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In June 2024, the AWS Training and Certification team introduced a new certification to their portfolio: the AWS Certified AI Practitioner, exam code AIF-C01. This certification is designed to validate a candidate’s knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and generative AI technologies, along with practical use cases and the application of these concepts using AWS services.
This credential is ideal for professionals who engage with AI/ML technologies but may not necessarily build AI/ML solutions, such as business analysts, IT managers, and sales professionals.
This blog will cover everything you need to know about the AWS AIF-C01
- What is the AWS AIF-C01 Exam?
- AWS AIF-C01 Exam Overview
- AWS AIF-C01 Exam Topics
- AWS AIF-C01 Hands-on guides
- Difference between AWS Certified AI Practitioner & Cloud Practitioner
- AWS AIF-C01 Exam Results
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) Exam?
The AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) certification confirms essential knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and generative AI. This exam is for individuals who can effectively demonstrate AI/ML, generative AI technologies, and AWS services knowledge. It focuses on those who use but do not necessarily build AI/ML solutions Earning this certification can enhance your competitive edge, facilitate career growth, and potentially lead to higher earnings.
By obtaining the AWS Certified AI Practitioner certification, you demonstrate your ability to use AWS services such as Amazon SageMaker and Amazon Bedrock to build, train, and deploy AI models. This credential is highly regarded in the industry, opening doors to advanced career opportunities and making you a valuable asset to any organization looking to innovate with AI and ML technologies.
AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) Exam Overview

| Category | Foundational |
| Exam duration | 90 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 65 questions |
| Cost | 100 USD. Visit Exam pricing for additional cost information, including foreign exchange rates |
| Intended candidate | Individuals who are familiar with, but do not necessarily build AI/ML solutions using AWS technologies |
| Candidate role examples | Business analyst, IT support, marketing professional, product or project manager, line-of-business or IT manager, sales professional |
| Testing options | Pearson VUE testing centre or online proctored exam |
| Languages Offered | English, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), and Simplified Chinese |
Topics Included in Exam:
The AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) exam focuses on the following 5 domains:
• Domain 1: Fundamentals of AI and ML (20% of scored content)
• Domain 2: Fundamentals of Generative AI (24% of scored content)
• Domain 3: Applications of Foundation Models (28% of scored content)
• Domain 4: Guidelines for Responsible AI (14% of scored content)
• Domain 5: Security, Compliance, and Governance for AI Solutions (14% of scored content)
Domain 1: Fundamentals of AI and ML (20%)
1. Explain basic AI concepts and terminologies:
- Define basic AI terms (e.g., AI, ML, deep learning, neural networks, computer vision, NLP, large language models).
- Describe the differences between AI, ML, and deep learning.
- Types of inferencing (e.g., batch, real-time).
- Different types of data (e.g., labelled/unlabeled, tabular, time-series, structured/unstructured).
- Learning paradigms (e.g., supervised, unsupervised, reinforcement learning).
Related Readings: What Is NLP (Natural Language Processing)?
2. Identify practical use cases for AI/ML:
- Recognize when AI/ML can add value (e.g., automation, scalability).
- Determine when AI/ML is not appropriate (e.g., cost-benefit analysis).
- Select suitable ML techniques (e.g., regression, classification, clustering).
- Identify real-world AI applications (e.g., computer vision, NLP, recommendation systems)
3. Describe the ML development lifecycle:
- Components of an ML pipeline (e.g., data collection, feature engineering, model training).
- Sources of ML models (e.g., pre-trained models, custom models).
- Methods for using a model in production (e.g., managed API, self-hosted API).
- Fundamental concepts of MLOps (e.g., repeatable processes, scalability, model monitoring).
Domain 2: Fundamentals of Generative AI (24%)
1. Explain the basic concepts of generative AI:
- Foundational concepts (e.g., tokens, embeddings, prompt engineering, transformer-based models).
- Use cases for generative AI (e.g., text generation, image generation, chatbots).
- The foundation model lifecycle (e.g., pre-training, fine-tuning, evaluation, deployment).
Related Readings: What is Generative AI & How It Works?
2. Understand the capabilities and limitations of generative AI:
- Advantages (e.g., adaptability, responsiveness).
- Disadvantages (e.g., hallucinations, inaccuracy, interpretability).
- Business metrics for generative AI (e.g., conversion rate, efficiency).
3. Describe AWS infrastructure for building generative AI applications:
- AWS services for generative AI (e.g., Amazon SageMaker JumpStart, Amazon Bedrock).
- Benefits of AWS infrastructure (e.g., security, compliance, cost-effectiveness).
- Tradeoffs in AWS generative AI services (e.g., responsiveness, pricing models).
Related Readings: Amazon SageMaker AI For Machine Learning: Overview & Capabilities
Domain 3: Applications of Foundation Models (28%)
1. Describe design considerations for foundation models:
- Selection criteria for pre-trained models (e.g., cost, latency, model size).
- Effect of inference parameters on model responses (e.g., temperature, input/output length).
- Business applications of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).
2. Choose effective prompt engineering techniques:
- Concepts of prompt engineering (e.g., context, instruction, negative prompts).
- Prompt engineering techniques (e.g., chain-of-thought, zero-shot, few-shot).
- Risks of prompt engineering (e.g., hijacking, jailbreaking).
3. Describe the training and fine-tuning process for foundation models:
- Key elements of training a foundation model (e.g., pre-training, fine-tuning).
- Methods for fine-tuning models (e.g., transfer learning, reinforcement learning).
- Preparing data for fine-tuning (e.g., data curation, labeling, governance).
4. Evaluate foundation model performance:
- Metrics to assess model performance (e.g., ROUGE, BLEU, BERTScore).
- Approaches for performance evaluation (e.g., human evaluation, benchmark datasets).
Domain 4: Guidelines for Responsible AI (14%)
1.Explain responsible AI development:
- Features of responsible AI (e.g., fairness, safety, robustness).
- Tools for responsible AI (e.g., Amazon SageMaker Clarify).
- Legal risks in generative AI (e.g., intellectual property, bias).
Related Readings: Why Responsible AI is a Game-Changer for Your Career and Certifications?
2.Recognize the importance of transparent and explainable models:
- Differences between transparent and non-transparent models.
- Tradeoffs between model safety and transparency (e.g., interpretability vs performance).
Domain 5: Security, Compliance, and Governance for AI Solutions (14%)
1. Explain methods to secure AI systems:
- AWS services for securing AI (e.g., IAM roles, encryption).
- Security considerations for AI systems (e.g., prompt injection, encryption at rest).
2.Recognize governance and compliance regulations for AI systems:
- Compliance standards for AI (e.g., ISO, SOC).
- AWS services for governance and compliance (e.g., AWS Config, Amazon Inspector).
AWS AI Practitioner Hands-on Guides
For AWS AI Practitioner we have 21 Step-by-step Activity Guides for you to practice and have a clear knowledge of concepts both theoretically and practically. These guides are meticulously designed not just to enhance your CV but to land you that dream job. Gain the AI and machine learning skills employers crave, create an impressive CV, and set yourself up for success in job interviews. Plus, these resources are tailored to help you confidently conquer the AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) exam.
AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) Vs Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02)

Focus Area:
- Cloud Practitioner: Provides a broad overview of all AWS services, focusing on general cloud knowledge, cloud infrastructure, and basic AWS services.
- AI Practitioner: Focuses specifically on AI frameworks, machine learning (ML), generative AI, and relevant AWS services (e.g., Amazon SageMaker, Amazon Bedrock). It delves deeper into AI/ML technologies rather than general cloud services.
Content Coverage:
- Cloud Practitioner: Covers the fundamentals of AWS Cloud services, including core services like EC2, S3, and Lambda. The AI-related content is minimal, with only a single task focused on AI concepts.
- AI Practitioner: Entirely focused on AI, ML, and generative AI, including topics such as AI concepts, model training, prompt engineering, and responsible AI practices. This certification prepares individuals to understand and leverage AI/ML technologies within AWS.
Audience:
- Cloud Practitioner:Designed for individuals seeking general knowledge of the AWS Cloud. It’s ideal for beginners or those who need a foundational understanding of AWS cloud services, including managers, developers, and consultants.
- AI Practitioner: Best suited for those with a specific interest in AI and ML technologies on AWS. This certification is tailored for individuals in roles like business analysts, IT managers, sales professionals, and other roles where understanding AI/ML concepts is important but hands-on building of AI/ML models is not required.
Why Pursue AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) Certification?
Achieving the AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) certification validates your foundational knowledge in AI, machine learning, and generative AI technologies, as well as your ability to apply these concepts using AWS services like Amazon SageMaker and Amazon Bedrock. This certification is crucial for showcasing your understanding of AI and ML, even if you are not directly involved in building AI/ML solutions. It enhances your credibility in roles such as business analysis, project management, and sales, helping you communicate the value of AI to stakeholders and guide AI-driven initiatives. This credential opens doors to career growth and potentially higher earning potential in various industries utilizing AI and ML technologies.
Career Paths and Opportunities
Earning the AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) certification opens doors to a variety of career paths in the growing fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing. Professionals holding this certification are equipped for roles such as:
- AI/ML Analyst: Understanding AI/ML technologies, evaluating use cases, and assisting with AI-driven decision-making within AWS environments.
- Business Analyst: Translating AI and ML solutions into business outcomes, helping organizations adopt AI technologies for enhanced decision-making.
- Marketing or Sales Professional: Leveraging AI/ML knowledge to market AI-powered products, services, and solutions, or selling AI-driven innovations to clients.
- Product or Project Manager: Managing AI/ML projects, ensuring that they align with business objectives and are implemented effectively using AWS services.
- IT Manager: Overseeing the integration of AI technologies within an organization’s infrastructure, ensuring secure and compliant AI operations.
These roles are in high demand across industries such as finance, healthcare, retail, and IT, where the adoption of AI and ML solutions is accelerating. With the AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) certification, you validate your knowledge of AI and ML technologies on AWS, positioning yourself for new opportunities in the ever-expanding landscape of artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Flexibility:
You have the option to earn both certifications to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of AWS Cloud and AI/ML technologies.
👉 Learn More about AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) Exam
AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) Exam Results
The AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) exam has a pass or fail designation. Your results are reported as a scaled score of 100–1,000, with a minimum passing score of 700. The exam uses a compensatory scoring model, meaning you don’t need to pass each section individually, just the overall exam.
- Pass or Fail Designation:
The AWS Certified AI Practitioner exam is scored with a pass or fail outcome based on performance against a predefined standard. - Scaled Score:
Your results are reported on a scaled score ranging from 100 to 1,000, with a minimum passing score of 700. Scaled scoring ensures consistency across different exam versions. - Compensatory Scoring Model:
The exam uses a compensatory scoring model, meaning you do not need to achieve a passing score in each section individually. You only need to pass the exam as a whole. - Section-Level Performance:
The exam results provide section-level feedback on your performance, showing areas of strength and weakness. Each section has a different weighting, so some sections contribute more to your overall score than others. - Feedback on Strengths and Weaknesses:
After completing the exam, you will receive a breakdown of your performance across each content domain, highlighting which areas you performed well in and where there is room for improvement. - Certification Standards:
The pass or fail standard is determined by AWS professionals who follow certification industry best practices and guidelines. The standard ensures that only candidates who demonstrate sufficient knowledge and skills are awarded the certification.
Frequently Asked Question
Who should earn AWS Certified AI Practitioner?
The ideal candidate for the AWS Certified AI Practitioner exam is familiar with AI/ML technologies on AWS but does not need to build AI/ML solutions. Newcomers to IT and AWS Cloud can begin with free courses like AWS Cloud Essentials and AWS Technical Essentials.
How will the AWS Certified AI Practitioner help my career?
Professionals in roles such as sales, marketing, and product management will be better positioned to succeed in their careers by building their skills through training and validating knowledge through certifications like AWS Certified AI Practitioner. Per a November 2023 AWS study, Employers are willing to pay 43% more to hire AI-skilled workers in sales, marketing, 42% more for those in finance, 41% more for business operations, and 47% more for IT professionals.
What certification(s) should I earn next after AWS Certified AI Practitioner?
For individuals transitioning to cloud careers, we recommend AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate. For those pursuing careers in data, AI, and machine learning, we recommend AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate and/or AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate.
What is the passing score for AWS AI Practitioner certification?
The passing score for the AWS Certified AI Practitioner certification (AIF-C01) is 700 on a scaled score of 100-1000.
How long is an AWS certificate valid?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) certifications are valid for three years from the date of certification. To maintain certification, you must recertify before the three-year period expires.
Can I get AWS certification for free?
No, you cannot get an AWS certification for free; all AWS certifications require a fee to take the exam, with costs varying depending on the certification level (Cloud Practitioner, Associate, Professional, Specialty).
How many questions are in the AWS AI practitioner exam?
In the current format of the exam there are 65 questions.
How much do AWS Certified AI practitioners make?
According to data from various sources, an AWS Certified AI Practitioner can expect to earn an average salary ranging from $80,000 to $120,000 per year in the United States, depending on factors like experience, location, and specific job role.
Which is the easiest AWS exam?
The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CCP) is the easiest Amazon Web Services (AWS) certification. It's a good starting point for beginners and doesn't require much technical experience.
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