AWS Training

What Can I Use It For?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a suite of cloud training programs suited to different needs — from self-directed professional development to fully supported, certification-aligned curriculum for use with students. All programs emphasize hands-on learning in real or simulated AWS environments and are available at no cost.

Programs fall into two categories: open-access (available to anyone) and instructor-requested (designed for higher education use with students, requiring instructor nomination).

Note for Instructors: AWS Academy and AWS Learner Labs require instructors to have relevant AWS subject-matter expertise before using them with students. If you are new to AWS, start with AWS Educate or AWS Skills Builder to build your own knowledge first.

This Academic Toolbox tool helps you...

Build Your Course

Typical course activity format:

Asynchronous

Quercus integration

Non-integrated tool

Where can I get more support?

AWS Cloud Training Opportunities [U of T ITS]

Request AWS Academy / Learner Labs Access [U of T ServiceNow]

AWS Educate

AWS Skills Builder

AWS Academy & Learner Labs

Cost

Centrally funded

How to Get Started

If you are new to AWS, begin with AWS Educate or AWS Skills Builder — both are free, open to all staff and independent learners, and require no prior experience or institutional approval. Simply create an account and explore at your own pace.

If you are ready to bring AWS training into your course, submit a request for AWS Academy or AWS Learner Labs through U of T ServiceNow. Available to instructors and their students. Instructors must have subject-matter expertise and AWS experience before using AWS Academy or Learner Labs with students.

Instructions

These programs are free, require no institutional approval, and are suitable for instructors building their own AWS knowledge or directing students to supplementary self-directed learning.
- AWS Educate
- AWS Skills Builder
AWS Educate:
- Audience: Students, educators, independent learners
  
  Curriculum Focus: AWS Cloud basics, AWS services, career pathways.
  
  Learning Format: Self-paced modules, simulated labs
  
  Hands-on Labs: Virtual AWS training labs for practical experience.
  
  The most accessible entry point to AWS training. AWS Educate covers cloud fundamentals, core AWS services, and career pathways through beginner-friendly, self-paced modules — no prior experience or credit card needed.
AWS Skills Builder:
- - Audience: Individuals (all levels), teams
  - Curriculum Focus: AWS Cloud computing (such as Cloud Architecture, Cloud Developing, Cloud Operations, Serverless), AI/ML, DevOps, security, certification prep.
  - Learning Format: Self-paced AWS-provided courses, labs, game-based learning, certification prep.
  - Hands-on Labs: Guided labs and challenges in live AWS environments.
  - AWS’s primary on-demand learning platform, offering a broad curriculum across Cloud Architecture, AI/ML, DevOps, Security, and more. Suitable for instructors seeking deeper expertise or direct certification preparation.
These programs are designed for instructors who want to integrate structured AWS cloud training into their courses. Both are free and require instructor nomination.
- UofT instructors request access via ServiceNow.
AWS Academy
- Audience: Higher education instructors and students
- Curriculum Focus: AWS Cloud computing (such as Cloud Architecture, Cloud Developing, and Cloud Operations), AI/ML, security, data engineering, DevOps.
- Learning Format: Instructor-led AWS-provided courses, hands-on labs, projects. Ready-to-teach curriculum.
- Hands-on Labs:Access hands-on guided labs and challenges in live AWS environments. Also access to Learner Labs
- AWS Academy provides a complete, ready-to-teach curriculum aligned with AWS industry certifications — reducing the preparation burden on instructors. Curriculum spans Cloud Architecture, Cloud Developing, Cloud Operations, AI/ML, Security, Data Engineering, and DevOps.
AWS Learner Labs
Audience: Higher education instructors and students

Curriculum Focus: AWS Academy’s Learner Lab provides a sandbox environment where instructors can create custom assignments and enable students.

Learning Format: Learner Labs offer a long-running lab environment that is suitable for student projects over a period designated by the educator.

Hands-on Labs: Learners have access to a restricted set of AWS services for educator-designed project work, lab exercises, or practice. However, not all AWS documentation walkthroughs or sample labs that operate in an AWS production account will work in the Learner Lab environment.

Learner Labs gives students a persistent cloud sandbox — with real AWS credits — to complete extended, instructor-designed projects. Unlike time-limited Academy labs, this environment runs for the full duration of the course, supporting open-ended, project-based learning.

Last Modified:

26 February, 2026

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 International License