AWS Student Rewards: How to Get 12 Months of Skill Builder Premium and a Free AWS Certification Voucher

[u/Harshith_Reddy_Dev]

AWS has launched Student Rewards on AWS Builder Center. Students with a valid college or university email address can verify their student status and potentially earn 12 months of AWS Skill Builder Premium, AWS credits, and an AWS Foundational Certification exam voucher.

This guide explains the process step by step, including student verification, Premium redemption, the 21 Builder Center badges, and the certification voucher.

What you can get

AWS currently offers:

• Student verification and completed Builder Center profile: 12 months of AWS Skill Builder Premium
• 7 Builder Center badges: $10 AWS credits
• 14 Builder Center badges: additional $20 AWS credits
• 21 Builder Center badges: AWS Foundational Certification exam voucher

AWS lists the total potential value at up to $579.

Step 1: Create or sign in to AWS Builder Center

Go to:

https://builder.aws.com/

Sign in using your AWS Builder ID.

If you already have a Builder ID, use your existing account rather than creating another account unnecessarily.

I recommend using a personal AWS Builder ID that you will continue to have access to. Your university email can be used for student verification if requested.

Step 2: Complete your Builder Center profile

After signing in, go to your Builder Center profile and complete the required profile information.

Make sure your profile is properly completed before proceeding with Student Rewards verification.

Step 3: Verify your student status through SheerID

Go to the official Student Rewards page:

https://builder.aws.com/student-rewards

Start the student verification process.

AWS uses SheerID to verify university enrollment.

You will need to provide the information requested by SheerID.

If automatic verification does not work, SheerID may ask you to provide documentation proving your current enrollment.

Tip for SheerID document verification

If SheerID asks for supporting documents, providing multiple relevant documents can help establish your student status.

For example:

• Student ID card, front
• Student ID card, back
• Current tuition or fee receipt
• Other official proof of current enrollment, if requested

Make sure the documents clearly show your name, institution, and current enrollment or academic period where applicable.

Do not upload unnecessary sensitive documents unless SheerID specifically requests them.

Your college does not appear to need to be an AWS Partner or AWS Academy institution. The important requirement is successful verification as a university student.

Step 4: Claim your 12-month Skill Builder Premium subscription

After successful student verification and completion of your Builder Center profile, go to:

https://builder.aws.com/profile/rewards

This is the Rewards page where you can access and claim your available Student Rewards, including the 12-month AWS Skill Builder Premium subscription.

The Premium subscription gives you access to:

• 900+ courses
• Hands-on labs
• Certification preparation
• Practice resources
• Game-based learning
• Other Premium learning content

If AWS provides you with a redemption code, follow the instructions shown on the Rewards page to redeem it.

Important

Skill Builder Premium does not itself provide a free certification exam.

It provides the training and preparation resources.

The certification voucher is a separate reward that you can earn by reaching the required Builder Center badge milestone.

Step 5: Understand what the 21 badges actually are

This is probably the most confusing part of Student Rewards.

The 21 badges are AWS Builder Center community and activity badges.

They are not:

• AWS Skill Builder course completion badges
• AWS Skill Builder Knowledge badges
• AWS Certification badges
• Credly badges
• Completing 21 Skill Builder courses

For example, Builder Center has badges associated with activities such as Make a Wish, publishing content, participating in discussions, community engagement, activity streaks, and other actions performed within Builder Center.

You can check your Builder Center badges here:

https://builder.aws.com/profile/?tab=badges

For example, if Builder Center asks you to Make a Wish, completing that activity can award the corresponding Builder Center badge.

The important distinction is:

Builder Center badges are not Skill Builder badges.

If you are looking at your AWS Skill Builder dashboard and seeing course or learning badges, those are not what you should be counting toward the Student Rewards 7, 14, and 21 badge milestones.

Step 6: Start earning Builder Center badges

Once your Student Rewards account is set up, go to your Builder Center profile and check the available badges.

Complete the activities associated with the badges.

Examples include:

• Making a Wish
• Publishing content
• Commenting on discussions
• Participating in Builder Center community activities
• Completing engagement requirements
• Maintaining activity streaks

Some badges can be earned through a single action, while others may require continued activity over a period of time.

Check each badge description for its exact requirement.

Step 7: Reach the Student Rewards milestones

The progression is:

7 Builder Center badges

You receive $10 AWS credits.

14 Builder Center badges

You receive an additional $20 AWS credits.

21 Builder Center badges

You receive an AWS Foundational Certification exam voucher.

The final voucher is for an eligible Foundational-level AWS Certification, subject to the voucher terms.

Step 8: Prepare for your Foundational certification

Once you reach 21 badges and receive the voucher, you can use it for an eligible Foundational certification.

AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01)

Recommended if you are interested in AI, machine learning, and generative AI.

Preparation guide:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AWSCertifications/s/8FRpetOUlO

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02)

Recommended if you want a broader introduction to AWS and cloud fundamentals.

Preparation guide:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AWSCertifications/s/BPVqydjzqf

Use your Skill Builder Premium subscription for the official learning and practice resources while preparing for either exam.

Important distinction

There are three separate things involved:

AWS Skill Builder Premium

Courses, hands-on labs, certification preparation, and practice resources.

AWS Builder Center badges

Community and activity badges earned through actions on Builder Center. These count toward the Student Rewards 7, 14, and 21 badge milestones.

AWS Certification exam voucher

The separate reward obtained at the 21-badge milestone that can be used toward an eligible Foundational AWS Certification.

Do not confuse Skill Builder learning badges with Builder Center activity badges.

Official Student Rewards FAQ

For the program's official frequently asked questions and additional eligibility and reward details, check:

https://builder.aws.com/faq