WGU - BSCC (BS in Cloud Computing)

[xicovu]

I may be a little late on this, but if he's already got AWS don't bother with the Cloud Computing track. Going the Software Development or CS track. DevOps needs to know how to do Full-Stack. If he needs it quick, do generic Information Technology as that will give him solid Web Dev frontend, javascript, DB and should be a lot quicker. Go through code academy and blow through the Web Dev courses for the CIW. DevOps should know:

Linux (advanced)
Cloud (AWS/Azure/GCP)
Python, Powershell
Ansible/Salt/Chef/Puppet
Java preferably, but C# or C++ will do
Full stack web development
Layer 2/Layer 3 networking


If I had a candidate in from of me, I wouldn't care about the certs. I would care about his coding portfolio and projects, which WGU will not give you. Keep the cert's off your resume because it looks really bad to have CIW or CompTIA on a "grown up" tech resume. AWS on a resume is going to get you hits like crazy, no matter the cert. He's already got one obviously but i always recommend the AWS Solution Architect as it's easy and has the exact same effect to your resume as Sysops or Development. Other than that one, certs don't really matter. With certs, pick a path and take it to an architect level if he'd like. But I seriously, seriously recommend going the Red Hat Linux Engineer path.

Linux is really the only thing that matters for DevOps, even more than AWS.

Thanks for your reply, @xicovu!!!

So this is what we are looking at, based on your recommendations:

• Already Full-stack, Senior Dev, so that's done (his words to me were: I've been doing this since before the term "Full Stack" was invented lol).
  
• Get these certs on his resume:
  • Red Hat Certified Engineer
    
  • AWS Certified DevOps cert (since he already has AWS Solution Architect and his employer would like him to level up all the way)
    
  • IT Automation in Python cert
    

• Continue to gear up his personal portfolio to include the new skills he's learned for the DevOps route. 
  

• To check the bachelor's box - the quickest would be TESU's "BS in Technical Studies" (has the most credits that transferred over from his DeVry cert from '89). Failing that, we can look at other choices, if the title of it really doesn't matter at the end of the day.
  

Thanks again for your help with this!

If the employer wants him to, then go for it but if he can convince them to let him hit the Red Hat path hard there are some Expert/Architect certs in DevOps that'll be better in actual operations. Python automation is good but learn Ansible (or Puppet/Chef), but focus as deep as possible on Redhat. Don't get to focused on putting certs on his resume. Build labs on AWS, GCP, Azure and get some dedicated servers and home gear to work on. Learning VMware well would be beneficial as well for on-prem and general how a data center works. It's an expensive certification track, but even if for self study learn VCP Data Center Virtualization. Understanding the converged data center stack would be really important.

BS Technical studies checks the box. If he has some time to put in, I would highly recommend the B.A. Computer Science at TESU. Computer Science is by far the most sought after computer degree. If not the B.A., check out the B.S. General Studies in Information System Studies or Computer Science. It's one I looked at as an option for myself. Between study.com, SL, teex, and even the Google Support Cert (worth 12 credits). Another option is the B.S. Individual Studies and take Info tech + Business or some other combination.

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I may be a little late on this, but if he's already got AWS don't bother with the Cloud Computing track. Going the Software Development or CS track. DevOps needs to know how to do Full-Stack. If he needs it quick, do generic Information Technology as that will give him solid Web Dev frontend, javascript, DB and should be a lot quicker. Go through code academy and blow through the Web Dev courses for the CIW. DevOps should know:

Linux (advanced)
Cloud (AWS/Azure/GCP)
Python, Powershell
Ansible/Salt/Chef/Puppet
Java preferably, but C# or C++ will do
Full stack web development
Layer 2/Layer 3 networking


If I had a candidate in from of me, I wouldn't care about the certs. I would care about his coding portfolio and projects, which WGU will not give you. Keep the cert's off your resume because it looks really bad to have CIW or CompTIA on a "grown up" tech resume. AWS on a resume is going to get you hits like crazy, no matter the cert. He's already got one obviously but i always recommend the AWS Solution Architect as it's easy and has the exact same effect to your resume as Sysops or Development. Other than that one, certs don't really matter. With certs, pick a path and take it to an architect level if he'd like. But I seriously, seriously recommend going the Red Hat Linux Engineer path.

Linux is really the only thing that matters for DevOps, even more than AWS.

Thanks for your reply, @xicovu!!!

So this is what we are looking at, based on your recommendations:

• Already Full-stack, Senior Dev, so that's done (his words to me were: I've been doing this since before the term "Full Stack" was invented lol).
  
• Get these certs on his resume:
  • Red Hat Certified Engineer
    
  • AWS Certified DevOps cert (since he already has AWS Solution Architect and his employer would like him to level up all the way)
    
  • IT Automation in Python cert
    

• Continue to gear up his personal portfolio to include the new skills he's learned for the DevOps route. 
  

• To check the bachelor's box - the quickest would be TESU's "BS in Technical Studies" (has the most credits that transferred over from his DeVry cert from '89). Failing that, we can look at other choices, if the title of it really doesn't matter at the end of the day.
  

Thanks again for your help with this!

If the employer wants him to, then go for it but if he can convince them to let him hit the Red Hat path hard there are some Expert/Architect certs in DevOps that'll be better in actual operations. Python automation is good but learn Ansible (or Puppet/Chef), but focus as deep as possible on Redhat. Don't get to focused on putting certs on his resume. Build labs on AWS, GCP, Azure and get some dedicated servers and home gear to work on. Learning VMware well would be beneficial as well for on-prem and general how a data center works. It's an expensive certification track, but even if for self study learn VCP Data Center Virtualization. Understanding the converged data center stack would be really important.

BS Technical studies checks the box. If he has some time to put in, I would highly recommend the B.A. Computer Science at TESU. Computer Science is by far the most sought after computer degree. If not the B.A., check out the B.S. General Studies in Information System Studies or Computer Science. It's one I looked at as an option for myself. Between study.com, SL, teex, and even the Google Support Cert (worth 12 credits). Another option is the B.S. Individual Studies and take Info tech + Business or some other combination.

Redhat/Ansible certification path:
https://www.redhat.com/en/services/certification/rhce

Watch Acloud.guru and Linux Academy like it's Netflix. This is going to be better than any college degree program.

I use this for my dedicated server labs. Learning actual hardware is important:
https://www.wholesaleinternet.net/

Play with all Google GCP, Azure, and AWS - learning to think cloud architecture is more important than knowing the technical details of one provider.

Buy a dell C6100 if he's super ambitious, or a Dell R710 and get VMware 6.7 installed for lab.
Dell R710


Dell C6100
Look into a rack if he wants to go bigger.
Cloud-based labs are expensive. If want to work on large DevOps projects at home, either one of those will get him set. Learning VM, OS, and L2/L3 network troubleshooting is going to be crucial.

If he sticks with that, he'd have a pretty good system-side skillset by the end of the year/next year. DevOps really isn't an entry level systems job.