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AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer Associate

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AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer Associate Associate

Current Version: MLA-C01

Next Version: MLA-C02 (Beta announced)

A comprehensive resource guide for the AWS Machine Learning Engineer Associate exam.

Detail Value
Exam Code MLA-C01
Duration 130 minutes
Cost $150 USD
Passing Score 720 / 1000
Questions 65 (50 scored + 15 unscored)
Recommended Experience 1+ years ML/AWS experience
Official Page AWS ML Engineer Associate

Last Updated

This guide was last updated on 25 October 2025.

MLA-C02 Update

AWS has announced the next version of this certification.

The current MLA-C01 remains available until September 28, 2026 (English).

Registration for the MLA-C02 beta exam opens on September 1, 2026, with beta delivery beginning on September 29, 2026.

General availability is expected in early 2027.

What's Changing in MLA-C02

AWS has kept the high-level domain structure but expanded the exam content to include modern GenAI workloads. The existing ML Engineering and MLOps topics remain a core part of the certification, but the following major additions have been introduced:

  • Generative AI implementation and deployment
  • Foundation Models and Large Language Models (LLMs)
  • Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
  • Agentic AI workflows
  • Amazon Bedrock
  • Fine-tuning foundation models
  • Responsible AI
  • Production-scale ML + GenAI operations

Important Dates

Event Date
MLA-C02 guide released September 1, 2026
Beta registration opens September 1, 2026
Last day to take MLA-C01 (English) September 28, 2026
Beta delivery begins September 29, 2026
General availability Early 2027

Preparing now?

If you're taking the exam before September 28, continue studying for MLA-C01.

If you're planning for late 2026 or 2027, begin learning Amazon Bedrock, LLMs, RAG, and Agentic AI concepts in addition to traditional ML Engineering.

Official Announcement

Read the official AWS Training & Certification blog post announcing MLA-C02

tl;dr

  1. Read the official exam guide
  2. Do a video course from Udemy + Skill Builder exam prep
  3. Do practice exams
  4. Book and take the exam (wait up to 5 days for results)

Exam Details

Video Courses

No single comprehensive course

As the exam is relatively new, no single video course is considered fully comprehensive. You may need to review a variety of material.

Instructor Description Link
Stephane Maarek Frequently updated, exam-focused, recommended for most certification candidates. Best suited for preparing for the latest AWS certification exams. courses.datacumulus.com — never pay more than $15
QA Learn (Cloud Academy) Enterprise training; course marked preview during beta QA MLA Course

Course note

Stephane Maarek's course content may not fully cover all exam topics. Some students report that practice tests ask questions in more detail than the course provides. Supplement with Skill Builder and AWS documentation.

AWS Skill Builder

The Skill Builder search for MLA shows two options:

  1. AWS ML Engineer Associate Learning Plan (includes labs, mostly subscription)
  2. Exam Prep Plan: MLA-C01 (more free material, covers each domain)

Skill Builder Paid Tier is recommended

Unlike other exams, the paid Skill Builder tier is particularly valuable for MLA due to the lack of comprehensive third-party courses.

Practice Exams

Source Description Link
AWS Official (Free) 20 questions Skill Builder
AWS Official (Paid) Full 65-question pretest Skill Builder
Stephane Maarek Practice exams on Udemy courses.datacumulus.com
TutorialsDojo Sampler 20 free questions TutorialsDojo Sampler
TutorialsDojo Full Full practice exam set TutorialsDojo MLA

TutorialsDojo QA concerns

Some users report that TutorialsDojo MLA exams contain errors and unclear questions. Consider using Stephane Maarek's practice exams as an alternative — they are reported to be error-free but more challenging.

Books

Title Link
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer Associate (SYBEX) Amazon — also available on O'Reilly

Physical books can get outdated

AWS releases new features frequently. Use books as a base reference and always check official AWS docs/blogs for updates.

Hands-on Practice

AWS Free Tier

The AWS Free Tier includes SageMaker (2 months free, 250 hours/month of Studio), Bedrock (free tier for model inference), and Lambda (1 million requests). Build ML pipelines, train models, and deploy endpoints for experimentation. Set up billing alerts and monitor usage to avoid unexpected charges.

AWS Free Tier

AWS Builder Center Sandbox (Official)

  • Official free AWS sandbox environment
  • No AWS account billing or credit card required
  • Temporary AWS environment for learning and experimentation
  • No risk of accidental AWS charges
  • Ideal for certification practice, workshops, and learning new AWS services
  • Sessions currently last up to 8 hours
  • Availability depends on supported Builder Center workshops

Official announcement: https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2026/07/aws-builder-center-sandbox/

AWS Builder Center Sandbox — more details about the Builder Center Sandbox program.

AWS Skill Builder Labs

Skill Builder offers guided labs for SageMaker, Bedrock, and ML services. Labs provide temporary AWS accounts for safe experimentation.

Skill Builder Labs

AWS Builder Labs

Builder Labs include step-by-step ML environments covering SageMaker notebook instances, model training, and endpoint deployment.

AWS Builder Labs

ML/AI Services to Practice

  • Amazon SageMaker — Build, train, tune, and deploy ML models using Studio, Canvas, and Autopilot.
  • Amazon Bedrock — Experiment with foundation models, knowledge bases, agents, and guardrails.
  • AWS Lambda — Build ML inference pipelines and data preprocessing workflows.
  • Amazon Comprehend / Rekognition / Transcribe — Practice with AWS AI services covered in the exam.

Microcredentials

The AWS Machine Learning microcredential includes a hands-on assessment that validates practical ML skills. Learn more

Projects & Hands-on — more practice resources and comparison of platforms.

Additional Reading

AWS Skill Builder Microcredentials

Official AWS Skill Builder learning paths that include focused training, knowledge assessments, and digital badges. Useful for strengthening knowledge in specific AWS domains before or after certification preparation.

Learn more

AWS Customer Learning Programs

Official AWS service-specific learning programs that award Credly digital badges. These programs help learners deepen knowledge of individual AWS services, products, and solution areas beyond the certification blueprint.

Explore programs

AWS SimuLearn Learning Plan Badges

Official AWS interactive learning plans that validate practical cloud skills using simulated hands-on scenarios. Recommended for learners who want hands-on validation alongside certification preparation.

Learn more

AWS Builder Center Sandbox

Official free temporary AWS environment for hands-on learning and certification practice.

https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2026/07/aws-builder-center-sandbox/

New Question Types

This exam includes new question types beyond standard multiple choice. Be prepared for:

  • Multiple response (select 2+ correct answers)
  • Drag-and-drop ordering
  • Scenario-based matching

Community Advice

  • Hands-on practice matters. Build ML pipelines with SageMaker.
  • Don't memorize dumps.
  • Practice exams identify weak areas; review every wrong answer.
  • Read AWS documentation for unfamiliar services.

Exam Tips

  • Sleep well before the exam.
  • Read every question carefully.
  • Eliminate wrong answers first.
  • Flag difficult questions and come back to them.

FAQ

Is this exam still in beta? No — the MLA-C01 exam is now generally available (GA). The beta code was ME1-C01.

Where can I find vouchers? See the Vouchers & Discounts page.

When will I get my results? Results are typically available within 5 days, though often within a few hours to a day. Weekends may cause slight delays.

Should I take MLA or MLS (Machine Learning Specialty)? The MLS Speciality is expected to be deprecated (speculation based on AWS's pattern of reducing specialty exams). If you have advanced ML knowledge, MLS is still valid for 3 years. If you are starting your AI/ML journey, start with MLA.

Does passing MLA renew AIF? Yes! Passing MLA-C01 will renew an active AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) certification.

What happens if I fail the beta exam? Beta exams cannot be retaken. You must wait for the exam to become GA and take it then.

Do I need prior AWS experience? You can start from scratch but expect to take longer. If you have zero AWS background, consider starting with the Solutions Architect curriculum first (even without taking the exam).

Does the 50% exam benefit voucher work? The 50% off exam benefit (from passing any other AWS exam) does work for MLA-C01.

Posts from the Community

Summary

Recommended study plan:

  1. Read the exam guide — know the domains and scope
  2. Take a video course — Stephane Maarek on Udemy
  3. Complete Skill Builder exam prep — free plan covers each domain
  4. Do practice exams — focus on understanding why answers are correct
  5. Review weak areas using AWS documentation and blog posts
  6. Pass the exam — expect results within 5 days