AWS AI Practitioner vs Cloud Practitioner: which one first?
Two foundational AWS certifications with the same format and very different content. Here is what each one tests, who it is for, and how to choose.
Side by side
- Foundation models, RAG, prompt engineering and agents
- Amazon Bedrock and SageMaker AI capabilities
- Responsible AI: bias, explainability, hallucinations
- AI security, compliance and governance
- Best for product, business, data and AI-adjacent roles
- Cloud concepts and the benefits of AWS
- Core services: compute, storage, databases, networking
- Security, IAM and the shared responsibility model
- Billing, pricing, support plans and cost tools
- Best for anyone new to AWS or in cloud-facing roles
The same format
| AIF-C01 | CLF-C02 | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Foundational | Foundational |
| Questions | 65 (50 scored) | 65 (50 scored) |
| Pass mark | 700 / 1,000 | 700 / 1,000 |
| Prerequisites | None | None |
| Validity | 3 years | 3 years |
Check AWS Certification for the current exam duration, price and languages in your region before you book.
Where the points are
AIF-C01 domain weights
CLF-C02 domain weights
Which should you take first?
Preparing for AIF-C01?
Six timed practice exams, 540 original questions, every option explained.
FAQ
Should I take Cloud Practitioner or AI Practitioner first?
If AWS itself is new to you and your role is general cloud work, start with Cloud Practitioner. If you work with AI, data or product decisions, AI Practitioner is the more relevant first certification. Neither is a prerequisite for the other.
Are both exams the same format?
Both are foundational AWS exams with 65 questions and a pass mark of 700 on a 100 to 1,000 scale. Check AWS Certification for the current duration and price in your region.
Which one is harder?
Most candidates find AI Practitioner harder if they have no AI background, because it tests newer concepts such as RAG, agents and model evaluation. Cloud Practitioner is broader but shallower.
Can I take both?
Yes. They overlap only a little, mainly on security and the shared responsibility model, so together they give a well-rounded AWS foundation.
More guides: AIF-C01 study guide · RAG vs fine-tuning · Bedrock vs SageMaker AI · Security+ 30-day plan · all guides