CertPrep+ · AWS

AWS Certifications

CLF-C02 · SAA-C03 · AIF-C01 practice

Practice questions, study cards and timed practice exams for the AWS certs we cover, laid out in the order most people take them.

Start with Cloud Practitioner See the path

Why AWS

AWS is the biggest cloud provider, so its services show up in job posts for everything from support to architecture. Cloud Practitioner proves you understand the basics and how AWS bills for them, and Solutions Architect Associate is one of the best-known certs for people who design and build on AWS.

The AWS path

Most people start with Cloud Practitioner. Solutions Architect Associate is the step up, and AI Practitioner covers AI on AWS. None of them require the one before it.

Compare AWS certs

The exams side by side: what each one asks, how long to study, and what the jobs it leads to pay.

Salaries for

Cert	Level	Questions	Time	Passing score	Study time	Entry-level salary
AWS Certified Cloud PractitionerCLF-C02	Foundational	65	90 min	700	3 to 6 weeks	$41K – $55K
AWS Certified Solutions ArchitectSAA-C03	Associate	65	130 min	720	3 to 6 weeks	$80K – $110K
AWS Certified AI PractitionerAIF-C01	Foundational	65	90 min	700	4 to 7 weeks	$67K – $90K

How long they last: AWS certs are good for three years. You renew by passing the current version of the exam or a higher-level AWS cert.

Exam details come from each cert's page. Study time assumes one or two sections a day. Salaries are entry-level US ranges; pick a city to adjust them.

Questions

Which AWS certification should I take first?

Cloud Practitioner is the usual first one. It covers the basics the other AWS exams build on.

Is AWS Cloud Practitioner worth it?

If you're new to the cloud or work alongside technical teams, yes. It shows you understand how AWS works and how it's billed. If you already build on AWS, Solutions Architect Associate will do more for you.

Cloud Practitioner vs Solutions Architect: which should I take first?

Cloud Practitioner, if you're new to AWS. AWS doesn't require it before Solutions Architect Associate, but that exam expects hands-on knowledge of AWS, so starting with the basics helps.

How hard is Solutions Architect Associate?

It's a real step up from Cloud Practitioner. The questions are long scenarios where you pick the best design, so you need to know how the main services fit together, not just what they are.

Should I take Cloud Practitioner or AI Practitioner first?

Cloud Practitioner if you're new to AWS, since it covers the basics everything else assumes. AI Practitioner if your goal is working with AI and you already know your way around the cloud.

How long does it take to study for an AWS exam?

It depends on what you already know. The table above shows an estimate for each cert, based on studying one or two sections a day.

Can I take AWS exams online?

Yes. You can take them at a testing center or online from home with a remote proctor.

Do AWS certifications expire?

They're good for three years. You renew by passing the current version of the exam or a higher-level AWS cert. Passing any AWS exam also gets you a 50% discount voucher toward your next one.

Start practicing for AWS

Cloud Practitioner is free to study. The rest are included with an opnf.sh subscription, $15/month or $120/year.

Start with Cloud Practitioner

AWS, Amazon Web Services and the exam names on this page are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. opnF.sh is not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon Web Services.