AWS Solutions Architect Associate Exam Fees and Cost

Published AWS exam price

AWS publishes a US price of US$150 for the Associate-level Solutions Architect exam. The amount paid in another country may be displayed in local currency and reflect foreign exchange; taxes such as VAT may apply. Check the fee shown in the certification account and Pearson VUE flow before paying.

The exam registration covers one attempt. It does not include a study manual, instructor course, question bank, travel, lodging, or AWS cloud usage. Candidates may prepare with free material, paid training, hands-on services, or a combination, so total outlay differs by study plan.

Use the AWS certification discount if eligible

AWS says that once you earn an AWS Certification, you receive a 50% discount on your next AWS Certification exam. The benefit is available through the AWS Certification Account. If you have an active credential, check the account for the discount before checkout. The discount applies to the next exam according to AWS program terms; it is not a general discount code for every purchase.

For a US$150 exam, half the published price is US$75 before any applicable local-currency or tax treatment. That arithmetic is illustrative; the checkout total is authoritative. Do not assume a discount is attached to a voucher or a booking unless the account shows it.

Retake and missed-appointment costs

A failed attempt requires a 14-calendar-day wait before retaking, and each attempt is paid at the full registration fee. AWS does not limit the number of attempts, but the full fee applies each time. A passing exam cannot be repeated for two years, though an updated version with a new guide and series code can be taken when available.

Rescheduling or cancelling at least 24 hours before the appointment does not add a fee. A missed appointment or late change can forfeit the registration amount. A no-show is not marked as a failed exam, but AWS says the candidate must wait 24 hours after the missed appointment before registering again.

Separate required and optional costs

Cloud experimentation deserves special care. A small practice environment can create charges for compute, storage, data transfer, or resources left running. Use training sandboxes or free offers when appropriate, set budgets, review current service prices, and remove resources. Do not assume every service or usage pattern is included in a free tier.

Example budgets

A candidate who studies with free AWS documentation and takes one remote exam can limit direct AWS charges to the US$150 test price, before tax. Someone who buys a course and question product adds those provider prices. If the person fails once and later passes, the two exam attempts total US$300 at the published US rate, before study or travel. An active certification discount could change the second attempt only if the account applies it under AWS terms.

A candidate traveling to a center should also account for transport and possibly lodging. These are not AWS exam fees, but they can dominate the budget. Compare the total trip with online proctoring if a suitable private testing environment is available.

Compare expected costs before buying materials Start with the registration amount and add only expenses that apply to your plan. At the US list price, one attempt is US$150 before applicable tax. Two full-price attempts are US$300. A candidate who already holds an eligible active AWS certification may receive 50 percent off the next AWS exam through the Certification Account. Half of US$150 is US$75 before local tax or currency treatment, but use the amount shown in the account during checkout. A preparation budget can be very different from the exam budget. A self-directed candidate may use public documentation and free learning materials, then pay only the exam fee. Another candidate may buy a course, practice materials, or lab subscriptions. Those are choices, not AWS eligibility requirements. Compare the access period and content with the study schedule so you do not pay for a resource that expires before you can use it. Hands-on practice can also create cloud charges. Before launching a lab, check what the exercise creates and how to stop it. Remove resources after the task, review usage, and include any paid service in the budget. A test account or limited offer does not make every resource free. Keep learning costs visible instead of folding them into the exam fee. Plan contingencies without double-counting An appointment changed at least 24 hours beforehand can be rescheduled or canceled without an added fee under AWS policy. A late change or missed appointment can forfeit the registration amount. A no-show is not counted as a failed result, but the candidate must wait 24 hours before registering again. This creates a possible loss even if no second attempt was taken, so set calendar reminders for the appointment. A sample budget for a first-time US candidate who passes is US$150 plus any tax, with study materials listed separately. If a full-price retake is needed, add another US$150. If the candidate's account applies the active-certification discount to the next attempt, use the discounted checkout total instead of both a full price and a second discount line. For example, someone who already has an active AWS certification and pays US$150 for the first attempt might see a US$75 next exam before tax if the account applies the benefit. The two test fees would total US$225 before tax, not US$300. A person without an eligible discount should budget the full US$300 for two US attempts. These amounts do not include travel, prep, or any currency conversion. A voucher changes how the exam is purchased, not the need to understand its restrictions. Check whether the voucher is for the correct exam, region, currency, and delivery option, and note its expiration. If an employer reimburses the exam, ask whether the policy covers a no-show or a retake. Save receipts and account confirmations for each purchase.

Compare expected costs before buying materials Start with the registration amount and add only expenses that apply to your plan. At the US list price, one attempt is US$150 before applicable tax. Two full-price attempts are US$300. A candidate who already holds an eligible active AWS certification may receive 50 percent off the next AWS exam through the Certification Account. Half of US$150 is US$75 before local tax or currency treatment, but use the amount shown in the account during checkout. A preparation budget can be very different from the exam budget. A self-directed candidate may use public documentation and free learning materials, then pay only the exam fee. Another candidate may buy a course, practice materials, or lab subscriptions. Those are choices, not AWS eligibility requirements. Compare the access period and content with the study schedule so you do not pay for a resource that expires before you can use it. Hands-on practice can also create cloud charges. Before launching a lab, check what the exercise creates and how to stop it. Remove resources after the task, review usage, and include any paid service in the budget. A test account or limited offer does not make every resource free. Keep learning costs visible instead of folding them into the exam fee. Plan contingencies without double-counting An appointment changed at least 24 hours beforehand can be rescheduled or canceled without an added fee under AWS policy. A late change or missed appointment can forfeit the registration amount. A no-show is not counted as a failed result, but the candidate must wait 24 hours before registering again. This creates a possible loss even if no second attempt was taken, so set calendar reminders for the appointment. A sample budget for a first-time US candidate who passes is US$150 plus any tax, with study materials listed separately. If a full-price retake is needed, add another US$150. If the candidate's account applies the active-certification discount to the next attempt, use the discounted checkout total instead of both a full price and a second discount line. For example, someone who already has an active AWS certification and pays US$150 for the first attempt might see a US$75 next exam before tax if the account applies the benefit. The two test fees would total US$225 before tax, not US$300. A person without an eligible discount should budget the full US$300 for two US attempts. These amounts do not include travel, prep, or any currency conversion. A voucher changes how the exam is purchased, not the need to understand its restrictions. Check whether the voucher is for the correct exam, region, currency, and delivery option, and note its expiration. If an employer reimburses the exam, ask whether the policy covers a no-show or a retake. Save receipts and account confirmations for each purchase.