If you are absolutely new to AWS and want a FREE way to get skilled up to a point you can start certification focused learning and earn lots of motivational badges along the way, see below for my recommended roadmap :

Updated 6-August-2025.

Note : the skillbuilder refresh means some of these links may not work (I will fix them soon)

1. Start with AWS Educate (Totally free, aimed at newbies, hands on learning, ~12 free badges, access to Emerging Talent Community (which previously helped with earning vouchers - currently there are not much rewards but will change in future)

2. Cloud Essentials - Knowledge Badge Readiness Path (Free Badge + Cloud Practitioner Essentials learning)

3. Put the learning into practice - 10 FREE labs to learn AWS. This includes some overlap of labs with Cloud Essentials.

4. Optional : Cloud Quest Cloud Practitioner (Gamified experience, hands on labs using actual AWS console, Free badge)

5. Optional but recommended : Tech Fundamentals (by Adrian Cantrill)

6. Optional but recommended for 2025 since Gen AI is taking off and this became free in June 2025 (was in subscription tier before) : AWS SimuLearn Generative AI

7. Optional but alternative to the Simulearn listed above is the Cloud Quest Generative AIwhich gives you this (Free Badge

This brings you to a Cloud Practitioner level of knowledge (actually a bit more if you actually spent the time on hands on labs / tech fundamentals) and you should be ready to take the exam with some focused preparation using practice exams. I recommend skipping the foundational exam at this point and continuing to learn / earn points towards the Associate level.

Moving on up from here to Associate level - I recommend the Solutions Architect Associate first.

8. I previously had the Knowledge badge for Architecting here but this got retired. So I only have learning resources for now (no Badge but dont let that put you off)

Please login first to Skillbuilder.aws before using this link : Skillbuilder Solutions Architect Learning Plan

Please note that outline will link to FREE stuff AND subscription labs (which you can ignore).

9. Optional : Learn broader skills with the Card Clash game (just a bit of fun learning - no badges - no link to certification pathway - just broadens your overall learning)

You are now ready to switch to Exam Mode and work on SAA Exam using practice exams and any other supplemental material.

This may sound a LOT of steps but these steps are

• are NOT meant to get to certification in shortest possible steps (aka speed run)

• designed to build up knowledge from scratch for FREE

• give you badges at every step of the way so you feel like you are achieving something

• give you a mix of hands-on and theoretical learning

• put you on a pathway to earn vouchers AND

• gets you ready to do the final push towards taking the SAA exam.

Hope this is of some use to someone.