AWS Certification Subject Matter Expert (SME) Program

Join peers at AWS Certification exam development workshops to help ensure the validity of our current and future AWS Certification program.

Get started with the program

Become a Subject Matter Expert (SME)

We are searching for qualified SMEs to participate in AWS Certification exam development workshops. SMEs participate in multi-day workshops focused on job task analysis, item development, or standards-setting as part of our certification and exam development processes. At each workshop, SMEs receive training on the relevant certification development tasks. SME activities at AWS Certification workshops may include:

  • Establishing the topics an exam will cover
  • Deciding eligibility requirements for exam candidates
  • Developing and evaluating exam questions
  • Determining the exam’s passing score
The Importance of AWS Certification SMEs

Benefits

AWS Certification voucher and SME swag

After successfully participating in an exam development workshop, we will give you exclusive SME swag and a voucher to take a free live AWS Certification exam of your choice.

Travel and network opportunities

SMEs from various backgrounds share their unique use-cases and lessons learned at exam development workshops, which are held at Amazon offices worldwide.

Gain insight and recognition

SMEs gain insights into AWS services and feature sets. Add to your resume, CV, or LinkedIn page that you contributed to an industry-recognized program.

Steps to Becoming a SME

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Apply

Complete the form as thoroughly and as accurately as possible. A team member may follow up for more information, if needed.
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Attain

Take the required AWS Certification Subject Matter Expert Item Writing course and pass the related assessment.

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Accept

If you are selected for a workshop opportunity, a team member will email you an invitation with workshop-specific details.
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Attend

Participate and collaborate with your peers in a three-day workshop to receive SME swag and a certification voucher.
Get started
Trainers, authors, or individuals who teach toward the AWS Certification exams, or who otherwise profit from a specific knowledge of AWS Certification exam content, are not eligible to participate as certification exam development SMEs, but AWS sincerely appreciates interest from the training community in our SME program.

Customer Feedback

“Being a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for AWS certifications has been really rewarding.  It’s been fantastic to not only see the process that goes into making an exam, but to be able to be a part of it and influence it.  Also, being around other people who are similarly passionate about this has given me insight into other viewpoints and ways of looking at problems which has helped me in communicating with my customers.”
 
Christopher Hodson, AWS Technical Account Manager
 

"Attending the certification item development workshop highlighted the commitment AWS has made to improving and modernizing their entire certification examination process. Developing materials for a professional level examination is a challenging task, but the depth of review and quality of feedback received made it a particularly rewarding experience."
 
Bruce Cutler, Slalom (From his blog An Insider’s View: My experience developing certification questions with AWS)