CertPath

PMI-ACP vs AWS Solutions Architect Associate

Which certification is right for your career? Here's the full breakdown.

PMI

PMI-ACP

PMI-ACP

IntermediateAvg salary uplift: +$15,000/yr

PMI's agile certification covering Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP, and SAFe — ideal for PMs transitioning to agile delivery.

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Amazon Web Services

AWS Solutions Architect Associate

SAA-C03

IntermediateAvg salary uplift: +$18,000/yr

The most sought-after cloud certification — covers designing resilient, high-performing, cost-optimised AWS architectures.

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Side-by-side comparison

CategoryPMI-ACPAWS Solutions Architect Associate
Exam cost$495 USD$300 USD
Avg salary uplift+$15,000/yr+$18,000/yr
Exam duration180 min130 min
Renewal periodEvery 3 yearsEvery 3 years
Issued byPMIAmazon Web Services
Difficulty
Intermediate
Intermediate

PMI-ACP — Prerequisites

2,000 hours general project experience + 1,500 hours agile experience + 21 hours agile education

AWS Solutions Architect Associate — Prerequisites

AWS Cloud Practitioner recommended, 1 year hands-on AWS experience

Get PMI-ACP if…

  • You have 2–3 years of IT experience and want to specialise
  • You want a +$15,000/yr salary boost
  • You prefer credentials from PMI

Get AWS Solutions Architect Associate if…

  • You have 2–3 years of IT experience and want to specialise
  • You want a +$18,000/yr salary boost
  • You prefer credentials from Amazon Web Services

Best PMI-ACP courses

Best AWS Solutions Architect Associate courses

Frequently asked questions

Is PMI-ACP harder than AWS Solutions Architect Associate?

Both PMI-ACP and AWS Solutions Architect Associate are rated intermediate difficulty.

Which pays more — PMI-ACP or AWS Solutions Architect Associate?

PMI-ACP has an average salary uplift of +$15,000/yr, while AWS Solutions Architect Associate has +$18,000/yr. AWS Solutions Architect Associate has the higher salary impact.

Which should I get first — PMI-ACP or AWS Solutions Architect Associate?

PMI-ACP is the better starting point — it's rated intermediate and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward AWS Solutions Architect Associate.

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