AEO
Amazon Ads Certified - Sponsored Ads Accreditation
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Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
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ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The Amazon Ads Certified - Sponsored Ads Accreditation (often shortened to Amazon Ads Accreditation or AEO) is a professional credential for people who plan, buy, and optimize Amazon's self-service advertising products. It is aimed at account managers, PPC specialists, brand and marketplace teams, and agency practitioners who work daily inside Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and Sponsored Display. The exam tests the full working loop: how advertising fits into the Amazon retail ecosystem, how each sponsored ad product is structured and targeted, how keywords and bids are chosen and adjusted, how campaigns are measured through reporting and analytics, and how budgets are managed toward efficient return on ad spend. Expect scenario-based multiple-choice and multiple-response items rather than pure definitions, so answers usually depend on campaign context. Preparation works best in layers: first build fluency with the ad console and the vocabulary of impressions, clicks, cost, sales, ACOS, and ROAS; then practice diagnosing real campaigns, such as a high-spend campaign with weak conversion or a broad-match campaign cannibalizing exact terms. Amazon's own advertising learning resources and help documentation are the most reliable study references. This page is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon; confirm current program details on Amazon's official advertising site.
What you'll study
About AEO preparation
What is the exam format?
It is a computer-based test of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions, delivered online. Some items ask you to pick more than one correct answer, so read the prompt carefully before submitting. Amazon publishes the authoritative format description, including any updates, on its official advertising certification pages.
How long is the exam, and how many questions does it have?
Question counts and time limits are set by the certifying body and can change between versions, so they are not stated here. Check the official Amazon Ads certification page for the current specification, and budget your time during the test by pacing yourself across the sections rather than watching the clock.
How hard is it?
Practitioners with hands-on campaign experience generally find it manageable; candidates who have only read about Amazon ads find it harder. Difficulty comes from scenario questions that require judgment about targeting, bids, and budget trade-offs, not from obscure trivia. If you can explain why a campaign is underperforming and what you would change, you are well prepared.
What happens if I fail, and can I retake it?
Retake rules, waiting periods, and any fees are controlled by Amazon and vary over time. Do not rely on secondhand accounts. Confirm the current retake policy on the official certification site before you schedule, and treat your first attempt as the one to prepare properly for.
How should I order my studying?
Start with fundamentals and the retail ecosystem so the metrics make sense, then move to Sponsored Products, which carries the most weight. Add Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Display, then deepen targeting and bidding, and finish with measurement and budgeting. Practicing in a live or sandbox ad console beats rereading notes.
What are the most common failure modes?
Candidates lose points by confusing ACOS with ROAS, mixing up match types, and forgetting that Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Display have different targeting and creative rules than Sponsored Products. Another frequent error is answering a strategy question with a tactic that ignores budget constraints. Slow down on multi-response items and eliminate clearly wrong options first.
Do I need to manage live campaigns to pass?
It is not a formal requirement, but it helps substantially. Questions are written around real optimization decisions, and people who have adjusted bids, negative keywords, and budgets understand the trade-offs intuitively. If you lack account access, study documented campaign examples and walk through the metrics for each one.
How long should I allow for preparation?
Most working practitioners need a few weeks of focused study, spread across the domains rather than crammed. Build a schedule that gives extra time to Sponsored Products and to targeting and bidding, since those areas carry the most exam weight. Review your weak areas with practice scenarios in the final week.
Is this page an official Amazon resource?
No. This is an independent study page and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon. Always verify exam logistics, policies, and current product features against Amazon's official advertising and certification websites, which are the authoritative sources for the credential.