5 Cloud Architect Certifications to Explore

Key takeaways

• Popular cloud architect certifications include Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), and CompTIA Cloud+.

• Google’s Professional Cloud Architect certification is for professionals with three or more years of cloud experience and covers topics such as designing and planning cloud solution architecture.

• To pursue a cloud architect certification, evaluate your certification options, review their requirements, take prep classes, and register for the exam.

With a cloud architect certification, you can pursue job opportunities as a cloud solutions architect, cloud consultant, systems architect, or cloud security architect. Learn more about popular cloud architect certifications and what it takes to earn one. If you’re ready to start building your cloud skills, consider enrolling in the AWS Cloud Solutions Architect Professional Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to build skills in data engineering, cloud and data architecture, cloud engineering, and more. 

Popular cloud architect certifications

Although employers look for varying qualifications, working as a cloud architect usually requires at least a bachelor’s degree. It can also be beneficial to pursue certifications in the field as a means of demonstrating your expertise and skill set. 

A cloud architect designs, manages, and monitors the computing cloud architecture for a company or organization and reviews cloud architecture to suggest how it could run more efficiently. You can also recommend plans to develop and update existing cloud architecture. Some cloud architects are responsible for security protection for cloud computing assets, identifying threats, and finding solutions for security issues.

This position offers a dynamic set of tasks and responsibilities and the potential to offer solid earnings. According to job and recruiting website Glassdoor, cloud architects can make a median total salary of $201,000 [1]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

It’s important to review different certification options to determine which one might work for you. You may consider multiple certifications to improve your knowledge of multiple platforms and the various issues that cloud architects face regularly.

Explore a few popular options to begin planning your certification path. 

Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect

This credential assesses and verifies your understanding of Google Cloud technologies. The exam covers topics such as how to design and plan cloud solution architecture, analyze technical and business processes, and manage cloud solution infrastructure. 

Requirements: Google has no prerequisites but recommends you have at least three years of experience, including a year or more specifically using Google Cloud.

Cost (US): $200 (plus tax, if applicable) [2]

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate certificate will test your technical knowledge and skills across AWS services. It covers topics such as resilient architectures, performant architectures, and cost-optimized architectures. It’s helpful to have previous information technology experience. You can also obtain an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certificate to help you prepare for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate certification test.

Requirements: Amazon has no requirements, but recommends that you have at least a year of experience using AWS services to design cloud solutions.

Cost (US): $150, but you can get a 50 percent discount if you’ve already earned an AWS certification [3]

Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Earn a Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification after demonstrating your ability to use the Microsoft Azure platform for cloud and hybrid solutions in areas such as computing, networking, storage, monitoring, and security issues. The test includes topics like designing data storage solutions and infrastructure solutions.

Requirements: You need to have the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification.

Cost (US): $165 [4]

Read more: Azure Certification Path: Levels, Qualifications, and More

Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

To pass the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) exam, you’ll need extensive knowledge of cloud security and its application to secure data and design and manage it. Topics covered include cloud data security, cloud application security, and cloud security operations.

Requirements: You’ll need five or more years of cumulative IT experience, including three years in information security and one year in one of six domains outlined by ISC2.

Cost (US): $599 [5]

CompTIA Cloud+

CompTIA Cloud+ is an exam from CompTIA that tests your understanding of different cloud modes, security measures, and cloud management, including automation and troubleshooting cloud issues. Unlike other certificates, CompTIA Cloud+ is a vendor-neutral certificate. It’s a good option for cloud architects who are beginning their careers.

Requirements: CompTIA has no requirements. However, it would help if you have around five years of IT experience, including two to three years as a systems administrator or cloud engineer.

Cost (US): $399 [6]

Who should get cloud architect certification?

Cloud architect certifications can confirm your skills with cloud services, help you stand out when starting your career, or boost your salary in your current position. Some employers may require you to have a certification or recommend a certification to prove your understanding of different cloud platforms for providers like Google, AWS, and Microsoft.

What qualifications do you need to be a cloud architect?

Cloud architects typically earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field; possess skills in app development, data and business analysis, and project management; and have professional experience in technical and management roles. Professional certifications can also qualify you for cloud architect roles.

How to get a cloud architect certification

When it comes to choosing certifications, consider following these steps to help narrow down the certification that might be right for you.

1. Determine the right certification

First, assessing your career goals is a good idea to decide which certifications align with your interests. Additionally, consider if you have a specific platform you prefer, such as Microsoft, Google, or AWS, to help narrow down the options. You could also focus on cloud security.

2. Review certification requirements

It’s a good idea to factor in your experience in the field, as some certificates are for beginners, while others are for cloud architects with more experience.

3. Enroll in preparatory courses

Preparing for certification exams involves enrolling in prep courses and setting aside time to study for your upcoming test. Courses can be found through specific platforms, such as those sponsored by Google, AWS, and Microsoft.

4. Register for the exam

Each provider will have different registration options, so explore each one to see what you need to do to register to take the exam. The registration process is likely to include payment to cover the exam's cost and information like where and when you can schedule the test.

What to expect on a cloud architect certification exam

Cloud architect certification exams usually feature multiple-choice questions and case studies to assess your response to particular scenarios. You also may have specific areas of study depending on which test you take, such as a certain topic or platform.

Some topics you’ll want to review include cloud architecture models, security and compliance, deployment and migration, and troubleshooting and repair.

Career opportunities with cloud architect certification

You could potentially boost your salary and increase your chances of getting promoted with a cloud architect certificate. Some employers prefer you to have a certification for a particular position.

Certification can help you earn additional interest from employers looking to fill competitive cloud architect-related positions. These are the median total cloud architect salaries for some of these positions based on data from Glassdoor:

• Cloud solutions architect: $232,000 [7]

• Cloud consultant: $189,000 [8]

• Systems architect: $194,000 [9]

• Cloud security architect: $194,000 [10] 

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of June 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Find free cloud resources for your career

Visit our Career Resource Hub, where you can assess your skills and explore various career paths. You can also access the following resources to learn more about a career in cloud computing:

• Consider your path: Cloud Computing Learning Roadmap: From Beginner to Expert

• Read our Career Chat issue: Ready for a Tech Career? How to Choose Between IT and Cloud Support 

• Watch on YouTube: Career Spotlight in 90 Seconds: Cloud Architect

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