AWS and PMP at the Same Time: A 20-Week Study Timeline
Quick answer: Don't prepare for both exams at full speed at once. Start the PMP paperwork and 35 education hours first, study AWS Cloud Practitioner or the Associate exam as your main focus for the first 8 to 10 weeks, take it, then switch to PMP as the main focus. A light daily review of the other subject keeps it fresh.↗ Share on X
The best way to combine AWS and PMP study into one timeline is to run them in overlapping phases, not side by side at equal speed. Start the PMP application paperwork and your 35 required education hours early, because that part takes calendar time no matter what. Make AWS your main subject for the first 8 to 10 weeks and take that exam first. Then flip: make PMP your main subject for the next 10 weeks, keeping 15 minutes a day of AWS review. With about 10 to 12 study hours a week, this fits into roughly 20 weeks.
Below is the full week-by-week plan, how to split your daily hours, and how to adjust if you have more or less time.
Why not just study both at the same time?
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- The two exams test very different things. AWS asks you to pick the right cloud service for a technical problem. PMP asks you to choose what a project manager should do *next* in a people-and-process situation. Jumping between them every day makes it hard to build the "exam brain" each one needs.
- Two deadlines at once means neither gets your best weeks. The final two weeks before any exam are when practice tests do the most good. If both exams land close together, those weeks overlap.
- PMP has a waiting period built in. You have to apply to PMI, get approved, and possibly go through an audit before you can book. Starting that early turns waiting time into AWS study time.
So the trick is to overlap the *slow parts* (PMP paperwork, education hours) with the *fast part* (focused AWS study).
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What has to happen before I can even book each exam?
| Step | AWS (Cloud Practitioner or Associate) | PMP |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility rules | None | Project management experience plus 35 contact hours of project management education (check PMI's site for the exact experience months for your education level) |
| Application | Create an AWS Certification account | Submit an online application to PMI describing your project experience |
| Approval | Instant | PMI reviews it; some applications are randomly picked for audit, which asks for proof |
| Booking | Book any time | Book after approval, within your eligibility window |
Because of this, week 1 is PMP paperwork week, even though PMP is not your main subject yet.
What does the 20-week timeline look like?
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| Weeks | Main focus (about 80% of time) | Side focus (about 20%) | Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Draft PMP experience descriptions | Pick your AWS exam and course | PMP application drafted |
| 2–3 | AWS core: compute, storage, networking basics | PMP 35-hour course, 2 modules a week | Submit PMP application |
| 4–6 | AWS security, databases, pricing, architecture | Continue 35-hour course | AWS practice test #1 |
| 7–8 | AWS practice exams and weak spots | Finish 35-hour course | AWS practice scores steady at your target |
| 9 | AWS final review | Nothing new on PMP | Take AWS exam |
| 10–12 | PMP: people domain, agile and hybrid approaches | 15 min/day AWS flashcards | PMP approved; book exam date |
| 13–16 | PMP: process and business environment domains | 15 min/day AWS flashcards | PMP practice test #1 at week 14 |
| 17–19 | Full-length PMP practice exams, review every wrong answer | Light AWS review | Practice scores steady |
| 20 | PMP final review, rest the day before | None | Take PMP exam |
Note: weeks 2 through 8 include your PMP course hours inside the side focus. If your 35-hour course is a live bootcamp over a few weekends, put it in weeks 4 to 7 and drop AWS weekend study those weekends.
How should I split each study day?
Here's a sample weekday during the AWS phase (weeks 2 to 8):
1. 10 minutes: review yesterday's AWS flashcards.
2. 50 minutes: new AWS lesson or hands-on lab in the free tier.
3. 20 minutes: PMP course video or reading.
4. 10 minutes: write three things you learned, in your own words.
And during the PMP phase (weeks 10 to 19):
1. 15 minutes: AWS flashcards (so you don't lose it — useful if you plan the next AWS exam later).
2. 60 minutes: PMP lesson or practice questions.
3. 15 minutes: review why each wrong answer was wrong.
The "why it was wrong" step matters most for PMP. Many PMP questions have two answers that look right. Learning the reasoning behind the best one is what moves your score.
Which AWS exam should I pair with PMP?
It depends on your goal.
| Your situation | Good AWS pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New to cloud, managing tech projects | Cloud Practitioner | Teaches the vocabulary you need to manage cloud teams |
| Already technical, want an architect role | Solutions Architect – Associate | Deeper and more valued for hands-on roles, but needs more study time |
| Program or delivery manager in a cloud company | Cloud Practitioner first, Associate later | Fits best inside a PMP-heavy year |
If you choose the Associate exam and you're new to AWS, add 3 to 4 weeks to the AWS phase. Your whole plan becomes about 24 weeks.
How do I change the plan if I have more or less time?
- Only 5 to 6 hours a week? Double the length of each phase. AWS phase becomes about 16 weeks, PMP phase about 20. Keep the order the same.
- 15+ hours a week? You can shrink the plan to about 14 weeks, but don't cut practice exam weeks. Cut lesson weeks instead.
- PMP application gets audited? Keep studying AWS. Gather the signatures and documents PMI asks for. Push your PMP exam date if needed, not your AWS date.
- You fail one exam? Review the score report, book a retake according to the provider's waiting rules, and spend two to three focused weeks on the weak domains. Then return to the plan.
What mistakes break a combined study plan?
1. Waiting to start the PMP application. Writing experience descriptions takes longer than people expect. Do it in week 1.
2. Only watching videos. Both exams reward practice questions. Start practice tests by the middle of each phase.
3. Skipping AWS hands-on labs. Clicking through the console for real, even in the free tier, makes services stick. Set a billing alert first so you don't get surprise charges.
4. Booking both exams in the same month. Give yourself at least 8 weeks between them.
5. No rest days. Take one full day off per week. Tired study is slow study.
Always check the official exam guide from AWS and the current Exam Content Outline from PMI before you start. Both organizations update their exams, and your materials should match the current version.
Your next step
Today, open PMI's website and start a draft of your PMP application — just list your projects with start and end dates. Then go to the AWS certification page, download the official exam guide for the exam you picked, and put a target exam date in your calendar about 9 weeks from now. Those two actions start the clock on both certifications.
FAQ
Can I study for AWS and PMP at the same time?
Yes, but it works better in overlapping phases. Do PMP paperwork and education hours early, focus on AWS first and take that exam, then make PMP your main focus while doing light AWS review.
Which exam should I take first, AWS or PMP?
AWS first is usually easier, because it has no application or approval step. You can book it any time, while PMP needs PMI approval. Use the approval wait for AWS study.
How long does it take to prepare for both?
With 10 to 12 hours a week, about 20 weeks is realistic when pairing PMP with AWS Cloud Practitioner. Add a few weeks if you choose an Associate-level AWS exam.