How to become an AWS Cloud Practitioner in 2025

Last year, nearly 60% of corporate data was stored in the cloud as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) fought to dominate the UK market.

Amazon Web Services, also known as AWS, is Amazon's proprietary cloud service. Its capacity, scalability, and security have cemented its excellent product reputation.

With so many companies adopting AWS solutions, AWS professionals, including Cloud Practitioners, are in high demand. Could this career be for you, and how can you upskill?

Here's how to become an AWS Cloud Practitioner in 2025.

What is an AWS Cloud Practitioner?

An AWS Cloud Practitioner oversees a company's cloud computing architecture, ensuring it performs to standard and remains secure.

Cloud Practitioners work closely with the wider IT team to design, deploy, and maintain cloud-based solutions that meet their companies' strategic objectives. Cloud Practitioners are experts who know the services that AWS provide (at present, there are more than 200), the latest updates, and the latest Cloud Computing trends.

To become an AWS Cloud Practitioner, you need to be officially certified by Amazon AWS.

What does an AWS Cloud Practitioner do?

AWS Cloud Practitioners assess their employers' needs and design and develop cloud-based solutions to meet them. These solutions are within the AWS framework.

The scope of their roles varies depending on the size of the company they work for, their industry, and other factors.

Typical job responsibilities include:

• Reviewing their company's goals and proposing suitable AWS solutions 
• Developing, configuring, managing, and optimising AWS applications and services for their employers
• Integrating third-party tools as needed, including virtual private clouds
• Implementing identity and security measures to protect the cloud environment
• Monitoring system performance, troubleshooting issues, and addressing them
• Designing and implementing backup and disaster recovery plans
• Documenting AWS best practices, contributing to policies
• Training colleagues

...and more.

What makes a good AWS Cloud Practitioner?

AWS is a fast-paced, innovative company.

Good AWS Cloud Practitioners take the time to understand their company's needs; they have a knack for problem-solving and use their knowledge of AWS solutions, best practices, and industry standards to customise solutions for their employers. They also know their industry well, have a strategic mindset, and can communicate well with stakeholders.

Because of this, these professionals must stay up-to-date with the latest AWS developments, Cloud Computing trends, and news about their employer's sector. 

How can you become an AWS Cloud Practitioner in 2025?

1. Access the AWS Learning Plan

Cloud Practitioners typically have an IT background; however, if you're hungry to learn and get ahead, this is not compulsory.

The best place to start is the AWS Cloud Essentials Learning Plan. This free resource helps you become familiar with the core AWS Cloud services and their benefits as well as other foundational skills. You can go through the entire resource or choose the parts that most appeal to you.

The Learning Plan includes an overview of Cloud roles, including Cloud Practitioner. This leads us to number 2:

2. Pass the official AWS exam

Ambitious, driven professionals can learn a lot on their own; however, without passing the official AWS exam, they cannot prove they have the necessary knowledge and skills to be considered an AWS professional.

This is why, if you would like to become an AWS Cloud Practitioner, you need to pass the official AWS exam, also known as CLF-C02.

Anyone can take the AWS Cloud Practitioner course that prepares you for this certification. This course is a great starting point for those with no prior experience in IT or Cloud Computing; learners often come from other professions, such as Business Analysis, Project Management, Law, or even Sales and Marketing.

At Firebrand, we specialise in getting people certified fast. Our AWS Cloud Practitioner course takes only 2 days and includes the official exam. Find out more.

3. Gain relevant professional experience in AWS

Once you've passed the exam, you're ready to apply for junior roles that involve AWS cloud services. Consider companies of various sizes, across different industries; the most important thing is to get a job where you can use your newly-honed AWS knowledge. 

Depending on your experience and interests, your first AWS position could be an Apprenticeship. For example, you could take a Level 3 apprenticeship such as Information Communications Technician (ICT). At Firebrand, this Apprenticeship gives you the chance to achieve the industry-recognised certifications CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ and A+ to attest to your knowledge.

Similarly, the Level 4 DevOps Engineer apprenticeship helps you develop an excellent level of Cloud Computing knowledge and skills. It includes certifications such as the CSA Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK), Microsoft Certified Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400), and the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional (DOP-C02).

4. Keep learning

Alongside Microsoft and Google, Amazon AWS is at the forefront of tech innovation. As the landscape shifts, you need to enhance your skills to stay ahead of the game. 

If you're in tech, you can't rest on your laurels!

Some suggestions:

• Develop or enhance your coding skills. Regardless of the area of IT you're working in, regardless of AI, coding is indispensable. Look into C++, Java, Python, JavaScript. AI may be learning about it, but it can't replace human developers;
• Stay up-to-date with AWS Services, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Data Protection, and major trends such as AI adoption;
• Expand your knowledge of AWS Services and Architecture: Ansible, Chef, Docker, Jenkins, EC2, S3, Lambda, RDS, VPC;
• Expand your knowledge of Project Management software such as Jira and Monday.

How can you progress?

Once you've gained hands-on experience with your AWS Cloud Practitioner skills, you can move into IT Management or other senior roles by vying for Associate and Professional AWS certifications.

We recommend you look into

• AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03), which teaches you to build scalable, secure applications on the AWS platform;
• AWS Developer Associate (DVA-C02), which is not only for Developers and helps you understand key AWS services like SNS, Dynamo DB, SQS, and Elastic Beanstalk;
• and the AWS SysOps Administrator Associate (SOA-C02), which helps you delve deeper into AWS Cloud Operations and their complex processes.

We hope this advice helps you orient yourself in the challenging and rewarding world of tech.

Good luck! #BeAFirebrand

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