IT / Professional Certification
How to Verify an AWS Solutions Architect Certification
AWS Certified Solutions Architect is one of the most widely claimed certifications in cloud computing. Amazon Web Services issues verifiable digital credentials through its certification portal and Credly badge platform. Fraudulent AWS certification claims are common — always verify directly, never rely on a PDF or screenshot.
Quick answer
Verify AWS certifications through AWS Certification Verification at aws.amazon.com/certification/certification-repo. The candidate must share a verification URL or their Credly badge link. You can also verify Credly digital badges directly at credly.com. Ask the candidate to share their Credly profile or verification link — do not accept PDF certificates or screenshots as verification.
AWS Solutions Architect certification tiers
AWS offers two Solutions Architect certifications at different levels of depth and experience:
| Certification | Level | Prerequisites | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) | Associate | No formal prerequisites; AWS recommends 1+ year of hands-on AWS experience | 3 years; must recertify via re-examination or passing a higher-level exam |
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02) | Professional | AWS recommends 2+ years of hands-on experience designing AWS solutions; no formal prerequisite exam required | 3 years; recertification required |
When a candidate claims “AWS Solutions Architect” on a resume, confirm which tier they hold. A Professional-level certification represents significantly deeper expertise than an Associate.
How to verify an AWS certification
AWS offers two verification methods. Both require the candidate to initiate sharing — AWS does not provide employer-initiated third-party lookups by name:
| Method | How It Works | What You See |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Certification Verification URL | Candidate shares a unique verification link from their AWS Certification Account; you open the link to confirm | Certification name, issue date, expiration date, and verification status |
| Credly Digital Badge | Candidate shares their Credly badge URL or profile page; badges include metadata and a blockchain-verified credential hash | Badge name, issuing organization (Amazon Web Services), issue and expiration date, and earner name |
Do not accept PDF certificates or screenshots
AWS certification PDFs and screenshots are trivially easy to forge. The only trustworthy verification is a live AWS verification URL or a Credly badge link that resolves to an active, non-expired credential. If the candidate cannot share either, treat the claim as unverified.
Verifying via Credly
Credly (credly.com) is the digital credentialing platform used by AWS and many other certification bodies. AWS certifications issued via Credly contain tamper-evident metadata. To verify:
- Ask the candidate to share their Credly badge link (typically credly.com/badges/[unique-id])
- Open the link directly in a browser
- Confirm: earner name matches the candidate, issuer is “Amazon Web Services,” credential name matches the claimed certification, and expiration date is in the future
- Click “Verify” on the badge page to confirm authenticity
AWS certification expiration and recertification
All AWS certifications expire after 3 years. Recertification can be achieved by:
- Passing the same-level exam again
- Passing a higher-level exam in the same domain (e.g., passing the Professional exam recertifies the Associate)
- Passing AWS Partner Accreditations or re:Skill modules (AWS periodically updates recertification pathways)
When verifying, confirm the expiration date shown on the verification URL or Credly badge. An expired certification is not an active certification.
Other AWS certifications relevant to Solutions Architect roles
Candidates for cloud architecture roles may also hold complementary AWS certifications. All are verified through the same AWS/Credly mechanism:
- AWS Certified Developer – Associate: Application development on AWS
- AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate: Operations and deployment on AWS
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional: Continuous delivery and automation on AWS
- AWS Certified Security – Specialty: Cloud security architecture and controls
- AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty: Complex networking topologies on AWS
Verification checklist
- 1. Ask the candidate to share their AWS Certification verification URL or Credly badge link — not a PDF or screenshot
- 2. Open the verification URL or Credly badge link directly; confirm earner name, certification name (Associate vs. Professional), and expiration date
- 3. Confirm the certification is not expired (3-year validity window)
- 4. Confirm the tier (Associate or Professional) matches the role requirements
- 5. If the candidate claims additional AWS specialty certifications, verify each one separately via the same process
Verify computer science and IT degree credentials
Many cloud architects hold bachelor's or master's degrees in computer science, information systems, or engineering. Use VerifyED to confirm that the granting institution holds proper regional accreditation before accepting academic credentials alongside certification claims.
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