Exam Details
AWS · ANS-C01
Design complex networking architectures across AWS, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments.
Practice with ExamOS for AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty. Learn daily with scenario-based questions, timed quizzes, detailed explanations, and exam-style difficulty.
Who is this for?
Level: Advanced. This specialty exam focuses on complex networking within AWS. While there are no strict prerequisites, AWS strongly recommends having at least five years of general networking experience, including two years specifically designing cloud and hybrid architectures on AWS. You must be proficient with services like VPC, Route 53, Direct Connect, and Transit Gateway.
Are you ready?
This is not a beginner exam. You are prepared if you can confidently design large-scale network architectures, troubleshoot complex routing, and explain traffic flows across hybrid environments. Validate your advanced networking expertise with a timed practice test!
Overview
The AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty (ANS-C01) certification is intended for professionals who design and manage complex networking solutions in AWS and hybrid environments. It covers advanced topics such as routing, DNS, load balancing, hybrid connectivity, and network security. Candidates are expected to understand how to design highly available and scalable network architectures using services like VPC, Route 53, Direct Connect, and Transit Gateway. The exam emphasizes real-world scenarios where trade-offs between cost, performance, and reliability must be considered. This certification goes beyond basic networking knowledge and focuses on how networks behave in distributed cloud environments. It is particularly relevant for engineers working with hybrid architectures or multi-region deployments. Roles aligned with this certification include network engineer, cloud network architect, and infrastructure specialist. As organizations adopt complex cloud architectures, networking expertise continues to be a critical skill, making this certification valuable for specialized roles.
FAQ
The AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty exam consists of 65 questions, which include both multiple-choice and multiple-response items. Candidates are given 170 minutes to complete the test.
The exam is scored on a scaled system ranging from 100 to 1,000. You must achieve a minimum score of 750 to pass. Because the questions involve complex scenarios, using a platform like ExamOS to take scenario-based practice quizzes can help you gauge if you are meeting this scoring threshold.
The exam content is distributed across four primary domains that focus on the lifecycle of cloud networking:
Preparation should involve a mix of official documentation and practical testing tools:
The registration fee for the AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty exam is $300 USD. Tax may apply depending on your location. If you have previously passed an AWS certification, check your benefits tab for a 50% discount voucher.
If you do not pass the exam on your first attempt, you must wait 14 days before you are eligible to register for a retake. You will need to pay the full exam fee again for every attempt. There is no limit on the number of times you can take the exam, provided you observe the 14-day waiting period.
The certification is valid for three years. To remain active, you must undergo recertification by passing the latest version of the ANS-C01 exam. AWS does not currently offer a "proctored renewal" exam for this specialty; you must sit the full exam again.
There are no mandatory prerequisites or prior certifications required to take this exam. However, the target audience is professionals with significant experience in networking. AWS recommends:
This certification validates a niche skill set that is highly valued in enterprise environments, but it is not a "golden ticket" on its own. It significantly improves your profile for Senior Network Engineer or Cloud Architect roles, particularly in organizations migrating massive on-premises data centers to the cloud. You should expect the certification to be a differentiator during technical interviews rather than a substitute for years of hands-on troubleshooting.
Once you have mastered advanced networking, you should consider certifications that complement these skills: