AWS certification exam changes 2026: new versions and retirement dates
Coming up next: last day to take SAP-C02 on November 16, 2026; first day to take SAP-C03 on November 17, 2026; last day to take DVA-C02 on November 30, 2026. Every date below is taken from AWS’s own pages, with a link to the source.
Last checked against AWS: .
Next dates
| Date | Exam | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Solutions Architect – Professional | Last day to take SAP-C02 | |
| Solutions Architect – Professional | First day to take SAP-C03 | |
| Developer – Associate | Last day to take DVA-C02 | |
| Developer – Associate | First day to take DVA-C03 | |
| Advanced Networking – Specialty | Last day to take ANS-C01 | |
| Machine Learning Engineer – Associate | Standard MLA-C02 exam in all languages; MLA-C01 retired in all languages |
Announced changes
new version
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
SAP-C03 replaces SAP-C02. The last day to take SAP-C02 is November 16, 2026, and SAP-C03 starts on November 17, 2026.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| SAP-C03 exam guide published and registration opens (done) | |
| Last day to take SAP-C02 | |
| First day to take SAP-C03 |
Source: AWS: Certification updates, September 2026 · What changes, in detail · Free practice exam
new version
AWS Certified Developer – Associate
DVA-C03 replaces DVA-C02. The last day to take DVA-C02 is November 30, 2026, and DVA-C03 starts on December 1, 2026.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| DVA-C03 exam guide published (done) | |
| Last day to take DVA-C02 | |
| First day to take DVA-C03 |
Source: AWS: Certification updates, September 2026 · What changes, in detail · Free practice exam
retirement
AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty
The Advanced Networking – Specialty exam (ANS-C01) is retiring, with no replacement announced. The last day to take it is December 31, 2026.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Last day to take ANS-C01 |
new version
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate
MLA-C02 replaces MLA-C01. It is in beta now, and the standard exam starts in all languages on January 14, 2027.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| MLA-C02 exam guide published and beta registration opens (English) (done) | |
| Last day to take MLA-C01 in English (done) | |
| MLA-C02 beta exams begin (done) | |
| Standard MLA-C02 exam in all languages; MLA-C01 retired in all languages |
Source: AWS: Certification updates, September 2026 · What changes, in detail · Free practice exam
new certification
AWS Certified AI Business Strategist
A new certification, AWS Certified AI Business Strategist (AIB-C01), is in beta. AWS has not announced a date for the standard exam.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Beta registration opens (done) | |
| Beta exams begin (done) |
Source: AWS: Introducing AWS Certified AI Business Strategist
Recent changes
retirement
AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty
The Machine Learning – Specialty exam (MLS-C01) has retired. The last day to take it was March 31, 2026.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Last day to take MLS-C01 (done) |
Source: AWS: AI certification portfolio and security certification update
new version
AWS Certified Security – Specialty
SCS-C03 replaced SCS-C02. Candidates had until December 1, 2025 to take SCS-C02.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Last day to take SCS-C02 (done) |
Source: AWS: AI certification portfolio and security certification update · Free practice exam
new version
AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate
SysOps Administrator – Associate (SOA-C02) was renamed CloudOps Engineer – Associate and replaced by SOA-C03 on September 30, 2025.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Last day to take SOA-C02 (done) | |
| First day to take SOA-C03 (done) |
Source: AWS: Exam updates, beta exams and new certifications · Free practice exam
Not announced
AWS has not announced an “SAA-C04”. Some sites describe one, but AWS’sSolutions Architect – Associate pagestill points to SAA-C03, the current exam. If a change isn’t on this page, we haven’t found it on AWS’s site.
How we keep this page up to date
We check AWS’s certification pages and announcements, and update this page within a day of any new announcement. Each entry links to the AWS page its dates come from. If you spot something out of date, email us from the support page.