Certification Guide
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate
by Amazon Web Services · Exam code: MLA-C01
The AWS ML Engineer Associate replaces the retiring ML Specialty cert (sunset March 2026). It validates your ability to implement, deploy, and maintain ML workloads in production on AWS using SageMaker, Bedrock, and the broader AWS ML stack.
Cost
$150
Difficulty
Expert
Prep Time
8-10 weeks
Passing Score
720 / 1000
Valid For
3 years
Salary Impact
+15%
Is it worth it?
Average salary without
$155,000
Average salary with cert
$178,000
Yes. As the successor to the highly-regarded ML Specialty, this cert carries strong market recognition. At $150, it's well-priced for an ML credential. The exam's inclusion of ordering and case study questions means it tests real-world problem-solving, not just memorization.
Study Plan
A week-by-week breakdown to pass on your first attempt.
ML fundamentals on AWS — data preparation, feature engineering, SageMaker data processing
Model development — SageMaker training, built-in algorithms, hyperparameter tuning, Autopilot
Model deployment — SageMaker endpoints, Bedrock, Lambda, model monitoring, A/B testing
MLOps — SageMaker Pipelines, Model Registry, CI/CD for ML, cost optimization
Practice exams, case study review, weak area remediation
Best Prep Resources
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Careers this cert unlocks
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Yes. As the successor to the highly-regarded ML Specialty, this cert carries strong market recognition. At $150, it's well-priced for an ML credential. The exam's inclusion of ordering and case study questions means it tests real-world problem-solving, not just memorization. Certified professionals earn $178,000 on average compared to $155,000 without the certification — a +15% salary boost.
The AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate exam costs $150. Factor in preparation materials and study time of approximately 8-10 weeks. The certification is valid for 3 years. Given the +15% salary boost, most professionals recover the investment within the first few months.
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate is rated Expert difficulty (4/5). The exam format is 65 questions, 130 minutes, multiple choice, multiple response, ordering & case studies with a passing score of 720 / 1000. Most candidates need about 8-10 weeks of dedicated study time to pass.
1-2 years of experience building and deploying ML solutions. Familiarity with SageMaker, Python, ML frameworks, and AWS core services.
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate is particularly valuable for AI / ML Engineer, MLOps Engineer, Data Scientist, Cloud Architect roles. ML engineers, data scientists moving into production ML, and MLOps engineers working on AWS. Also valuable for software engineers building ML-powered applications on the AWS platform.
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