AWS Certifications: Complete Guide to Every Level and Exam

Definition

AWS Certifications are industry-recognized credentials that validate cloud expertise across four levels: Foundational, Associate, Professional, and Specialty. As of 2026, AWS offers 11 active certification exams covering cloud fundamentals, architecture, development, operations, security, networking, machine learning, databases, and data analytics. They are among the most sought-after IT certifications globally and a standard hiring signal for cloud roles.

How It Works

Candidates register through AWS Certification (accessed via the AWS Training portal) and schedule exams at Pearson VUE testing centers or via online proctoring from home. Each exam is multiple-choice and/or multiple-response, scored on a scale (typically 100–1000), with a passing score in the 700–750 range depending on the exam. Results are available immediately after submission.

There are no formal prerequisites — you can take any exam at any level without passing a lower-level exam first. However, AWS recommends specific experience levels for each tier.

Certifications are valid for 3 years. To recertify, you can either retake the same exam, pass a higher-level exam in the same domain, or complete a recertification assessment on AWS Skill Builder (currently available for select certs).

All Active AWS Certifications

Foundational (1 exam)

| Exam | Code | Duration | Questions | Cost | Passing Score | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Cloud Practitioner | CLF-C02 | 90 min | 65 | $100 | 700/1000 |

Associate (3 exams)

| Exam | Code | Duration | Questions | Cost | Passing Score | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Solutions Architect Associate | SAA-C03 | 130 min | 65 | $150 | ~720/1000 | | Developer Associate | DVA-C02 | 130 min | 65 | $150 | ~720/1000 | | SysOps Administrator Associate | SOA-C02 | 130 min | 65 | $150 | ~720/1000 |

Professional (2 exams)

| Exam | Code | Duration | Questions | Cost | Passing Score | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Solutions Architect Professional | SAP-C02 | 180 min | 75 | $300 | ~750/1000 | | DevOps Engineer Professional | DOP-C02 | 180 min | 75 | $300 | ~750/1000 |

Specialty (5 exams)

| Exam | Code | Duration | Questions | Cost | Passing Score | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Advanced Networking | ANS-C01 | 170 min | 65 | $300 | ~750/1000 | | Security | SCS-C02 | 170 min | 65 | $300 | ~750/1000 | | Machine Learning | MLS-C01 | 180 min | 65 | $300 | ~750/1000 | | Database | DBS-C01 | 180 min | 65 | $300 | ~750/1000 | | Data Analytics | DAS-C01 | 180 min | 65 | $300 | ~750/1000 |

Key Features and Limits

No prerequisites enforced: any exam can be taken independently, though AWS recommends experience levels (6 months for Foundational, 1 year for Associate, 2 years for Professional/Specialty).
Digital badges: earned via Credly; shareable on LinkedIn and resumes.
50% discount voucher: passing any exam grants a 50% discount voucher for your next exam.
Free practice exam: passing any exam also grants a free official practice exam.
AWS Skill Builder: AWS's learning platform with free and subscription ($29/month) tiers; includes exam prep courses, labs, and practice exams.
Recertification: 3-year validity. Options include retaking the exam, passing a higher-level exam, or completing a Skill Builder recertification assessment.
Language: exams available in English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and other languages depending on the exam.
Accommodations: extra time (ESL +30 min), accessibility accommodations available through Pearson VUE.

Common Use Cases

Career advancement — certifications are a standard requirement or strong differentiator for cloud architect, engineer, and DevOps roles.
Salary increase — certified professionals typically command 10–25% higher salaries than non-certified peers in cloud roles.
AWS Partner requirements — AWS Partner Network (APN) tiers require a minimum number of certified employees.
Team upskilling — organizations use the certification path to structure internal cloud training programs.
Consulting credibility — independent consultants and agencies use certifications to demonstrate expertise to clients.

Exam Format & Cost

Foundational: 90 minutes, 65 questions, $100 USD.
Associate: 130 minutes, 65 questions, $150 USD.
Professional: 180 minutes, 75 questions, $300 USD.
Specialty: 170–180 minutes, 65 questions, $300 USD.
Question types: multiple-choice (1 correct out of 4) and multiple-response (2–3 correct out of 5–6). Some exams include unscored pilot questions.
Delivery: Pearson VUE test centers worldwide or online proctored (OnVUE).
Retake policy: 14-day wait after a failed attempt.

Compared to Other AWS Certifications

Since this article covers the full portfolio, here is how AWS certifications compare to other cloud providers:

| | AWS | Azure | Google Cloud | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Total active certs | 11 | 12+ | 11+ | | Levels | 4 (Foundational → Specialty) | 3 (Fundamentals → Expert) + Specialty | 3 (Foundational → Professional) | | Entry-level exam | Cloud Practitioner ($100) | AZ-900 ($99) | Cloud Digital Leader ($99) | | Most popular | Solutions Architect Associate | AZ-104 / AZ-900 | Associate Cloud Engineer | | Validity | 3 years | 1 year (annual renewal assessment) | 2 years (recertify) | | Recertification | Retake, higher exam, or Skill Builder assessment | Free renewal assessment | Retake exam |

AWS certifications have the longest validity (3 years) and the most mature ecosystem of third-party training materials.

Exam Relevance

This article itself is exam-relevant for anyone starting their AWS certification journey:

Start with Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) if you are new to AWS or come from a non-technical background.
Start with Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) if you have hands-on AWS experience — it is the most popular and versatile cert.
Professional exams (SAP-C02, DOP-C02) are significantly harder and assume 2+ years of experience.
Specialty exams are deep dives — take them if you work in that domain (security, networking, ML, databases, analytics).

Recommended path for most people: CLF-C02 → SAA-C03 → SAP-C02 (or branch into Specialty).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which AWS certification should I get first?

A: If you are new to cloud or come from a non-technical role, start with Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) — it covers broad AWS fundamentals and requires no prior experience. If you already have hands-on AWS experience, skip directly to Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) — it is the most recognized and broadly useful AWS certification.

Q: Do I need to pass a lower-level exam before taking a Professional or Specialty exam?

A: No. AWS does not enforce prerequisites. You can take the Solutions Architect Professional (SAP-C02) without passing the Associate. However, AWS recommends 2+ years of hands-on experience for Professional exams and domain-specific experience for Specialty exams. Most candidates find the Associate exam helpful preparation for the Professional.

Q: How do I recertify my AWS certification before it expires?

A: You have three options: (1) retake the same certification exam, (2) pass a higher-level exam in the same path (e.g., passing SAP-C02 recertifies SAA-C03), or (3) complete a recertification assessment on AWS Skill Builder (shorter and lower-cost, available for select certifications). All options reset the 3-year validity clock.

This article reflects AWS certification details as of 2026. Exam codes, pricing, and availability change — always verify against the official AWS Certification page before registering.