After the CP exam, what is the typical next step?

JugglingReferee

Architect, Operation, or Developer?

JDMurray

Typically, the AWS Cloud Practitioner cert is for non-technical people that will likely not be going on to get more advanced Cloud certs. (The CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ cert is similar in this regard.) 

The AWS associate cert you get next depends on if you want to architect solutions in AWS, implement solutions in AWS, or maintain solutions in AWS. For an overall understanding of AWS, I would recommend the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate cert.