AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02)

What it proves

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (exam CLF-C02) shows that you understand the AWS Cloud at a foundational level: what cloud computing is, the core AWS services and what they are for, the shared responsibility model and basic security, and how AWS pricing, billing and support work. It is AWS's entry-level certification and does not require any hands-on building.

Who it is for

AWS designs it for people with no prior IT or cloud experience, or who need foundational cloud literacy, including students and people in non-technical roles. Up to six months of exposure to AWS is helpful but not required. For someone heading into cloud engineering it is an optional first step: useful if AWS is completely new and a milestone helps you stay motivated, unnecessary if you are ready for an associate exam.

The exam

As listed on the official page in September 2026, the exam lasts 90 minutes and has 65 multiple choice or multiple response questions. It costs 100 USD and is available in several languages, at a Pearson VUE test centre or online with a proctor. The certification is valid for three years.

What to study, and in what order

1. Download the official exam guide from the certification page and read the domains and their weights.
2. Take the free AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials course on AWS Skill Builder, which follows the exam's structure.
3. Open a free AWS account, set a budget alert first, and click through the services you study: launch and stop an EC2 instance, create an S3 bucket, look at IAM and the billing console.
4. Use the official practice questions on AWS Skill Builder to find gaps, and revise those areas in the AWS documentation.

Cost and validity

The exam fee is 100 USD. AWS lists several ways to recertify before expiry, including passing the latest version of the exam, completing the game-based AWS Cloud Quest course, or earning an associate or professional certification, which renews it automatically.

What to do after it

Move on to AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03), the certification most junior cloud roles ask for, and pair it with a hands-on project such as a small web app with a VPC, a managed database and a budget. On its own, Cloud Practitioner shows vocabulary rather than the ability to build, so the project matters more than the badge.

Common questions

Is it worth it if I want to be a cloud engineer? As a first milestone, yes; as a job credential on its own, not much.

How long should I study? People new to cloud often spend a few weeks part time. If you have finished a cloud fundamentals course and used the console, less.