AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud all offer tiered certification paths that run from a foundational exam up to professional or expert level, but they differ in structure, renewal rules and how fast they are changing. Choose by the platform your target employer runs, then by role. Here is how the three compare in October 2026.

How the three paths are built

  • AWS: foundational, associate, professional and specialty tiers, each certification valid for three years.
  • Microsoft Azure: fundamentals, associate, expert and specialty. Fundamentals certifications do not expire; associate, expert and specialty certifications are renewed every year with a free online assessment.
  • Google Cloud: foundational, associate and professional. Foundational and associate certifications last three years, professional ones two.

Exam codes, prices and retirement dates change often, so confirm each detail on the provider's own page before you book.

AWS: a clear ladder with several updates this autumn

The AWS Certification page lists Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02, $100) and AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) at foundational level. The associate tier (each exam with a listed price costs $150) covers Solutions Architect (SAA-C03), Developer, CloudOps Engineer (SOA-C03, formerly SysOps Administrator), Data Engineer (DEA-C01) and Machine Learning Engineer. Professional exams cost $300: Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer (DOP-C02) and Generative AI Developer (AIP-C01). Specialty now means Security (SCS-C03) and Advanced Networking (ANS-C01).

Recent and upcoming changes matter here. Machine Learning Specialty retired on 31 March 2026. Advanced Networking Specialty retires on 31 December 2026. Solutions Architect Professional moves from SAP-C02 to SAP-C03 (the last day for C02 is 16 November 2026), and Developer Associate moves from DVA-C02 to DVA-C03 (the last day for C02 is 30 November 2026). Our SAA-C03 study plan and guide to the SysOps to CloudOps change go deeper.

Microsoft Azure: role-based, renewed every year

Microsoft Learn starts with Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900). Associate certifications are built around job roles: Azure Administrator (AZ-104), Azure Network Engineer (AZ-700), Azure Database Administrator (DP-300), Azure AI Cloud Developer (AI-200) and Cloud and AI Security Engineer (SC-500). The last two are new. Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) retired on 31 July 2026 and Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) on 31 August 2026, and Microsoft's partner guidance names AI-200 and SC-500 as their replacements. Our AZ-204 retirement guide covers what developers should do now.

At expert level, Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) requires Azure Administrator Associate first, and DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400) also needs an associate prerequisite. Specialties include Azure Virtual Desktop (AZ-140) and Azure for SAP Workloads (AZ-120). Exam prices are set by the country where you sit the exam.

Google Cloud: fewer exams, shorter professional validity

Google Cloud certification does not use exam codes. Foundational exams are Cloud Digital Leader ($99) and Generative AI Leader. The associate tier includes Associate Cloud Engineer ($125), plus Google Workspace Administrator and Data Practitioner. Professional exams cover Cloud Architect ($200), Cloud Developer, Data Engineer, Cloud DevOps Engineer, Cloud Security Engineer, Cloud Network Engineer, Cloud Database Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer and Security Operations Engineer. A new Professional Agentic Architect exam is due for general availability, with registration opening in mid-November.

Renewal works through the standard exam, a shorter renewal exam or, for some certifications, designated courses and skill badges on Google Skills. Our comparison of Associate Cloud Engineer and Cloud Digital Leader helps you pick a starting point.

How to choose: role, employer and region

  • Employer: read job adverts in your target market and note which platform they name. Many organisations use more than one cloud, so learn which one hosts the work you want to do.
  • Role: architects can follow Solutions Architect Associate then Professional on AWS, AZ-104 then AZ-305 on Azure, or Professional Cloud Architect on Google Cloud. Operations staff fit CloudOps Engineer, Azure Administrator or Associate Cloud Engineer. Security specialists have Security Specialty, SC-500 or Professional Cloud Security Engineer.
  • Region: check exam languages and local pricing. Professional Cloud Architect is offered in English and Japanese only, and AWS is withdrawing some language versions after 31 December 2026, including Italian for Solutions Architect Associate.
  • Upkeep: Microsoft role-based certifications renew every year through a free online assessment. AWS and Google certifications last longer and renew by exam or, for some certifications, through a learning route on AWS Skill Builder or Google Skills that adds a year.

Each provider also offers AI certifications, from AWS AI Practitioner (plus a new business tier, starting with an AI Business Strategist exam in beta) to Microsoft's Azure AI Fundamentals and Google's Generative AI Leader. Treat those as an add-on to your cloud path rather than a replacement.

Practise under real exam conditions

Whichever path you pick, the exams reward scenario reading under time pressure. On CandidatesPrep you can sit timed mocks that mirror the real exam's timer, navigation and flagging, with results broken down by topic so you can see which services or skills need work. Training providers can run AWS, Azure and Google Cloud cohorts side by side on one platform; see how IT and cloud trainers use it.

The bottom line

There is no single best cloud certification, only the right one for the platform and role in front of you. Start with the employer, match the role, then check the current exam code and retirement dates on the official page before you study.

Try a timed mock on the CandidatesPrep simulator, or book a demo to prepare a cloud cohort.