Updates to AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate (MLA-C02)

Coming Soon: Updates to AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate (MLA-C02)

AWS Certification is updating the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate exam. Registration for the beta version of the exam will be available in English starting September 1, 2026. The last day to take the current version of the exam (MLA-C01) in English will be September 28, 2026. The current version of the exam (MLA-C01) will remain available in Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese during the beta period.

The role of the machine learning (ML) engineer has evolved. Today’s ML engineers don’t just build and deploy traditional models. They implement generative AI solutions, work with foundation models and large language models (LLMs), orchestrate agentic AI workflows, and operationalize AI at scale. To keep pace with this evolution, the updated exam (MLA-C02) will include generative AI, agentic AI, and foundation model/LLM workloads alongside traditional ML engineering. This certification validates your ability to build, deploy, maintain, and monitor ML and generative AI solutions on AWS using services like Amazon SageMaker AI, Amazon Bedrock, and others.

Who is this certification for?

The updated AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate certification is designed for professionals who build and operationalize ML and generative AI solutions in production environments. Target roles include:

• ML Engineers and MLOps Engineers responsible for end-to-end ML lifecycle management
• LLMOps Engineers operationalizing foundation models and GenAI applications
• Data Engineers building and managing ML data pipelines
• Software Developers integrating ML/GenAI capabilities into applications
• Data Scientists transitioning into ML engineering roles
• Machine Learning Architects and Solutions Architects designing ML systems

Recommended experience:

• At least 1 year of experience using Amazon SageMaker AI, Amazon Bedrock, and other AWS services for ML engineering
• At least 1 year of experience in a related role such as backend software developer, DevOps developer, data engineer, or data scientist
• Experience with both traditional ML and generative AI

For employers and AWS Partners: This certification provides confidence that your ML engineers and MLOps engineers have validated, current skills across both traditional ML and generative AI, ensuring your teams can deliver production-grade solutions that meet today’s business objectives.

What has changed in MLA-C02 and why

The domain structure of the exam remains the same. No new domains were added. However, the updated exam reflects key additions that align with how the ML engineer role has broadened in practice:

• Generative AI implementation: Building and deploying GenAI solutions, fine-tuning foundation models, and implementing retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures
• Agentic AI: Orchestrating AI agents and complex workflows
• Foundation models and LLMs: Selecting, customizing, and operationalizing large language models
• Amazon Bedrock: Expanded coverage of Amazon Bedrock capabilities for generative AI workloads
• Responsible AI practices: Updated guidance on responsible AI implementation across both traditional ML and generative AI.

Existing task statements and skills have been updated to align with current industry practices, while retaining the core ML engineering competencies that the certification has always validated.

Note: The full exam guide with detailed task statements will be available when beta registration opens on September 1, 2026.

Key dates

September 1, 2026 – Beta registration opens (English only); exam guide released

September 28, 2026 – Last day to take MLA-C01 in English (Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese will remain available during the beta period)

September 29, 2026 – Beta delivery begins

Beta exam details

Duration: 170 minutes

Number of questions: 85

Price: $75 USD

Language: English only

Delivery: Pearson VUE (test center or online proctoring)

Should you take MLA-C01 or MLA-C02?

For those taking the exam in English, consider:

• Take MLA-C01 (by September 28, 2026) if you’re already prepared and want to earn the certification now. Your credential remains active through its original expiration date.
• Take the beta (registration opens September 1, 2026) if you want your certification to validate both traditional ML and GenAI skills

For all exam languages, the standard version of the updated exam (MLA-C02) will be available in early 2027.

Get started today

The ML engineer role has evolved, and this certification evolves with it. Whether you’re building recommendation systems, fine-tuning foundation models, or implementing agentic AI workflows, MLA-C02 validates that your skills reflect what the industry demands today.

• Learn more about the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate
• Start preparing with AWS Skill Builder
• Explore the AWS Certification paths