AWS ML Engineer Associate Exam Cost: $75 Beta (ME1-C02), Passing Score, Retakes
If you test in English, the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate exam costs 75 USD right now, because the only English version on offer is the MLA-C02 beta (exam code ME1-C02). The standard Associate price is 150 USD, which is what MLA-C01 still costs in Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese. Either way you need 720 out of 1,000 to pass, and the certification is valid for 3 years.
English MLA-C01 ended on September 28, 2026. AWS’s September 2026 certification blog says the standard MLA-C02 starts on January 14, 2027 in all languages and that MLA-C01 retires everywhere that day. The certification page itself still lists general availability as TBD. If you were looking for the older Machine Learning – Specialty exam (MLS-C01), AWS has retired it (the last exam day was March 31, 2026); its price and status are in the comparison below.
At a glance
| Certification | AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate |
|---|---|
| Price in English today | 75 USD (MLA-C02 beta, exam code ME1-C02) |
| Standard Associate price | 150 USD (MLA-C01 now; AWS’s list price for Associate exams) |
| Beta format | 85 questions in 170 minutes, multiple choice and multiple response |
| MLA-C01 format | 65 questions in 130 minutes (Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese only) |
| Passing score | 720 on a scaled score of 100–1,000 |
| Beta attempts | One; to retake, wait for the standard MLA-C02 |
| Retakes (standard exams) | Wait 14 calendar days and pay the full fee again; no attempt limit |
| Results | Within 5 business days, beta included |
| Validity | 3 years, including when you pass the beta |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE test center or online proctored |
| Standard MLA-C02 | January 14, 2027 per AWS’s blog; the certification page says TBD |
| Discount | 50% voucher if you are already AWS Certified |
| Associate price in other currencies | EUR 128, AUD 224, JPY 20,000, KRW 197,287, CNY 1,057, INR 12,829.50 (rupees only through Pearson’s voucher store) |
Checked against AWS’s Machine Learning Engineer – Associate certification page, the MLA-C02 exam guide, AWS’s testing policies, recertification page and certification FAQ, and AWS’s September 2026 certification blog on October 8, 2026.
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What ME1-C02 means
If you searched for ME1-C02, you’re looking at the MLA-C02 beta. AWS’s certification page lists ME1-C02 as the exam code for the updated beta exam, while the exam guide and AWS’s blog call that exam MLA-C02. AWS doesn’t explain the second code, but the page is clear that they are the same beta: 75 USD, 85 questions, 170 minutes, English only, delivered from September 29, 2026.
What changes in the content: the four domains stay, reweighted to 28/24/24/24 from MLA-C01’s 28/26/22/24. AWS added generative AI with Amazon Bedrock and RAG, agentic AI workflows, foundation model selection and fine-tuning, and responsible AI. Our MLA-C02 exam guide walks through what changed, and the MLA-C02 study guide covers the new outline.
The beta has more questions and more time because, as AWS explains, beta exams contain additional items used for statistical evaluation that don’t affect your score. AWS says beta exams generally run for a limited period (usually 1 to 3 months) and are priced at a discount from the standard exam.
Which version can you take today?
- English, now until the standard MLA-C02 launches: the MLA-C02 beta (ME1-C02) only, 75 USD, one attempt.
- Japanese, Korean or Simplified Chinese: MLA-C01 at 150 USD until MLA-C02 general availability.
- From January 14, 2027 (AWS’s stated plan): the standard MLA-C02 in all languages, and MLA-C01 retires everywhere. AWS hasn’t published the standard MLA-C02 price yet; its list price for Associate exams is 150 USD.
Price list
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| MLA-C02 beta (ME1-C02), English | 75 USD |
| MLA-C01, Japanese, Korean or Simplified Chinese | 150 USD |
| Standard MLA-C02 (from January 14, 2027 per AWS’s blog) | Not published yet; AWS lists Associate exams at 150 USD |
| Associate exams in other currencies (AWS list) | EUR 128, AUD 224, JPY 20,000, KRW 197,287, CNY 1,057, INR 12,829.50 (INR via Pearson’s Mindhub voucher store only) |
| Retake of a standard exam | Full fee again |
| Retake of the beta | Not allowed; retake once the standard MLA-C02 is available |
| Cancel more than 24 hours ahead | Refunded |
| Cancel within 24 hours, or no-show | Fee forfeited |
| Official exam guide | Free |
You can reschedule up to 24 hours before your appointment, and each appointment can be rescheduled only twice. The beta is English only, so if English isn’t your first language, request AWS’s free “ESL +30” accommodation once, before you register: it adds 30 minutes to the 170 and applies to all your future AWS exams.
MLA-C01 and MLA-C02 exam vouchers and discounts
AWS doesn’t list a voucher specific to MLA-C01 or MLA-C02. These are the discounts it does describe on aws.amazon.com:
- 50% voucher for AWS Certified people. If you are already AWS Certified, a 50% discount voucher sits in the Benefits section of your AWS Certification Account. You can use it to recertify or on any future AWS exam, which takes a 150 USD exam to 75 USD.
- Certification challenge promotions. AWS says it regularly offers discounted vouchers through global certification challenge promotions and announces them through its partner newsletters.
- Team vouchers. Employers can buy exam vouchers online and hand them out through a self-service portal. AWS names Xvoucher and Pearson VUE as authorized sellers.
- No ML Engineer promotion right now. AWS’s voucher campaign terms page doesn’t mention MLA-C01 or MLA-C02 as of October 8, 2026; its 2026 AI Upskilling Campaign covered the AI Practitioner exam only. Be wary of anyone selling “discounted MLA-C01 vouchers” outside AWS, Xvoucher or Pearson VUE.
Voucher fine print from AWS: each voucher is single use and works with Pearson VUE unless stated otherwise, a 50% voucher covers half of the exam price at the time you buy, and you should check a voucher’s expiration date before changing a booking you paid for with it.
AWS ML Engineer passing score: 720
The passing score is 720 on a scaled score of 100 to 1,000. Both the MLA-C01 and MLA-C02 exam guides set 720, and AWS policy sets 700 for Foundational exams, 720 for Associate exams and 750 for Professional and Specialty exams, which is why the retired Machine Learning – Specialty needed 750. AWS says beta exams are scored against a minimum proficiency standard as well.
Three scoring details from the exam guide: scaled scores keep results comparable across exam forms, so 720 doesn’t mean 72% correct; the scoring is compensatory, so you only need to pass the exam overall, not each section; and unanswered questions count as wrong with no penalty for guessing, so never leave a blank.
What a retake costs
- Wait 14 calendar days after a failed attempt.
- No limit on attempts, but the full registration fee every time.
- The beta can be taken only once. If you fail it, your next attempt is the standard MLA-C02.
- After a pass you can’t retake the same exam for two years, unless AWS releases a new version with a new exam guide and series code.
How long it stays valid, and what renewal costs
The certification is valid for 3 years, and a beta pass earns the same 3 years. If you earned it on MLA-C01, it stays active for its full validity even after MLA-C01 retires. AWS’s recertification page gives three ways to keep it:
- Pass the latest version of the exam (3 more years), using your 50% voucher.
- Pass AWS Certified Generative AI Developer – Professional (3 more years).
- Maintain it on AWS Skill Builder for 1 more year, which needs a paid Skill Builder subscription.
A bonus AWS notes on the AI Practitioner page: earning this certification automatically recertifies an AWS Certified AI Practitioner credential.
How this compares with other AWS machine learning certifications
| Certification | Price | Questions | Time | Passing score | Valid for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ML Engineer Associate, MLA-C02 beta (ME1-C02) | 75 USD | 85 | 170 min | 720 | 3 years |
| ML Engineer Associate, MLA-C01 | 150 USD | 65 | 130 min | 720 | 3 years |
| AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) | 100 USD | 65 | 90 min | 700 | 3 years |
| Generative AI Developer – Professional (AIP-C01) | 300 USD | 75 | 180 min | 750 | 3 years |
| Machine Learning – Specialty (MLS-C01), retired March 31, 2026 | Was 300 USD | 65 | 180 min | 750 | 3 years from the date earned |
At 75 USD, the beta is half the standard Associate price, if you can live with one attempt and a longer sitting. If AI Practitioner is your starting point instead, see the AWS AI Practitioner exam cost.
The Machine Learning – Specialty exam can no longer be taken: AWS retired it after March 31, 2026, and holders stay certified for 3 years from the date they earned it. If you were planning on it, the ML Engineer Associate is the closest current AWS exam; MLS-C01 vs MLA-C01 explains the differences, and the AIP-C01 exam cost page covers the Professional-level generative AI exam.
What you don’t pay for
The official exam guide is free and is the closest thing to a syllabus, though AWS notes it is not a complete list of exam content. For the beta, read the MLA-C02 exam guide rather than the MLA-C01 one. Our free MLA-C02 practice questions follow the new outline; the MLA-C01 practice questions follow the old weightings and don’t include the new generative AI tasks.
Test yourself before you book.
Free AWS Machine Learning Engineer practice questions, weighted to the official exam guide, with a plain-English explanation on every one. With one beta attempt, it pays to know where you stand.
Keep reading: MLA-C02 exam guide: what changed · 6-week MLA study plan · Is the AWS ML Engineer Associate worth it? · MLA-C01 study guide · MLS-C01 vs MLA-C01 · All AI & cloud exam prep
HOW TO // AI is not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon Web Services. AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate and Amazon Web Services are trademarks of Amazon Web Services, Inc.; we reference them descriptively. All content is original. Exam details come from official AWS pages as of October 6, 2026 and can change; check the official exam page before booking.
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Related guides
- AWS ML Engineer Associate (MLA-C01) Study Guide & Cheat Sheet
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- MLA-C02 Exam Guide (ME1-C02): What Changed From MLA-C01
- How to Pass the AWS ML Engineer Associate (MLA-C01/C02): A 6-Week Plan
- Is the AWS Machine Learning Engineer Associate Worth It in 2026?
Frequently asked questions
How much does the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate exam cost?
In English it costs 75 USD right now, because the only English version available is the MLA-C02 beta (exam code ME1-C02). The standard Associate price is 150 USD, which is what MLA-C01 costs in Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese.
What is ME1-C02?
ME1-C02 is the exam code AWS lists for the MLA-C02 beta of the Machine Learning Engineer - Associate exam. It costs 75 USD, has 85 questions in 170 minutes, runs in English only and has been delivered since September 29, 2026.
Can I still take MLA-C01?
Not in English: the last English MLA-C01 day was September 28, 2026. MLA-C01 stays available in Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese until MLA-C02 general availability, which AWS's blog dates January 14, 2027.
What is the passing score for the AWS Machine Learning Engineer Associate?
720 on a scaled score of 100 to 1,000, the same standard AWS uses for all Associate exams. Scoring is compensatory, so you only need to pass overall, not each section.
Is there an MLA-C01 or MLA-C02 exam voucher?
AWS doesn't list an exam-specific voucher. If you are already AWS Certified, you get a 50% discount voucher in your AWS Certification Account, AWS runs discounted voucher promotions through certification challenges, and employers can buy exam vouchers from Xvoucher or Pearson VUE.
What happens if I fail the AWS ML Engineer exam?
For standard exams you wait 14 calendar days and pay the full fee again, with no limit on attempts. The beta can be taken only once, so if you fail it your next attempt is the standard MLA-C02.
When does the standard MLA-C02 start, and what will it cost?
AWS's September 2026 blog says standard MLA-C02 delivery begins January 14, 2027 in all languages, though the certification page still says TBD. AWS hasn't published its price yet; Associate exams list at 150 USD.
How long is the AWS Machine Learning Engineer Associate certification valid?
Three years, including when you pass the beta. You can renew by passing the latest exam with your 50% voucher, by passing the Generative AI Developer - Professional exam, or by maintaining it for one more year on AWS Skill Builder with a paid subscription.
How much did the AWS Machine Learning Specialty exam cost?
MLS-C01 cost 300 USD, and AWS retired it: the last day to take it was March 31, 2026. Holders stay certified for 3 years from the date they earned it, and the closest current AWS exam is the Machine Learning Engineer - Associate.
