AWS Cloud Institute Frequently Asked Questions
Your AWS Cloud Institute questions, answered
Ready to unlock your cloud potential? AWS Cloud Institute is your path to an exciting cloud career—no tech background required! In as little as 9 months, you can become a job-ready cloud developer.

Why AWS Cloud Institute?
AWS Cloud Institute is designed to take you from a non-tech role to a role where you’re developing in the AWS Cloud in as little as 9 months.
How can I determine if AWS Cloud Institute is right for me?
We encourage you to explore AWS Cloud Institute Resource Hub to learn more about the Cloud Application Developer courses, capstone projects, and other details about how the program works. If you have questions please reach out to us at awscloudinstitute@amazon.com.
Are there pre-requisites?
While there are no higher education (e.g., BA or BS) or work experience requirements, applicants must be at least 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or equivalency such as a GED, HiSET, associate’s degree, or international secondary education equivalent.
What is the application and enrollment process for AWS Cloud Institute?
Applying to AWS Cloud Institute is easy! Simply confirm you are eligible for the program by completing the application form (less than 5 min). Once complete, our team will review your application for completeness and you will be invited to enroll on a first-come, first-served basis.
If accepted, you'll receive an email with instructions to enroll.
Start your application or checkout the application step-by-step guide. If you have additional questions please contact us.
How long will it take me to graduate from AWS Cloud Institute?
It depends on the pace you choose! All AWS Cloud Institute graduates will complete 9 courses and can opt-in to full-time or part-time pacing to complete them. Full-time learners can complete the program in 9 months by taking 3 courses per quarter (for 3 quarters). Part-time learners taking 2 courses per quarter can complete the program in 15 months and a 1 course per quarter commitment will take 27 months. If you choose to increase or decrease your course load it will impact the time it takes for you to complete the program.
The weekly time commitment is approximated as follows:
3 courses: 30+ hours / week
2 courses: 20 hours / week
1 course: 10 hours / week
Grants & Financial Aid
Open allDoes AWS Cloud Institute offer tuition assistance, grants, or scholarships?
AWS Cloud Institute is excited to offer partial and full Learner Grants to reduce cost as a barrier for a select number of learners with financial constraints. Learner Grants cover AWS Cloud Institute course fees, and are available for full-time and part-time learners. To learn more about Learner Grants and the grant application timeline, please visit the AWS Cloud Institute Resource Hub.
What is the award amount, and what can the funds be used for?
Learner grants either cover 50% (minus sales taxes) or 100% (minus a nominal fee of $1/month plus sales taxes) of AWS Cloud Institute course fees. These grant awards will be automatically applied to your monthly AWS Cloud Institute invoices fees for your entire enrollment. If you have already completed courses, your grant award will be applied toward all future courses.
Who will receive a full grant (covers 100% of course fees, minus $1/month and sales taxes)?
By applying for a learner grant, you are automatically considered to receive a full grant. Full grants are awarded to learners with the highest level of financial need, as determined by ISTS’s independent selection committee.
How are grant recipients chosen?
Learners who would benefit from financial assistance may apply for a learner grant. A limited number of grants are available, and an independent selection committee will evaluate grant applications and select recipients based on:
- expressed financial need
- self-identified barriers to entry in the cloud industry
- career goals
- previous employment/internship experience
How will applicants be notified of grant decisions?
ISTS will notify applicants of grant decisions by email. Please make sure you have opted in to email communications from ISTS. You can check your communication preferences on your ISTS account.
When and how will grant recipients receive funds?
Grant funds will be automatically applied directly to a learner’s monthly invoice. When a grant recipient registers for courses, the grant funds have already been applied, so the cost displayed is the remaining out-of-pocket cost that they will pay monthly.
Can learners who previously applied for a grant apply again?
Yes, learners who applied for and did not previously receive a grant may apply again each quarter. You may use the same ISTS account to apply each time. Learners who previously received a grant do not need to apply again. These learners will receive communications from AWS Cloud Institute regarding their award.
Are part-time learners eligible for a grant?
Yes, both full-time and part-time learners are eligible for a learner grant. Course load will not be considered in the selection criteria. Each grant award covers either 50% or 100% of your remaining course fees, minus taxes, regardless of how many courses you take per quarter.
Why is International Scholarship and Tuition Services (ISTS) administering the grant?
To ensure complete impartiality in the selection of recipients, the learner grant application is administered by ISTS, an independent company that specializes in managing sponsored educational assistance programs.
Can learners who are already enrolled in AWS Cloud Institute apply for a grant?
Yes, learners who are already enrolled in AWS Cloud Institute may apply for a grant. If selected as a grant recipient, grant funds will be applied to the remainder of your monthly bills starting in the upcoming quarter. The award will not retroactively apply toward past or present quarters’ course fees.
Will AWS Cloud Institute hold spots in the program for grant recipients?
Yes, AWS Cloud Institute will reserve spots in the program for learners who apply for a grant, even if you are not selected as a grant recipient. Grant applicants must wait until they are notified of their grant decision to register for the upcoming quarter’s courses.
Are learner grants subject to income taxes?
No. Learner grants are not considered taxable income, as the grant award is applied as a discount to your monthly course fees. If you have further questions about taxes, please consult a qualified tax consultant or the IRS.
Curriculum & Learning
Open allHow will the courses in AWS Cloud Institute prepare me for certification exams?
The courses provide a solid foundation of skills across business and technical concepts required for an entry-level software developer role, as well as the knowledge domains of the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, AWS Certified Developer Associate, and AWS Certified AI Practitioner Certifications. You’ll take modules that prepare you for each exam and receive vouchers to take all three certification exams.
Is there any pre-work before the start of the program?
Once enrolled, there is no required pre-work before the start of the program. You will be invited to optional Warm Up events. Should you require assistance, please reach out to our Customer Service team.
Am I able to skip courses in the curriculum?
At this time, you are not able to bypass a course in the program. AWS Cloud Institute consists of 9 courses, and the courses must be completed in their assigned order. You can take up to 3 courses per quarter.
How will AWS Cloud Institute provide accessible content and experiences?
We recognize that each learner has unique strengths and challenges, and our goal is to ensure that every learner feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full academic potential during their tenure with AWS Cloud Institute. For that reason, AWS Cloud Institute is committed to improving the accessibility of our learning content. We currently offer the following accommodations:
- We will post recordings with closed captioning as soon as they can be produced, usually within 24 hours following a live class.
- All course assessments are open-book and self-paced with no time limit.
- We designed labs and other experiential learning experiences to allow for extended completion times as needed.
- Asynchronous e-learning content has been built using accessibility features such as alt text, closed-captions, transcripts, and assessments that do not have a timing component built into them.
What if I cannot attend the live instructor-led sessions during the week?
We have built the program to allow you flexibility to attend what works for your schedule. If you can’t attend a live course session, you’ll be able to access the recording of a live session. You are not required to join the live course sessions in order to complete the courses. Additionally, our instructors offer 1:1 office hours every week for all of our courses -- this is a great opportunity to catch up with your instructor and ask any questions after watching a recording of the live course session. The office hours are offered at a wide variety of times throughout the day and evening for maximum flexibility.
Career & Job Readiness
Open allWhat types of roles will I be eligible to apply to after completing the program?
After completing AWS Cloud Institute, you’ll be prepared for in-demand cloud roles like Cloud Application Developer, DevOps Engineer, Cloud Engineer, Cloud Administrator, and Cloud Support Engineer.
How will this program prepare me for a career as a cloud developer?
AWS Cloud Institute covers the technical and professional skills required for cloud developer positions, such as cloud application developer, DevOps engineer, cloud administrator, cloud support engineer, and cloud engineer.
How can an employer connect with AWS Cloud Institute?
The company can complete the employer interest form to register for the job board and have access to engage with AWS Cloud Institute learners through career services.
Certifications & Badges
Open allWhat certifications will I earn?
All AWS Cloud Institute graduates will receive a digital badge that certifies your completion of the program. AWS Cloud Institute will also prepare you to take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Certified AI Practitioner exams during the program. You will receive vouchers for these exams upon successful completion of the prerequisite courses (Introduction to Cloud Foundations, Developer Intermediate 2, and AI for Developers)
If I already have an AWS Certification, can it be applied towards my program completion?
While we love to see that you’re already building your cloud skills, AWS Cloud Institute is designed to help you gain invaluable hands-on experience through all 9 of our courses. Any AWS Certifications you have won’t be applied towards your program completion.
General FAQs
Still have questions? Contact us at awscloudinstitute@amazon.com.
Is AWS Cloud Institute available outside the United States?
Currently, AWS is delivering the program to participants with a U.S. billing address. Our program is virtual so our learners never have to report to any physical location to complete the program and as we are currently a US-based program this means whichever payment mechanism you use at the point of enrollment must be tied to a US address. Learners in the UAE or Saudi Arabia are welcome to explore the program delivered through our partner Udacity here.
If I meet the criteria, do you guarantee a seat?
No. AWS will invite qualified applicants, meaning those who validate they meet the program criteria and complete the introductory course, to enroll in the next session that has capacity. Available seats will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Am I able to unenroll?
Yes. You are able to withdraw from any course, at any time. When you withdraw from a course, you will retain access to that course until the end of the current monthly billing period. After the billing period expires, access will end and you will no longer be charged for any further months for that course. Refunds for months already completed or billed will not be issued.
What equipment do I need once enrolled?
You will need access to a modern desktop or laptop computer with broadband internet connection. AWS Cloud Institute cannot be completed using a mobile device such as a tablet or mobile phone.
Supported web browsers include Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari. Your browser settings must enable JavaScript, third-party cookies, and localStorage, and TLS Version 1.2. Your computer must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Operating system: Windows 10 and later with up-to-date drivers or macOS10.13 and later
- Processor: Intel Dual-Core CPU 2.XX GHz or AMD processor equivalent, M1 chip or Intel CPU-based Dual-Core
- Memory: At least 4GB of RAM
Can my employer pay for me to enroll in AWS Cloud Institute?
Yes. Some companies may have reimbursement programs that you may qualify for. We recommend checking with your employer to determine if these benefits exist and how you might be able to leverage them.