Why it matters
Some Ghanaian cloud adverts ask for a cloud certification, and recruiters use them to filter applications. A fundamentals certification also gives your learning a clear structure and a deadline. But a certificate without hands on practice is easy to spot in an interview. Treat the exam as a milestone on top of real work, never a replacement for it.
The entry level exams
Each major provider has one. These names were checked on the official pages in October 2026; check them again before you book, because exams are updated and retired.
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (exam AZ-900). Tests cloud concepts, Azure architecture and services, and Azure management and governance. Microsoft Learn offers free learning paths and a free practice assessment for it.
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (exam CLF-C02). Aimed at people new to the cloud; AWS says some exposure to AWS helps but is not required. AWS Skill Builder has free preparation courses. The certification is valid for three years.
- Cloud Digital Leader (Google Cloud). No prerequisites; focuses on cloud basics and how Google Cloud services help organisations. Valid for three years.
All three overlap heavily with what you learned in the cloud fundamentals section of this track.
What comes after
Associate level certifications go deeper and expect hands on skill. Examples are and (exam AZ-104). Aim for these after you have built real projects or started a cloud related job.