How hard is the AWS Advanced Networking Specialty? +
ANS-C01 is widely regarded as one of the hardest AWS exams. It assumes real networking knowledge - BGP attributes, route preference, and failover across Direct Connect and Site-to-Site VPN. Transit Gateway route table associations and propagations, and hybrid DNS with Route 53 Resolver, are constant traps. Cloud engineers without a traditional networking background usually find this the steepest part.
What is the ANS-C01 exam format? +
ANS-C01 has 65 questions in 170 minutes, including some unscored research items you cannot identify. Questions are multiple choice and multiple response, delivered at a Pearson VUE test center or online. Scenarios are long and multi-constraint, so fatigue becomes a factor and it is easy to miss requirements like IPv6, overlapping CIDRs, or cost limits.
What is the ANS-C01 passing score? +
You need a scaled score of 750 on a range of 100 to 1,000. Scoring is compensatory, so you do not have to pass each domain separately. Your score report shows performance by domain, which is the best guide to where a retake plan should focus.
How much does ANS-C01 cost and what experience is expected? +
The exam costs 300 USD, plus local taxes where applicable. There is no formal prerequisite, but AWS recommends around five years of experience designing and implementing network solutions, including hybrid networking. The certification is valid for three years. After a failed attempt, AWS requires a 14-day wait before retaking.
Which topics carry the most weight on ANS-C01? +
Network design and network implementation together make up most of the exam, with management and operation and security, compliance, and governance as the other two domains. In practice, hybrid connectivity, Transit Gateway, multi-account and multi-VPC designs, and Route 53 Resolver DNS appear across every domain, so weakness in any of them costs points everywhere.
How long should I prepare for ANS-C01? +
Network engineers already working on AWS typically need 8 to 12 weeks. Engineers without BGP experience should add time to learn routing fundamentals first. Build labs with Transit Gateway route tables, VPN, and Resolver endpoints, and practice full-length timed sessions so the 170-minute stretch does not wear you down.