By Quick answer: Is AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate worth it in 2027?
- Verdict — Worth it for ML engineers on AWS.
- Cost — $150
- Time — Two to three months part-time
- Best for — ML engineers and data scientists on AWS
Key takeaways
- AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate is worth it for ML engineers and data scientists on AWS.
- It's less useful for people without ML or AWS hands-on experience.
- Compare the alternatives below before you pay.
This is an honest review of AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate: what it covers, what it costs, who it helps and who should pick something else. We list the best alternatives so you can compare before you commit.
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate and its alternatives
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1501 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 2 | Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning EngineerGoogle Cloud | $2002 | 2 hours, multiple choice | Free test |
| 3 | Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100)Microsoft | Exam priced by country3 | Self-paced | Free test |
| 4 | Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer AssociateDatabricks | $2004 | 90 minutes | Free test |
| 5 | AWS Certified AI PractitionerAmazon Web Services | $1005 | 90 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- AWS ML Engineer Associate Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate before you pay.Start free test →
- Google Professional ML Engineer Practice ExamPractise for Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer before you pay.Start free test →
- Azure Machine Learning Certification TestPractise for Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100) before you pay.Start free test →
- Databricks Generative AI Engineer Practice ExamPractise for Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate before you pay.Start free test →
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate, then the alternatives worth comparing
- AWSAWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – AssociateThe credential reviewed$150
- Google CloudGoogle Cloud Professional Machine Learning EngineerGoogle Cloud alternative$200
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100)Azure alternativeExam priced by country
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate
- Cost
- $1501
$150 associate exam on building and running ML on AWS. AWS's associate exam proves you can prepare data, train, deploy and monitor machine learning models on AWS. It costs $150 and expects hands-on ML and AWS experience, making it a strong credential for ML engineers.
Best forthe credential reviewed
Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer
- Cost
- $2002
- Format
- 2 hours, multiple choice
Professional ML Engineer, $200. Google Cloud's professional exam tests production machine learning: framing problems, building pipelines and serving and monitoring models. It's two hours, costs $200 and is aimed at experienced ML engineers.
Best forGoogle Cloud alternative
Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country3
Azure Data Scientist. Microsoft's associate exam proves you can train and deploy machine learning models with Azure Machine Learning. It's priced by country, needs Python and ML basics and renews free online each year.
Best forAzure alternative
Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate
- Cost
- $2004
- Format
- 90 minutes
Databricks GenAI Engineer, $200. Databricks' associate exam proves you can design and build LLM applications on the Databricks platform, from data preparation to evaluation. It's 90 minutes and costs $200, so it suits data and AI engineers whose teams use Databricks.
Best forGenAI alternative
AWS Certified AI Practitioner
- Cost
- $1005
- Format
- 90 minutes, 65 questions
AWS AI Practitioner, $100. AWS's foundational exam covers AI, machine learning and generative AI concepts and how AWS services support them. It's 90 minutes with 65 questions and costs $100, so it suits cloud, tech and business staff who need AI literacy.
Best foreasier start
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Proctored | Needs hands-on ML and AWS |
| Production-focused | AWS-specific |
| AWS demand | Fast-changing services |
Table: AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate pros and cons
Our verdict
Worth it for ML engineers on AWS. It's a strong choice for ML engineers and data scientists on AWS. If you're people without ML or AWS hands-on experience, look at the alternatives above first.
How we ranked these picks
We reviewed AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate on cost, time, assessment, employer recognition and fit, using the official page checked 3 November 2026. Science of Apps has no commercial relationship with the issuer.
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate worth it?
Worth it for ML engineers on AWS. It suits ML engineers and data scientists on AWS.
How much does AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate cost?
$150.
How long does AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate take?
Two to three months part-time.
AWS MLE or Google Cloud PMLE?
Choose by your employer's cloud; PMLE is professional-level.
Is there a free practice test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free practice tests for this topic, instantly graded with a verifiable certificate.
Sources
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google Cloud — Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Databricks — Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified AI Practitioner, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
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