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AWS Exam Prep and Training Cost: What Is Free and What Costs Money on Skill Builder

Updated November 2026 · 2 min read · Based on official AWS documentation

Quick answer

AWS offers free exam prep on AWS Skill Builder, including Official Practice Question Sets (20 questions each) and 2-hour Exam Prep courses. Full-length Official Practice Exams, labs and enhanced exam prep courses need a subscription, and the Individual subscription starts at 29 USD per month.

Free vs paid AWS exam prep

AWS exam prep resources: free and with a subscription
ResourceCostWhat it is
Official Practice Question SetsFree20-question sets developed by AWS that demonstrate the style of the certification exams, with detailed feedback and recommended resources.
Exam Prep coursesFree2-hour digital courses that explore an exam's topic areas and review sample certification questions for each domain.
Official Practice ExamsSubscriptionFull-length practice exams with the same question style and rigor as the real exam, with exam-style scoring that shows pass or fail, plus feedback on each answer.
Enhanced Exam Prep coursesSubscription6 to 8 hours of practice materials such as videos, hands-on labs, additional practice questions and more.
Labs and AWS Cloud QuestSubscriptionHands-on practice, plus a role-playing game that teaches how the cloud solves business challenges.

Source: aws.amazon.com/certification/certification-prep/

The Individual subscription starts at 29 USD per month and gives access to all available resources. For teams of 50 or more, AWS suggests the Team subscription. Prices change, so check AWS Skill Builder for the latest.

How AWS suggests you prepare

  1. Get hands-on experience. AWS says the best preparation is practical experience: a minimum of six months to two years, depending on the level.
  2. Use the free Practice Question Sets to understand the exam format.
  3. Take a full-length Official Practice Exam once you feel prepared. AWS calls this a highly recommended step before the real exam, and you can choose whether to review the answers.
  4. Fill the gaps with Exam Prep courses and labs.

Instructor-led training

AWS also offers AWS Classroom Training courses with labs and guidance from expert instructors, in person or virtual. The official pages do not list a single price for them, so check AWS for current course fees.

Prep cost vs exam fee

Exam prep is separate from the exam fee. Exams cost 100 USD for Foundational, 150 USD for Associate and 300 USD for Professional and Specialty: see AWS certification costs by level. If you fail, you pay the full fee again (retake policy), so a few weeks of preparation is usually cheaper than a second attempt.

More free practice outside AWS

This site is independent and not official AWS content. It offers free practice tests for AWS Certified Security – Specialty, study topics that link every fact to the AWS documentation, and guides on exam costs, renewal and scheduling.

Frequently asked questions

Is AWS training free?

Some of it. Official Practice Question Sets and Exam Prep courses are free on AWS Skill Builder. Practice Exams, labs and enhanced courses need a subscription.

How much is an AWS Skill Builder subscription?

AWS says the Individual subscription starts at 29 USD per month and gives access to all available resources. Check Skill Builder for current prices.

Are there free official AWS practice questions?

Yes. AWS Certification Official Practice Question Sets are free, in 20-question sets.

Are the full-length official practice exams free?

No. Official Practice Exams are available with a subscription.

Sources

AWS updates its programs and documentation. Check the linked official pages for the latest details before you decide or pay.

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