AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate
Position yourself for in-demand technical ML roles
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate validates technical ability in implementing ML workloads in production and operationalizing them. Boost your career profile and credibility, and position yourself for in-demand machine learning job roles.
This exam is being updated. Registration for the updated version (MLA-C02) opens September 1, 2026. The last day to take the current exam (MLA-C01) in English is September 28, 2026. The current exam in other languages (Korean, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese) will remain available until general availability of MLA-C02. Check back here on September 1 for more information about the MLA-C02 exam and exam preparation resources.
Registration is now open for the updated exam (MLA-C02) beta. The beta is available in English only. The current exam (MLA-C01) remains available in Korean, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese until general availability of MLA-C02. (MLA-C01) in English is available through September 28, 2026.
Exam overview
|
Detail
|
MLA-C02 (Updated - Beta)
|
MLA-C01 (Current)
|
|---|---|---|
|
Category
|
Associate |
Associate |
|
Exam code
|
ME1-C02 |
MLA-C01 |
|
Exam duration
|
170 minutes |
130 minutes |
|
Exam format
|
85 questions; multiple choice and multiple response |
65 questions; multiple choice and multiple response |
|
Cost
|
$75 USD (beta pricing) |
$150 USD |
|
Intended candidate
|
Individuals with at least 1 year of experience using Amazon SageMaker AI, Amazon Bedrock, and other ML engineering AWS services |
Individuals with at least 1 year of experience using Amazon SageMaker and other ML engineering AWS services |
|
Candidate role examples
|
ML engineer, MLOps engineer, LLMOps engineer, data engineer, backend software developer, data scientist |
Backend software developer, DevOps engineer, data engineer, MLOps engineer, data scientist |
|
Testing options
|
Pearson VUE testing center or online proctored exam |
Pearson VUE testing center or online proctored exam |
|
Languages offered
|
English only (Beta) Additional languages (Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese) will be available at general availability |
English (available through September 28, 2026), Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese |
|
Validity
|
3 years |
3 years |
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate
MLA-C02 (Updated - Beta)
Open all- Generative AI implementation (Amazon Bedrock, RAG architectures)
- Agentic AI (orchestrating AI agents and complex workflows)
- Foundation models and LLMs (selection, fine-tuning, operationalization)
- Responsible AI practices across traditional ML and GenAI
The updated exam reflects the broadened scope of the ML engineer role. Key additions include:
The domain structure remains the same. No new domains were added. Existing task statements and skills have been updated to align with current industry practices.
Read the full blog post for a detailed breakdown of what's changed.
- Get to know the exam with exam-style questions
- Follow the 4-step plan.
- Review the exam guide.
- This exam uses short names of some AWS services. A list of short names and corresponding full names will be available through the Help button in the exam. You can familiarize yourself with the list of service names before your exam. This change will be reflected on the English version of the exam and will take effect on a rolling basis for versions offered in additional languages.
- Take the AWS Certification Official Practice Question Set to understand exam-style questions.
- Take the AWS Certification Official Pretest to identify any areas where you need to refresh your AWS knowledge and skills.
- Refresh your AWS knowledge and skills
Enroll in digital courses where you need to fill gaps in knowledge and skills, practice with AWS Builder Labs, AWS Cloud Quest, and AWS Jam. - Review and practice for your exam
Review the scope of the exam. Explore each exam domain’s topics and how they align to AWS services. Reinforce your knowledge and identify learning gaps with exam-style questions and flashcards. Follow instructors as they walk through exam-style questions and provide test-taking strategies. Continue practicing with AWS Builder Labs and/or AWS SimuLearn. - Assess your exam readiness
Take the AWS Certification Official Practice Exam.
Follow our Exam Prep Plan on AWS Skill Builder, our online learning center, so you can approach exam day with confidence.
- September 1, 2026: Beta registration open (English only)
- September 28, 2026: Last day to take MLA-C01 in English
- September 29, 2026: Beta delivery begins
- TBD: GA registration opens
- TBD: GA delivery begins
Beta exams contain additional items used for statistical evaluation. These additional items do not affect your score. The additional time and questions account for this. Beta results are typically available within 5 business days of exam completion.
MLA-C01 (Current)
Open all- MLA-C01 in English is available through September 28, 2026.
- MLA-C01 in Korean, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese remains available until general availability of MLA-C02.
- Your certification remains active through its full validity period regardless of when you earn it.
- Get to know the exam with exam-style questions
- Follow the 4-step plan.
- Review the exam guide.
- This exam uses short names of some AWS services. A list of short names and corresponding full names will be available through the Help button in the exam. You can familiarize yourself with the list of service names before your exam. This change will be reflected on the English version of the exam and will take effect on a rolling basis for versions offered in additional languages.
- Take the AWS Certification Official Practice Question Set to understand exam-style questions.
- Take the AWS Certification Official Pretest to identify any areas where you need to refresh your AWS knowledge and skills.
- Refresh your AWS knowledge and skills
Enroll in digital courses where you need to fill gaps in knowledge and skills, practice with AWS Builder Labs, AWS Cloud Quest, and AWS Jam. - Review and practice for your exam
Review the scope of the exam. Explore each exam domain’s topics and how they align to AWS services. Reinforce your knowledge and identify learning gaps with exam-style questions and flashcards. Follow instructors as they walk through exam-style questions and provide test-taking strategies. Continue practicing with AWS Builder Labs and/or AWS SimuLearn. - Assess your exam readiness
Take the AWS Certification Official Practice Exam.
Follow our Exam Prep Plan on AWS Skill Builder, our online learning center, so you can approach exam day with confidence.
Key FAQs to help you get started
The ideal candidate for this exam has at least 1 year of experience in machine learning engineering or a related field and 1 year of hands-on experience with AWS services. Professionals who do not have prior machine learning experience can take the training available in the Exam Prep Plans and get started building their knowledge and skills.
Per the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2023, demand for AI and Machine Learning Specialists is expected to grow by 40%. However, 70% of North American IT leaders say they have the greatest difficulty filling AI/ML specialist roles. This certification can position you for in-demand machine learning jobs in AWS Cloud.
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate is a role-based certification designed for ML engineers and MLOps engineers with at least one year of experience in AI/ML.
AWS Machine Learning - Specialty is a specialty certification covering topics across data engineering, data analysis, modeling, and ML implementation and ops. It is more suitable for individuals with 2 or more years of experience developing, architecting, and running ML workloads on AWS.
For professionals looking to dive deeper into machine learning, we recommend AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty.
This certification is valid for 3 years. Before your certification expires, you can recertify by passing the latest version of this exam. Learn more about recertification options for AWS Certifications.
Related credentials
Validate your ability to solve real-world problems using AWS technologies, going beyond theoretical knowledge to prove what you can actually do. Through timed, hands-on challenges, you'll demonstrate practical job readiness and build a portfolio of verified technical abilities that complement your AWS Certifications.
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