AWS Cloud Practitioner
The AWS Cloud Practitioner certification (exam CLF-C02) proves you understand core AWS Cloud concepts, security, services and pricing. The exam has 65 questions in 90 minutes, costs $100 and needs a scaled score of 700. This guide covers the format, domains, passing score, registration and how to prepare.
AWS Cloud Practitioner at a Glance
Verified October 15, 2026| Official body | Amazon Web Services |
|---|---|
| Exam fee | $100 USD CLF-C02, US price (taxes may apply) · aws.amazon.com, October 2026 |
| Duration | 90 minutes CLF-C02 · aws.amazon.com, October 2026 |
| Format | Multiple choice and multiple response CLF-C02 · docs.aws.amazon.com, October 2026 · Compensatory scoring: you need to pass the overall exam, not each domain. |
| Sections | 4 domains CLF-C02 exam guide · docs.aws.amazon.com, October 2026 |
| Questions | 65 questions (50 scored, 15 unscored) CLF-C02 · docs.aws.amazon.com, October 2026 |
| Score range | 100–1,000 (scaled) CLF-C02 · docs.aws.amazon.com, October 2026 |
| Pass mark | 700 (on a 100–1,000 scale) CLF-C02 · docs.aws.amazon.com, October 2026 |
| Validity | 3 years AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner · aws.amazon.com, October 2026 |
| Registration | Register with Amazon Web Services |
Primary source: Amazon Web Services (aws.amazon.com) Source date: October 2026 Last verified:
What Is the AWS Cloud Practitioner
The AWS Cloud Practitioner is the foundational certification from Amazon Web Services. Its full name is AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, and the current exam code is CLF-C02. It confirms that you understand what the AWS Cloud is, how it is secured, which core services exist and how AWS pricing and support work.
The certification is aimed at people in technical, sales, finance, project and management roles who work with AWS but do not build on it every day. It is also a common first step for students and career changers before an associate-level AWS certification. No prior certification is required, and AWS describes the target candidate as someone with up to six months of exposure to the AWS Cloud, so focused study can replace job experience.
The certification is valid for 3 years. To compare it with other entry-level options, see our overview of IT certifications or the Microsoft equivalent, the AZ-900.
AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials
AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials is AWS’s own free introductory course, available on AWS Skill Builder. It walks through cloud concepts, global infrastructure, compute, storage, databases, networking, security, pricing and the Well-Architected Framework in short video modules with knowledge checks.
The course maps closely to the exam domains, so it is the natural starting point for your AWS Cloud Practitioner practice exam preparation. Watch it once end to end, then return to the modules that match your weakest practice-test sections.
AWS Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 Exam Format
The CLF-C02 exam is a 90-minute, computer-based test with 65 questions. Questions are either multiple choice (one correct answer out of four) or multiple response (two or more correct answers out of five or more options). There are no labs or hands-on tasks.
| Exam fact | CLF-C02 |
|---|---|
| Questions | 65 (50 scored, 15 unscored) |
| Question types | Multiple choice and multiple response |
| Time | 90 minutes |
| Score range | 100–1,000 (scaled) |
| Passing score | 700 |
| Price | $100 USD (US, taxes may apply) |
| Validity | 3 years |
AWS Cloud Practitioner Exam Topics
The AWS Cloud Practitioner practice exam syllabus follows the four domains in the official CLF-C02 exam guide. Each domain carries a fixed share of the scored content:
- Cloud Concepts (24%): benefits of the AWS Cloud, the Well-Architected Framework, migration strategies and cloud economics.
- Security and Compliance (30%): the shared responsibility model, governance and compliance, IAM and AWS security services.
- Cloud Technology and Services (34%): deployment methods, global infrastructure, compute, databases, networking, storage, AI/ML and analytics services.
- Billing, Pricing, and Support (12%): pricing models, billing and cost-management tools, technical resources and AWS Support plans.
Cloud Technology and Services is the largest domain, and it is also the broadest. Expect questions that describe a business need and ask which service fits it, such as choosing between Amazon S3, Amazon EBS and Amazon EFS for storage.
AWS Cloud Practitioner Test Duration
The AWS Cloud Practitioner test duration is 90 minutes for 65 questions, which works out to roughly 80 seconds per question. Most questions are short scenarios, so time is rarely the main problem for prepared candidates.
Use the clock to your advantage. Answer what you know, flag anything uncertain and come back to it, because you can review and change answers before you submit.
How Many Questions Are on the Exam
There are 65 questions on the exam. Only 50 count toward your score; the other 15 are unscored questions AWS is trialling for future exams. They are not marked, so treat every question as if it counts.
AWS Cloud Practitioner Exam Passing Score
The AWS Cloud Practitioner exam passing score is 700 on a scale of 100 to 1,000. Your result is reported as pass or fail with a scaled score and a breakdown that shows how you performed in each domain.
AWS uses compensatory scoring. You do not need to pass each domain separately; a strong result in one area can make up for a weaker one, as long as your overall scaled score reaches 700. Scaling also means 700 is not a fixed percentage of correct answers, because AWS adjusts for small differences in difficulty between exam forms.
When you take our AWS Cloud Practitioner practice exam, we compare your percentage to a 70% readiness benchmark. Consistently clearing that benchmark on fresh question sets is a good sign that you are ready to book.
AWS Cloud Practitioner Retake Policy
If you fail the exam, you must wait 14 calendar days before you can retake it. There is no limit on the number of attempts, but you pay the full exam fee each time. Once you pass, you cannot take the same exam again for two years.
AWS Cloud Practitioner Test Price and Registration
The AWS Cloud Practitioner test price is $100 USD in the United States, and taxes may apply. You register through the AWS Certification portal, where you sign in, choose the CLF-C02 exam and pick a delivery option and time.
Registration takes a few minutes. Follow these steps:
- Create or sign in to your AWS Certification account.
- Select AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) from the exam list.
- Choose testing at a test center or an online proctored exam.
- Pick a date and time, then pay the exam fee or apply a voucher.
- Read the confirmation email and the testing provider’s ID and environment rules.
Check the official AWS Cloud Practitioner page for the current price in your country and any available exam vouchers.
AWS Cloud Practitioner Test Dates
There are no fixed AWS Cloud Practitioner test dates. The exam runs on demand, so you choose any available slot when you schedule, at a test center near you or online.
Book a date three to six weeks out to give your study plan a deadline. Track it with our exam countdown, and reschedule through your certification account if you need more time, within the provider’s rescheduling window.
AWS Cloud Practitioner Exam Test Center vs Online
You can take the exam at an authorized test center or online with a remote proctor. Both deliver the same CLF-C02 exam, score and certification; the difference is the testing environment.
| Factor | Test center | Online proctored |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Authorized testing center | Your home or office |
| Equipment | Provided by the center | Your computer, webcam and stable internet |
| Room rules | Managed by staff | Private, quiet room with a clear desk |
| Main risk | Travel time | Technical or room-check problems |
| Best for | Candidates with unreliable internet or a busy home | Candidates who want flexible scheduling |
If you test online, run the provider’s system test on the same computer and network a few days before the exam.
AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice Exam Preparation
Good AWS Cloud Practitioner practice exam preparation combines one structured course, regular practice questions and focused review of weak domains. Most beginners need three to six weeks at five to eight hours a week.
| Week | Focus | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cloud concepts, global infrastructure, Cloud Practitioner Essentials modules | A 10-question baseline in study mode |
| 2 | Security: shared responsibility, IAM, security services | 30-question set, review every explanation |
| 3 | Core services: compute, storage, databases, networking | Two 30-question sets in timed mode |
| 4 | Billing, pricing, Support plans, AI/ML and analytics services | Full-bank mock exam, then targeted review |
Turn the table into your own calendar with the study planner. If you are also weighing a security path, the CompTIA Security+ builds well on the security domain of this exam.
AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice Exam Study Material
The most useful AWS Cloud Practitioner practice exam study material comes from AWS itself: the official exam guide (which lists every in-scope service), Cloud Practitioner Essentials and the AWS whitepapers on the Well-Architected Framework and pricing. Keep the exam guide’s service list open as a checklist.
Write short study notes as you go, one line per service: what it does and when you would choose it. Turn those notes into a deck with our tool to make flashcards online, since much of the exam rewards quick recognition of service names and purposes.
AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice Exam Free
An AWS Cloud Practitioner practice exam for free is the fastest way to find gaps. Our free practice test draws original questions at random across all four domains, explains every answer and shows a section breakdown, so you know exactly which domain to study next.
Use free AWS Cloud Practitioner practice questions with answers as a learning tool, not just a score. Read the explanation for every question, including the ones you got right, and aim to explain why each wrong option is wrong. If you are also interested in AI services, AWS offers a separate AWS Certified AI Practitioner certification, but the Cloud Practitioner exam covers AI/ML only at a high level.
AWS Cloud Practitioner Test Day Guide
On test day, your goal is a calm start and no administrative surprises. Use this checklist:
- Bring valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID with a name that exactly matches your certification account.
- For a test center, arrive early; late arrivals may be refused and lose the fee.
- For online proctoring, clear your desk, close other applications and be ready for the room scan before check-in.
- Keep phones, smartwatches and notes out of reach for the whole session.
- Read every scenario for keywords such as “most cost-effective”, “least operational overhead” or “customer responsibility”.
- For multiple-response questions, check how many answers are required before you choose.
- Flag uncertain questions and leave a few minutes at the end to review them.
- Answer every question; there is no penalty for guessing.
Your official result and score report appear in your AWS Certification account after the exam, usually within a few business days.
AWS Cloud Practitioner FAQ
How Hard Is the AWS Cloud Practitioner Exam?
The AWS Cloud Practitioner exam is the easiest AWS certification, but it is not a walk-through. It tests breadth rather than depth: you need to recognize dozens of services, the shared responsibility model and the pricing and support options. Candidates with no cloud background usually need a few weeks of steady study and several practice exams to feel ready.
How Much Is the AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice Exam?
Our AWS Cloud Practitioner practice exam is free, with no account needed. AWS also offers official practice material through AWS Skill Builder, including a free practice question set and a fuller official practice exam for subscribers. The real CLF-C02 exam costs $100 in the US, and taxes may apply.
How Many Questions Are on the AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice Exam?
The real CLF-C02 exam has 65 questions, of which 50 are scored and 15 are unscored questions that AWS is testing for future use. Our free practice exam lets you choose 10 questions, a 30-question set or the full bank, so you can run short drills or a longer mock exam.
What Is the Passing Score for AWS Cloud Practitioner?
The passing score for AWS Cloud Practitioner is 700 on a scaled range of 100 to 1,000. Scoring is compensatory, so you need to pass the exam overall rather than each domain. Because the score is scaled, 700 is not the same as answering exactly 70% of questions correctly.