Master your AWS Certification exams with CertVista
AWS Certification exams are proctored tests that validate an individual's technical knowledge of AWS products and services. A certification is a credential that you earn upon successfully passing an exam. AWS offers industry-recognized certifications across four distinct levels - Foundational, Associate, Professional, and Specialty - each designed to validate different depths of cloud expertise.
As of February 2024, there are more than 1.31 million active AWS Certifications, a number that grew 18% over the past year. There are more than 1 million unique AWS Certified individuals with 33% holding technical certifications in associate, professional, and specialty categories.
Which AWS certification should I choose?
The right AWS certification depends on your current experience level, career goals, and technical background. Here's a complete breakdown:
Foundational level exams
| Certification | Code | Cost | Duration | Questions | Experience Required | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner | CLF-C02 | $100 | 90 minutes | 65 | Up to 6 months AWS exposure (not required) | Complete beginners, sales, marketing, project management roles |
| AWS Certified AI Practitioner | AIF-C01 | $100 | 90 minutes | 65 | Familiarity with AI/ML concepts | Business professionals working with AI/ML technologies |
Associate level exams
| Certification | Code | Cost | Duration | Questions | Experience Required | Pass Rate | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate | SAA-C03 | $150 | 130 minutes | 65 | 1+ years hands-on AWS experience | 27% first attempt | Design and implement distributed systems |
| AWS Certified Developer - Associate | DVA-C02 | $150 | 130 minutes | 65 | 1+ years developing AWS applications | Not published | Write and deploy cloud-based applications |
| AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate | SOA-C02 | $150 | 130 minutes | 65 | 1+ years operating AWS workloads | Not published | Deploy, manage, and operate workloads |
| AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate | DEA-C01 | $150 | 170 minutes | 85 | 2+ years data engineering experience | Not published | Implement data pipelines and optimize cost/performance |
Professional level exams
| Certification | Code | Cost | Duration | Questions | Experience Required | Target Passing Score | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional | SAP-C02 | $300 | 180 minutes | 75 | 2+ years designing AWS architectures | 75% | Design complex, scalable AWS solutions |
| AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional | DOP-C02 | $300 | 180 minutes | 75 | 2+ years DevOps experience | 75% | Automate testing and deployment of infrastructure |
Specialty level exams
| Certification | Code | Cost | Duration | Questions | Experience Required | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Security - Specialty | SCS-C02 | $300 | 170 minutes | 65 | 2+ years securing AWS workloads | Secure data and workloads in AWS Cloud |
| AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty | MLS-C01 | $300 | 180 minutes | 65 | 1+ years developing ML workloads | Build, deploy, and maintain ML solutions |
| AWS Certified Database - Specialty | DBS-C01 | $300 | 180 minutes | 65 | 2+ years database design experience | Design and maintain databases on AWS |
| AWS Certified Data Analytics - Specialty | DAS-C01 | $300 | 180 minutes | 65 | 2+ years analytics experience | Design and implement data analytics solutions |
| AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty | ANS-C01 | $300 | 170 minutes | 65 | 3+ years networking experience | Design and maintain network architecture |
How much do AWS exams cost?
The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam is 100 USD. Associate-level exams are 150 USD. Professional-level and Specialty exams are 300 USD. Here's the complete breakdown:
- Foundational Level: $100 USD
- Associate Level: $150 USD
- Professional Level: $300 USD
- Specialty Level: $300 USD
Money-Saving Tip: Once you earn one AWS Certification, you get 50% discount on your next AWS Certification exam.
Free Retake Opportunity: Register for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner or AWS Certified AI Practitioner using the code AWSRetake2025 between October 9, 2024 and February 15, 2025 to be eligible for a FREE exam retake, if you need it.
How do I prepare for AWS certification exams?
Official AWS resources
The best preparation for certification exams is practical experience. In general, we recommend six months to two years of hands-on experience using AWS. AWS provides several official preparation resources:
AWS Skill Builder: The Individual subscription starts at $29 USD per month and gives you access to all available resources
Free Resources Include:
- AWS Certification Official Practice Question Sets
- Exam Prep digital courses
- AWS Builder Labs, AWS SimuLearn, and/or AWS Escape Room
Paid Resources Include:
- AWS Certification Official Practice Exams
- Advanced practice questions and labs
- AWS Cloud Quest gamified learning
CertVista: complete AWS exam preparation
From our experience training thousands of candidates, successful preparation requires comprehensive practice with realistic exam questions. CertVista provides the most complete AWS certification preparation solution available:
Why CertVista Stands Out:
- Hundreds of exam-like questions for each AWS certification
- The closest thing to the real exam - our test engine perfectly replicates the official AWS testing environment
- Excessive explanations for every question, removing the need for any other training materials
- All question types supported - multiple choice, multiple response, ordering, matching, and case studies
Advanced Features:
- Customized Mode: Focus on specific topics or weak areas
- Simulated Mode: Full-length practice exams with real timing
- Progress Tracking: Monitor performance across exam domains
- Exam History: Review and analyze all practice sessions
Additional third-party resources
While CertVista provides comprehensive preparation, some candidates supplement with additional resources. Successful preparation typically costs $200 to $500 on a combination of resources, though CertVista's complete solution can significantly reduce this investment.
Recommended study approach
Step 1: Review the exam guide Step 2: Take the AWS Certification Official Practice Question Set to understand exam-style questions Step 3: Begin comprehensive practice with CertVista's question banks and detailed explanations Step 4: Use CertVista's Simulated Mode to take full practice exams under real conditions Step 5: Take the AWS Certification Official Practice Exam
How are AWS exams scored?
AWS uses a scaled scoring system ranging from 100-1,000 points. Scaled scoring is commonly used when there are multiple sets of questions—or forms—for the same exam. This ensures fairness across different exam versions.
Key Scoring Facts:
- Each exam also contains a number of unscored questions that don't count toward your raw score
- It's generally accepted that scoring around 70% puts you in safe harbor
- AWS does not publish exam passing scores because exam questions and passing scores are updated to reflect changes in test forms as the content is updated
What happens if I fail?
If you fail an exam, you must wait 14 calendar days before you are eligible to retake the exam. There is no limit on exam attempts. However, you must pay the full registration fee for each exam attempt.
How do I schedule an AWS certification exam?
You can take AWS certification exams in two ways:
Testing centers
Testing centers are facilities operated independently from AWS that offer in-person proctoring as well as the technical equipment required for an exam
Online proctoring
Online proctoring is a testing environment that allows you to take an exam from any private space, such as your home or office. Most exam appointments are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
To Schedule: From your AWS Certification Account, you can schedule your exam with Pearson VUE
What languages are AWS exams available In?
Most AWS certification exams are available in multiple languages. For example, the Cloud Practitioner exam is offered in English, Bahasa (Indonesian), French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.
Are AWS certifications worth It?
Salary Impact: 73% of AWS professionals reported a salary increase averaging 27% after passing their certification
Industry Demand: 86% of organizations with AWS Certified staff say having that staff increases innovation with AWS services. 87% of IT leaders that employ AWS Certified staff say productivity improved, and 89% report faster troubleshooting
Career Advancement: AWS certifications are recognized by leading technology companies and can significantly improve job prospects in the rapidly growing cloud computing industry.
How long are AWS certifications valid?
This certification is valid for 3 years. Before expiration, you can recertify by:
- Passing the latest version of the same exam
- Earning a higher-level certification in the same path
- Complete the new AWS Cloud Quest: Recertify Cloud Practitioner game-based learning. This guided, self-paced option is free during the beta period which concludes the end of July 2025
Bottom line
AWS certifications remain the gold standard for validating cloud expertise in 2025. With over 1.3 million active certifications and strong employer demand, these credentials offer substantial career benefits. Start with the Cloud Practitioner for foundational knowledge, then progress to Associate and Professional levels based on your experience and career goals.
Whether you're beginning your cloud journey or advancing your existing skills, AWS certifications provide structured learning paths that directly translate to real-world capabilities and career opportunities. The investment in time and money typically pays dividends through increased salary potential and job market competitiveness.
- Which AWS certification should I choose?
- How much do AWS exams cost?
- How do I prepare for AWS certification exams?
- How are AWS exams scored?
- What happens if I fail?
- How do I schedule an AWS certification exam?
- What languages are AWS exams available In?
- Are AWS certifications worth It?
- How long are AWS certifications valid?
- Bottom line
Frequently Asked Questions
CertVista offers hundreds of exam-like questions for each AWS certification. Our comprehensive question banks cover all exam domains and objectives, providing extensive practice material to ensure you're thoroughly prepared for your certification exam.
CertVista's test engine is the closest thing to the real AWS exam available on the market. Our platform replicates the exact look, feel, and functionality of the official AWS testing environment, ensuring you're completely familiar with the exam interface before test day.
CertVista supports all AWS exam question types, including:
Multiple choice questions
Multiple response questions
Ordering questions
Matching questions
Case study scenarios
This comprehensive coverage ensures you're prepared for any question format you'll encounter on the actual exam.
Yes, every CertVista question includes excessive explanations for both correct and incorrect answers. These detailed explanations provide in-depth understanding of AWS concepts, services, and best practices, removing the need for any other training materials.
CertVista provides two distinct exam modes:
Customized Mode: Create custom practice sessions by selecting specific topics, difficulty levels, or question types to focus on your weak areas.
Simulated Mode: Take full-length practice exams that mirror the actual AWS certification exam experience, including time limits and question distribution.
Absolutely. CertVista offers comprehensive progress tracking that allows you to:
- Monitor your performance across different exam domains
- Identify knowledge gaps and weak areas
- Track improvement over time
- View detailed analytics of your practice sessions
Yes, CertVista maintains a complete exam history of all your practice sessions. You can review previous attempts, compare scores, and analyze your learning progression to optimize your study strategy.
No. CertVista's extensive question bank with detailed explanations provides comprehensive coverage of all exam objectives, removing the need for any other training materials. Our platform is designed to be your complete AWS certification preparation solution.
CertVista regularly updates our question banks to reflect the latest AWS exam guides, new services, and current best practices. This ensures you're always studying the most relevant and up-to-date content.
Yes, CertVista supports preparation for all AWS certification levels - Foundational, Associate, Professional, and Specialty certifications. Each certification has its own dedicated question bank tailored to that exam's specific requirements and difficulty level.