WGU Covered by Amazon Career Choice program

[MNomadic]

Just thought I'd share this opportunity here for anyone who either works at Amazon or is looking to find a job to pay for their degree. There's been talk these past few years about companies like Walmart, Target, and Starbucks promoting their college benefits and it looks like Amazon is stepping up their game as well. 

10 WGU programs in IT and Business are now covered by Amazon's Career Choice

Notably, Software Development, Computer Science and the vanilla BSIT aren't currently included which is odd since Amazon has an intense need for developers(I believe they offer other avenues for training/education for software developers).

Employees become eligible after only 90 days(formerly 1 year).

Also, looks like they have other interesting programs like apprenticeships and accelerated training paths for software development, robotics, and their AWS cloud services.

[dfrecore]

I know training for their AWS certs are all free to anyone (even if you're not an employee).

[Imbanewbie]

I hope aws offer for free voucher .

Sent from my phone using DegreeForum.net mobile app

[bjcheung77]

AWS offers 50% off the next exam you take, so the option to get discounts is pretty good for each and subsequent exam you take. It's just the first exam you pay full price, a couple of months ago they had a special going on for AWS... having said that, for those starting off, you can take the cheapest exam and get 50% off the next exam! Here's my previous post: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ons-50-off

[jacklinorman]

Thanks for sharing this information!

[MNomadic]

edit: Just realized someone made a post about this...

Just got this email from WGU. It appears Mcdonalds is offering WGU degrees now as well.

I’m pleased to announce WGU’s recent partnership with Amazon and McDonald’s—two of the largest employers in the country—to bring education benefits to their workforces. Eligible employees are now able to earn a WGU degree at little to no cost through the Amazon Career Choice and McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity programs. Those who are already WGU students benefit as well—eligible employees will have their tuition costs covered for future terms.*

As a current Night Owl, you understand what an exciting opportunity this is for so many—help us get the word out! Please share the news with those you know who are currently working for or considering working for these companies to see if they are eligible.

[RobinLionheart]

From WGU's website <https://www.wgu.edu/partners/amazon.html> it seems like their Software Development, Computer Science, and Information Technology bachelor's degrees should be among the options.

Amazon Career Choice can pay for two AWS certs if you choose WGU's Cloud Computing BS degree program, where your tuition includes a lot of cert exams:

• Amazon AWS Cloud Practitioner (from C849 Cloud Foundations)
  
• Amazon AWS SysOps Administration–Associate (from C924 Cloud Deployment and Operations)
  
• A+ (CompTIA) (Part I from C393 IT Foundations, Part II from C394 IT Applications)
  
• Cloud+ (CompTIA) (from C923 Cloud Applications)
  
• Network+ (CompTIA) (from C480 Networks)
  
• Security+ (CompTIA) (from C178 Network and Security - Applications)
  
• Project+ (CompTIA) (from C178 Business of IT - Project Management)
  
• ITIL1 Foundation Certification (Axelos) (from C846 Business of IT - Applications)
  
• LPI Linux Essentials (from C851 Linux Foundations)
  

The vanilla Information Technology degree also includes the AWS Cloud Practictioner cert, but not SysOps Administration.

[origamishuttle]

The vanilla Information Technology degree also includes the AWS Cloud Practictioner cert, but not SysOps Administration.

BSIT may be a better option for some. SysOps Admin is considered the most difficult AWS associate-level exam now, and it's only $75 to take it on your own, after the 50% off coupon from passing Cloud Practitioner. However, if the Cloud Computing degree is attempted, it is highly recommended to take CS113 at Study.com to transfer in for the very difficult C859 at WGU!

[RobinLionheart]

FWIW, here's a list of IT certs that you can obtain from courses in WGU College of IT degree programs:

A+ : Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Data Management, IT, Network Operations, Software Development (that is, all IT degrees except Computer Science)
AWS Cloud Practictioner : Cloud Computing, IT, Network Operations
AWS SysOps Administration : Cloud Computing, Network Operations
CCSP : Cybersecurity
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) : Network Operations
Cloud+ : Cloud Computing
CySA+ : Cybersecurity
ISC2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner : Cybersecurity
ITIL v4 : all IT degrees
LPI Linux Essentials : Cloud Computing, IT, Network Operations
Network+ : Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Data Management, IT, Network Operations
PenTest+ : Cybersecurity
Project+ : all IT degrees
Security+ : Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, IT, Network Operations

Contrariwise, these and various other IT certifications can be used as transfer equivalencies in their IT degree programs.

[origamishuttle]

Starting May 1st, there are upcoming changes to the Cloud Computing degree, which will be split into different tracks, with the following certifications:

Code:

| Certifications Offered                                  | Multi-Cloud    | AWS Track      | AZR Track      |
|---------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
| AWS – Certified Cloud Practitioner                      | X              | X              | Not applicable |
| AWS – Certified Developer**​                             | Not applicable | X              | Not applicable |
| AWS – Certified Solutions Architect**              | X              | X              | Not applicable |
| AWS – Certified SysOps Administrator-Associate**        | Not applicable | X              | Not applicable |
| Axelos – ITIL Foundation Certification                  | X              | X              | X              |
| CompTIA – A+                                            | X              | X              | X              |
| CompTIA – Cloud+                                        | X              | X              | X              |
| CompTIA – Network+                                      | X              | X              | X              |
| CompTIA – Project+                                      | X              | X              | X              |
| CompTIA – Security+                                     | X              | X              | X              |
| Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure**                   | Not applicable | Not applicable | X              |
| Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions** | Not applicable | Not applicable | X              |
| Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure**              | Not applicable | Not applicable | X              |
| LPI – Linux Foundations                                 | X              | X              | X              |
| Microsoft – Azure Administrator**                  | X              | X              | X              |
| Microsoft – Azure Fundamentals                          | X              | Not applicable | X              |

** These courses give the choice to use a WGU-provided voucher to earn the certification after passing an internal objective assessment.

This change means that the certification will no longer be required to pass the course, but there's only one voucher, so the first retake will not be covered by WGU anymore.

One interesting thing to note is that the AZ-104, Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate, is included in every track.