AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate (MLA-C01) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate (MLA-C01), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$150
Provider
Amazon Web Services
Validity
3 years
Available
Global
Education
No formal education requirement
Experience
Recommended but not required, varies by level
Specific Requirements
- No formal prerequisites. AWS allows any candidate to register for MLA-C01 without holding another certification.
- AWS recommends at least one year of experience using Amazon SageMaker and other AWS services for ML engineering.
- AWS also recommends at least one year in a related role such as backend software developer, DevOps developer, data engineer, or data scientist.
- Working knowledge of common ML algorithms, data formats, and querying and transforming data.
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, and version control with Git.
- Candidates aged 13 to 17 may test with the consent of a parent or legal guardian; there is no upper age limit.
- A valid government-issued ID establishing residence in a non-sanctioned country is required to sit the exam.
Number of Questions
65
Duration
130 minutes
Question Format
Multiple choice: one correct response and three distractors, Multiple response: two or more correct responses out of five or more options, Ordering: place three to five responses in the correct sequence, Matching: pair responses with three to seven prompts
Passing Requirement
720
How It Is Delivered
Pearson VUE test center or Pearson VUE online proctored exam
Languages Offered
English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese
Rules specific to this exam
- Fifty questions count toward your score and 15 are unscored trial items that are not identified during the exam.
- Ordering, matching, and multiple response questions require every element to be correct; AWS awards no partial credit.
- Unanswered questions are scored as incorrect and AWS applies no penalty for guessing.
- A Help button inside the exam lists the AWS service short names used in question text alongside their full names.
- Non-native English speakers taking the English version can request the ESL +30 accommodation for 30 extra minutes.
- Candidates sitting a translated version can switch individual questions to English with the on-screen language toggle.
Create an AWS Certification account at aws.amazon.com/certification
Select your exam and choose Pearson VUE as testing provider
Choose test center or online proctored option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
Scaled score from 100 to 1,000
Score You Need
720
How It Is Calculated
AWS set the passing standard with the modified Angoff technique, in which a panel of content experts estimated the difficulty of each question against a minimally qualified candidate over multiple rating rounds. Every later exam form is statistically equated to that standard, so a harder form needs fewer raw correct answers. The equated raw score is then converted to the 100 to 1,000 scale. Scoring is compensatory, so no individual domain has its own pass mark.
When You Get Results
Final results post to your AWS Certification Account within five business days of the exam, with an email notification. The Pearson VUE exit screen provides information about your results at the end of the appointment.
In raw terms: AWS does not publish a raw cut score. Fifty of the 65 questions are scored, so roughly 40 correct scored answers is a sensible working target, but the exact raw requirement varies by form after equating.
- The score report includes a table classifying your performance at each section level, which AWS advises interpreting with caution because sections carry different question counts.
- Ordering, matching, and multiple response questions are scored all or nothing.
- Unanswered questions are scored as incorrect and there is no penalty for a wrong answer.
- Results can be delayed beyond five business days if they are held for security or technical review.
- Two forms of valid ID (one with photo)
- Confirmation email with appointment details
- For online: clear desk, webcam, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate (MLA-C01)?
No formal prerequisites. AWS allows any candidate to register for MLA-C01 without holding another certification.. AWS recommends at least one year of experience using Amazon SageMaker and other AWS services for ML engineering.. AWS also recommends at least one year in a related role such as backend software developer, DevOps developer, data engineer, or data scientist.. Working knowledge of common ML algorithms, data formats, and querying and transforming data.. Experience with CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, and version control with Git.. Candidates aged 13 to 17 may test with the consent of a parent or legal guardian; there is no upper age limit.. A valid government-issued ID establishing residence in a non-sanctioned country is required to sit the exam..
How much does the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate (MLA-C01) cost?
The AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate (MLA-C01) exam costs $150. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate (MLA-C01)?
Create an AWS Certification account at aws.amazon.com/certification → Select your exam and choose Pearson VUE as testing provider → Choose test center or online proctored option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate (MLA-C01)?
Two forms of valid ID (one with photo). Confirmation email with appointment details. For online: clear desk, webcam, stable internet.
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