The Best Cloud Certifications to Buy With Your Professional Development Stipend
Cloud certifications are one of the highest-ROI learning investments you can make — they directly translate to salary bumps and new job opportunities. A professional development stipend that covers both the courses and the exam fees is a no-brainer. Here are the certs we recommend and the courses that prepare you for them.
Top Picks
What to Look For
- Start with foundation-level certs (AWS Cloud Practitioner, Azure AZ-900) if you're new to cloud.
- Associate-level certs (AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Administrator) are the sweet spot for most engineers.
- Budget for both the prep course ($30–$200) and the exam fee ($150–$300). Some employers reimburse both.
- A Cloud Guru, Linux Academy, and Stephane Maarek's Udemy courses are the most popular prep resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
AWS Solutions Architect Associate is the single most valuable cloud cert for most engineers. Azure AZ-104 is catching up fast. Google Cloud is valued at specific employers.
Yes. Most professional development stipends cover both the prep courses and exam fees for AWS, Azure, and GCP certifications.
Exam fees range from $100 (foundation) to $300 (professional). Add $30–$200 for prep courses. Total: $150–$500 per cert.
Yes. Cloud skills remain in high demand and certifications are the fastest way to signal competency — especially for career switchers or when applying for new roles.