Exam Details
Exam CodeANS-C01
Exam Cost$300 USD
Duration170 minutes
Questions65
Passing Score750/1000
ProviderAmazon Web Services
Difficulty8/10
Salary Data
Professionals holding the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty certification earn between $110,000 and $185,000 annually, with an average of $145,000.
Job market demand trend: Growing (+12% YoY)
Prerequisites
- AWS Solutions Architect Associate or Professional recommended
- CCNA or equivalent networking knowledge strongly recommended
- 3-5 years of experience designing and implementing AWS network architectures
Skills Covered
Hybrid NetworkingAWS VPCDirect ConnectTransit GatewayRoute 53CloudFrontNetwork Security
Best Study Resources
Official
AWS Advanced Networking Specialty Exam Guide
CourseAdrian Cantrill AWS Advanced Networking Course
Practice ExamsTutorials Dojo ANS-C01 Practice Exams
Comparisons Featuring AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty
Career Paths With AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should take the AWS Networking Specialty exam?
This certification targets experienced network engineers and cloud architects who design complex AWS and hybrid networking solutions. You should have at least 3-5 years of AWS networking experience, solid knowledge of BGP, VPN, Direct Connect, and VPC architecture. It's not an entry-level cert — most candidates hold CCNA and AWS SAA/SAP before attempting it.
How does AWS Networking Specialty compare to CCNA?
They're complementary, not competing. CCNA validates foundational networking knowledge (routing, switching, protocols). AWS Networking Specialty validates cloud-specific networking at an advanced level (VPC design, hybrid connectivity, CDN). CCNA knowledge is a strong foundation, but the AWS exam focuses entirely on AWS services and architecture patterns.
What salary can I expect with AWS Networking Specialty?
The average salary is $145K, with a range of $110K-$185K depending on location and experience. In major tech hubs, senior engineers with this cert regularly exceed $170K. It's one of the highest-paying networking certifications because it combines scarce AWS expertise with deep networking knowledge — a combination in high demand at enterprises migrating to cloud.
Data Sources
- Salary data — Aggregated from job postings and salary surveys (US median)
- Job listings — Active postings across major job boards
- Pass rates — Community-reported estimates (not official vendor data)
- Exam details — Amazon Web Services official documentation