AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Issued by Amazon Web Services. Below is what it costs, how long it lasts, and what it actually signals — with the date we checked.
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Amazon Web Services · CLF-C02
Free to learn · paid certificate Recognized
| Cost | $100 |
|---|---|
| Validity | 3 years. |
| Renewal | Free recertification path via AWS Cloud Quest (no exam fee), or renew by passing any Associate-level exam. |
| Assessment | Proctored exam |
| Proctored | Yes |
| Verify via | Credly |
| Cost per active year | $33/yr100 ÷ 3, with the free Cloud Quest renewal path |
Recognised for entry cloud roles, particularly at AWS-centric employers.
Confidence is high but not primary-source: we have not yet fetched AWS's own pricing page showing $100 live. That check is queued for the link audit.
Verified 2026-07-25 · Official page
How we know
Corroborated across multiple independent sources on 2026-07-25.
Last verified 2026-07-25 · https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-cloud-practitioner/
Free preparation
Free resources first. Everything below is free to use; the exam itself is the paid part.
AWS Cloud Quest: Cloud Practitioner
Free to learn · no certificate
Game-based official training including 12 hands-on assignments. The training is free; the certificate exam is separate and paid.
Verified 2026-07-25
AWS Skill Builder free tier
Free to learn · no certificate
Official free tier. Paid tiers exist alongside it — only the free tier is counted here.
Verified 2026-07-25
Microsoft Learn: AZ-900 learning path and free practice assessments
Free to learn · no certificate
Free interactive path from Microsoft, plus official practice assessments with unlimited attempts.
Verified 2026-07-25
Used by these roles
- Cloud Support — You keep cloud infrastructure running and help engineers and customers when it misbehaves.