The four levels and what they cost
AWS prices exams by level, per attempt, in USD. These are the fees AWS publishes in its before-you-test policies; confirm them when you book, because AWS reviews prices at least once a year.
| Level | Exam fee | Exams (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational | $100 | Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02), AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) |
| Associate | $150 | Solutions Architect (SAA-C03), Developer (DVA-C02, moving to DVA-C03), CloudOps Engineer (SOA-C03), Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer (MLA-C01, moving to MLA-C02) |
| Professional | $300 | Solutions Architect (SAP-C02, moving to SAP-C03), DevOps Engineer, Generative AI Developer |
| Specialty | $300 | Security, Advanced Networking (retiring December 31, 2026) |
The ladder is not linear. Foundational exams test breadth and vocabulary, Associate exams test whether you can pick the right service for a scenario, Professional exams test multi-service design under trade-offs, and Specialty exams go deep on one domain. The cheapest sensible route to a Professional credential is Cloud Practitioner ($100), Solutions Architect Associate ($150) then Solutions Architect Professional ($300): $550 in exam fees before study material.
Five role-based paths
Choose by the job you want, not by the ladder. Each path below starts at the exam that gives the most value for that role.
1. Cloud architect (the default path)
Cloud Practitioner if you are new, then Solutions Architect Associate, then Solutions Architect Professional. SAA-C03 is the most widely recognised AWS credential and the best single exam if you can only take one. Read the Well-Architected Framework early: both Associate and Professional exams are built around its pillars.
2. Developer
Developer Associate (DVA-C02 until November 30, 2026, then DVA-C03), then DevOps Engineer Professional. If you build serverless or container applications, this beats Solutions Architect on relevance. Not sure which Associate fits? See Solutions Architect Associate vs Developer Associate.
3. Operations and DevOps
CloudOps Engineer Associate (SOA-C03, the renamed SysOps Administrator exam), then DevOps Engineer Professional. AWS says the new name applies only to people who pass SOA-C03; existing SysOps Administrator holders keep their title.
4. Data, machine learning and AI
AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) is the non-technical entry point. From there, Data Engineer Associate or Machine Learning Engineer Associate for hands-on roles, and Generative AI Developer Professional for building production generative AI systems. Weighing AWS against Google for AI fundamentals? Read Google Generative AI Leader vs AWS AI Practitioner.
5. Security and networking
Solutions Architect Associate first, because both Specialty exams assume you already know core AWS services, then Security Specialty. Advanced Networking Specialty retires on December 31, 2026, so only start it if you can sit the exam before then. Holders can renew before then by retaking the exam, or through AWS's Skill Builder maintenance option (see renewal below).
Where to start
| If you are… | Start with |
|---|---|
| New to IT or to cloud | Cloud Practitioner |
| A sysadmin, network or infrastructure engineer | Solutions Architect Associate or CloudOps Engineer Associate |
| A software developer | Developer Associate (check the DVA-C02 / DVA-C03 dates below) |
| A manager, analyst or business stakeholder curious about AI | AI Practitioner |
| Already using AWS daily | The Associate exam that matches your role; skip Cloud Practitioner |
A quick test: if you cannot explain the shared responsibility model and what EC2, S3, IAM, VPC and RDS do, take Cloud Practitioner first. The 4-week Cloud Practitioner study plan covers it.
What is changing in 2026
AWS is replacing several exams over the next three months. These dates come from AWS announcements as of October 30, 2026; AWS can move dates, so confirm on the exam page before you book.
| Exam | Current version ends | Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Solutions Architect Professional | SAP-C02: last day November 16, 2026 | SAP-C03 from November 17, 2026 ($300, 75 questions, 180 minutes) |
| Developer Associate | DVA-C02: last day November 30, 2026 | DVA-C03 from December 1, 2026 ($150, 65 questions, 130 minutes, 720/1000 to pass) |
| Machine Learning Engineer Associate | MLA-C01: last day in English was September 28, 2026; retires in all languages January 14, 2027 | MLA-C02, in beta now, generally available January 14, 2027 |
| Advanced Networking Specialty | Retires December 31, 2026 | No replacement announced on the AWS certification page |
AWS also has a non-technical AI Business Strategist exam in beta. If you pass a current version (MLA-C01, SAP-C02 or DVA-C02), your credential stays active until its original expiry date. Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) and Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) are not part of these announcements.
Practical advice: if you are within a few weeks of being ready for an exam that retires soon, taking the current version is reasonable, because the credential does not become invalid. If you are months out, study the replacement from its updated exam guide. CertSharp's Developer Associate practice bank targets DVA-C02, so use it as foundation practice and compare its coverage against the DVA-C03 exam guide if you sit the new version.
Validity and renewal
AWS certifications are valid for three years. AWS lists the ways to renew; these are the ones that matter for planning a path:
- Pass a higher exam. Passing any Professional exam renews Cloud Practitioner and the Associate exams AWS maps to it. Passing any Associate exam renews Cloud Practitioner.
- Retake the latest version of the same exam, which gives another three years.
- Maintain through Skill Builder. Within 90 days of expiry, with an active paid Skill Builder subscription, you can add one year.
This is why climbing the ladder is efficient: one Professional exam can keep several lower certifications current. Check the AWS recertification page for the exact mapping for each exam before you rely on it.
A sensible study order
- Pick the role path above and book the first exam 4 to 8 weeks out so the date forces a schedule.
- Study from the official exam guide, not a course outline. Domain weights tell you where to spend hours.
- Take timed practice exams until you score consistently above your target on mixed-domain sets, not just topic quizzes.
- Build something small. A free-tier account and a VPC, an S3 bucket policy and a Lambda function teach more than another video.
- Book the next exam while the material is fresh; Associate to Associate is far easier than coming back cold after a year.
Start with the exam you need: how to pass SAA-C03 first try, the SAA-C03 study plan and whether Solutions Architect Associate is worth it.
Sources
- AWS Certification
- AWS Certification: before you test policies (exam fees)
- AWS Certification: recertification
- AWS Training and Certification Blog: September 2026 new offerings
- AWS Training and Certification Blog: exam update and new name for the operations certification
Facts checked against AWS pages on October 30, 2026. Exam dates, fees and retirements change; verify on the AWS certification site before you book.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AWS certification to start with?
For most people it is AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) if you are new to cloud, or Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) if you already work with infrastructure or have used AWS. AWS does not require you to hold a lower-level certification first, so the real question is whether you need the foundation. If you cannot explain the shared responsibility model and the core services (EC2, S3, VPC, IAM, RDS), start with Cloud Practitioner. If you can, go straight to the Associate exam that matches your role.
Do I need Cloud Practitioner before the Associate exams?
No. There are no formal prerequisites for AWS exams; AWS lists recommended experience instead. Cloud Practitioner is a sensible warm-up and it is also renewed when you pass any Associate or Professional exam, so you do not need to keep retaking it.
How much do AWS certifications cost?
AWS lists exam fees by level: Foundational $100, Associate $150, Professional $300 and Specialty $300, per attempt, in USD. Taking Cloud Practitioner, Solutions Architect Associate and Solutions Architect Professional in sequence costs $550 in exam fees alone, before any study material. Fees are reviewed at least annually, so confirm on the AWS certification site before you book.
How long are AWS certifications valid?
Three years. You can renew by passing the latest version of the exam, or by passing a higher-level exam that AWS lists as a renewal path. Passing any Professional exam renews Cloud Practitioner and the Associate exams AWS maps to it, and passing any Associate exam renews Cloud Practitioner. AWS also offers a Skill Builder maintenance option that adds one year, within 90 days of expiry, with an active paid Skill Builder subscription.
Which AWS certifications are changing in 2026?
As of October 30, 2026, AWS has announced replacement exams for Machine Learning Engineer Associate (MLA-C01 to MLA-C02, general availability January 14, 2027), Solutions Architect Professional (SAP-C02 to SAP-C03, new exam from November 17, 2026) and Developer Associate (DVA-C02 to DVA-C03, new exam from December 1, 2026). Advanced Networking Specialty retires on December 31, 2026. People who pass the current versions keep their credential through its original expiry date.
Should I take the old exam or wait for the new one?
If most of your study material targets the current version and the retirement date is a few weeks away, taking the current exam is a reasonable choice, and the credential stays valid. If you are months from being ready, study for the replacement version using the updated exam guide. Whichever you choose, book against the date, not the version name, and check the exam guide your exam is actually built from.
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