AWS Solutions Architect Associate Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate, 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
- There are no formal prerequisites. AWS states that all AWS Certifications may be earned without completing specific prerequisites.
- The exam guide recommends at least one year of hands-on experience designing cloud solutions that use AWS services.
- AWS notes on its own exam page that candidates with one to three years of general IT experience have prepared for and earned this certification as a starting point.
- Deep hands-on coding experience is not required, though the AWS exam page says familiarity with basic programming concepts is an advantage.
- Candidates with no IT work experience are advised by AWS to earn AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner first.
- You need an AWS Certification Account created with an AWS Builder ID, and the first and last names on it must match your government-issued photo ID exactly.
Number of Questions
65 questions, of which 50 are scored and 15 are unscored pretest items that are not identified during the exam
Duration
130 minutes of exam time. Non-native English speakers who request the ESL +30 accommodation in advance receive 30 additional minutes.
Question Format
Multiple choice: one correct response and three distractors, Multiple response: two or more correct responses among five or more options, Scenario-framed stems that state a business constraint such as lowest cost, least operational overhead, or a specific RTO and RPO, No penalty for guessing; unanswered questions are scored as incorrect
Passing Requirement
720, the passing standard AWS applies to all Associate-level certification exams
How It Is Delivered
Pearson VUE test center or OnVUE online proctored exam. No scheduled breaks are configured. Test center candidates may take unscheduled breaks while the clock runs and may not leave the building. Online candidates may not leave the camera view at any point. A Help button in the exam provides a list mapping short AWS service names to full names.
Languages Offered
English, French (France), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), Simplified Chinese, Traditional 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
Score Scale
100 to 1,000 scaled score
Score You Need
720, the passing standard AWS applies to all Associate-level certification exams
How It Is Calculated
AWS sets the raw passing standard on the first form using the modified Angoff technique, in which content experts rate each question against a minimally qualified candidate across multiple rounds until they reach consensus. Every subsequent form is statistically equated to that standard, so a harder form requires fewer correct answers. Scoring is compensatory across the four domains, there is no penalty for guessing, and unanswered questions count as incorrect.
When You Get Results
Final results appear in your AWS Certification Account within five business days of the close of the exam, with a downloadable PDF score report containing section-level performance classifications under Exam History.
- 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 Solutions Architect Associate?
There are no formal prerequisites. AWS states that all AWS Certifications may be earned without completing specific prerequisites.. The exam guide recommends at least one year of hands-on experience designing cloud solutions that use AWS services.. AWS notes on its own exam page that candidates with one to three years of general IT experience have prepared for and earned this certification as a starting point.. Deep hands-on coding experience is not required, though the AWS exam page says familiarity with basic programming concepts is an advantage.. Candidates with no IT work experience are advised by AWS to earn AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner first.. You need an AWS Certification Account created with an AWS Builder ID, and the first and last names on it must match your government-issued photo ID exactly..
How much does the AWS Solutions Architect Associate cost?
The AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam costs $150. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate?
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 Solutions Architect Associate?
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 Solutions Architect Associate?
Get the complete exam guide with study plan, tips, and practice questions.
View AWS Solutions Architect Associate Guide