AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Quick Facts (2025)

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam Overview

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam is your ideal starting point for professionals looking to equip themselves with essential AWS cloud skills. This comprehensive exam overview answers your most frequently asked questions and guides you through everything you need to know about the foundational-level AWS certification.

What is the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification?

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner validates your foundational knowledge of AWS Cloud, its services, pricing models, key security basics, and cloud fundamentals.

It’s designed for non-technical roles or professionals who are new to the cloud, making it perfect for individuals in project management, sales, marketing, finance, and product teams who want to gain cloud fluency.

This certification offers a high-level overview of AWS, equipping you with the language and concepts necessary to collaborate effectively with technical teams and stakeholders.

Who Is This Certification For?

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification is ideal for:

• Newcomers to AWS or cloud computing
• Individuals transitioning into tech from non-technical backgrounds
• Managers, marketers, or sales team members engaging with cloud teams
• Executives and business leaders seeking to make informed cloud decisions
• Students or entry-level professionals interested in kickstarting a cloud career

Even if you're not in tech, this credential demonstrates your cloud literacy—an increasingly in-demand skill across industries.

What Jobs Can I Get with This Certification?

While this certification is foundational, it sets the tone for future AWS learning and career growth. It's particularly useful for entry roles in:

• Cloud Sales or Account Management
• Technical Recruiting with AWS Focus
• Cloud Support Associate
• Cloud Project Coordinator
• Cloud Marketing Specialist
• Product or Program Manager (Cloud)

It's also a stepping stone toward becoming a:

• Cloud Engineer
• Solutions Architect
• DevOps Engineer
• Cloud Developer (after continuing your certifications)

What version of the exam should I take?

The current version of the exam as of late 2023 is CLF-C02. This new version includes updated content such as migration strategies and enhanced security coverage. Be sure to use study materials specific to CLF-C02.

How much does the exam cost?

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam costs $100 USD. Additional taxes or exchange rates may apply depending on your location. If you already hold an AWS Certification, you’re eligible for a 50% discount on future certification exams through your AWS Certification account.

How many questions are on the exam?

The exam includes 65 questions, which consist of both:

• Multiple-choice (1 correct answer)
• Multiple-response (2 or more correct answers)

Out of these, only 50 questions are scored; 15 are unscored and used for experimental purposes.

How much time is given for the exam?

You’ll have 90 minutes to complete the exam. Be sure to pace yourself, especially on scenario-based questions that may take longer to read and analyze.

What languages is the exam available in?

The exam is offered in a wide variety of languages, including:

• English
• French
• German
• Japanese
• Korean
• Spanish (Spain & Latin America)
• Italian
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Simplified & Traditional Chinese
• Bahasa (Indonesian)

What’s the passing score?

To pass, you need a scaled score of 700 out of 1000. The exam is scored using a compensatory model, meaning you don't have to pass each section individually—your overall score determines whether you pass.

Is the exam difficult?

Although it's an entry-level exam, candidates should not underestimate it. The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam focuses on understanding, not just memorization.

You’ll need to be comfortable explaining cloud benefits, the AWS shared responsibility model, basic security and compliance concepts, and how to differentiate various AWS services.

To boost your confidence and accuracy, practice with top-rated AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner practice exams that mirror the real test environment and include detailed answer explanations.

What domains are covered, and what are their weightings?

The exam blueprint is divided into four key content domains:

1. Cloud Concepts (24%)
   • AWS Cloud value proposition
   • Global infrastructure and benefits
   • High availability, scalability, elasticity
   • Cloud migration concepts and strategies
2. Security and Compliance (30%)
   • AWS shared responsibility model
   • Identity & Access Management (IAM)
   • Encryption, data protection, governance
   • Security tooling and compliance resources
3. Cloud Technology and Services (34%)
   • Compute, storage, networking, and database basics
   • Deployment and access models
   • Serverless, containers, global infrastructure
   • AI/ML, analytics, developer and customer engagement tools
   • Concepts like auto scaling, caching, and load balancing
4. Billing, Pricing, and Support (12%)
   • Pricing models (On-Demand, Reserved, Spot)
   • AWS Budgets, Pricing Calculator, and Cost Explorer
   • AWS Support plans and the AWS Partner Network
   • Tagging and cost allocation insights

Are there any prerequisites?

There are no formal prerequisites. However, AWS recommends:

• Up to 6 months of exposure to AWS Cloud (not required but helpful)
• Basic understanding of cloud computing principles
• Familiarity with business-level IT terms and use cases
• Willingness to learn terms and tools across AWS services, billing, and security

What knowledge areas should I focus on?

Here are the must-know AWS concepts to target your studies:

1. Cloud Fundamentals
   • Scalability, elasticity, economies of scale
   • Types of cloud deployment (Public, Hybrid, Private)
2. Security Essentials
   • IAM roles, policies
   • MFA, least privilege, root user concerns
   • Shared responsibility model
3. Service Identification
   • Know what Amazon EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda, DynamoDB, IAM, and CloudFront do
   • Differentiating between compute services (ECS, Lambda) and storage types
4. Billing and Cost Optimization
   • Understand AWS Pricing Calculator and AWS Budgets
   • Differences in purchasing options like Reserved Instances vs On-Demand
5. Global Infrastructure
   • Importance of Regions, Availability Zones, and Edge Locations
   • Disaster recovery and latency considerations
6. AWS Support & Resources
   • Know what AWS Support plans offer
   • Use of AWS Documentation, re:Post, Trusted Advisor, and the AWS Marketplace

Common Mistakes to Avoid

New candidates often make these errors:

• Skipping hands-on learning: Even though the exam is theoretical, using the AWS Free Tier helps reinforce key concepts
• Ignoring key resources like Identity Management or Billing tools that often appear on the test
• Winging the exam without structured practice, leading to surprises on exam day
• Not understanding differences between AWS services, especially for storage or compute
• Failing to understand the shared responsibility model thoroughly, a key topic

Use realistic AWS practice exams built by certification experts to identify your knowledge gaps before stepping into the exam room or logging in online.

How can I prepare for the exam?

AWS offers multiple prep options to help you succeed:

1. AWS Skill Builder
   • Digital training courses and learning plans
   • AWS Cloud Quest (gamified learning experience)
2. AWS Whitepapers and Documentation
   • Review the Well-Architected Framework and cloud economics papers
3. Hands-On Labs
   • Learn by doing in AWS Free Tier
4. Official Training Path
   • AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam Prep with videos, quizzes, and interactive modules
5. Community and Forums
   • AWS re:Post and certification communities for FAQs and tips
6. Flashcards and Practice Tests
   • Break up studying with bite-sized reviews and mock exams

How long is the certification valid?

Your AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner credential remains valid for 3 years.

To maintain your certification, you can either:

1. Pass the current AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) exam
2. Complete the game-based recertification experience: AWS Cloud Quest: Recertify Cloud Practitioner—Free during its beta phase until July 2025
3. Go further and pass an Associate- or Professional-level AWS Certification (e.g., Solutions Architect Associate)

What should I pursue after this exam?

Next recommended AWS certifications include:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (for aspiring cloud architects)
• AWS Certified Developer – Associate (for those pursuing hands-on cloud development)
• AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate (for monitoring and automation roles)

These certifications build on the Cloud Practitioner foundation and lead to in-demand technical career paths.

Where can I take the exam?

You can take the exam either:

1. Online
   • Remote proctoring via Pearson VUE
   • Requires webcam, stable internet, and private room
2. In-Person
   • At a certified Pearson VUE testing center near you

How do I register?

To register:

1. Sign in at the AWS Certification Portal
2. Choose the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam
3. Select your testing method (online or in-person)
4. Pick your preferred exam date and time
5. Complete the payment and scheduling process
6. Prepare and conquer!

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The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification is a smart investment in your cloud future—whether you're looking to break into tech or become cloud fluent in your business role. With solid preparation and the right study tools, you'll be AWS-certified in no time.