By Quick answer: What is the cloud certification roadmap for 2027?
- Stage 1 — Cloud Practitioner or AZ-900.
- Stage 2 — SAA, AZ-104 or ACE.
- Stage 3 — CKA and Terraform.
- Stage 4 — specialise (ML, security, data).
Key takeaways
- Stage 2 is where you become hireable.
- Stage 3 opens platform and DevOps roles.
- Pick one cloud first; add a second later.
Cloud careers follow a well-worn path: learn the vocabulary, pass an associate exam, add containers and infrastructure as code, then specialise. This roadmap names the certification for each step on all three major clouds.
The roadmap at a glance
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Certified Cloud PractitionerAmazon Web Services | $1001 | 90 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 2 | Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)Microsoft | Exam priced by country2 | 45 minutes | Free test |
| 3 | AWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1503 | 130 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 4 | Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)Microsoft | Exam priced by country4 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
| 5 | Google Cloud Associate Cloud EngineerGoogle Cloud | $1255 | 2 hours, multiple choice | Free test |
| 6 | Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)Linux Foundation / CNCF | $4456 | 2-hour hands-on, performance-based exam | Free test |
| 7 | HashiCorp Certified: Terraform AssociateHashiCorp | Check the official page7 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 8 | AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1508 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 9 | Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning EngineerGoogle Cloud | $2009 | 2 hours, multiple choice | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner before you pay.Start free test →
- AZ-900 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) before you pay.Start free test →
- AWS Solutions Architect Associate Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate before you pay.Start free test →
- Azure Administrator AZ-104 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) before you pay.Start free test →
Each stage, and the certification for it
- AWSAWS Certified Cloud PractitionerStage 1: AWS basics$100
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)Stage 1: Azure basicsExam priced by country
- AWSAWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateStage 2: AWS associate$150
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- Cost
- $1001
- Format
- 90 minutes, 65 questions
Stage 1: AWS basics, $100, 90 minutes. AWS's entry exam covers cloud concepts, core services, security and billing. It's 90 minutes with 65 questions and costs $100, so it's the usual first cloud exam for beginners and non-technical staff.
Best forstage 1: AWS basics
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country2
- Format
- 45 minutes
Stage 1: Azure basics, 45 minutes, free Microsoft Learn training. Microsoft's Azure fundamentals exam covers cloud concepts, core Azure services, pricing and governance in 45 minutes. Training is free on Microsoft Learn, the exam is priced by country and it doesn't expire.
Best forstage 1: Azure basics
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Cost
- $1503
- Format
- 130 minutes, 65 questions
Stage 2: the most requested cloud credential. $150. AWS's associate exam tests designing secure, resilient, high-performing and cost-aware systems on AWS. It's 130 minutes with 65 questions and costs $150, and it's the cloud credential most often named in job posts.
Best forstage 2: AWS associate
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country4
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
Stage 2: Azure administration; renew free yearly. Microsoft's associate exam proves you can manage Azure identity, storage, compute and networking. It's 100 minutes, priced by country, and renews free online every 12 months, which keeps long-term cost low.
Best forstage 2: Azure associate
Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer
- Cost
- $1255
- Format
- 2 hours, multiple choice
Stage 2: Google Cloud's associate engineer exam. $125. Google Cloud's associate exam tests deploying, monitoring and managing projects on Google Cloud. It's two hours, costs $125 and rewards hands-on practice with the console and command line.
Best forstage 2: Google Cloud associate
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
- Cost
- $4456
- Format
- 2-hour hands-on, performance-based exam
Stage 3: a hands-on Kubernetes exam. $445 with one retake. The Linux Foundation's Certified Kubernetes Administrator is a two-hour, performance-based exam taken in a live cluster. It costs $445 including one free retake and is respected because it tests real hands-on skill.
Best forstage 3: Kubernetes
HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate
- Cost
- Check the official page7
Stage 3: infrastructure as code with Terraform. HashiCorp's associate exam proves infrastructure-as-code skills with Terraform, which works across AWS, Azure and Google Cloud. It suits DevOps and cloud engineers; check HashiCorp's page for the current fee.
Best forstage 3: Terraform
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate
- Cost
- $1508
Stage 4: ML engineering on AWS. $150. AWS's associate exam proves you can prepare data, train, deploy and monitor machine learning models on AWS. It costs $150 and expects hands-on ML and AWS experience, making it a strong credential for ML engineers.
Best forstage 4: ML on AWS
Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer
- Cost
- $2009
- Format
- 2 hours, multiple choice
Stage 4: professional ML on Google Cloud. $200. Google Cloud's professional exam tests production machine learning: framing problems, building pipelines and serving and monitoring models. It's two hours, costs $200 and is aimed at experienced ML engineers.
Best forstage 4: ML on Google Cloud
Typical timeline
| Stage | Time (part-time) | Role it supports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2–4 weeks | — |
| 2 | 2–3 months | Cloud engineer, admin |
| 3 | 2–4 months | DevOps, platform |
| 4 | 3+ months | Specialist |
Table: Cloud roadmap timeline
How we ranked these picks
We ordered cloud certifications by level and prerequisites. Fees come from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start in cloud?
AWS Cloud Practitioner or Azure AZ-900, then an associate exam.
Can I skip the fundamentals exam?
Yes if you have IT experience; go straight to an associate exam.
Which cloud should I learn first?
The one your target employers use; AWS is the common default.
When should I take CKA?
After an associate cloud exam, when you're heading to platform or DevOps roles.
Is there a free cloud test for each stage?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and Kubernetes tests.
Sources
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google Cloud — Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Linux Foundation — Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- HashiCorp — HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google Cloud — Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- The best online certifications of 2027 — the full top 10 across every field
- Best Cloud Computing Certifications of 2027: Top 10 Ranked — related guide
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The DevOps certification roadmap for 2027: from beginner to expertA DevOps certification roadmap for 2027: cloud basics, AWS SAA or AZ-104, Terraform, CKA, then PSM I or ITIL 4 for delivery.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The best DevOps certifications of 2027: eight for cloud, containers, automation and deliveryThe 8 best DevOps certifications of 2027: CKA, Terraform, AWS Solutions Architect, Azure AZ-104, Google Cloud ACE, ITIL 4, PSM I and AWS Cloud Practitioner.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Top 5 cloud computing certifications to get hired in 2027: the ones cloud job posts nameThe top 5 cloud certifications to get hired in 2027: AWS Solutions Architect, Azure AZ-104, Google Cloud ACE, CKA and Terraform, matched to job titles.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The best cloud computing certifications of 2027: ten across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and KubernetesThe 10 best cloud certifications of 2027: AWS Solutions Architect, Azure AZ-104, Google Cloud ACE, CKA, Terraform and more, with verified exam fees.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Top 5 DevOps certifications to get hired in 2027: the ones job posts nameThe top 5 DevOps certifications to get hired in 2027: CKA, Terraform, AWS Solutions Architect, Azure AZ-104 and Google Cloud ACE.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Devops certifications for beginners: the best picks for 2027, in learning orderThe 6 best DevOps certifications for beginners in 2027, in learning order: AWS CCP or AZ-900, AWS SAA, Terraform, CKA and PSM I.
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Prove the skill before you pay for the exam.
Start with the free AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice Exam. 1,200+ free, test-based certifications graded on our server. Pass and get a founder-signed certificate with a credential ID employers can verify.