctoring. Each exam costs $165 USD.

It typically takes around 3 months to prepare for the exams if you are studying full time. However, this may vary depending on your experience level with Azure and how much time you have available to dedicate to studying each day.

3. Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect

Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect is a certification program designed to help professionals demonstrate their expertise in designing and managing Google Cloud Platform solutions. The certification validates the ability to design, develop, manage, and secure solutions on Google Cloud Platform.

The exam takes 2 hours to complete and consists of multiple choice questions. The exam covers topics such as designing for security, scalability, availability, cost optimization, monitoring & logging, identity & access management, networking & virtual private clouds (VPCs), storage options, Big Data & analytics solutions on GCP.

In order to become a Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect you need to pass the Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect Exam. You can register for the exam online through the Google Cloud Platform website. The cost of the exam is $200 USD.

4. CompTIA Cloud+ Certification

CompTIA Cloud+ is an industry-recognized certification designed to validate the knowledge and skills required of IT professionals working in cloud computing environments. It demonstrates a candidate’s ability to implement, maintain, and deliver reliable cloud infrastructure services.

The CompTIA Cloud+ certification exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions that must be completed in 90 minutes. The exam covers topics such as virtualization, security, infrastructure, resource management, and business continuity. To pass the exam, a candidate must score at least 750 out of 900 points.

To get the CompTIA Cloud+ certification, you must first purchase an exam voucher from CompTIA's website or from an authorized reseller. Once you have your voucher, you can register for the exam at any Pearson VUE testing center. The cost of the exam voucher is $319 USD.

Once you have taken and passed the CompTIA Cloud+ certification exam, you will receive your certificate within 4 to 6 weeks. You will also be listed on the CompTIA website as a certified professional so potential employers can easily verify your credentials.

5. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Certified Architect Associate

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Certified Architect Associate is a certification that recognizes expertise in designing, building, and managing cloud-based solutions on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. It is designed for IT professionals who have experience in designing and deploying cloud solutions with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

The exam consists of multiple choice and drag-and-drop questions that test your knowledge of the fundamentals of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure architecture, including security, networking, compute, storage, database services, and more. The exam takes approximately 2 hours to complete.

To get certified as an Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Certified Architect Associate you must pass the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Architecture Exam (1Z0-932). This exam can be taken online or at a Pearson VUE testing center. The cost of the exam is $245 USD.

In order to prepare for the exam, it is recommended that you take an official training course from Oracle University or review documentation available on the Oracle website. Additionally, there are many third party resources available such as books and practice exams that can help you prepare for the exam.

6. Salesforce Certified Technical Architect

Salesforce Certified Technical Architect (CTA) is the highest level of certification offered by Salesforce. It is designed to recognize the expertise and skills of experienced Salesforce professionals who have demonstrated a deep understanding of Salesforce architecture, design, development, and deployment.

It typically takes 6-12 months to prepare for the CTA exam. To become a CTA, you must first pass two required exams: Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I and II. After passing these exams, you will need to submit an application to be considered for the CTA program. Once accepted into the program, you will need to complete several online courses, attend an in-person workshop, and pass a hands-on assessment.

The cost for the CTA certification varies depending on your country and region. Generally speaking, it costs around $2,000 USD for all of the required exams and workshops. This does not include any additional fees or expenses related to travel or lodging if necessary.

Once you have completed all of the requirements and passed the assessments, you will receive your official Salesforce Certified Technical Architect certification from Salesforce.

7. VMware Certified Professional – Cloud Management and Automation (VCP-CMA)

VMware Certified Professional – Cloud Management and Automation (VCP-CMA) is a certification program designed to validate an individual's skills in managing and automating cloud infrastructures. The certification is intended for IT professionals who are responsible for designing, deploying, and operating VMware vRealize Suite solutions.

It takes approximately two weeks to complete the VCP-CMA training course, which consists of four days of instructor-led training and one day of hands-on lab work. The cost of the course varies depending on the provider but typically ranges from $3,000 - $4,500 USD.

To obtain the VCP-CMA certification, individuals must pass both a written exam and a practical exam. The written exam covers topics such as cloud architecture design, automation, operations management, security and compliance, troubleshooting, and monitoring. The practical exam tests an individual’s ability to configure and deploy vRealize Suite solutions in a simulated environment.

Once an individual has passed both exams they will be awarded the VCP-CMA certification. This certification is valid for two years after which it must be renewed by passing a new set of exams or completing additional courses.

8. Red Hat Certified System Administrator in Red Hat OpenStack

Red Hat Certified System Administrator in Red Hat OpenStack is an advanced certification that demonstrates the skills and knowledge required to install, configure, and manage a Red Hat OpenStack Platform environment. This certification validates the ability to deploy and manage private clouds using Red Hat OpenStack Platform.

This certification requires a minimum of three years of experience with Linux systems administration and one year of experience with Red Hat OpenStack Platform. It also requires passing two exams: EX210 (Red Hat Certified System Administrator in Red Hat OpenStack) and EX310 (Red Hat Certified Engineer in Red Hat OpenStack).

The EX210 exam takes approximately 2 hours to complete and costs $400 USD. The EX310 exam takes approximately 3 hours to complete and costs $600 USD. Both exams are available online through the Red Hat Certification Program website.

In order to become certified, you must pass both exams within 12 months of each other, or you will need to retake them both again. Once you have passed both exams, you will receive your certificate from the Red Hat Certification Program.

9. IBM Certified Solution Advisor – Cloud Computing Architecture V1

IBM Certified Solution Advisor – Cloud Computing Architecture V1 is a professional certification offered by IBM. It validates the knowledge and skills of IT professionals in designing, deploying, and managing cloud computing solutions. The certification requires candidates to demonstrate their ability to evaluate customer requirements, design cloud architectures, and recommend appropriate solutions.

It takes approximately 30 hours of study time to prepare for the exam. To get certified, you must pass an online assessment that consists of multiple-choice questions. The cost of the exam is $200 USD.

To get the certification, you must first register for the exam at Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers. After registering, you can access the course material on IBM’s website or purchase related books from a bookstore or online retailer. Once you have studied the material and feel prepared for the exam, you can schedule your test date with Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers.

10. Cisco CCNP Cloud Certification

Cisco CCNP Cloud certification is a professional-level certification that validates an individual’s skills and knowledge in cloud computing technologies. It is designed to help IT professionals deploy, manage, and troubleshoot cloud-based solutions. The CCNP Cloud certification covers a wide range of topics related to cloud computing, including architecture, security, automation, orchestration, and more.

To obtain the CCNP Cloud certification, candidates must pass two exams: CLDFND (Implementing Cisco Cloud Fundamentals) and CLDADM (Managing Cisco Cloud Solutions). The CLDFND exam focuses on the fundamentals of cloud computing and covers topics such as virtualization technologies, cloud services models, deployment models, networking fundamentals for cloud environments, storage technologies for clouds, and more. The CLDADM exam focuses on the management of cloud solutions and covers topics such as identity management in the cloud environment, security best practices for clouds, monitoring tools for clouds, automation tools for clouds, orchestration tools for clouds, and more.

The time required to complete the CCNP Cloud certification depends on an individual’s experience level. Generally speaking it can take anywhere from six months to one year to complete both exams depending on how much time is dedicated to studying each week.

In order to take either of the two exams required for the CCNP Cloud Certification you must first register with Pearson VUE which is an online testing provider authorized by Cisco Systems. Once registered you can then schedule your exam at any Pearson VUE testing center near you or online via their website.

The cost of each exam varies depending on location but generally ranges from $200-$300 USD per exam.

Do You Really Need a Cloud Consultant Certificate?

The short answer to this question is no, you do not need a cloud consultant certificate in order to become a cloud consultant. However, having one can certainly help you stand out in the job market and show potential employers that you take your career seriously.

A cloud consultant certificate can demonstrate that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to help organizations migrate their data and applications to the cloud, as well as manage their cloud infrastructure. It can also show that you are up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies related to cloud computing. These skills are essential for success in this rapidly changing field. In addition, having a certification may give you an edge over other applicants when it comes time for interviews.

Ultimately, whether or not you decide to pursue a cloud consultant certificate is up to you. If your goal is to become a successful cloud consultant, then it could be worth investing in one if it will give you an advantage over competition. On the other hand, if your current level of knowledge and experience are sufficient for your needs then there may be no need for additional certification.

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FAQs About Cloud Consultant Certifications

Q1. What is a Cloud Consultant Certification?

A1. A Cloud Consultant Certification is a credential that validates the knowledge and skills of individuals in providing cloud consulting services. It demonstrates that an individual has the expertise and experience needed to advise clients on cloud-related issues, such as architecture, migration, security, and cost optimization.

Q2. What are the benefits of having a Cloud Consultant Certification?

A2. Having a Cloud Consultant Certification can help individuals demonstrate their expertise and increase their value in the job market. It also allows them to stay up-to-date on the latest technologies and best practices in cloud computing, which can help them provide better service to their clients.

Q3. What types of certifications are available?

A3. There are several different types of certifications available for cloud consultants, including Amazon Web Services (AWS) certifications, Microsoft Azure certifications, Google Cloud Platform certifications, IBM Cloud Certifications and Oracle Cloud Certifications.

Q4. Do I need experience to become certified?

A4: Yes, most certification programs require applicants to have prior experience working with cloud technology or related fields before becoming certified. However, some programs offer training courses that can help applicants gain the necessary knowledge and experience required for certification eligibility.

Q5: How long does it take to get certified?

A5: The amount of time it takes to get certified depends on the type of certification program you choose and how much prior experience you have with cloud technology or related fields. Generally speaking, most certification programs can be completed within 6 months or less if you have prior knowledge or experience with cloud computing or related areas