Before Testing

All AWS Certifications may be earned without completing specific prerequisites. However, AWS provides recommendations for knowledge and experience that are aligned to the content and level of proficiency for each certification.

There is no true substitute for experience. AWS recommends that you have specific hands-on experience that covers the competencies, domains, and objectives in the content outline for each exam. In addition, AWS offers multiple training courses, and resources such as whitepapers and blogs, to assist you with acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary for competent practice.

AWS is committed to impartiality in all of its certification activities. We do not require or endorse any specific courses, as there are multiple methods to prepare for each certification.

Candidates ages 13-17 are permitted to take AWS Certification exams with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. Visit our Policies page for details.  

AWS endorses the principle of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in all certification programs. Visit our Policies page for details.

Each AWS Certification exam assesses a unique, comprehensive set of knowledge, skills, and abilities that can be attained through learning and experience working with AWS products and services. Each exam samples the knowledge or skills required to perform the tasks in each of the major areas of responsibility—or domains—as defined through a job task analysis (JTA). Each exam does not attempt to test knowledge at all levels or settings in the content or practice area.

AWS Certification exams are constructed according to test specifications derived from the JTA. AWS conducts these studies with qualified subject matter experts (SMEs) to establish the test specifications used to construct each exam.

Exam guides for each certification contain the content outline for their respective exams. Each outline includes information on its exam’s domains and objectives, as well as the percentage of questions in each domain. Get started by downloading exam guides from each exam’s webpage, which are located on our website.

The following table shows the exam prices in local currency for countries that use the Australian Dollar, Euro, Korean Won, Japanese Yen, and Chinese yuan. Applicable taxes may apply. Prices are valid for one exam attempt.

Note: Exam prices are updated at least annually in April* to reflect updated foreign exchange rates.

*Note: Foreign exchange rates may be updated more frequently, with a minimum of 30 days notice.

• All updates to foreign exchange rates apply to countries that use the Australian dollar, Euro, Korean won, Japanese yen, and Chinese yuan.
• Foreign exchange rates displayed on this page do not apply to voucher purchases. For more on voucher pricing, please visit the Xvoucher website. Xvoucher is an AWS authorized reseller and distributor of AWS Certification exam vouchers.
  
• Vouchers that are intended to cover 100% of an exam will be valid for the full exam price, regardless of the updates to foreign exchange rates. Vouchers that are intended to cover 50% of an exam will be valid for 50% off of the exam price at the time of exam purchase.
  
• Individuals who pay for an exam with a credit card or cash will not be required to make any additional payment to reschedule their exam after the exchange rate is updated. Please note that AWS Certification exams can only be rescheduled twice.
• Individuals who cancel their exam more than 24 hours before their scheduled appointment will be refunded the exam fee they paid at the time of purchase.

AWS Certification uses beta exams to validate performance of exam questions before the questions are used on standard versions of an exam. An exam can go through the beta process before the exam is launched for the first time. AWS Certification can also complete a beta process when an exam content outline changes. Candidates who pass the beta exam will be among the first to hold the new certification. 

Beta exams are the same as standard versions of a certification exam in the following ways:

• All AWS Certification exams, including beta exams, are valid assessments. Candidates who pass a beta exam earn the applicable AWS Certification, which is active for three years. 
• All AWS Certification exams, including beta exams, are scored against a minimum proficiency standard established by AWS professionals who follow certification industry best practices and guidelines.
• SMEs review all AWS Certification exam content, including content that appears on beta exams, to ensure quality.
• All AWS Certification exam results, including results for beta exams, are available within 5 business days after you complete your exam. You can access the results in your AWS Certification Account, under Exam History.

Beta exams are different from standard versions of a certification exam in the following ways:

• A beta exam contains more total questions and more scored questions than the standard version of the same exam.
• Beta exams are available for a limited period of time (generally from 1 – 3 months).
• Beta exams are offered at a discount from standard exam pricing. 
• Beta exam test takers can take the beta version only once. If they wish to retake the exam, they must wait until the standard version of the exam becomes generally available.

You can find exam prep resources created by AWS Skill Builder, our online learning center. These resources are not required for preparing for AWS Certification exams.

AWS Certification and their vendors are committed to providing all individuals with an opportunity to validate technical skills and cloud expertise. We will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities to help ensure equitable access to AWS Certification.

Reasonable accommodations are granted for applicants with documented disabilities in coordination with our test delivery provider. Special accommodations will be arranged individually and in advance with the test delivery provider.

Accommodations must be requested prior to scheduling each exam.

A 30-minute exam extension is available upon request to non-native English speakers when taking an exam in English. The accommodation, “ESL +30,” only needs to be requested once, prior to registering for an exam. It will apply to all future exam registrations with all test delivery providers. To request this accommodation, follow these steps:

• Sign in to aws.training/Certification. 
• Select the Go to your Account button. 
• Select the Request Exam Accommodations button, followed by Request Accommodation.
• Using the Accommodation Type dropdown, select ESL +30 MINUTES.
• Select the Create button.

For Pearson VUE-granted accommodations, candidates will be required to request accommodations directly with Pearson VUE. A candidate with an approved accommodation will be given instructions for scheduling their exam appointment over the phone. For more information and to request accommodations, visit Pearson VUE’s accommodations page.

There are specific comfort aids, such as medicines, medical devices, and other items, that do not require prior approval. You may bring these items to test centers. Allowable comfort aids differ based on the test delivery provider.

Visit Pearson VUE’s comfort aids page for the current list of their allowed comfort aids.

To schedule a certification exam, you must first create an AWS Certification Account. Your AWS Certification Account is a central management tool for AWS Certification, allowing you to schedule exams and take advantage of certification benefits.

You will need an AWS Certification Account, which is separate from your AWS account, to participate in the AWS Certification program. To create an AWS Certification Account, go to aws.training/Certification and choose Sign In. Follow directions for creating an AWS Builder ID. More detailed instructions are available in the AWS documentation.

If you have any account issues, visit the AWS Certification Account FAQ for details on how to submit a case to AWS Training and Certification Customer Service. Account issues include updating the name on your account to match your proof of identification and merging multiple accounts.

AWS Certification exams are currently offered through Pearson VUE. Learn more about the AWS Certification Test Delivery Provider, Pearson VUE, on our FAQ page.

To find a testing center, visit Pearson VUE to find a date, time, and location convenient for you.

Use the AWS Exam Demo tool to become familiar with the user interface and features of an AWS Certification exam, including color contrast options, identifying questions to review again later in the exam, and the English-language toggle for translated exams. To access the AWS Exam Demo, visit the AWS page at Pearson VUE and select “AWS Exam Demo”.

Online proctoring is available for all AWS Certification exams from our test delivery provider Pearson VUE. Review the information below for details on testing options available:

Note that communication with a proctor is required to complete an online-proctored appointment.

To schedule an AWS Certification exam through your AWS Certification Account, complete the following steps:

• Sign in to aws.training/Certification.
• Select the Go to your Account button, followed by the Schedule New Exam button. 
• Find the exam you wish to take, and then select Schedule with Pearson VUE.
• You will then be redirected to your Pearson VUE dashboard to select your testing location, date, and time for testing. Follow the prompts to purchase your exam. You will receive a confirmation email once you have purchased your exam.
• Please review the confirmation email in its entirety. This email contains pertinent details on the policies and terms for your upcoming exam appointment.
  

To reschedule or cancel an exam, complete the following steps:

• Sign in to aws.training/Certification.
• Select the Go to your Account button. 
• Select the Manage Pearson VUE Exams button.
• You will then be redirected to the Pearson VUE dashboard where you can select on the exam in the Upcoming Appointments menu. 
• Please note: You can reschedule your exam up to 24 hours before your scheduled exam time. Each exam appointment can only be rescheduled twice. If you need to reschedule your exam a third time, you will need to cancel your exam and schedule it for a more convenient date. If you paid for your exam using a voucher, verify the voucher expiration date prior to modifying your existing registration. Exam voucher expiration dates cannot be extended.
• You will not be able to cancel or reschedule your exam within 24 hours of your scheduled exam appointment. Within 24 hours of the exam time, our test delivery provider will charge the full delivery fee and refunds are not available. In cases of personal illness or unforeseen emergencies, and with appropriate documentation, the test delivery provider will waive the fee and allow the exam to be rescheduled without charging additional fees. To request an excused absence, contact Pearson VUE accordingly.

You must contact Pearson VUE (refer to the contact information above) or access your online account to cancel your exam a minimum of 24 hours prior to your appointment. Canceling your exam less than 24 hours prior to your appointment, or failing to appear for your appointment, will result in the forfeiture of your exam fee.

If you wish to reschedule your exam, sign in to your AWS Certification Account to complete the rescheduling process.

To offer certifications, AWS needs to collect some personal information about you, but we will never sell your personal information to others. We share personal information only as described in the AWS Privacy Policy, and with Amazon.com, Inc. and the subsidiaries that Amazon.com, Inc. controls that are either subject to the AWS Privacy Policy or follow practices at least as protective as those described in the policy.

The AWS Training and Certification team complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by providing a way for European Union members to request the deletion of personal data and by providing candidates with their personal data with a description of how it is used. We will also systematically notify you if an account breach occurs. You can find more details in AWS Training and Certification’s GDPR compliance FAQ.  

AWS Certification exams are not delivered in countries that are subject to sanctions or otherwise designated on any list of prohibited or restricted parties, including but not limited: to the lists maintained by the United Nations Security Council; the United States Government; the European Union or its member states; or any other applicable government authority. Our test delivery providers are committed to complying with applicable laws in the countries in which we operate, including international sanctions that may restrict us from providing services in, or to residents of, certain countries. A list of countries where AWS exams are delivered may be found during exam scheduling for Pearson VUE test centers.

To sit for an AWS Certification exam, you must provide valid government-issued identification establishing residence in a non-sanctioned country. If you do not have a qualifying government-issued ID from the country you are testing in (except for candidates who will use a European Union ID), an international travel passport from your country of citizenship is required and must be presented as your primary form of ID. A secondary form of ID is still required. Please review the ID requirement guidelines carefully, as there are different ID requirements for online and in-person testing.

You can pay for AWS Certification exams using a credit card or voucher. The following credit cards can be used at Pearson VUE: Visa, American Express, Mastercard, and JCB.

Learn more about AWS Certification exam vouchers on our voucher webpage.  

When scheduling an exam with Pearson VUE, you will be prompted to agree to the test delivery provider’s terms and conditions. Be sure to read these terms and conditions carefully before proceeding to schedule your exam.