Knowledge is valuable but it can be cheap and even free at times. Either you pay a fee or get it for free, the rule remains the same; “You must pay attention to succeed”.
AWS is so liberal and so eager to see that knowledge sharing is a culture. In so doing, AWS has come up with programs that require us to pay only ATTENTION, no fee but still get rewarded for your hard work. Isn’t that amazing?

The AWS Free Skill Builder program is an initiative that provides a comprehensive learning platform packed with free courses to equip you with in-demand AWS skills, and even free Digital Badges to showcase comprehension and expertise in diverse cloud computing areas.
These badges demonstrate your knowledge and skills on specific AWS Cloud domains and can be shared on social networks to showcase your expertise.
Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned professional seeking to refine your knowledge, this program offers a well-structured path to success.

NOTE: AWS offers globally recognized and high-value certifications (which, of course, are not free). However, if you have a limited budget, you can still gain valuable experience by earning Digital Badges through the completion of certain learning paths. Trust me, these badges and the knowledge gained through the learning paths are well worth the effort.

In fact, I am actively engaged in completing several handpicked learning paths to acquire Digital Badges and address some skill gaps.

In 2025, make it an agenda to tour the AWS Free Skill Builder program and obtain as many cloud skills as possible (plus Digital Badges as a reward system).

HOW DO I EARN AN AWS LEARNING BADGE?

a. The badges are free to earn and share.
b. You need to enroll in eligible Learning Plans on AWS Skill Builder and pass the associated assessment with at least 80% score to earn the badge.

• Start by creating an AWS Skill Builder account
• Enroll in any of the Programs (See List of programs below)

• Pass the associated assessment (80%)

c. The badges are issued through Credly and can be displayed on platforms like LinkedIn to highlight your AWS skills (I personally like the design of the Badges)

d. There are currently 14 (Fourteen) different AWS Learning Badges available covering topics such as Cloud Essentials, Storage, Databases, Security, and more.

1. AWS Technology Cloud Essentials
2. AWS Technology Architecting
3. AWS Technology File Storage
4. AWS Technology Serverless
5. AWS Technology Amazon EKS
6. AWS Technology Storage Data Protection & Disaster Recovery
7. AWS Technology Networking Core
8. AWS Technology Migration Foundations
9. AWS Technology Compute
10. AWS Technology Storage Data Migration
11. AWS Technology AWS for Games: Cloud Game Development
12. AWS Technology Events and Workflows
13. AWS Technology M&E: D2C and Broadcast Foundations
14. AWS Technology Amazon Braket

Please note that these free badges come ONLY with course contents without Practice Labs. If you wish to follow along with Practice Labs, you will have to do a pay subscription which runs at $29 per month. With this paid plan, you can learn as much as you can in a month. A fast as you learn, the less you will spend.

These learn paths are rigorous, very practical and hands-on, spanning from around 10hours+. In fact, the very first and most important Learning path (AWS Technology Cloud Essentials) is about 10.17 hours.
Please, don’t feel discourage with the length. Throughout the journey, you will enjoy the process. Always remember that the goal is not just to complete the learning path and obtain a Digital Badge, but gain real-world practical industry skills.

There are many benefits of Using AWS Free Skill Builder:

• Cost-Effective Learning: Enhance your cloud skillset without breaking the bank.
• Flexible Learning: Learn at your own pace, whenever and wherever it suits you.
• In-Demand Skills: Gain knowledge in highly sought-after cloud technologies.
• Industry Recognition: Earn Badges that validate your AWS expertise.
• Career Advancement: Boost your resume and stand out to potential employers.

Conclusion:
AWS Free Skill Builder is an exceptional platform for anyone seeking to elevate their cloud computing knowledge and capabilities. With its extensive course library, engaging learning format, and valuable badges, this program empowers you to become a proficient AWS professional without any financial constraints. So, what are you waiting for? Sign up today and unlock a world of cloud possibilities!