How Long Do Exam Results Take?
Key Fact
With the exception of Cloud Practitioner, you do not receive results immediately after the exam. Results are calculated and an anti-cheat process runs behind the scenes. This applies to both remote and test center exams.
FAQ
How long do most people wait?
Most candidates receive their results within 5 hours to 1 day. Occasionally it takes longer, and sometimes it arrives much sooner.
Does it take longer on weekends?
There are anecdotal reports of longer wait times on weekends, though this is not officially documented.
What is the official deadline?
AWS states results are posted within 5 business days (excluding holidays and weekends).
Which arrives first — the Credly badge or the AWS pass email?
It varies. Sometimes the Credly badge arrives first, sometimes the AWS pass email. There is no consistent pattern.
Does refreshing CertMetrics help?
No. Smashing refresh on CertMetrics does not make results arrive faster.
What helps pass the time?
Going for a walk or sleeping seems to help it arrive faster.
My exam still shows as "Upcoming Appointments" in CertMetrics — is this normal?
Yes. The exam will continue to show as an upcoming appointment until results are posted.
Community-Reported Wait Times
| Time Frame | Reports |
|---|---|
| 0–1 hours | 0 |
| 1–2 hours | 0 |
| 2–5 hours | 3 |
| 6–10 hours | 4 |
| 11–24 hours | 1 |
| 1–2 days | 1 |
| > 2 days | 1 |