Top 10 Solution Architect Certifications

Certifications are important for Solution Architects in the job market as they demonstrate a level of expertise and knowledge in a specific area. They provide potential employers with an assurance that the candidate is qualified to handle the responsibilities of the role. Certifications also demonstrate commitment to professional development, which can be attractive to employers. Additionally, certifications can help give Solution Architects an edge over other candidates who do not have such qualifications.

The article reviews some of the top certifications for Solution Architects and explains how they can contribute to a solution architect's career growth.

What are Solution Architect Certifications?

Solution Architect Certification is a specialized type of certification that demonstrates an individual's understanding of the end-to-end process of designing, developing, and deploying IT solutions to meet business needs. This certification typically requires a comprehensive knowledge of the entire system development lifecycle, including requirements gathering and analysis, solution design, implementation, testing, and deployment. It also requires an understanding of the underlying technologies used to build these solutions.

Solution Architect Certification can be beneficial in a variety of ways. It can help individuals demonstrate their expertise in building IT solutions that encompass multiple technologies and platforms. It can also help employers identify qualified candidates for positions requiring an understanding of IT architecture as well as solution design and development. Additionally, this certification may increase one's earning potential by providing evidence of higher levels of technical proficiency and experience in the field. Finally, having this certification may provide greater job security since it indicates a commitment to continuing education and professional growth in the field.

Pro Tip: When preparing for a Solution Architect certification exam, focus on understanding the fundamentals of the technology and how it can be used to solve real-world problems. As you gain experience, you will likely find that many of the questions asked in the exam are similar to challenges you have already faced in the field.

Related: What does a Solution Architect do?

Top 10 Solution Architect Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Solution Architects today.

1. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional is a certification offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that demonstrates an individual’s expertise in designing, deploying, and managing applications and infrastructure on the AWS platform. This certification is designed for individuals who have advanced experience with AWS services and are looking to demonstrate their knowledge of the AWS platform.

It typically takes between two and four months to prepare for this certification exam. Preparation can include taking online courses, reading books or blogs, watching videos, attending conferences or workshops, and practicing with hands-on labs. It is recommended that applicants have at least two years of experience working with AWS services before attempting the exam.

The exam consists of multiple choice questions and can be taken online or at a testing center. The cost of the exam varies depending on location but generally ranges from $150 - $300 USD.

To obtain the certification, applicants must pass the exam with a score of 700 out of 1000 points or higher. Once certified, individuals will receive a digital badge that they can share on their website or social media profiles to show off their credentials as an AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional.

2. Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect

Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect is a certification that demonstrates an individual’s ability to design, develop, and manage Google Cloud Platform (GCP) solutions. It is designed for individuals who are responsible for designing and managing GCP solutions in their organization.

To get the certification, you must pass two exams: the Google Cloud Certified Associate Cloud Engineer exam and the Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect exam. The Associate Cloud Engineer exam covers the fundamentals of GCP such as setting up projects, configuring networks, and understanding storage options. The Professional Cloud Architect exam focuses on advanced topics such as designing secure and cost-effective solutions, deploying applications on GCP, and managing data using BigQuery.

It typically takes about three months to prepare for both exams. You can use official Google training materials or third-party courses to help you prepare. You should also practice with hands-on labs to gain experience working with GCP services.

The cost of the certification depends on which course you choose to take. Official Google training courses start at $200 per month while third-party courses can range from $500-$2,000 depending on the provider. You will also need to pay for each exam separately; each exam costs $150 USD.

3. Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert is a certification that validates an individual’s expertise in designing, developing, and deploying cloud-based solutions on Microsoft Azure. It is designed to help IT professionals demonstrate their skills in designing and implementing cloud solutions that meet customer requirements.

The certification requires passing two exams: AZ-303: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies and AZ-304: Microsoft Azure Architect Design. The exams are offered by Pearson VUE and cost $165 USD each.

To become certified as a Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, you must have at least one year of hands-on experience with the Azure platform, including designing and deploying applications, storage, network, and compute resources. You must also have a deep understanding of the features available on the Azure platform and how to use them to solve business problems.

It typically takes three to six months of studying for the exams before taking them. However, this timeline can vary depending on your prior experience with the platform and how much time you are able to dedicate to studying for the exams.

In addition to passing both exams, you must also pass an assessment test administered by Microsoft before being awarded the certification. The assessment tests your ability to design solutions based on customer requirements using best practices for security, scalability, availability, manageability, reliability, and cost optimization.

The total cost of becoming a Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert will depend on how much time it takes you to study for the exams as well as any additional training or materials you might need in order to prepare for them.

4. IBM Certified Solution Architect – Cloud Computing Solutions

IBM Certified Solution Architect – Cloud Computing Solutions is a professional certification that demonstrates your ability to design, build, and deploy cloud solutions. This certification validates your expertise in designing cloud architectures for IBM Cloud products and services. It also provides you with the skills to create innovative cloud solutions that can help organizations realize their business objectives.

The duration of the certification process depends on the individual’s experience level and the type of course they choose. Generally, it takes around 6 months to complete the certification program.

To get certified as an IBM Certified Solution Architect – Cloud Computing Solutions, you must first pass a series of exams that cover topics such as cloud architecture, infrastructure, security, and management. After passing these exams, you will receive an official certificate from IBM.

The cost of the certification depends on the type of course you choose and any additional fees associated with it. Generally speaking, the cost ranges from $2,000 to $4,000 USD.

5. Oracle Certified Master, Cloud Infrastructure Architect

Oracle Certified Master, Cloud Infrastructure Architect is an advanced level certification from Oracle that validates a professional’s expertise in designing, deploying and managing cloud infrastructure solutions. It is designed for experienced professionals who are responsible for architecting and implementing complex cloud infrastructures using Oracle technologies.

The certification consists of two exams: 1Z0-1071-20 (Cloud Infrastructure Architect) and 1Z0-1072-20 (Cloud Infrastructure Implementation). The first exam covers topics such as cloud architecture concepts, cloud security, automation, orchestration, performance optimization, disaster recovery, cost management and more. The second exam focuses on the implementation of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure solutions.

It takes approximately 6 months to complete both exams. The cost of the exams varies depending on the country you are taking them in but typically costs around $300 USD each. To get this certification you must pass both exams with a score of 70% or higher. Additionally, you must have at least 3 years of experience in designing and implementing Oracle cloud infrastructure solutions.

6. Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)

Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) is a certification program from Red Hat, Inc. that recognizes IT professionals who have demonstrated the skills and knowledge necessary to design, deploy, and manage Red Hat solutions in an enterprise environment. It is the highest level of certification offered by Red Hat and requires candidates to demonstrate their expertise in multiple areas.

The RHCA certification process typically takes between three to six months to complete, depending on the individual's experience level and the number of exams they need to take. To become certified as an RHCA, a candidate must pass seven exams: four core exams plus three electives. The cost of taking these exams varies depending on the exam type and location but can range from $400-$1,200 USD per exam.

In addition to passing the required exams, candidates must also demonstrate practical experience with Red Hat technologies through hands-on labs or real-world projects. Candidates must also meet certain prerequisites such as having a valid Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) or higher certification before attempting any RHCA exam.

Once all requirements are met, candidates will receive their RHCA certificate along with other benefits such as access to exclusive resources and discounts on training courses.

7. VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX)

VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) is the highest level of certification offered by VMware. It is designed to recognize IT professionals who have demonstrated advanced skills in designing and deploying complex VMware solutions. The certification requires a combination of technical knowledge, design experience, and customer service skills.

To obtain the VCDX certification, an applicant must first pass two exams: the VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP6-DCV) exam and the VMware Certified Advanced Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization Design (VCAP6-DCV Design) exam. After passing these exams, applicants must submit a design project that meets specific requirements set by VMware. This project will be evaluated by a panel of experts who will determine if the applicant has met all criteria for VCDX certification.

The entire process takes approximately six months to complete from start to finish. The cost of obtaining VCDX certification varies depending on the number of exams taken and other factors such as travel expenses for attending an in-person interview with the panel of experts. However, it typically ranges between $2,000 - $4,000 USD.

8. Salesforce Certified Technical Architect

Salesforce Certified Technical Architect (CTA) is a certification that recognizes the highest level of expertise in designing and building customer-centric solutions on the Salesforce platform. It is the pinnacle of Salesforce certifications and demonstrates a deep understanding of enterprise architectures, application design, data modeling, development, security, and integration.

It takes approximately 8 to 12 months to get CTA certified. To become a CTA, you must first pass the Salesforce Certified Technical Architect Exam. This exam consists of multiple choice questions and requires a minimum score of 85%. You must also have at least five years of experience with Salesforce and have achieved three or more Salesforce certifications. Additionally, you must submit an Architecture Review Board (ARB) submission that outlines your architecture vision for a real-world customer project.

The cost for the CTA exam is $600 USD. The cost for submitting an ARB review is $3,000 USD.

9. OpenStack Certified Solution Architect

OpenStack Certified Solution Architect is a certification program that enables IT professionals to demonstrate their expertise in designing and deploying OpenStack cloud solutions. It is offered by the OpenStack Foundation, the organization that maintains and develops the open source cloud platform.

The certification program consists of two levels: Associate and Professional. The Associate level requires candidates to pass an exam that covers the fundamentals of OpenStack architecture, deployment, operations, troubleshooting, and security. The Professional level requires candidates to pass an exam that covers advanced topics such as scalability, performance optimization, high availability, disaster recovery, security best practices, and more.

It typically takes several months to prepare for the exams depending on your experience with OpenStack. To get started you will need to register for the exams through the OpenStack Foundation website. Once you have registered you will be able to access study materials such as practice tests and training courses from various providers.

The cost of taking the exams varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $200 - $400 USD per exam.

10. Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Data Center

Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Data Center is a certification that validates an individual's ability to plan, design, implement, and troubleshoot complex data center networks. It is the highest level of Cisco certification and requires extensive knowledge of networking protocols, technologies, and architectures.

The CCIE Data Center certification typically takes between six months to two years to complete depending on the individual’s experience and background. The process begins with studying for the written exam which covers topics such as network principles, virtualization technologies, storage networking, unified computing systems, automation and orchestration tools. Once the written exam has been passed, candidates must then pass a lab exam in order to receive their CCIE Data Center certification.

In order to become certified as a CCIE Data Center professional, individuals must first register for the exams through Cisco’s website. The cost of registration varies depending on location but typically falls between $400-$600 USD per exam.

Once registered for the exams, individuals should begin studying by reviewing official training materials provided by Cisco or other third-party vendors. Additionally, some individuals may choose to attend instructor-led classes or online courses in order to prepare for their exams.

Finally, once both written and lab exams have been successfully completed candidates will be awarded their CCIE Data Center certification which is valid for three years before needing recertification.

Do You Really Need a Solution Architect Certificate?

The answer to whether or not you need a solution architect certificate depends on your individual career goals and experience. If you are looking to break into the field of solution architecture, then a certification may be beneficial. It can demonstrate to potential employers that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to work in the field, as well as provide a tangible credential for your resume.

On the other hand, if you already have extensive experience in the field, then a certification may not be necessary. Employers will likely take into account your job history when making hiring decisions, so demonstrating that you have worked successfully in the same role or one similar is often enough to secure a position. Additionally, if you already hold certifications from other organizations that are related to solution architecture, those credentials may be sufficient for employers.

Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether or not they need a solution architect certificate. Depending on where you are in your career and what type of job opportunities you are seeking out, it may be beneficial or unnecessary—it all comes down to your unique situation.

Related: Solution Architect Resume Examples

FAQs About Solution Architect Certifications

1. What is the cost of a Solution Architect Certification?

Answer: The cost of a Solution Architect certification varies depending on the provider and type of certification you choose. Generally, certifications range from $100 to $2,000.

2. What qualifications do I need to become a Solution Architect?

Answer: To become a Solution Architect, you should have an understanding of computer science fundamentals, software development principles, and experience with cloud computing or infrastructure design. You may also need to demonstrate knowledge in specific areas such as security, networking, or DevOps.

3. How long does it take to get certified as a Solution Architect?

Answer: The amount of time it takes to get certified as a Solution Architect depends on the type of certification you choose and how much experience and knowledge you already have related to the field. Generally speaking, certifications can take anywhere from several weeks up to one year or more depending on your level of commitment and study time.

4. Is there an exam required for Solution Architect Certification?

Answer: Yes, most certifications require an exam in order to receive the certification. The exam typically covers topics such as cloud architecture design, system security principles, and software development lifecycle management.

5. What are the benefits of becoming a certified Solutions Architect?

Answer: Becoming a certified Solutions Architect provides numerous benefits such as increased job opportunities, higher salaries, improved credibility within the industry and access to exclusive resources that can help advance your career. Additionally, having a Solutions Architecture certification can give you an edge when competing for jobs against other candidates who don’t have this qualification.