AWS Cloud Practitioner 2026: test dates, format, how to book and free practice tests
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is Amazon Web Services' foundational certification: it shows you can explain the AWS Cloud, its security model, core services and billing at a high level. There is no fixed exam date in 2026. You book any open slot at a Pearson VUE test centre or an online proctored session. As of 20 October 2026 the exam is still CLF-C02, the version in use since 19 September 2023, and the AWS exam-guides index lists no newer code. This guide covers booking, the exam pattern, the syllabus, the pass mark and a short study plan.
AWS Cloud Practitioner at a glance
| Conducting body | Amazon Web Services (AWS Certification) |
| What it is for | Foundational AWS certification, for cloud beginners and business roles |
| Exam code | CLF-C02 |
| Mode | Pearson VUE test centre or online proctored |
| Questions | 65 (50 scored, 15 unscored and not identified) |
| Time | 90 minutes |
| Marking | Scaled score 100–1,000; 700 to pass; no penalty for guessing |
| Fee | 100 USD (AWS page, checked 20 October 2026; taxes and exchange rates apply) |
| Languages | 12, including English |
| Valid for | 3 years |
| Official website | aws.amazon.com/certification |
Test dates and booking
You choose the date. The AWS certification page (checked 20 October 2026) offers the exam at a Pearson VUE testing centre or as an online proctored exam, booked through the "Schedule your exam" link on the AWS Training and Certification site. For an online exam you need a quiet private room and a computer that passes the system check.
One dated change on the page: the exam in Italian and German will be retired after 31 December 2026. If you planned to sit it in either language, book before then or choose another language.
There is no eligibility requirement. AWS describes the target candidate as having up to six months of exposure to AWS, and says that exposure is not required.
How to book
- Open the Cloud Practitioner page and select "Schedule your exam".
- Sign in to (or create) your AWS Certification account.
- Choose CLF-C02, your language, and test centre or online.
- Pick a date and time and pay the fee.
- For online testing, run Pearson VUE's system test on the computer you will use.
Keep ready: a government photo ID whose name matches your account, and for online testing a webcam, a stable connection and a clear desk.
Exam pattern
| Questions | 65: multiple choice (1 right of 4) or multiple response (2 or more right of 5 or more) |
| Scored | 50; the other 15 are unscored and look the same |
| Time | 90 minutes on one clock; you can move between questions and change answers |
| Blank answers | Marked wrong; there is no penalty for guessing |
| Result | Pass or fail, scaled 100–1,000; 700 passes |
| Domain pass marks | None; the exam is passed as a whole |
AWS does not publish how many correct answers equal 700, because forms are equated for difficulty. Our practice test reports raw marks out of 65, not a scaled score.
Syllabus
| Domain | Weight of scored content | Main topics |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Concepts | 24% | Benefits of the cloud, Well-Architected pillars, migration and the Cloud Adoption Framework, cloud economics |
| Security and Compliance | 30% | Shared responsibility, governance and compliance, access management, security services |
| Cloud Technology and Services | 34% | Deployment models, global infrastructure, compute, databases, networking, storage, AI/ML and analytics |
| Billing, Pricing, and Support | 12% | Purchasing options, cost tools, documentation and support |
Coding, architecture design, troubleshooting and performance testing are out of scope. Our Cloud Practitioner syllabus page has the details, and the CLF-C02 exam guide lists the in-scope services.
A four-week plan
Week 1: concepts and the shared responsibility model. Learn what AWS secures and what the customer secures, the Well-Architected pillars, and the reasons organisations move to the cloud. Sit a full Cloud Practitioner mock test at the end of the week as a baseline.
Week 2: services. The largest domain. For each core service (EC2, Lambda, S3, EBS, RDS, DynamoDB, VPC, CloudFront, Route 53, IAM) be able to say in one sentence what it is for and how it differs from its nearest neighbour. Many questions turn on that kind of distinction.
Week 3: security and billing. Security is 30% of scored content. Then learn purchasing options (On-Demand, Savings Plans, Reserved, Spot), the cost tools, and the support plans the exam guide names.
Week 4: full mocks and review. Sit two more full timed mocks, 90 minutes each. After each, list every wrong answer by domain and go back to the guide for those topics. Our article on using mock tests explains how to space them.
Pace: 90 minutes for 65 questions is about 80 seconds each, which leaves time to flag and revisit.
Useful links
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner page: booking and fee
- CLF-C02 exam guide
- AWS exam guides index
- Free AWS Cloud Practitioner mock test
- AWS Cloud Practitioner syllabus
- AWS Cloud Practitioner exam dates
- AWS Solutions Architect Associate 2026: format and how to book
- Azure AZ-900 2026: format and how to book
Frequently asked questions
What is the AWS Cloud Practitioner pass mark?
700 on a scale of 100 to 1,000. AWS does not publish how many correct answers that needs, because forms are equated for difficulty.
Is there negative marking in AWS Cloud Practitioner?
No. Unanswered questions count as wrong and there is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question.
How many questions are in CLF-C02?
65 questions in 90 minutes. 50 count toward the score and 15 are unscored, and you cannot tell which.
Is CLF-C02 being replaced?
As of 20 October 2026 the AWS exam-guides index still lists CLF-C02 as the Cloud Practitioner exam and shows no newer code. The only dated change on the certification page is that the Italian and German versions retire after 31 December 2026.
Can I take the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam online?
Yes. AWS offers it at a Pearson VUE testing centre or as an online proctored exam.
How long is the certification valid?
Three years.