Renewal of AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty (MLS-C01) Certification
“Transformation isn’t about improving. It’s about re-thinking.” — Malcolm Gladwell
This quote perfectly captures the essence of my AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty (MLS-C01) re-certification journey, as the exam has undergone significant changes since I first took it three years ago. While foundational machine learning concepts and many AWS ML offerings remain consistent, AWS has introduced a plethora of new ML services and tools, reflecting the rapid evolution of the field. The revolution in Large Language Models (LLMs) during late 2022, marked by the public release of ChatGPT, has reshaped industries globally, and its influence is evident in the MLS-C01 certification. Although LLM-focused tools like Amazon Bedrock are not yet part of the exam (as of November 2024), they are likely to feature in the 2025 version. In 2021, I documented my MLS-C01 certification preparation journey through a blog, which received overwhelming support from readers. I was honored to have my experience featured on the AWS Training and Certification Blog, emphasizing its impact. Now, as I begin my re-certification journey, I aim to share my experiences once again to help you prepare for the MLS-C01 exam. I firmly believe that embracing and enjoying the certification preparation process is crucial. This approach not only makes the journey more fulfilling but also ensures you gain practical skills to apply in real-world scenarios. Let’s re-think, learn, and grow together as we prepare for this exciting certification challenge!
You can still follow the strategy and steps outlined in my previous blog to prepare for the MLS-C01 certification. In this post, I’ll highlight a few courses, YouTube videos, practice tests, and other preparation materials that can aid your journey. I’ve also shared a link to my working notes for reference.I want to emphasize that these notes are tailored to my preparation approach, focusing on my specific weaknesses and for memorization purposes. They are not a shortcut or a replacement for reading AWS documentation, blogs, or other official resources.Once again, I cannot stress enough the importance of hands-on practice for this certification. Engaging with AWS services directly will help you gain the practical knowledge needed to succeed. However, be mindful of AWS costs, as some services can be quite expensive during extended usage.
AWS Skill Builder is great place to start your preparation after accessing your situation through AWS Sample questions. AWS Skill Builder offers both free and paid content. The premium version costs $29 USD per month or $449 USD per year. If you’re planning to take multiple AWS certifications back-to-back, investing in the premium content is worth considering. However, for most learners, the free content is sufficient when supplemented with other training courses and materials. I recommend the following Skill Builder courses, but your choice should ultimately depend on your specific areas of weakness and your foundational knowledge of machine learning.
AWS SkillBuilder
You can follow this plan to get other related courses
https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/learning_plan/view/2189/plan
The MLS-C01 Exam Readiness course is best taken within 7 days of your scheduled certification exam. It is designed to help you review key concepts, reinforce your knowledge of important topics, and provide valuable practice questions. The course also includes links to essential AWS documentation and blogs for further reference.However, this course should not be used as a primary resource to learn concepts or build foundational knowledge. Instead, treat it as a supplementary tool to test your preparation, identify areas of weakness, and revise effectively before the exam.
Course for Preparation
If you’re beginning your preparation for the MLS-C01 certification, a great starting point is the Udemy course AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty 2024 — Hands-On! by Frank Kane and Stéphane Maarek. As of November 2024, this is the most up-to-date course available and is excellent for building foundational knowledge while covering advanced concepts required for the certification.This course includes a section on Large Language Models (LLMs) and Amazon Bedrock, which are not yet part of the AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty exam. However, this section is invaluable for gaining confidence in tackling topics like Transformers (specifically BERT and the Attention Mechanism) and LLM-related concepts. While LLMs are not officially included in the certification scope, some exam questions do require an understanding of their fundamental principles.Another recommended Udemy course is AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty MLS-C01 [2024] by Chandra Lingam. This course provides in-depth coverage of the certification topics but is less concise compared to the one by Frank Kane and Stéphane Maarek. Both courses are great resources, and your choice may depend on your preferred learning style.
Practice Test
Practice tests are a critical component of preparing for AWS certification exams. They help you process your knowledge more efficiently, develop the skill to eliminate less likely answers, and identify the best answer from multiple correct options. This is especially important for AWS Specialty and Professional certifications, where many questions may have multiple plausible answers, and selecting the best one requires deeper understanding and reasoning. It’s essential to remember that practice tests are not meant to predict or provide “common questions” for the certification exam. While you might encounter a few similar questions, this should not be your expectation. Instead, use practice tests to identify your weaknesses, refine your preparation, and enhance your confidence. AWS Skill Builder offers a free practice test with 20 questions that closely resemble the style and difficulty level of the real exam, making it an excellent resource for your preparation.
For preparing for the AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty exam, I highly recommend two practice test resources. The first is AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty Practice Exams 2024 by Jon Bonso from Tutorials Dojo. This resource offers timed exams that closely simulate the actual test environment, along with detailed explanations for each answer and links to related materials for further learning. It’s important to spend time reviewing the answers after each test, as this will help deepen your understanding of the concepts and fill any knowledge gaps. The second resource is AWS Certified Machine Learning — Specialty Practice Exams by BrainCert, which provides six practice exams. While some questions may repeat, the detailed explanations for each answer make it a valuable tool for reinforcement and revision. Both resources are excellent for building confidence and ensuring you are thoroughly prepared for the exam.
Most Important — Hands On!
The most effective way to prepare for any AWS certification is through hands-on practice, and this is especially true for the MLS-C01 exam. This certification covers a wide range of tools, many of which are either relatively new or have been enhanced with additional features, such as Amazon SageMaker Canvas, AWS Data Wrangler, AWS Glue DataBrew, SageMaker Clarify with Model Monitor, and more. A significant challenge when working hands-on with AWS Machine Learning services is the cost, as these services can be expensive. I recommend allocating a budget of around $50 for hands-on practice. This investment not only aids in certification preparation but also equips you with practical skills for real-world applications and technical interviews.Please make sure to AWS Budget and Sagemaker Guardrail to avoild any accidental expenses for AWS services.
I was fortunate to avoid personal expenses by utilizing the $500 AWS credit I received as a member of the AWS Community Builders program. This program provides technical resources, educational materials, and networking opportunities for AWS enthusiasts and emerging thought leaders passionate about sharing knowledge within the technical community. Members gain access to webinars, insights into AWS services, and best practices for creating and sharing technical content. If you’re interested in joining, note that the program accepts a limited number of members each year. Applications for the 2024 cycle have closed, but you can add your name to the waitlist for the January 2025 application cycle. This program is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to deepen their AWS expertise and build connections within the community.
Final Words
I would like to share couple of observation from the certification exam if it helps you to prepare better.
Emphasize on
AWS Data Wrangler
Feature Store
Model Monitor with Clarify
Sagemaker Processing Pipeline
Sagemaker Debugger
Build Your Own Container in Sagemaker and Distributed Training in Sagemaker
AWS Panaroma, A2I, Amazon Connect, Sagemaker Groudtruth
Athena with Apache Spark
Please read Final Notes and Exam Day Tips and Time Management — Key to success from my previous blog as it’s really essential. I’m repeating the following lines from my previous blog because they resonate with me, and I hope you’ll find them meaningful too!!
Keep positive attitude and believe in yourself. Failure in certification exam is not end of anything, knowledge gathered throughout the preparation process is an absolute value addition to your professional life. So, there is nothing to regret. You can always take certification after 15 days in case of failure. At the end of the day. It’s the journey which matters more than destination!!!
Best Wishes to Everyone for AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty Certification!
Enjoy Preparation and conquer It!!! Stay Safe and continue your AWSome journey!!!
Thanks!
Dipayan