Program comparison
Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate vs. AWS Certified Generative AI Developer - Professional
Databricks Generative AI Engineer and AWS Generative AI Developer certifications differ in platforms, recommended experience, costs, and renewals.
Both of these certifications validate skills in building and deploying generative AI solutions, though they target different platforms and professional levels. This page compares the providers' recommended experience, assessment formats, exam costs, and renewal requirements. Facts were shown in the United States on 1 October 2026.
Choose Databricks if you are targeting an Associate-level credential and have 6+ months of hands-on experience, with a focus on LLM chains and RAG applications using the Databricks toolset.
Choose AWS if you are aiming for a Professional-level certification, fit the recommended target profile of having 2 or more years of experience building production-grade applications on AWS or with open-source technologies, general AI/ML or data engineering experience, and 1 year of hands-on experience implementing generative AI solutions, and want to focus on building production-ready AI solutions using Amazon Bedrock.
At a Glance
| Feature | Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate | AWS Certified Generative AI Developer - Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Level & Platform | Associate level, Databricks | Professional level, AWS (Amazon Bedrock) |
| Assessment | Proctored certification exam (45 scored questions) | Proctored certification exam (75 questions) |
| Exam Duration | 90 minutes | 180 minutes |
| Cost | $200 (Registration fee) | 300 USD (Exam cost) |
| Validity and renewal | 2-year validity | 3-year extension after passing latest exam |
Level, Focus, and Experience
These certifications are not interchangeable qualifications, as they differ in both platform focus and expected expertise level.
The Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate is an Associate-level credential focused on the Databricks data and AI platform. Databricks recommends 6+ months of hands-on experience performing the generative AI solutions tasks outlined in its exam guide.
The AWS Certified Generative AI Developer - Professional is a Professional-level credential focused on AWS services like Amazon Bedrock. AWS notes the target candidate should have 2 or more years of experience building production grade applications on AWS or with open-source technologies, general AI/ML or data engineering experience, and 1 year of hands-on experience implementing generative AI solutions.
Assessment & Time Measure
Both providers use proctored multiple-choice exams as their assessment mechanism. Neither page specifies a required study duration, but both list strict exam time limits.
- Databricks: The exam has a time limit of 90 minutes and consists of 45 scored multiple choice questions. Proctoring is explicitly stated, with delivery available online or at a test center.
- AWS: The exam has a duration of 180 minutes and consists of 75 questions (either multiple choice or multiple response). Proctoring is explicitly stated, available via a Pearson VUE testing center or as an online proctored exam.
Payment Scope
- The Databricks certification page lists a "Registration fee" of $200.
- The AWS certification page explicitly lists the "Exam cost" at 300 USD.
Prerequisites
- Databricks: There are no required prerequisites to sit for the exam, though related training is highly recommended.
- AWS: There are no explicitly required prerequisites. However, AWS lists extensive recommended experience for the target candidate, and notes that candidates could benefit from earning the AWS Certified AI Practitioner, Solutions Architect - Associate, Machine Learning Engineer - Associate, and/or Data Engineer - Associate before attempting this professional exam.
Expiry & Renewal
- Databricks: The certification has a validity period of 2 years. Recertification requires passing the current version of the exam.
- AWS: According to the AWS Recertification page, Professional-level certifications, including the Generative AI Developer - Professional, receive a 3-year time extension by passing the latest version of the exam.