AWS Programs & Initiatives
AWS offers a wide range of programs to help individuals of all backgrounds build cloud skills, earn certifications, and connect with employment opportunities. This page catalogs the major programs organized by audience.
Comparison Table
| Program | Cost | Audience | Duration | Certification | Job Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS re/Start | Free | Unemployed / underemployed | 12–13 weeks | CLF-C02 | Interview opportunities |
| AWS Educate | Free | Students (13+) | Self-paced | Digital badges | Job Board |
| AWS Academy | Free (institution) | College students | Semester | Various (exam discounts) | Emerging Talent Community |
| AWS AI & ML Scholars | Free | Learners (18+) | 3 months (Challenge) | AIF prep path | Via Udacity Nanodegree |
| Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance | Free | Students | Varies by program | Depends on program | Direct employer connection |
| AWS Community Builder | Free | Content creators (18+) | 1 year (renewable) | Vouchers for any exam | Networking & visibility |
| Amazon Technical Apprenticeship | Paid (apprentice) | Military veterans / spouses | 12+ months | CLF-C02 | Full-time at Amazon |
| Amazon rekindle | Paid (employee) | Women on career break (India) | Varies | N/A | Full-time at Amazon |
| AWS Cloud Institute | Paid ($210–$630/month) | Career changers (US only) | 9–27 months | CLF + AIF + DVA | Career services |
Programs for Women
AWS re/Start Tech Training for Women
A cohort-based program delivered through local collaborating organizations that prepares women for entry to mid-level cloud roles.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Duration | 20 weeks (full-time) |
| Cost | Free |
| Curriculum | AWS re/Start standard curriculum + professional skills |
| Certification | AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner |
| Outcomes | Industry mentors, employer connections, job placement |
Women in Cloud (Brazil)
Part of the Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance in Brazil, focused on inspiring, training, and connecting women with cloud careers.
- 2,800+ women impacted
- 1,100+ trained in cloud computing
- Job fairs and internship opportunities
Amazon rekindle (India)
A return-to-work program for women who have taken a 12+ month career break.
- Mentorship and on-the-job learning
- Orientation program for smooth transition
- Open to tech and non-tech roles
Amazon WoW
A networking group for women in tech offering workshops, career resources, and connections with Amazon recruiters.
Military & Veterans Programs
Amazon Technical Apprenticeship
A paid apprenticeship program for military veterans and their spouses transitioning to cloud computing careers.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Military veterans, transitioning service members, spouses |
| Experience required | None — non-technical backgrounds welcome |
| Format | Paid training + 12 months on-the-job training |
| Outcomes | Full-time roles at Amazon |
| Results | 1,000+ apprentices, 90% completion rate |
Amazon Technical Apprenticeship
AWS re/Start for Military
Free cohort-based training for veterans and military families.
- No tech background required
- Focus on entry-level cloud roles
- Resume and interview coaching included
AWS Educate for Veterans
Free AWS Educate membership with cloud career pathways for veterans, transitioning personnel, and spouses.
- AWS Educate Starter Account with $50 credit
- Cloud Career Pathways and Badges
- Access to the AWS Educate Job Board
Amazon Military Support Programs
| Program | Description |
|---|---|
| Military Ambassador Program | 18-month onboarding and training at Amazon |
| Military Mentoring Program | Peer mentorship with structured matching |
| Warriors at Amazon | Employee-led group for the military community |
Careers at Amazon for Military
Programs for Students
AWS Educate
Free, self-paced cloud learning platform open to anyone 13+.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Age requirement | 13+ (with parental consent) |
| Content | Cloud fundamentals to AI/ML, career pathways |
| Hands-on | Starter Account with $50 AWS Promotional Credit |
| Job Board | Access to internships and entry-level jobs (18+) |
| Badges | Digital badges and certificates |
AWS Academy
Free, ready-to-teach cloud computing curriculum for higher education institutions.
- Designed for colleges and universities
- Students get free Skill Builder subscription (12 months)
- 100% discount on AWS Certification exams
- Access to the Emerging Talent Community
- Covers foundational to associate-level content
AWS AI & ML Scholars
Free AI training program powered by AWS Skill Builder and delivered in collaboration with Udacity.
| Phase | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge | March 24 – June 24, 2026 | Free AI fundamentals, build an AI app with PartyRock |
| Udacity Nanodegree | August 4 – November 4, 2026 | Top 4,500 performers get fully-funded Nanodegree |
- 100,000 learners sponsored in 2026
- 170+ countries represented
- No prior experience required
- Graduates receive 3-month Skill Builder subscription
AWS Educate Job Board
Connects students (18+) with thousands of cloud-related jobs and internships from Amazon and AWS Partners worldwide.
Programs for Educators
AWS Academy
Provides higher education institutions with free, ready-to-teach cloud computing curricula.
- Free curriculum — cloud computing, AI/ML, security courses
- Educator enablement — complimentary training sessions
- Learner Lab — sandbox environments for hands-on practice
- Certification discounts — 100% off exam fees for students
AWS Educate for Educators
Free resources for educators to integrate cloud computing into their classrooms.
- Self-paced training
- Classroom-ready content
- Career pathways for students
AWS Skill Builder for Educators
Access to digital courses, learning plans, and exam prep materials to incorporate into teaching.
Workforce Development Programs
AWS re/Start
A free, cohort-based workforce development program that prepares unemployed or underemployed individuals for cloud careers.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free to learner |
| Duration | 12–13 weeks (full-time) |
| Curriculum | Linux, Python, networking, security, AWS core services |
| Certification | AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (exam fees covered) |
| Outcomes | 90%+ of graduates connected to interviews |
| Eligibility | 18+, unemployed or underemployed, no tech background needed |
Two tracks:
- re/Start Foundation — for individuals with little to no tech experience
- re/Start Associate — for those with non-cloud IT experience
AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance
A coalition of employers, educational institutions, and government agencies working to close the tech skills gap.
How It Works
- Employers ("talent shapers") collaborate with educators to design curricula
- Students gain hands-on experience with AWS services
- Graduates get connected to entry-level cloud roles (Cloud Support Associate, Software Developer, Data Analyst)
Active Regions (United States)
| State | Focus |
|---|---|
| New York | City University of New York (CUNY) system, NYC employers |
| Illinois | Chicago-area institutions |
| Washington | Seattle Colleges |
| West Virginia | Rural workforce development |
| Texas | Houston, Dallas partnerships |
| Tennessee | Nashville-area institutions |
Global Presence: 9 countries — US, Egypt, Spain, Singapore, Italy, Germany, India, Colombia, Brazil
Results: 23,000+ learners connected with 350+ employers, 1,050+ educational institutions engaged, 250,000+ learners reached worldwide
Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance — US Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance — Global
AWS Emerging Talent Community
An online community for graduates of AWS training programs providing networking, resources, and job opportunities.
Government Initiatives
AWS works with government agencies at local, state, and federal levels to:
- Modernize tech programs at community colleges
- Connect learners with employers
- Develop regional tech workforces
Workforce Development Regional Engagement — AWS partners directly with communities where it operates to build tailored workforce programs, including training initiatives, educator professional development, and workshops for residents.
AWS Public Sector Blog Workforce Development
Returnship Programs
Amazon rekindle (India)
A structured return-to-work program for women who have taken a career break of 12 months or more.
- Interview preparation and support
- Orientation program
- Mentorship and on-the-job learning
- Open to tech and non-tech roles
Regional Programs
Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance by Country
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| United States | Active (NY, IL, WA, WV, TX, TN) |
| Egypt | Active |
| Spain | Active |
| Singapore | Active |
| Italy | Active |
| Germany | Active |
| India | Active |
| Colombia | Active |
| Brazil | Active (includes Women in Cloud) |
AWS re/Start by Region
re/Start is delivered through local collaborating organizations worldwide. Availability, curriculum, and eligibility vary by region. Check the re/Start application page for country-specific details.
Non-Profit Partnerships
AWS collaborates with non-profit organizations to deliver workforce development programs, including:
| Partner Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Community organizations | Local workforce boards, community-based orgs |
| Educational non-profits | Codecademy, Udacity, edX partners |
| Veterans organizations | Hiring Our Heroes, military support groups |
| Women's organizations | Momentum (Canada), women-in-tech non-profits |
AWS re/Start collaborating organizations AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance
Official Links (All Programs)
| Program | Link |
|---|---|
| AWS re/Start | aws.amazon.com/training/restart/ |
| AWS Educate | aws.amazon.com/education/awseducate/ |
| AWS Academy | aws.amazon.com/training/awsacademy/ |
| AWS AI & ML Scholars | aws.amazon.com/about-aws/our-impact/scholars/ |
| Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance | aws.amazon.com/government-education/skills-to-jobs-tech-alliance/ |
| AWS Community Builder | aws.amazon.com/developer/community/community-builders/ |
| Amazon Technical Apprenticeship | amazon.jobs/content/en/teams/amazon-web-services/technical-apprenticeships |
| Amazon rekindle | amazon.jobs/content/en/career-programs/rekindle |
| Amazon Military Careers | amazon.jobs/military |
| AWS Emerging Talent Community | aws.amazon.com/training/emerging-talent-community/ |
| AWS Skill Builder | skillbuilder.aws |
| AWS Cloud Institute | aws.amazon.com/training/aws-cloud-institute/ |
Seasonal AWS Programs
AWS periodically launches seasonal and event-driven programs, including:
- Builder Challenges
- AI Get Certified Challenges
- Summit promotions
- Student campaigns
- Community Builder campaigns