A few months into my transition from Software Engineering to Data Engineering, I stumbled onto a way to get a free Snowflake certification voucher. It took a bit of hunting, a live training session, and a tight 10-day study window, but I walked away with a certificate and zero cost. Here's exactly how it happened.

This article shares a first hand account of passing the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam with a score of 819, starting from zero cloud experience. It outlines an eight week preparation plan using Udemy coursse and Tutorials Dojo practice exams, with AI tools to fill knowledge gaps. It also covers exam day strategy, time management tips, and plans to move into Data Engineering next.

How I passed the AWS AI Practitioner exam with a score of 793, the cost math that led me to take it first, and how I prepared in 4 weeks starting from zero cloud experience. Plus a few tips on exam day that I wish I knew beforehand.