Until a Working Mom Achieves 12 AWS Certifications

Hello. This is Omori from Classmethod Operations Technical Support.

Introduction

I've finally achieved my long-desired goal of obtaining all 12 AWS certifications.

Originally, my goal was to get 5 certifications, and I thought achieving all 12 would be impossible for me.

However, after seeing someone who, like me, transitioned from IT Support (part-time) to Technical Support (full-time) achieve all 12 certifications, I decided to set my goal for all 12 and continued studying for certifications.

I'd like to talk about the problems I faced while pursuing AWS certifications and how I overcame them.

The Problem of Finding Study Time

Honestly, it's really difficult for a working mom to secure study time.
The following pie chart shows my daily schedule.

On weekdays, between taking my child to and from daycare, preparing meals, taking care of my child, and various other household chores, I can only secure personal time from around 22:30 to 24:00.
Studying past midnight affects the next day, so I had to utilize this limited time to read books and solve practice questions (from textbooks, Udemy courses, etc.).

It's also difficult to study for extended periods on weekends.
My child is at home on weekends. Since they're not old enough to play with friends independently, I take them out.
I also need to shop for groceries for the following week.
And I have to do the cleaning that I couldn't do during weekdays.

Therefore, I secured study time on weekday evenings—at most 2 hours, at least 30 minutes—and
spent about 3-4 months studying for each certification.

The Cost Issue

AWS certification exam fees are very expensive.
Having obtained 12 certifications, it would have been impossible to achieve this using my own funds.

Regarding this, Classmethod Operations, Inc. provides financial support for certification costs,
which I utilized.
Without this support, I think it would have been difficult for me to take the exams in the first place.

How I Maintained Motivation

At first, I studied thinking it was for my child's sake.
After achieving a certain number of certifications, I felt it would be a waste to stop there,
and from that point on, my motivation never declined.

I also planned the order in which to obtain all certifications to maximize efficiency by applying knowledge from previous certifications to subsequent ones.

(Example) AIF ⇒ MLA ⇒ DEA ⇒ MLS
(Example) DVA ⇒ DOP
(Example) SOA ⇒ SAP
(Example) CLF ⇒ SAA

Is It Just Studying for Certifications?

The knowledge gained from studying for certifications is useful in my work.

For example, even for lesser-known services that I've learned about through certification studies,
I can determine what customers are aiming to achieve when they make inquiries.

Also, sometimes we receive inquiries from customers using the same configurations that were covered in exam questions.

It's not just for certifications; increasing my broad knowledge leads to providing better quality support.

Looking Ahead

As my child will start school next year, I may need to significantly change my work style.

Fortunately, Classmethod Operations, Inc. is a very accommodating workplace for working moms.
Even as my environment changes, I want to maintain a positive "I can do this" attitude and continue to challenge myself.

In Conclusion

If you read this blog and thought, "I want to try this too! I want to work hard!" why not work with us?
If you're interested, please check out the Classmethod Operations, Inc. Recruitment Site.

About Classmethod Operations, Inc.

We are the operations company of the Classmethod Group.

We are a group of experts with specialized teams in operations, maintenance development, support, information systems, and back-office functions, providing everything from business outsourcing to problem-solving and high-value-added services through "systems" that fully utilize IT and AI.

We are recruiting members for various positions.

If you are interested in our culture, systems, and work style that realize both "Operational Excellence" and "Work like yourself, live like yourself," please visit the Classmethod Operations, Inc. Recruitment Site.
※We changed our company name from Annotation Inc. in January 2026