- Bulk voucher campaign - 100% of the price plus one free retake, closed to purchases on June 30, 2026.
- Live promotion - half off the first attempt and a 0 USD retake. Four named exams and all beta exams are excluded, but not SAA-C03.
- Existing certification discount - 50% off additional exams when you recertify or upgrade.
How Does SAA-C03 Compare With the Azure and Google Architect Exams?
Cost per valid year is a simple way to compare three architect credentials. You divide the total exam cost by the number of years the credential stays valid. AWS SAA-C03 costs 150 USD for three years, which is 50 USD per valid year.
Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect costs 200 USD plus tax for two years, which is 100 USD per valid year. Its renewal exam costs 100 USD and takes one hour.
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert path needs two exams. AZ-104 costs 165 USD and AZ-305 costs 165 USD, so 330 USD in exam fees alone. On exam fees alone, AWS is the cheapest of the three to enter. This post does not cover how long the Azure credential stays valid, so Azure has no per-year figure.
| Credential | Exam fees | Total | Validity | Cost per valid year |
|---|
| AWS SAA-C03 | 150 USD | 150 USD | 3 years | 50 USD |
| AWS SAA-C03 renewed at 50% | 75 USD | 75 USD | 3 years | 25 USD |
| Azure Solutions Architect Expert, AZ-104 plus AZ-305 | 165 USD each | 330 USD | Not covered here | Not covered here |
| Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect | 200 USD | 200 USD | 2 years | 100 USD |
What Does One SAA-C03 Pass Buy in Salary Terms?
One 2026 salary reference lists US AWS Solutions Architect roles by band. Mid-level candidates with two to five years of experience earn 130,000 to 160,000 USD base with the certification. Without it, the same band is listed at 100,000 to 130,000 USD.
The source calls this a 30% uplift, but the band midpoints give about 26%. Entry-level holders are listed at 95,000 to 120,000 USD against 70,000 to 85,000 USD. The source calls that 35%, but the midpoints give about 39%.
That reference gives no sample size and no method, so treat the bands as one estimate. The best cloud certifications for career growth guide compares these credentials side by side.
Take the mid-point of the mid-level band, 145,000 USD, and spread it across 2,080 working hours. That is about 69.71 USD an hour.
At that rate, a 150 USD exam buys about two hours of pay. The 75 USD promotion price buys about one. The aws solutions architect associate exam cost is a small fraction of the salary band it is meant to move.
How Much Do a Failure, a No-Show, or a Late Reschedule Add?
AWS charges the full registration fee for every attempt, and there is no attempt limit. After a failure you must wait 14 calendar days before you can sit the exam again. A missed test center appointment forfeits the whole fee with no refund. A documented illness or emergency may qualify for a fee waiver.
The AWS Before Testing policy sets the rescheduling rules. You can reschedule free of charge up to 24 hours before the appointment. You can reschedule an appointment at most twice. A third change means cancelling and rebooking.
Inside 24 hours you cannot cancel or reschedule, and the full fee stands with no refund. Picture a seat booked for Tuesday morning. Cancel it Monday night and the 150 USD is gone.
What Does One Attempt Cost in Your Currency?
AWS publishes a local price for one Associate attempt in several markets. Taxes apply on top of each price. UK candidates add value added tax (VAT). Canadian candidates add goods and services tax (GST/HST).
There is no British pound row and no Canadian dollar row on that table. UK and Canadian candidates pay the USD price converted at checkout.
| Currency | Price for one attempt |
|---|
| USD - US dollar | 150 USD |
| EUR - euro | 128 EUR |
| AUD - Australian dollar | 224 AUD |
| INR - Indian rupee | 12,829.50 INR |
| JPY - Japanese yen | 20,000 JPY |
| KRW - South Korean won | 197,287 KRW |
| CNY - Chinese yuan | 1,057 CNY |
| GBP - British pound | No GBP price published |
| CAD - Canadian dollar | No CAD price published |
What Should You Do Next?
The guide to passing the AWS Certified Solutions Architect exam covers the study plan.
- Sit the exam by November 17, 2026 - the half-price first attempt must be taken by then.
- Use the practice material - an AWS Skill Builder subscription costs 29 USD a month or 449 USD a year.
- Plan for a possible second sit - keep 14 calendar days free after a failure. Use the January 4 to April 7, 2027 retake window if you qualify.
- Watch the renewal clock - SAA-C03 stays valid for three years and renews by passing the latest exam version.
- Check the promotion terms, then book early.
To recap, the published fee is 150 USD per attempt. The cheapest open route is 75 USD with a 0 USD retake until November 17, 2026. Tax, a failed attempt and a missed appointment all add to the bill. The credential lasts three years, and one 2026 salary reference, which states no method, lists higher pay for holders.
Photo: 3844328, Pixabay Content License, via Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/floor-plan-construction-building-1857175/)
Fazlur Rahman
