As
of 2019, there are 3 paths to AWS certification: Architect, Operations, and
Developer, and there are 5 specialized exams: Networking, Big Data, Security,
Machine Learning, and Alexa. I think you don't need to pass the associate level
to take the professional exam now, but I've heard that the professional level
is significantly more difficult, so it might be a good idea to start with the
associate level. It also appears that for the 3 associated level exams, SysOps
is the most difficult, followed by Solution Architect and Developer being
relatively the easiest.
Many
people recommend starting with the Solution Architect Associate exam as their
first certificate because it tests the most important AWS offerings and focuses
on "how the services work together to provide the best (and
cost-effective) solution for present situations." And that's exactly where
I chose to start my AWS journey. Read this post to learn more about which
certification exam you should take.