AWS ML Engineer Associate vs Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer
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 →Google Cloud
Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer
Professional ML Engineer
Advanced Google Cloud certification for designing and building ML models that scale — covers MLOps, Vertex AI, and responsible AI.
Full guide →Side-by-side comparison
| Category | AWS ML Engineer Associate | Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | ✓$150 USD | $200 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | +$18,000/yr | ✓+$22,000/yr |
| Exam duration | 130 min | 120 min |
| Renewal period | Every 3 years | Every 2 years |
| Issued by | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Advanced |
AWS ML Engineer Associate — Prerequisites
AWS Cloud Practitioner or equivalent + basic ML knowledge recommended
Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer — Prerequisites
3+ years industry experience + 1 year Google Cloud experience + ML background
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 Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer if…
- •You're aiming for senior or management roles in security
- •You want a +$22,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from Google Cloud
Best AWS ML Engineer Associate courses
Best Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer courses
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS ML Engineer Associate harder than Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer?
Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer is harder — rated advanced vs intermediate.
Which pays more — AWS ML Engineer Associate or Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer?
AWS ML Engineer Associate has an average salary uplift of +$18,000/yr, while Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer has +$22,000/yr. Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — AWS ML Engineer Associate or Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer?
AWS ML Engineer Associate is the better starting point — it's rated intermediate and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer.