AWS Certification Renewal Requirements and What They Cost

The AWS certification renewal requirements depend on the level you hold and the date your credential expires. A Cloud Practitioner can renew for free with a game-based course. A Professional exam costs $300.

Every price below comes from published AWS fees and plans. The spread runs from $0 to $300 for three years of validity. Below you get each route, its cost per year and the exam version cutoffs.

What are the AWS certification renewal requirements now?

Certification through AWS is valid for three years from the date it was earned. You must recertify before the credential expires to keep it active. The AWS recertification policy also says AWS does not accept other recertification methods, such as continuing education units (CEUs).

A vendor guide that ranks high for this topic was last updated in September 2023. It says Foundational certifications last two years, and it offers 30 CEUs for Specialty certifications. Current AWS policy says otherwise.

AWS splits recertification into two products. Renew adds three years from the date you completed the exam. Maintain adds one year from the date you completed maintenance activities.

The maintenance path needs 500 points for Associate certifications. It needs 700 for Professional ones. Both include practical activities in live AWS environments. AWS opened this route in open Beta on 23 June 2026 for five certifications. Its renewal matrix now lists more Associate, Professional and Specialty credentials, so check yours there.

Renew for 3 more years against maintain for 1 more year