Ultimate Guide to the AWS SysOps Administrator - Associate Certification in 2023
By Alex • Updated Jan 13, 2023
Overview | Exam Guide | Courses | Practice Exams
About: What is the AWS SysOps Administrator certification?
The AWS SysOps Administrator Certification is a certification offered by AWS that “demonstrates experience deploying, managing, and operating workloads on AWS” (source).
Jobs: Which jobs can you get with an AWS SysOps Administrator certification?
According to Credly, there are 1,864 job openings related to the AWS SysOps Administrator certification in the US alone. The 5 job titles with the most openings are:
- Systems Engineer Senior Advisor: 322 job postings
- Site Reliability Engineer: 133 job postings
- Senior Risk Oversight Manager Technology Change: 107 job postings
- Cloud Engineer: 97 job postings
- DevOps Engineer: 93 job postings
Salary: Which salary can you expect with an AWS SysOps Administrator certification?
In 2022, the average salary for an AWS SysOps Administrator in the United States is $100,898 per year (source: ZipRecruiter).
The majority of salaries currently range between $84,000 (25th percentile) to $118,500 (75th percentile).
Requirements: What are the requirements for the AWS SysOps Administrator certification?
There are no hard requirements that professionals need to fulfill in order to take the exam and become certified. However, AWS recommends that professionals have the following experience:
- A minimum of one year of hands-on experience with AWS technology
- Experience deploying, managing, and operating workloads on AWS as well as implementing security controls and compliance requirements
- Familiarity with using both the AWS Management Console and the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI)
- Understanding of the AWS Well-Architected Framework as well as AWS networking and security services
Cost: How much does the AWS SysOps Administrator certification cost?
The certification exam costs 150 USD. This does not include potential costs for study materials such as online courses and practice exams.
Recertification: How long is the certification valid & how can it be renewed?
AWS certifications are valid for three years. To maintain your AWS Certified status, AWS requires you to periodically demonstrate your continued expertise though a process called recertification (source).
In order to get recertified for the AWS SysOps Administrator certification you have 2 options:
- Option 1: Retake the AWS SysOps Administrator exam
- Option 2: Pass any Professional-level AWS certification
FAQs
Who is the AWS SysOps Administrator certification for?
The AWS SysOps Administrator certification is for individuals who have experience with systems administration and are able to deploy, manage, and operate scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS. It is intended for system administrators, developers and IT professionals who are responsible for managing and operating systems on the AWS platform.
Is the AWS SysOps Administrator certification worth it?
Yes, obtaining the AWS SysOps Administrator certification is worth it. The certification demonstrates your expertise in deploying, managing, and operating scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS. It also opens up new job opportunities and increases earning potential.
How can you get the AWS SysOps Administrator certification?
To obtain the AWS SysOps Administrator certification, you must pass the AWS SysOps Administrator - Associate exam. This exam is designed to test your knowledge and skills in deploying, managing, and operating scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS. You need to register for the exam, and you will get an online proctoring session.
What are the benefits of obtaining the AWS SysOps Administrator certification?
The benefits of obtaining the AWS SysOps Administrator certification include demonstrating your expertise in deploying, managing, and operating scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS, opening up new job opportunities, and increasing earning potential. It will help you to stand out in the job market and increase your credibility in the industry.
How difficult is it to obtain the AWS SysOps Administrator certification?
The AWS SysOps Administrator certification is considered to have a moderate difficulty level, it requires hands-on experience with AWS, as well as studying relevant materials and taking practice exams before taking the certification exam. If you are familiar with AWS concepts, it will be easier for you to pass the exam.
How long does it take to get the AWS SysOps Administrator certification?
The amount of time it takes to obtain the AWS SysOps Administrator certification varies based on your study habits and preparation. It's recommended to have hands-on experience with AWS and study relevant materials and take practice exams before taking the certification exam. On average, it can take about 2-4 weeks of dedicated study time to prepare for the certification exam.
What are the best alternatives to the AWS SysOps Administrator certification?
Some alternatives to the AWS SysOps Administrator certification include the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional, the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate, and the Google Cloud Certified - Professional Cloud Systems Administrator certification.
These certifications also focus on systems administration and cloud computing, but they may vary in their specific focus and requirements.
AWS SysOps Administrator certification is specific to AWS and its services, whereas the alternatives are focused on different cloud platforms.
Conclusion
The AWS SysOps Administrator - Associate certification is a valuable certification for system administrators, developers, and IT professionals looking to demonstrate their expertise in deploying, managing, and operating scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS.
The certification offers a wide range of job opportunities and a high earning potential. It's recommended for professionals who have hands-on experience with AWS and have studied relevant materials before taking the certification exam.