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AWS Certifications

Select a certification for the work you do. Foundations, role-based credentials, and specialties are different entry points; the diagram is a learning map, not a mandatory exam sequence.

AWS certification paths illustrated with Foundational, Associate, Professional, Specialty
AWS certification paths — an illustrated overview of the topics on this page.

Content reviewed: October 25, 2026

Current paths

GoalSelected credentials
Cloud literacyCloud Practitioner; AI Practitioner
ArchitectureSolutions Architect – Associate, then Professional when experience supports it
Development & operationsDeveloper – Associate; CloudOps Engineer – Associate; DevOps Engineer – Professional
Data & AI engineeringData Engineer – Associate; Machine Learning Engineer – Associate; Generative AI Developer – Professional
SecuritySecurity – Specialty

What changed

CloudOps Engineer – Associate is the current name of the operations certification previously called SysOps Administrator – Associate. Existing earned credentials are separate from the name used for a new exam.

Machine Learning – Specialty is retired; use the current AI/ML portfolio when planning a new credential. Advanced Networking – Specialty is scheduled to retire December 31, 2026. AWS also lists AI Business Strategist as a beta exam; beta status should be checked before booking.

Build capability alongside the credential

  • Choose a role and read its current exam guide before buying preparation materials.
  • Build an isolated lab with a budget alert, short-lived credentials, and a cleanup plan.
  • Practice architecture tradeoffs, incident investigation, and recovery rather than memorizing product lists.
  • Check exam version, availability, policies, and renewal requirements on AWS before registration.
AWS Certifications topic map: Current paths, What changed, Build capability alongside the credential, Sources & further reading
AWS Certifications — topic overview

Sources & further reading

AWS certification badges

Original badges from AWS’s official poster, arranged by certification level for easier reading. Check the current catalog for exam availability and beta status.

AWS certification badges: foundational and business, associate, professional, and specialty

Open compact certification chart ↗

Original certification chart

Retained from the previous site for reference. This older chart is historical; use the updated paths above and the official catalog for current exam availability.

Original AWS Certifications chart retained for historical reference; some credentials have changed