Table of contents
- How to Register for an AWS Certification Exam
- Choose Between Online Proctoring and a Testing Center
- Location and Accommodation Considerations
- What to Review After Scheduling
Scheduling an AWS Certification exam starts in the AWS Certification area, where candidates can begin registration and then choose an appointment through Pearson VUE.
How to Register for an AWS Certification Exam
AWS directs candidates to sign in at aws.amazon.com/certification and select “Schedule an exam” to register for an exam. After choosing that option, candidates log in to their AWS account by selecting AWS Builder ID or one of the available sign-in methods. The next steps are to navigate to Exam Registration and then select Schedule an exam.
The AWS scheduling page states that candidates can schedule an exam with Pearson VUE from their AWS Certification Account. This makes the AWS Certification Account the place to reach before choosing an appointment with the test-delivery provider. The Pearson VUE AWS page also presents a log-in route for scheduling, rescheduling, and canceling an exam, and says that the candidate will be redirected to the testing program’s website to begin.
Registration is therefore more than selecting a date immediately. The account path leads to Exam Registration, where the scheduling flow continues to the provider that manages the appointment. Candidates should complete the account access steps before trying to compare individual appointment times, because the AWS instructions place account sign-in and Exam Registration before the scheduling action.
After an appointment is scheduled, AWS says candidates should carefully review the exam confirmation email. The confirmation email contains pertinent details about the policies and terms that apply to the exam appointment. Keeping that email available gives the candidate a record of the appointment information that AWS identifies as relevant after scheduling.
Choose Between Online Proctoring and a Testing Center
AWS lists two testing options for AWS Certification exams: online proctoring and testing centers. Both options use proctoring, but they differ in the setting, equipment, and practical arrangements involved in taking the exam. The choice is based on whether the candidate will test from a private space using their own computer or attend a facility that provides in-person proctoring and the required equipment.
Online Proctoring Requirements and Availability
Online proctoring is a testing environment that allows a candidate to take an exam from a private space, such as a home or office. The candidate uses their own computer for the exam. A remote proctor monitors the exam through both a screen-sharing application and the candidate’s webcam.
Communication with a proctor is required to complete an online-proctored appointment. That requirement is part of the online testing process, so a candidate considering this option needs to be prepared to interact with the remote proctor as well as use the required computer, webcam, and screen-sharing arrangement. AWS states that online proctoring is available for all AWS Certification exams from its test-delivery provider Pearson VUE.
Most online-proctored exam appointments are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. AWS also lists different proctoring language schedules: English is available 24/7; Japanese is available Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time/JST; Spanish for Latin America is available Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. EST; and Mandarin for customers in Mainland China is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time/CST.
Candidates who sign up for a localized exam can view questions in English during the exam by using the toggle feature. Before scheduling, AWS also directs candidates to review the available options for the specific exam and their desired exam language. That review connects the appointment choice with the particular exam and language the candidate intends to take.
Testing-Center Appointments
Testing centers are facilities operated independently from AWS that offer in-person proctoring. They provide the technical equipment required for an exam, including a computer that meets system and security requirements. At a testing center, the candidate uses the center’s computer to take the exam rather than their own computer.
On-site staff at a testing center assist candidates with checking in and storing their belongings. This distinguishes the in-person appointment from online proctoring, where the candidate tests from a private space with personal equipment and communicates with a remote proctor. Candidates who prefer the testing-center arrangement can use the facility’s provided computer and complete the check-in process with on-site staff.
Testing-center appointment availability varies by testing center. AWS instructs candidates to search availability by ZIP Code to find a testing center near them. The Pearson VUE AWS page also provides a Find a test center option, including a separate option to find a test center on a military base.
Location and Accommodation Considerations
AWS says candidates should identify the most convenient testing location and accommodations based on their needs. For a testing-center appointment, searching by ZIP Code is the supplied way to check nearby availability. Because availability varies by testing center, the search results for a location are part of choosing an in-person appointment.
Candidates considering online proctoring need a private testing space, such as a home or office, and their own computer. Candidates considering a testing center use a center-provided computer that meets the system and security requirements for the exam. These separate arrangements give candidates two different ways to match an appointment to their location and equipment situation.
AWS provides information and policies about scheduling an exam, identification requirements, exam functionality, and requesting exam accommodations. The Pearson VUE AWS page includes links for Find a test center, Online testing, and Test accommodations. Candidates can use those pages when checking the practical requirements connected with their appointment choice.
The AWS scheduling page also directs candidates to review available options for the specific exam and desired exam language before scheduling. For online-proctored appointments, the listed proctoring-language schedules provide additional information about when particular language services are available. A candidate selecting a localized exam can also use the English question-view toggle during the exam.
What to Review After Scheduling
After scheduling an AWS Certification exam appointment, candidates should carefully review the exam confirmation email. AWS states that this email contains pertinent details on the relevant policies and terms for the appointment. The registration agreement and the exam appointment confirmation email also note AWS’s policy for support related to certain cancellations or missed exams.
For a cancellation or missed exam due to a medical emergency, AWS directs candidates to contact Pearson for support. AWS states that, for personal illness with medical documentation or unforeseen emergency situations with required documentation, the test-delivery vendors will waive the fee and allow rescheduling without fees. In emergency situations, AWS states that official documentation of the emergency event is required.
AWS says Pearson VUE staff will respond to a support ticket within five business days, excluding weekends and holidays. The confirmation email, the scheduling policies, and the provider support route are therefore all appointment details to review after booking. Candidates can also use the Pearson VUE AWS page’s scheduling, rescheduling, and cancellation log-in route when they need to begin an appointment-related action.
The final appointment decision remains between the two AWS-listed testing options. Online proctoring uses a private space, the candidate’s own computer, screen sharing, a webcam, and communication with a remote proctor. A testing center uses in-person proctoring, a center-provided computer, on-site check-in assistance, and storage for belongings, with appointment availability searched by ZIP Code.