Since June 23, 2026, AWS offers a new recertification path called Maintain (open beta): complete curated training and hands-on labs on AWS Skill Builder and add one year of validity to your certification. No exam appointment, no testing center.
What is the AWS Maintain program?
The Maintain path lets holders of active AWS certifications extend their validity by 1 year through online learning activities on AWS Skill Builder. You earn points by completing digital courses and hands-on labs – the practical activities place you in live AWS environments, not just video lectures.
This is separate from the existing Renewal path, which still requires passing the full exam and gives 3 years of validity.
Point requirements
| Level | Points required | Minimum practical activities |
|---|---|---|
| Associate | 500 pts | at least 1 |
| Professional | 700 pts | at least 2 |
You complete everything at your own pace before your certification expires.
Which certifications are eligible now?
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- AWS Certified Developer – Associate
- AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate (also covers SysOps Administrator – Associate)
Coming later in 2026: AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate, Security – Specialty, and Machine Learning Engineer – Associate.
Renewal vs. Maintain
| Renewal | Maintain (Beta) | |
|---|---|---|
| How | Pass the exam | Online courses + labs |
| Validity added | 3 years | 1 year |
| Time required | Study + exam | A few hours |
| Points required | — | 500 (Associate) / 700 (Professional) |
| Status | Standard | Beta |
Cascading certification extensions
This is the detail most coverage misses. When you maintain a higher-level certification, AWS automatically extends the expiration date of related lower-level certifications that are still active – to match the new date. For example: maintain Solutions Architect – Professional, and your Solutions Architect – Associate extends with it (as long as it’s still active and expiring within 1 year). One maintenance run can cover multiple badges.
What you need to get started
- An active AWS Skill Builder subscription (Individual or Team plan)
- A certification within 90 days of expiration
- One of the supported certifications listed above
No additional purchase beyond the Skill Builder subscription is required. To start: log in to AWS Skill Builder, navigate to Explore → Validate your skills → Recertify, and select your certification.
Why practitioners will care
AWS holds over 32% of the global cloud market, keeping certifications current has real career value. The Maintain path cuts the time cost significantly for engineers who already work in AWS daily. The cascading extension makes it even more attractive: one session on Skill Builder can cover both your Professional and Associate badges at once.
If you’re working with AWS in a professional context, it’s worth reading how our team approaches AWS consulting – including which certifications matter in real project work.
Source: A new way to keep your AWS Certification current – Tom Lawlor, AWS Training and Certification Blog, June 23, 2026, AWS Recertification | AWSMost In-Demand AWS Certifications 2026 | StudyTech AI
