As technology continues to evolve, professionals in the tech industry must stay up-to-date with the latest trends and advancements. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) certification program is no exception. In this blog post, we will be discussing the recent changes to the AWS certification exams and what they mean for professionals looking to advance their careers in cloud computing. Whether you’re just starting your journey in AWS or have been working with the platform for years, this update is sure to have an impact on your certification journey. So, let’s dive in and explore the new changes to the AWS certification exams!
Upcoming AWS Exam Updates – September 2026
The AWS certification exams have undergone a significant update, with changes to the exam structure, format, and content. These changes are designed to ensure that the certification program stays up-to-date with the latest trends and advancements in cloud computing and that it continues to provide professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the industry. In this section, we will explore the specific changes that have been made to the AWS certification exams and what they mean for professionals pursuing certification.
Exam update: AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate (MLA-C02)
AWS has opened registration for the beta version of the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate (MLA-C02) exam in English. The updated certification reflects how the ML engineering role has evolved, expanding beyond traditional machine learning to include generative AI, foundation models, large language models (LLMs), and agentic AI workflows.
- The new MLA-C02 exam validates skills in building, deploying, maintaining, and monitoring machine learning and generative AI solutions on AWS, with expanded coverage of services such as Amazon SageMaker AI and Amazon Bedrock. It is aimed at ML engineers, MLOps engineers, data engineers, software developers, data scientists, and architects working with production ML and AI workloads.
- The MLA-C01 exam will remain available in English until September 28, 2026, while the MLA-C02 beta begins on September 29, 2026. The beta exam consists of 85 questions over 170 minutes, costs $75 USD, and is available in English through Pearson VUE test centers or online proctoring.
- The updated MLA-C02 exam is particularly relevant for professionals looking to validate both their traditional ML engineering and emerging GenAI capabilities. The full exam guide and detailed task statements are now available, making this a good time for candidates to review the changes and decide whether to take the current MLA-C01 exam or register for the new MLA-C02 beta. Check Here for More.
3. AWS Certified Generative AI Developer – Professional
AWS Certified Generative AI Developer – Professional validates advanced expertise in building and deploying production-ready AI solutions using AWS services like Bedrock. It is ideal for developers with 2+ years of cloud experience and helps organizations identify professionals capable of delivering secure, scalable, and cost-efficient generative AI solutions beyond proof-of-concepts.
For More: Check Here
AWS Active Exam List
Below is the list of AWS active exams with updated course outlines:
| Exam Name | Exam Code | Current and Updated Course Outline | Exam Updates |
| AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner | CLF-C02 | Domain 1: Cloud Concepts 24% Domain 2: Security and Compliance 30% Domain 3: Cloud Technology and Services 34% Domain 4: Billing, Pricing, and Support 12% | Course Outline Updated |
| AWS Certified AI Practitioner | (AIF-C01) | Domain 1: Fundamentals of AI and ML (20%) Domain 2: Fundamentals of Generative AI (24%) Domain 3: Applications of Foundation Models (28%) Domain 4: Guidelines for Responsible AI (14%) Domain 5: Security, Compliance, and Governance for AI Solutions (14%) | NO UPDATES |
| AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate | (MLA-C02) | Domain 1: Data Preparation for Machine Learning (ML) (28%) Domain 2: ML Model and Foundation Model Development (24% ) Domain 3: Deployment and Orchestration of ML and AI Workflows (22%) Domain 4: ML Solution Monitoring, Maintenance, and Security (24%) | New Course and Code Updated September 1, 2026 – MLA-C02 registration opens (English only); September 28, 2026 – Last day to take MLA-C01 in English September 29, 2026 – MLA-C02 delivery begins |
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate | (SAA-C03) | Domain 1: Design Secure Architectures 30% Domain 2: Design Resilient Architectures 26% Domain 3: Design High-Performing Architectures 24% Domain 4: Design Cost-Optimized Architectures 20% | NO UPDATES |
| AWS Certified Developer – Associate | (DVA-C03) | Domain 1: Development with AWS Services (30%) Domain 2: Security (26%) Domain 3: Testing and Deployment (22%) Domain 4: Troubleshooting and Optimization (22%) | DVA-C02 available till by November 30, 2026 DVA-C03 registration opens October 27, 2026 |
| AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate | (SOA-C03) | Domain 1: Monitoring, Logging, Analysis, Remediation, and Performance Optimization Domain 2: Reliability and Business Continuity Domain 3: Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Domain 4: Security and Compliance Domain 5: Networking and Content Delivery | NO UPDATES |
| AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate | (DEA-C01) | Domain 1: Data Ingestion and Transformation Domain 2: Data Store Management Domain 3: Data Operations and Support Domain 4: Data Security and Governance | NO UPDATES |
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional | (SAP-C02) | Domain 1: Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity 26% Domain 2: Design for New Solutions 29% Domain 3: Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions 25% Domain 4: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization 20% | SAP-C02 available till November 16, 2026 and SAP-C03 registration opens October 27, 2026 |
| AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional | (DOP-C02) | Domain 1: SDLC Automation 22% Domain 2: Configuration Management and IaC 17% Domain 3: Resilient Cloud Solutions 15% Domain 4: Monitoring and Logging 15% Domain 5: Incident and Event Response 14% Domain 6: Security and Compliance 17% | NO UPDATES |
| AWS Certified Generative AI Developer – Professional | (AIP-C01) | Domain 1: Foundation Model Integration, Data Management, and Compliance Domain 2: Implementation and Integration Domain 3: AI Safety, Security, and Governance Domain 4: Operational Efficiency and Optimization for GenAI Applications Domain 5: Testing, Validation, and Troubleshooting | NO UPDATES |
| AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty | (ANS-C01) | Domain 1: Network Design 30% Domain 2: Network Implementation 26% Domain 3: Network Management and Operation 20% Domain 4: Network Security, Compliance, and Governance 24% | NO UPDATES |
| AWS Certified Security – Specialty | (SCS-C03) | Previous SCS-C03 Domain 1: Detection (16%) Domain 2: Incident Response (14%) Domain 3: Infrastructure Security (18%) Domain 4: Identity and Access Management (20%) Domain 5: Data Protection (18%) Domain 6: Security Foundations and Governance (14%) | NO UPDATES |
Overview of AWS Certification Program
The AWS certification program is designed to validate the skills and knowledge of professionals who work with Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing technologies. It offers a range of certification levels and paths, from foundational to expert, and covers various domains such as cloud architecture, development, operations, and security.
Staying up-to-date with the latest changes in the AWS certification program is crucial for professionals in the industry. AWS is a rapidly evolving platform, and new services, features, and best practices are constantly being introduced. By keeping up with the latest changes, professionals can ensure they have the most relevant and up-to-date skills and knowledge, which can help them stand out in the job market and advance their careers.
Additionally, AWS certifications are widely recognized and respected in the industry, so earning a certification can help professionals demonstrate their expertise and credibility to potential employers and clients.
Reason for AWS Exam Updates
The changes to the AWS certification exams were made to ensure that the certification program remains relevant and up-to-date with the evolving landscape of cloud computing. AWS is constantly introducing new services, features, and best practices, and it’s crucial for professionals to have the most relevant and up-to-date skills and knowledge to keep pace with these changes.
- The updated exam content and structure are also designed to align with AWS’s goals and priorities, such as promoting a culture of innovation and delivering high-quality, secure, and reliable cloud services.
- The new exams place greater emphasis on practical skills and real-world scenarios, which is intended to better prepare professionals to meet the needs of AWS customers and partners.
- Finally, the changes to the AWS certification exams are intended to benefit professionals in the industry by providing them with a more streamlined and flexible certification path. The new exam structure and format are designed to make it easier for professionals to choose the right certification path for their career goals and to progress through the certification levels more efficiently.
Final Words
Staying up-to-date with the latest changes in the tech industry is more important now than ever before. The rapid pace of technological advancement means that skills and knowledge can quickly become outdated, and professionals who fail to keep up risk falling behind in their careers.
In the case of cloud computing, the AWS certification program is a valuable tool for professionals to demonstrate their expertise and credibility in the industry. However, with the recent changes to the AWS certification exams, it’s crucial for professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest content and exam format to ensure they have the most relevant skills and knowledge.
By pursuing AWS certifications and staying current with the latest changes to the certification exams, professionals can ensure they have the most relevant and up-to-date skills and knowledge to succeed in the industry.
