AWS certifications are valid for 3 years. After that, you need to renew your certificate to prove that your skills are still relevant to the latest AWS services and best practices. Renewal of your AWS certification involves taking the latest version of the exam or a specific recertification exam (for Associate-level and Professional-level certifications). Here’s how you can go about it.
Step-by-step guide to renewing AWS certification
Step 1. Sign in to your AWS Certification Account
Go to the AWS Certification Portal and sign in with your Amazon account. Make sure that it is the same account that you used to get the certification before.
Step 2. Check your certification status
Go to the “Certification” tab and check your current certifications, their expiration dates and links to schedule renewal exams.
This is where you can start the renewal process. It’s important to note that you can only start the renewal process if your certification is within 6 months of expiry.
Step 3. Choose the appropriate recertification exam
Depending on your level, here’s what you’ll need to do:
For Foundational (Cloud Practitioner): Retake the same Cloud Practitioner exam.
For Associate level: Take the specific Associate-level exam again.
For Professional level: Retake the relevant Professional-level exam.
For Specialty exams: Retake the same Specialty exam.
Step 4. Schedule your recertification exam
Click “Schedule New Exam”, select the certification and choose the testing method (online proctored or test center). Then you can simply pick a date to take the exam and pay the exam fee.
Step 5. Prepare and take the exam
Once you’ve registered for the exam, all you need to do now is prepare and take the test on the scheduled date.
After taking the exam, results are typically available within 5 business days, so you can check your results accordingly.
FAQ
Is there a separate recertification exam?
Yes, some certifications offer shorter recertification versions of the main exam (especially Associate and Professional levels). But you can also take the full exam again.
Will I get a discount for recertification?
Yes, AWS usually provides a 50% discount voucher for recertification. You can check the benefits tab in the AWS Certification account for the same.
What happens if my AWS certification expires?
If your certification expires, it becomes inactive, and you lose your official status. You’ll need to take the full exam again to re-earn the certification.
Can I upgrade instead of renewing?
Yes. If you pass a higher-level exam (e.g., Professional or Specialty), it renews your lower-level certification in the same path.
