Passed the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) exam. Here is my story, my preparation plan, what I struggled with, and tips for your success.
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This year, I made a promise to myself: I would finally start my cloud journey and move closer to my dream of working in Cloud Security. That’s how I ended up sitting for the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam. Four weeks ago, I passed.
But it didn’t start with confidence. It started with curiosity, a little pressure, and a clear goal.
Why I chose the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam
I’ve always wanted to become a cybersecurity expert. But I kept hearing the same thing from professionals already in the field: “You need to understand the cloud.”
So, I picked AWS, the biggest cloud provider, and decided to begin with the Cloud Practitioner certification. It’s the entry-level cert, and I saw it as the perfect first step toward cloud security.
My previous experience with AWS
Before I started studying, I had only used AWS once. That was three years ago. I was working with a client who needed a WordPress site hosted in the cloud. I used Lightsail and Route 53 to set it up. But that was it. I had no deep experience with AWS.
So, when I started reviewing the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam guide, it all felt new again.
How I prepared for the exam
I gave myself 20 days to prepare. I wasn’t working full-time, so I treated studying like a job. Every day, I spent 2 to 3 hours learning.
I started with Andrew Brown’s AWS CCP course on YouTube. I liked it because it was straight to the point and easy to follow.
After finishing the videos, I started doing small hands-on projects. I created S3 buckets, set permissions, encrypted files, and explored IAM policies. These mini-labs helped me connect the theory with real AWS tools.
In the last few days, I took practice exams, starting with Andrew’s free ExamPro tests, then moving to a paid Udemy test. They were tough at first, but I reviewed every question I got wrong and learned from my mistakes.
What I struggled with the most
There were moments I felt lost, especially when trying to understand what all the different AWS services do. So many names, so many acronyms. EC2, EKS, ELB, SQS. It was a lot.
What helped was this: I stopped trying to memorize everything. Instead, I started grouping services based on their purpose, like Compute, Storage, Security, and so on. That brought clarity.
My real exam day experience
I booked my exam at a PearsonVUE center. I walked in feeling a bit nervous but ready. The moment I saw the first few questions, I knew: this is familiar. The practice tests had really prepared me. The questions weren’t easy, but they were fair. I finished the exam, submitted it, and waited.
Then came the result, I passed.
Why this certification mattered to me
For some people, this is just an entry-level cert. But for me, it was a milestone. One of my 2025 goals, checked off. And more than that, it showed me I could set a short deadline, work consistently, and get results.
Now, I’m moving forward, planning to take AWS Solutions Architect Associate and AWS Security Specialty certifications, while diving deeper into cloud security.
My tips for anyone preparing
If you’re preparing for the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam:
- Stick to one course at first. I recommend Andrew Brown’s YouTube course.
- Do hands-on practice. Even simple labs will help a lot.
- Take practice tests, review your weak spots, and make sure you can explain each service in simple terms.
- And most importantly, don’t overthink it. If you stay consistent, you can pass in 3 to 4 weeks.
This is just the beginning of my cloud journey, and I’m proud of the progress so far. If you’re reading this and getting ready to take the exam, I hope my story gives you the boost to stay focused and believe in yourself.
You’ve got this!