Free AWS Certification for Students: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Hey there! I'm Sarvar, a Cloud Architect who builds on AWS and Azure and writes about it. Last year, I created a guide to get free AWS certification vouchers. Around 85,000 of you read it. The guide can be found here: Unlocking Free AWS Certifications: Your Step-by-Step Guide.

However, AWS closed that program, and people were commenting with the same questions: my voucher was denied, I don't see the reward, and when will it come back? The good news is that AWS has launched Student Rewards on the AWS Builder Center. This program offers students 12 months of premium training, up to $30 in AWS credits, and a $100 certification exam voucher. The total value of the rewards is $579, and there's no cost or credit card required.

To verify as a student, you need to match your name to your school records, use your school email address, and provide documents showing your name, school name, and current enrollment date. Verification usually takes minutes, but sometimes it can take up to 48 hours. You can use a school ID card, class schedule, or tuition receipt as valid documents.

To earn the 21 badges, you need to continue taking actions on Builder Center. The badges include completing onboarding, adding a profile photo, reading content, making your first post, submitting your first Wish, and publishing your first article. These badges are the quick wins that help you start building your AWS skills and experience.

Remember, the voucher covers the full price of one Foundational exam, so you can take the exam without paying anything. I recommend starting with the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) if you're new to cloud and want the classic, most-recognized starter cert. Both beginner certifications are entry-level and made for people with little or no hands-on experience.