NVIDIA NCA-GENL Exam Cost: Price, Question Count, Retakes
The NVIDIA-Certified Associate: Generative AI LLMs exam (NCA-GENL) costs 125 USD as of September 2026. It is 50 to 60 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, taken online with a remote proctor. NVIDIA does not publish a passing score; the exam is pass/fail and you get no number back. If you fail, you wait 14 days, and the credential is valid for 2 years.
That last part is where NCA-GENL differs from the AWS and Microsoft entry-level exams. It is shorter than the AWS exam, it expires sooner, and NVIDIA publishes less. This page lists what NVIDIA does state and marks the gaps.
List price
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| NCA-GENL exam, first attempt | 125 USD |
| Each retake | 125 USD (NVIDIA says you purchase the exam again) |
| Official exam page, blueprint and study guide PDF | Free |
| NVIDIA’s recommended training (optional) | Self-paced courses 30 to 90 USD each; instructor-led workshops 500 USD each |
| Discounts | Educational and group discounts on request (amounts not published) |
| Recertification after 2 years | Retake the exam |
Registration is through Certiverse, NVIDIA’s exam delivery platform, and the exam is delivered online with remote proctoring. There is no test-center option listed. NVIDIA publishes the 125 USD price on the NCA-GENL exam page, notes that taxes may apply in some countries, and its FAQ only says to contact NVIDIA about educational and group discounts.
Watch the 24-hour line. NVIDIA lets you cancel or reschedule up to 24 hours before your appointment, and a rescheduled date has to fall within two months of when you paid. Inside 24 hours the booking is non-cancellable and non-refundable, and NVIDIA does not refund missed exams.
Questions, time and passing score
| Exam fact | NCA-GENL |
|---|---|
| Questions | 50 to 60 |
| Time limit | 60 minutes |
| Passing score | Not published; pass/fail, no score given |
| Question format | Multiple choice |
| Language | English |
| Delivery | Online, remotely proctored (Certiverse) |
The math on pacing is simple: 60 minutes for up to 60 questions is 1 minute per question. There is no room for a long read on a scenario item, so knowing the blueprint matters more than on a 90- or 130-minute exam.
NVIDIA’s published domain weightings: Core Machine Learning and AI Knowledge (30%), Software Development (24%), Experimentation (22%), Data Analysis and Visualization (14%), and Trustworthy AI (10%). Note that Software Development and Experimentation together are 46% of the exam, so this is not a concepts-only test despite the associate label. NVIDIA lists a basic understanding of generative AI and LLMs as the prerequisite; no course or other certification is required.
What a retake costs
NVIDIA does not list a separate retake price; its FAQ says you buy the exam again. It does publish the retake rules:
- 14-day waiting period after a failed attempt.
- Maximum 5 attempts in 12 months, counted from the day you buy your first attempt.
NVIDIA’s policy is that you purchase the exam again, so a second attempt is another 125 USD registration. I would not budget for anything less. The 5-attempt cap is the same as Microsoft’s and tighter than AWS, which has no cap.
How long it stays valid
2 years from issuance. NVIDIA’s stated recertification path is to retake the exam, which means at the 2-year mark you are looking at another 125 USD at the then-current price. Over a 6-year span that is 3 exams, versus 2 for a 3-year credential like AWS AI Practitioner.
What you do not pay for
The official NCA-GENL exam page, including the domain weightings, and NVIDIA’s exam study guide PDF are free. The study guide lists suggested readings for every domain, and the exam page links a few free blogs and on-demand videos. NVIDIA’s recommended courses are the paid part, and they are optional: NVIDIA’s only listed prerequisite is a basic understanding of generative AI and LLMs. What the certification page does not include is official practice questions, so do not count on those.
Our free NCA-GENL practice questions follow the 5-domain weighting above.
How this compares
| Certification | Price | Questions | Time | Passing score | Valid for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA NCA-GENL | 125 USD | 50 to 60 | 60 min | Not published (pass/fail) | 2 years |
| NVIDIA NCA-AIIO | 125 USD | 50 | 60 min | Not published (pass/fail) | 2 years |
| AWS AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) | 100 USD | 65 | 90 min | 700 / 1,000 | 3 years |
The two NVIDIA associate exams in this table are priced and timed identically; the difference is content, with NCA-AIIO covering infrastructure and operations rather than LLMs. Against AWS, NCA-GENL is 25 USD more, 30 minutes shorter, and expires a year sooner.
Pass NCA-GENL on the first 125 USD
Free NCA-GENL practice questions, weighted to the official blueprint, with a plain-English explanation on every one.
Keep reading: Study guide · Is NCA-GENL worth it? · NCA-AIIO vs NCA-GENL · All AI & cloud exam prep
HOW TO // AI is not affiliated with or endorsed by NVIDIA. NVIDIA-Certified Associate and NCA-GENL and NVIDIA are trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation; we reference them descriptively. All content is original. Exam details come from NVIDIA’s official certification pages as of September 2026 and can change, so check the official exam page before you book.
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Related guides
- NVIDIA NCA-GENL (Gen AI & LLMs) Study Guide & Cheat Sheet
- Free NVIDIA NCA-GENL Practice Questions
- Is the NVIDIA NCA-GENL Worth It in 2026? An Honest Review
- NCA-AIIO vs NCA-GENL: Which NVIDIA AI Certification Fits You?
Frequently asked questions
How much does the NCA-GENL exam cost?
NVIDIA lists NCA-GENL at 125 USD per attempt as of September 2026, and taxes may apply in some countries. A retake costs the same because you buy the exam again.
Does NVIDIA offer discounts on NCA-GENL?
NVIDIA's certification FAQ says to contact it for information on educational and group discounts. It does not publish discount amounts or public promo codes.
Can I get a refund if I cancel the NCA-GENL exam?
You can cancel or reschedule up to 24 hours before your appointment. Inside 24 hours the exam is non-cancellable and non-refundable, and NVIDIA does not refund missed exams or exams you have taken.
How often do I have to pay to stay NCA-GENL certified?
The certification is valid for two years, and NVIDIA's only recertification path is passing the exam again. Budget for another exam fee, at whatever the price is then, every two years.
