🎓 CERTIFICATION ROADMAP

Cloud Certification Journey

A structured learning path across Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services & Google Cloud Platform — from Fundamentals to Expert & Specialty levels.

Legend: Pursuing — actively studying Planned — next in queue Future — on the roadmap Earned — completed Click any cert card to open the official exam page
23
Total Targets
2
Pursuing
8
Planned
7
Azure
5
AWS
5
GCP
1
Docker
4
K8s / CNCF
🔵 Microsoft Azure
Entra ID • IaaS • Security • DevOps
🟠 Amazon Web Services
EC2 • IAM • Security • Architecture
🟢 Google Cloud Platform
Compute • IAM • Architecture • Security
Tier 1
Foundational
No prerequisites
AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals Planned SC-900 Security, Compliance & Identity Fundamentals Future
★ Recommended first: AZ-900 validates cloud concepts before Associate-level exams
CLF-C02 AWS Cloud Practitioner Planned
★ Validates AWS core concepts — good stepping stone to SAA-C03
CDL Cloud Digital Leader Future
★ Business-focused, good foundation. Jump directly to ACE if technical background exists
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Tier 2
Associate
6–12 months exp.
Infrastructure Track
AZ-104 Azure Administrator Associate 🔥 Pursuing AZ-700 Azure Network Engineer Associate Planned 📋 Lab Tracker
Security & Identity Track
AZ-500 Azure Security Technologies Planned 📋 Lab Tracker SC-300 Identity & Access Administrator Planned 📋 Lab Tracker
Developer Track
AZ-204 Developing Solutions for Azure Future
★ Priority path: AZ-104 → AZ-500 → AZ-700 → SC-300 (aligns with infra background)
Architecture Track
SAA-C03 Solutions Architect Associate 🔥 Pursuing
Operations Track
SOA-C02 SysOps Administrator Associate Planned 📋 Lab Tracker
Developer Track
DVA-C02 Developer Associate Future
★ Priority path: SAA-C03 → SOA-C02 (maps directly to your sysadmin background)
Engineering Track
ACE Associate Cloud Engineer Planned
★ Only one Associate cert in GCP — this is the gateway to all Professional certs
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Tier 3
Professional
Expert level
Architecture & DevOps
AZ-305 Azure Solutions Architect Expert Future AZ-400 DevOps Engineer Expert Future 🔄 Lab Tracker
⚠ AZ-305 requires AZ-104 • AZ-400 requires AZ-104 or AZ-204
Professional Tier
SAP-C02 Solutions Architect Professional Future DOP-C02 DevOps Engineer Professional Future
⚠ SAP-C02 requires SAA-C03 • DOP-C02 requires SAA-C03 or DVA-C02
Architecture & Security
PCA Professional Cloud Architect Future PCSE Professional Cloud Security Engineer Future
Networking & DevOps
PCNE Professional Cloud Network Engineer Future PCDOE Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer Future
⚠ All Professional GCP certs recommend ACE as prerequisite
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Tier 4
Specialty
Domain focus
AI-102 Azure AI Engineer Associate Future DP-300 Azure Database Administrator Future AZ-140 Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty Future
SCS-C02 Security Specialty Planned ANS-C01 Advanced Networking Specialty Planned DBS-C01 Database Specialty Future
PCD Professional Cloud Developer Future PCDBE Professional Cloud Database Engineer Future PCMLE Professional ML Engineer Future
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Docker & Kubernetes / CNCF
Container & orchestration certifications — cloud-native infrastructure essentials
🐳 Docker
DCA Docker Certified Associate Future 🐳 Docker Lab
ℹ Administered by Mirantis. Covers container lifecycle, networking, storage, security & Swarm orchestration.
⎈ Kubernetes / CNCF
★ CNCF path: KCNA → CKA → CKAD → CKS  •  CKS requires an active CKA
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VMware by Broadcom
Virtualisation platform certifications — aligns with 12+ years of vSphere experience
VCP-DCV 2024 VMware Certified Professional — Data Center Virtualisation Planned VCAP-DCV Design VMware Certified Advanced Professional — DCV Design Future VCDX-DCV VMware Certified Design Expert — Highest VMware Cert Future
ℹ️ Note: VCP-DCV requires either a VMware training course or proof of previous VCP cert. With 12+ years of vSphere experience, you may be eligible for a delta exam path.