How much does the SAA-C03 exam cost? (2026)

Before booking your exam, it's worth knowing exactly what you'll pay — not just the sticker price, but also what happens if you need to reschedule or retake it. Here's the full breakdown of the SAA-C03 cost in 2026.

Official price

The SAA-C03 (Solutions Architect Associate) exam costs USD 150. AWS charges the same price in dollars worldwide; you schedule the exam from your AWS Certification account and take it with Pearson VUE, either at a test center or online from home.

What you'll actually pay

The final amount can differ slightly from USD 150 depending on where you are:

• ▸Taxes: some countries add VAT or sales tax to the exam price at checkout.
• ▸Currency conversion: if your card isn't in US dollars, your bank converts the amount using its exchange rate and may add an international transaction fee.

Always check the current price at aws.amazon.com/certification before registering.

Rescheduling and cancellation

You can reschedule or cancel your exam at no cost up to 24 hours before your appointment, and each appointment can be rescheduled up to twice. If you reschedule or cancel outside that window, or simply don't show up (a "no-show"), you lose the full cost of the exam and have to pay again.

Practical tip: if you're unsure about your exam date, reschedule with several days of margin as soon as you know. Rescheduling on time costs nothing; a no-show costs you the full exam again.

Retakes

If you don't pass, you can retake the exam after a 14-day waiting period. There's no limit on attempts, but every attempt is paid in full — there are no free retakes, which is one more reason to show up prepared.

Vouchers and discounts

• ▸AWS Certified benefits: when you pass any AWS certification, you get a 50% discount on your next exam. If you already hold a previous certification (even the CLF-C02), check your AWS Certification account for an available voucher before paying full price.
• ▸AWS re/Start and education programs: some AWS initiatives with universities or employability programs offer free or discounted exam vouchers. It's worth checking whether your institution takes part.
• ▸Event discounts: AWS re:Invent and some AWS Summits often give 50% discount vouchers to attendees.
• ▸Your employer: many companies cover certification costs, and AWS partners often have vouchers available. Ask before paying out of pocket.

None of these discounts is automatic — you have to actively claim them from your AWS Certification account before booking the exam.

Comparison with the CLF-C02

The CLF-C02 (Cloud Practitioner) is AWS's foundational exam, one step below the SAA-C03:

Since passing the CLF-C02 gets you a 50% discount voucher for your next exam, your SAA-C03 would effectively cost USD 75 instead of 150 — so both certifications together come to USD 175, just USD 25 more than the SAA-C03 alone at full price. That's why the CLF-C02 → SAA-C03 path makes sense not only for the knowledge progression, but for the real savings the voucher represents.

Worth it vs. the cost of failing

Failing the SAA-C03 and paying again (without a discount, unless you have a pending voucher) is the most expensive scenario: an extra USD 150, plus the lost time. Investing in serious preparation — a good study plan and practice with real scenarios — is cheaper in the long run than taking the exam before you're ready.

If you want to structure your preparation before paying for the exam, check out our complete guide to passing the SAA-C03 and the quick-review cheat sheet. And to compare the total cost of different certification paths, visit our pricing page.

Quick summary

• ▸The SAA-C03 costs USD 150, plus local taxes where applicable.
• ▸Rescheduling up to 24 hours before is free; a no-show costs you the full exam.
• ▸Retakes require a 14-day wait and are paid in full.
• ▸Passing a previous AWS certification gets you 50% off the next one — check your account before paying full price.
• ▸The CLF-C02 → SAA-C03 path can end up cheaper in net terms than going straight to the Associate, thanks to the voucher.