AWS Machine Learning Specialty Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the AWS Machine Learning Specialty, eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$300
Provider
Amazon Web Services
Validity
3 years
Available
Global
Education
No formal education requirement
Experience
Recommended but not required, varies by level
Specific Requirements
- None were required. AWS stated that no specific certification had to be earned first, though candidates commonly held AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate, AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate or AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate before attempting the specialty exam.
- AWS described the ideal candidate as having two or more years of experience developing, architecting and running ML or deep learning workloads in the AWS Cloud.
- MLS-C01 can no longer be booked. The last delivery date was 31 March 2026.
- For the successor exam MLA-C01, AWS recommends at least one year of experience with Amazon SageMaker and other AWS ML engineering services, plus one year in a related role such as backend developer, DevOps developer, data engineer or data scientist.
- Candidates must be 13 years or older. Those aged 13 to 17 need consent from a parent or legal guardian, and AWS publishes a Teen Testing Policy covering the full requirements.
Number of Questions
65 questions. AWS states that 50 of them affect your score and 15 are unscored trial items that are not identified on the exam.
Duration
180 minutes. The successor exam, MLA-C01, runs 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, with no partial credit, Note that MLA-C01 adds ordering items of three to five responses and matching items against three to seven prompts, neither of which awards partial credit
Passing Requirement
750 out of a scaled range of 100 to 1,000. AWS uses a compensatory scoring model, so you pass on the overall score and do not need to reach a threshold in each section. MLA-C01 uses the same scale with a minimum passing score of 720.
How It Is Delivered
Pearson VUE test centre or online proctored exam. Retired on 31 March 2026, after which neither option can be booked. Results are posted within five business days to the AWS Certification Account under Exam History.
Languages Offered
English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese
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
- 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 Machine Learning Specialty?
None were required. AWS stated that no specific certification had to be earned first, though candidates commonly held AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate, AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate or AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate before attempting the specialty exam.. AWS described the ideal candidate as having two or more years of experience developing, architecting and running ML or deep learning workloads in the AWS Cloud.. MLS-C01 can no longer be booked. The last delivery date was 31 March 2026.. For the successor exam MLA-C01, AWS recommends at least one year of experience with Amazon SageMaker and other AWS ML engineering services, plus one year in a related role such as backend developer, DevOps developer, data engineer or data scientist.. Candidates must be 13 years or older. Those aged 13 to 17 need consent from a parent or legal guardian, and AWS publishes a Teen Testing Policy covering the full requirements..
How much does the AWS Machine Learning Specialty cost?
The AWS Machine Learning Specialty exam costs $300. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the AWS Machine Learning Specialty?
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 Machine Learning Specialty?
Two forms of valid ID (one with photo). Confirmation email with appointment details. For online: clear desk, webcam, stable internet.
Ready to prepare for AWS Machine Learning Specialty?
Get the complete exam guide with study plan, tips, and practice questions.
View AWS Machine Learning Specialty Guide