AWS Community Builders: Everything You Need to Know
Curious about AWS Community Builders? This AWS community program is perfect for anyone who loves creating content. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how it works, share tips for applying, and talk about my own experiences along the way!
Published Jan 6, 2025
Last Modified Jan 7, 2025
The AWS Community Builders is a welcoming program that brings together tech enthusiasts who are passionate to learn more about AWS and cloud technology. It's a great place to share your knowledge, meet others in the community, boost your tech skills, and enjoy lots of networking opportunities. You also get access to lots of great technical content to help you grow.
The program lasts for one year, and if you want to keep participating, you just need to renew your membership each year.
HOW TO APPLY?
Applications open once a year. Candidates go through a selection process and are later notified of their approval status. You can add your name in the waitlist here and visiting the official program website.
The form asks questions like:
- What have you done to increase knowledge sharing among people?
- What's your interest area in technology?
- Why do you want to join?
- What are your interests in AWS, and where do you see yourself in the future?
You'll also need to provide links to content you've created, such as YouTube videos, blog posts, events you've organized, talks you've given, GitHub projects, or content you've posted on social media. Initially, focus on written content like blog posts and tutorials.
WHO CAN REGISTER?
Anyone of legal age who is enthusiastic about a technology area, has some knowledge of cloud/AWS, and enjoys sharing knowledge can apply.
Anyone of legal age who is enthusiastic about a technology area, has some knowledge of cloud/AWS, and enjoys sharing knowledge can apply.
CONTENT LEVELS
The eligible levels are:
The eligible levels are:
- Level 100 (Beginner)
- Level 200 (Intermediate)
- Level 300 (Advanced)
- Level 400 (Expert)
You can start creating content for beginners (Level 100) with topics like "First Steps in the Cloud" or "What is AWS?" As you continue in the program and renew your registration each year, your content should progress to more advanced technical levels.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO BE ACCEPTED?
There are no strict rules on how to be accepted, but the key is to answer all application questions thoroughly and clearly, review the program rules, and show a commitment to community engagement. Participate in AWS User Groups, help organize events, speak at forums, and create technical materials that help people understand and solve problems with a focus on AWS trends. Disseminating your material, especially written content, is crucial.
There are no strict rules on how to be accepted, but the key is to answer all application questions thoroughly and clearly, review the program rules, and show a commitment to community engagement. Participate in AWS User Groups, help organize events, speak at forums, and create technical materials that help people understand and solve problems with a focus on AWS trends. Disseminating your material, especially written content, is crucial.
AWS COMMUNITY BUILDERS CATEGORIES
Each member is linked to a category related to AWS/cloud computing, such as:
Each member is linked to a category related to AWS/cloud computing, such as:
- AI Engineering: This category focuses on those passionate about building generative AI applications with foundation models. You’re regularly using Amazon Bedrock to build with a diverse range of FMs, are familiar with how to get the most out of FMs with techniques such as advanced prompt engineering, fine-tuning, and RAG, and you regularly leverage Agents to orchestrate and automate multistep tasks.
- Cloud Operations: This category focuses on observability and config. We’re looking for advocates for services such as CloudWatch, Systems Manager, Config, and Service Catalog.
- Containers: This category focuses on containers. If you regularly use AWS container services, such as ECS, EC2, EKS Fargate, or App Runner, then we’d love to have you.
- Data: This category focuses on those with a passion for databases, analytics, and other related technologies. This means you’re primarily interested in using AWS services such as DynamoDB, RDS, S3, OpenSearch, Redshift, Athena, etc.
- Dev Tools: This category focuses on those interested in CI/CD, CDK, build pipelines, and IDEs, as well as broadly helping developers build. You’re interested in AWS tools such as CodePipeline, CodeCommit, Application Composer, and Cloud9.
- Front-End Web and Mobile Development: This category is for those actively developing web and mobile applications. You’re interested in services such as API Gateway, Amplify, and AppSync.
- Machine Learning: This category focuses on those passionate about using machine learning to build, train and deploy models at scale. You regularly use Amazon SageMaker, leveraging a fine-grain of control over infrastructure and tools to pre-train, evaluate, customize, and deploy ML models and FMs. You’re familiar with ML tools like AWS Deep Learning AMIs, AWS Deep Learning Containers, advanced frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, Jupyter and Apache MXNet, and also how to get the most out of AWS ML Infrastructure like Trainium Inferentia based instances.
- Networking and Content Delivery: This category is for those focused on AWS at a network level. You’re regularly using services such as Cloudfront, Route53, WAF, or VPC.
- Security: This category is for those primarily concerned with securing workloads and applications on AWS. You’re familiar with services such as Cognito, IAM, GuardDuty, and Secrets Manager.
- Serverless: This category is for any developer focused on compute at scale. You regularly use services such as Lambda, Step Functions, EventBridge, SQS, or SNS.
Choose the category that best matches your comfort zone or area of study during your application.
I GOT ACCEPTED INTO AWS COMMUNITY BUILDERS, NOW WHAT?
Congratulations, and welcome to the AWS Community Builders program! While it's a time for celebration, it’s also an exciting opportunity to dive into the many benefits of the program.
GETTING STARTED:
- PARTICIPATE IN CALLS: Join calls hosted by Community Builders. These calls are a great way to meet people from around the world, offering incredible networking opportunities and a platform for engaging discussions.
- ENGAGE GLOBALLY: Take full advantage of interacting with the global community. Watch out for mentoring opportunities, show a keen interest in learning more, and of course, continue creating and strengthening your content.
NOTE: As this is a global community, English is the primary language used.
BENEFITS OF BEING AN AWS COMMUNITY BUILDER
- ACCESS TO AWS EXPERTS: You’ll have direct access to AWS professionals in your chosen category, which is invaluable for technical growth.
- EXCLUSIVE EVENTS AND TALKS: Attend talks and events where both Community Builders and AWS staff share knowledge and tips on improving content creation.
- BETA PROGRAMS: Gain early access to beta programs, giving you a sneak peek at upcoming features and services.
- AWS CREDITS: Receive $500 in AWS credits with each program renewal, which is great for experimenting with new services and testing proof of concepts.
- EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: Enjoy access to CloudAcademy during your tenure in the program and a free AWS certification of any level.
- PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION: The visibility you get can significantly boost your professional standing, opening doors to speaking at community and AWS-hosted events.
- DISCOUNTS ON RE:INVENT: Enjoy significant discounts at re:Invent, up to 50%. Plus, you might get a chance to win a scholarship through the All Builders Welcome Grant to attend re:Invent in Las Vegas, covering all expenses including travel, hotel, and ticket.
MY EXPERIENCE
The AWS Community is truly amazing! Over the past five years, I’ve led an AWS User Group, been an AWS Community Builder, and now I’m an AWS Hero, an experience that has completely changed my life for the better. Thanks to this community, I earned my first certification, do my first presentation and gave my first international talk. I’m extremely grateful for it all.
I was part of the AWS Community Builders program for four years, and my journey started with my passion for containers. This program really helped me grow, not just in my job and technical skills but also in my ability to soft skills. I met incredible people along the way and had opportunities that really helped me expand my skills and connections. Now that I’m an AWS Hero, I’m no longer part of the Community Builders program, but I’m still active in the Builders’ Slack channel. Feel free to ping me there if you ever want to chat or share ideas!
SWAG TIME!
Each year, AWS sends out cool SWAG items to Community Builders upon renewal. Here's a look at the SWAG I received over the years:
Each year, AWS sends out cool SWAG items to Community Builders upon renewal. Here's a look at the SWAG I received over the years:
I didn't get to receive my four-year SWAG from the AWS Community Builders program because I transitioned to becoming an AWS Hero soon after.
You can check out the directory with all the AWS Community Builders, connect with them, and have some great conversations. I remember feeling a warm glow in my heart when I saw my name there for the first time. It's a wonderful community to be part of!
If you're thinking about applying and have any questions, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter (now X). I'd be happy to help review your application or offer some tips.
That's it! Good luck!