AWS ML Engineer Associate vs Azure AI Fundamentals
Which certification is right for your career? Here's the full breakdown.
Amazon Web Services
AWS ML Engineer Associate
MLA-C01
Validates ability to build, train, tune, and deploy ML models on AWS using SageMaker and other AWS AI services.
Full guide →Microsoft
Azure AI Fundamentals
AI-900
Microsoft's entry-level AI certification covering machine learning, computer vision, NLP, and generative AI on Azure.
Full guide →Side-by-side comparison
| Category | AWS ML Engineer Associate | Azure AI Fundamentals |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | ✓$150 USD | $165 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | ✓+$18,000/yr | +$7,000/yr |
| Exam duration | 130 min | 65 min |
| Renewal period | Every 3 years | Every 2 years |
| Issued by | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
AWS ML Engineer Associate — Prerequisites
AWS Cloud Practitioner or equivalent + basic ML knowledge recommended
Azure AI Fundamentals — Prerequisites
None required
Get AWS ML Engineer Associate if…
- •You have 2–3 years of IT experience and want to specialise
- •You want a +$18,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from Amazon Web Services
Get Azure AI Fundamentals if…
- •You're entering cybersecurity and need a recognised entry point
- •You want a +$7,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from Microsoft
Best AWS ML Engineer Associate courses
Best Azure AI Fundamentals courses
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS ML Engineer Associate harder than Azure AI Fundamentals?
AWS ML Engineer Associate is harder — rated intermediate vs beginner.
Which pays more — AWS ML Engineer Associate or Azure AI Fundamentals?
AWS ML Engineer Associate has an average salary uplift of +$18,000/yr, while Azure AI Fundamentals has +$7,000/yr. AWS ML Engineer Associate has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — AWS ML Engineer Associate or Azure AI Fundamentals?
Azure AI Fundamentals is the better starting point — it's rated beginner and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward AWS ML Engineer Associate.