Passing the AWS CLF-C02 Certification [AWS Cloud Practitioner Blog]

tldr;

I passed! It took me 2 weeks to study, and I’m sharing my thoughts.

Allot 1–2 hours of study time every day leading up to the exam, and take practice exams to gauge your understanding and reinforce weak areas.

Update: 28 May 2025

Some guides will encourage using "certified dumps". I am against it as this is a form of cheating by memorizing instead of truly understanding concepts.

My Updates

I've written in my previous post that I had to scratch the itch and dive back into AWS.

Since then, I’ve studied and passed the certification. Now I can brag on my LinkedIn profile about my shiny new certificate.

Of course, I also immediately added it to my resume website!

Do I really need this certificate?

Actually, no.

To be honest, it’s always still best to have real-world experience over a certificate. However, certificates are a way to show that you know what you’re doing (or about to do), and studying for one puts you in a kind of “performance space” where you’re forced to make sure you know your stuff when it counts.

"Realistic" Preparation Timeframe

I came from a technical background, had some previous experience using AWS, and had attended a few trainings in the past.

If I were to estimate how much time you'd need, I'd say:

• 1–2 months if you are not coming from a technical background and have not used AWS.
• 2–4 weeks if you come from a technical background but are not familiar with AWS or cloud concepts.
• 1–2 weeks if you're already familiar with cloud concepts and have a technical background.

How did I come up with these?

Well, they’re based on my personal learning speed and experience—but I believe anyone who’s motivated could achieve similar results in roughly the same timeframe.

Study Time

Like I mentioned before, I’m a family guy with a 9-to-5 job. I only had time to study in the evenings and on weekends.

Here’s what my study week looked like:

• 1–2 hours of focused study on weekdays
• 6–8 hours of study on the weekends

Given my background, this was enough—but I encourage those with less AWS experience to put in more hours to gain mastery.

Study Materials

Here are the three main resources I used:

1. AWS Skill Builder – AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials

This course, provided by AWS, is free. It’s a 7-hour digital training that I’d recommend for someone not familiar with AWS or someone who wants to refresh their knowledge.

They use a lot of metaphors and relatable examples to explain cloud concepts, which is super helpful for beginners.

2. ExamPro – AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02)

Reddit came through again—this course is one of the most recommended out there, and for good reason.

It’s packed with information. While the full version is paid, there’s a free version that gives you access to all the video content (just not the flash cards or mini quizzes).

Some videos include “follow-alongs,” where Andrew shows you how things are done in the AWS console. That really helps map your learnings to actual usage.

⚠️ Heads-up: This course is info-dense. I suggest you take #1 first before diving into this one—it helps to get the cloud basics down before tackling the heavier stuff.

Also, this course aligns well with the AWS CLF-C02 Exam Guide, which outlines the exam topics and gives some useful study strategies.

3. AWS Skill Builder – Cloud Essentials Knowledge Badge Assessment

This quiz is a 50-item test to gauge your AWS knowledge. I used it to figure out what areas I was weak in and to get used to the testing format.

Plus, you get a little badge after completing it. Who doesn’t love badges?

4. ExamPro – AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) Free Practice Exam

Another gem from ExamPro—this 65-question sample test is very close to the actual certification exam format.

You can flag questions, review them, and even comment.

The real benefit here is getting used to scenario-style questions and thinking like an AWS Cloud professional.

5. Quizlet – AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 Flash Cards

These flash cards helped me recall important concepts—especially useful for a quick refresher on exam day.

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Basically, just allot 2 hours of focused study per day and keep at it until you feel confident.

I strongly recommend taking practice exams and aiming for a 90%+ score before scheduling your AWS Certification exam.

Good luck on your journey!