A Beginner Guide to Cloud Certifications

Cloud computing is one of the fastest-growing fields in tech. You have probably heard people talk about certifications, and you might be wondering whether you should go after one. But before we talk about certifications, let us address a more important question first.

Do you actually need a certification as a beginner?

Honestly, not right away.

If you are brand new to cloud, jumping straight into certification prep can feel overwhelming and even discouraging. Certifications test your knowledge, but they do not teach you how to think about cloud computing from scratch. That is why we always recommend building a solid foundation of knowledge first.

Here is what that looks like in practice:

Understand the basics: Learn what cloud computing actually is. What problems does it solve? Why do businesses move to the cloud? What is the difference between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS?
Get hands-on early: Spin up a free Azure or AWS account. Click around. Deploy a simple virtual machine. Break things. This is where real learning happens.
Follow a structured path: Do not try to learn everything at once. Pick one cloud provider and one learning track. Stick with it for at least a few weeks before branching out.
Learn with others: Join a community like MEQuest where you can ask questions, share progress, and stay accountable. Learning alone is harder than it needs to be.

Once you have that foundation, once you understand the core concepts and have spent some time working with actual cloud services, then a certification becomes incredibly valuable. It validates what you already know and gives employers confidence in your abilities.

Why get certified after building your knowledge?

At that point, a certification is no longer just a badge. It becomes proof that you have put in the work. Here is what it does for you:

Validates your skills: Employers trust industry-recognised certifications because they know the exams are rigorous
Opens doors: Many job listings specifically ask for cloud certifications, especially at the associate and professional level
Increases your earning potential: Certified cloud professionals consistently earn higher salaries than their non-certified peers
Keeps you sharp: Preparing for a certification forces you to fill in gaps in your knowledge that you might have missed during self-study
Builds confidence: There is something powerful about passing an exam and knowing you genuinely understand the material

Popular certification paths

Once you are ready, here are the main paths across the three major cloud providers:

Microsoft Azure

AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals. This is the most popular starting point and covers cloud concepts, Azure services, security, pricing, and support. It is beginner friendly and does not require hands-on experience, though having some helps.
AZ-104: Azure Administrator. This is your next step after AZ-900. It covers managing Azure identities, governance, storage, compute, and virtual networks. You will need hands-on experience for this one.
AZ-305: Azure Solutions Architect. This is for those who want to design cloud solutions. It requires a deep understanding of Azure services and how they fit together.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

CLF-C02: Cloud Practitioner. Similar to AZ-900, this covers foundational cloud concepts and AWS services. Great for beginners.
SAA-C03: Solutions Architect Associate. One of the most respected cloud certifications. It tests your ability to design distributed systems on AWS.
DVA-C02: Developer Associate. Focused on developing, deploying, and debugging cloud-based applications on AWS.

Google Cloud

Cloud Digital Leader: Entry-level certification covering cloud concepts and Google Cloud products.
Associate Cloud Engineer: Covers deploying applications, monitoring operations, and managing enterprise solutions on Google Cloud.
Professional Cloud Architect: Advanced certification for designing, developing, and managing cloud architecture.

Our recommendation

If you are completely new, start by learning. Spend a few weeks understanding cloud fundamentals through free resources, YouTube tutorials, and hands-on labs. Then, when you feel ready, go for AZ-900 or AWS Cloud Practitioner. Both are beginner friendly, widely recognised, and give you a strong signal to employers that you are serious about cloud.

After that, the world opens up. You can specialise in administration, architecture, development, security, or data engineering depending on what excites you most.

How MEQuest helps

At MEQuest, we do not just hand you a certification voucher and wish you luck. We walk the journey with you:

Mentors who have been through the certification process guide you on what to study and how to prepare
Study groups where you learn alongside others preparing for the same exams
Sponsored certifications so cost is never a barrier. We cover the exam fees for qualifying community members
Hands-on bootcamps that give you practical experience before you sit the exam

The certification is the milestone, but the knowledge you build along the way is what truly matters.

Join our next cohort to start your cloud journey with the right foundation.