Check-in steps
Test center check-in
Your confirmation email contains details about what to bring and what the test day will entail. Candidates should plan to arrive at the test center between 15 and 30 minutes ahead of their scheduled appointment to allow sufficient time for registration procedures. When testing at an AWS event, expect the check-in process to take longer than usual. During check-in, the test administrator will request your registered name and the exam title. You must present valid identification documents, sign the test-delivery provider's candidate agreement, and may be photographed as part of the process. Test center staff will direct you on how to store your belongings before you enter the testing area. You may need to complete a log sheet. Once these steps are finished, the test administrator will guide you to your assigned computer workstation.
Online proctoring check-in
Your confirmation email provides guidance on preparing for your exam day. You may launch your exam starting up to 30 minutes before your scheduled time. Before your appointment, run the testing vendor's system test on your computer. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late or your computer fails the system test, you will be unable to start your exam and your fees will not be refunded.
After launching your exam, you will go through a self-check-in process to verify your identification and confirm your testing environment is suitable. Once check-in is complete, a proctor will connect with you to begin the exam. Review all requirements and video walkthroughs on Pearson VUE's website before your appointment.
ID requirements
General ID Requirements
The first and last name on your primary and secondary identification documents must match exactly what you entered in your AWS Certification Account during registration. Keep these points in mind:
- Your AWS Certification Account name must use only Roman (English) alphabet characters.
- Special characters such as ü or ö do not need to appear in your account profile; use equivalent Roman alphabet characters instead.
- Middle names, titles, and suffixes are optional in your profile, even if they appear on your identification.
- If you have only a first name or only a last name, add a period (".") to the empty field when setting up your account.
Test administrators have been instructed to deny exam access if the first and last names on your identification and your AWS Certification Account do not match exactly. Contact AWS Training and Certification support if you have concerns about your name on test day. For questions about which IDs are acceptable, reach out to Pearson VUE Customer Service.
Online Proctored Exams
One primary ID is required for any online proctored exam (OnVUE). Review the guidelines for OnVUE exam ID requirements and the Unacceptable IDs section below. Contact Pearson VUE Customer Service before your exam if you have questions about which ID to bring.
Test Center Delivered Exams
Two primary IDs, or one primary ID and one secondary ID, are required to test at a test center. If you have questions about ID requirements, contact Pearson VUE Customer Service before your appointment.
Primary/Secondary ID Requirements
Primary ID: A primary ID must be an original (not a photocopy or digital version), unexpired, government-issued document that displays your first and last name in Roman (English) characters, includes a recent and recognizable photograph, and shows your visible signature. Acceptable examples include an international travel passport or driver's license. If you do not have a primary ID from the country where you are testing, you must bring an international travel passport issued by your country of citizenship with information in Roman characters.
Secondary ID: A secondary ID can be any document that includes your first and last name in Roman (English) characters and your visible signature, or your first and last name in Roman (English) characters and a recent recognizable photograph.
Unacceptable IDs include:
- Restricted IDs, including the Geneva Convention ID, all Canadian Health Cards, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Common Access Card (CAC), or certain secure access IDs
- For online proctored exams, IDs from locations where Pearson VUE delivery is restricted (review the latest list on the Pearson website)
- Expired or damaged IDs
- Digital, photocopied, laminated paper, or paper IDs (for example, Aadhaar identifications in non-PVC formats are not acceptable)
Special ID rules by region:
- EU candidates testing in the EU Zone: EU card
- Japanese candidates testing in Japan (two IDs required): Employee or student ID with a recent, recognizable photo and Japanese health card
- Indian candidates: Government-issued PVC Aadhaar card only (all other Aadhaar formats such as letter, paper, laminated, or digital are not accepted)
Local language IDs:
- Online exams: Local language (non-Roman or non-English) IDs are accepted if they meet OnVUE exam ID requirements
- Test Center exams: Local language (non-Roman or non-English) IDs are accepted only for candidates testing in the country where the ID was originally issued. IDs must be unexpired, government-issued, and include a photo. For example: an ID in Japanese is acceptable at a Japan testing center, but an ID with Simplified Chinese characters is not acceptable at a Japan testing center
- Unexpired government-issued IDs from countries where Pearson VUE delivery is restricted can be used at test centers located outside restricted areas (review the latest list on the Pearson website)
Change your name in your AWS Certification Account
Test administrators will not permit a candidate to test if the first and last names on their identification and AWS Certification Account are not identical. If your AWS Certification Account profile does not match your valid identification, you must either update your account name at least two business days before your exam or contact AWS Training and Certification Customer Service. When contacting support, indicate that your account name is incorrect and provide the correct name. AWS Training and Certification Customer Service will process your request as quickly as possible. Do not schedule an exam until your request has been processed. If you already have an exam scheduled, cancel it before requesting an account update, then reschedule after the update is complete to prevent confusion at the testing appointment.
You can change your name in your Certification account up to two business days (48 hours) before your first exam.
To change your name through your account:
- Log in to your AWS certification account at https://www.aws.training/
- Go to the Profile tab and select "Account"
- Enter your legal first and last name exactly as it appears on your government-issued ID
- Select "Update Information"
To change your name through AWS Training and Certification Customer Service:
- In the Inquiry Type field, select "Account Assistance"
- In the Additional Details field, select "Name Change"
- In the "How can we help you?" field, request a name change
- Enter your name as it appears on your valid identification
- Click the Submit button
Required documentation for name changes:
- A copy of legal documentation proving your name change
- A scanned copy of a photo ID showing your original name
- A scanned copy of a photo ID showing your new name
Teen Testing ID Requirements
Candidates aged 13–17 and their parent or legal guardian have specific identification requirements.
For the teen candidate: One form of photo ID is required. School IDs are acceptable.
For the parent or legal guardian: The parent or legal guardian named on the consent form must accompany the teen candidate to the test center and provide a primary ID that complies with the ID policy. The first and last name on the primary ID must match exactly with the name of the parent or legal guardian on the consent form.
Contact AWS Training and Certification support to learn more about the teen testing process.
Testing rules
Candidate program agreement
The AWS Certification Program Agreement (the "CPA") sets out the terms governing your participation in the AWS Certification program. Full details are available on the Policies page.
Test centers
Test center rules are detailed in the Pearson VUE Candidate Rules Agreement. Violations of Pearson VUE test center rules may result in immediate cancellation or termination of your exam without a refund or the ability to reschedule.
Candidate Code of Conduct
Before your exam launches at a test center, you will see the Candidate Code of Conduct. Full details of this policy are on the Policies page.
Breaks
AWS Certification exams do not have scheduled breaks configured. At a test center, you may take unscheduled breaks, but the exam timer will continue running during any break you take. You are not permitted to leave the building at any time during your exam.
For online proctored exams, you are not allowed to stand up or leave the camera's view for any reason during the entire exam, including for restroom breaks or any other type of break.
Testing Irregularity Investigations
Investigation procedures
AWS may, at its sole discretion, investigate any report or information suggesting that a candidate has violated the AWS Certification Program Agreement, AWS Certification Policies, test delivery provider rules and regulations, or engaged in conduct that threatens the validity and security of AWS Certification exams. AWS may also investigate a candidate's exam performance or behavior based on data forensics analyses. Learn more about testing irregularity investigation procedures on the Policies page.
Reporting testing irregularities and policy violations
The credibility of AWS Certification depends on fair, objective, and consistent enforcement of all testing rules, policies, and procedures. To protect that credibility, any candidate or AWS Certified individual who becomes aware of testing irregularities or policy violations—whether by an AWS Certified individual, candidate, test center, or other third party—is encouraged to report the information to aws-exam-security@amazon.com for investigation. AWS will handle reports of testing irregularities or policy violations with confidentiality to the greatest extent possible.
Exam Functionality and Feedback
Exam functionality
After you are seated, verify that your name and exam details are displaying correctly on the screen. Notify the proctor immediately if anything is incorrect. You must agree to the on-screen Candidate Code of Conduct before starting your AWS Certification exam.
Your behavior will be monitored throughout the exam by AWS and the test delivery provider. You must complete your exam independently without assistance. If the test computer malfunctions, report the problem right away to a test administrator or proctor and ask them to log an incident. Do not ask test center staff questions about exam content or scores, as they cannot help with these matters.
A timer on the computer screen displays how much testing time remains. Plan your time carefully so you can answer all questions within the allotted period. There are no penalties for wrong answers. Questions you do not answer will be marked as incorrect. The timer continues counting down during any unscheduled breaks at a test center. If you need to step away, alert the test administrator. You will need to complete check-in steps again to re-enter the exam. For kiosk testing and online proctored exams, breaks are not permitted.
Exam functionality overview for Pearson VUE
Introduction screen: Displays your name and exam information.
Candidate Code of Conduct: You have 5 minutes to read and agree to the Candidate Code of Conduct. If you do not agree or do not respond before time expires, the exam will end and no refund will be issued.
- A timer appears in the upper-right portion of the screen. A timer warning displays when 5 minutes remain
- The item counter (or question counter) is in the upper-right portion of the screen
- Navigation controls are in the lower-left portion of the screen. You can move to the next and previous question throughout the exam unless otherwise specified
- Select the Flag for Review button in the upper-right portion to flag a question for later review
- Select the Comment button in the upper-left portion to enter feedback on a question
- After you navigate through all exam questions, a review screen appears, allowing you to review all questions, incomplete questions, or flagged questions
- Select the End Review button to exit the exam section
Survey section: Candidates have 5 minutes to complete the end-of-exam survey questions.
Exit screen: Provides your exam results. Select the End Exam button to close out of the exam.
Exam feedback
The test delivery provider includes a Comment button on-screen for each question during your exam. However, the time spent entering comments is deducted from your exam time limit. We recommend that you flag questions and add comments after you have finished your exam. Comments about question content or translation accuracy can be submitted by selecting the Comment button on the specific question, typing your comment, and selecting Save. Comments are linked to the question where they were entered. AWS reviews all comments in aggregate and carefully considers them during technical and psychometric reviews. Individual responses to feedback will not be provided.
Source: AWS News Blog