AWS Certification Cost by Level: Complete 2026 Breakdown

Planning to get AWS certified? Before you start studying, you need to know exactly what you're going to pay.

Here's the truth: AWS certifications aren't cheap. But they don't have to break the bank either.

This guide breaks down every exam fee by certification level, plus the strategies smart learners use to cut their costs in half.

AWS Certification Costs at a Glance

Foundational Level ($100)

The entry point to AWS certification.

Who should start here:

• Complete beginners to cloud
• Non-technical roles (sales, management, HR)
• Anyone wanting a quick win

Hidden benefit: Pass any foundational cert and you get a 50% voucher for your next exam. That $100 investment saves you $75-150 on your next certification.

Associate Level ($150)

The sweet spot for most AWS professionals.

Pro tip: If you passed Cloud Practitioner first, use your 50% voucher. These exams drop to $75.

Professional Level ($300)

The advanced tier for experienced cloud professionals.

With the 50% voucher from a previous pass, these drop to $150.

Specialty Level ($300)

Deep expertise in specific domains.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About

Study Materials

Here's where most people waste money.

The old way (expensive):

• Udemy courses: $15-200
• A Cloud Guru subscription: $35-47/month
• Practice exam bundles: $20-30 each
• Multiple platforms: $100-300/month total

The problem? You're paying for 40+ hours of content when you might only need to focus on 20% of it. You're studying topics you already know.

The smart way: Instead of buying multiple courses and hoping for the best, find your knowledge gaps first.

StudyTech identifies exactly what you don't know in 10 minutes. Then you study only those topics. No more 40-hour courses covering stuff you already understand.

Retake Fees

If you fail, you pay full price again. There's a 14-day waiting period, but the cost doesn't change.

The real cost of failing:

• Exam fee: $100-300
• Lost study time: 2-4 more weeks
• Confidence hit: Priceless

This is why you should never book your exam until you're consistently scoring 85%+ on practice tests.

With StudyTech, your exam readiness score updates in real time. When you hit 85%, you book with confidence. No more guessing if you're ready.

How to Cut Your AWS Certification Costs in Half

Strategy 1: The Voucher Chain

Start with Cloud Practitioner ($100). Pass. Get 50% voucher.

Now every subsequent exam is half price:

• SAA: $75 (instead of $150)
• Pass SAA, get another voucher
• Next cert: 50% off again

Math:

• Without strategy: CCP ($100) + SAA ($150) + DVA ($150) = $400
• With voucher chain: CCP ($100) + SAA ($75) + DVA ($75) = $250
• Savings: $150

Strategy 2: Employer Reimbursement

Check your company's L&D policy. Many employers cover:

• Full exam fees
• Study material costs
• Bonuses for passing ($100-500)
• Paid study time

You might get AWS certified for $0 out of pocket.

Strategy 3: Stop Paying for Content You Don't Need

This is the biggest money pit.

People buy 3-4 courses, multiple practice exam bundles, lab subscriptions... and still don't feel ready.

The problem isn't more content. It's not knowing what you actually need to study.

Here's what smart learners do in 2026:

1. Take a 10-minute skill assessment
2. See exactly which topics they're weak on
3. Study ONLY those topics
4. Track their readiness score
5. Book when they hit 85%

No more jumping between Udemy courses, YouTube videos, and scattered notes. No more buying $30 practice exams hoping they'll tell you if you're ready.

Strategy 4: Free Resources First

Before spending anything on courses:

• AWS Skill Builder (free tier) - Official training
• AWS Whitepapers - Essential reading
• AWS Documentation - Detailed service guides
• YouTube - Free full courses

Combine free resources with targeted gap-based learning, and you can pass spending less than $150 total (exam fee + one month of smart prep).

Total Cost Scenarios

Scenario 1: Budget Path

Scenario 2: Smart Path (Recommended)

Result: Two certifications, properly prepared, for $225.

Scenario 3: The Old Way

And you might still not feel ready because you never knew your actual gaps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cheapest AWS certification?

Cloud Practitioner and AI Practitioner are both $100, making them the cheapest AWS certifications.

Can I get an AWS certification for free?

The exam itself cannot be free, but your employer might pay for it. AWS also occasionally offers vouchers through programs like AWS Educate or conference events.

Is the 50% voucher worth starting with Cloud Practitioner?

Absolutely. Even if you could skip to Solutions Architect Associate, the voucher saves you $75 on that exam alone. Plus CCP builds foundational knowledge and confidence.

What happens if I fail?

You wait 14 days and pay the full exam fee again. This is why proper preparation matters more than rushing to book.

The Bottom Line

AWS certification costs $100-300 per exam. But the real cost is the time and money wasted on unfocused studying.

Stop buying courses hoping they'll cover what you need. Stop taking practice exams just to see a score without understanding your gaps.

In 2026, smart learners:

1. Find their knowledge gaps first (10 minutes)
2. Get a personalized study plan
3. Track their readiness in real time
4. Book when the data says they're ready

Over 1,000 learners are already using StudyTech to get AWS certified faster and cheaper. Your certification journey starts with knowing exactly what you need to study.