[AWS Certification] Passed in 1 week with no practical AWS experience! General affairs staff obtains AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF) certification

Hello. I am ozaki from Classmethod Operations, in charge of general affairs at the Classmethod Group.
I recently obtained the AWS Certified AI Practitioner certification, so I'd like to share my reflections on the journey to getting certified.

Background and Exam Overview

Purpose for Taking the Exam

I had previously obtained AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate certifications. Since it had been nearly 4 years, and because the AIF is a certification that can be pursued without practical experience, I took the exam with the desire to acquire basic knowledge about AI.

What is the AI Practitioner (AIF)?

It's an AWS certification focused on basic AI, machine learning, and generative AI.
It certifies knowledge of basic AI concepts, related AWS services, and security and compliance in AI implementation. It's designed for beginners across various professions interested in AI, not just for technical professionals. For exam details, please check the official page.

Exam Registration and Real-World Tips for Exam Day

How to Register for AWS Exams

Since it had been 4 years since my last exam, I started by researching how to register.
The process for taking an AWS exam is as follows:

① Create an AWS Builder ID
Access the exam reservation site, proceed to "Schedule Exam," and create an "AWS Builder ID" by entering the required information.

② Select and register for the exam
Log in to the exam registration site and apply.
You can choose to take the exam at a test center or online from home.

Test Center Exam Tips

I took the exam at a test center in Osaka, and there were the following checks, so preparing in advance will help ensure a smooth experience:

・Reception opens 30 minutes before the exam starts
I arrived early and was told to wait outside since there was no waiting area.
Entry to the reception area was also not allowed, so be careful about arriving more than 30 minutes early.
・Two forms of ID are required
・All belongings must be stored in lockers
・Hair clips are not allowed ※Hair ties are available to borrow
・Pockets will be checked to ensure nothing is inside
I had to turn my pockets inside out for inspection.
・All accessories must be removed

My Learning Approach

Study Period

The study period from start to passing was about 1 week.
Since there is a lot of memorization, I felt it was more efficient to study intensively over a short period.

Study Methods and Materials Used

Here's how I studied for the exam:
①Read the textbook
②Solve practice questions on Udemy
③Read the textbook again ※To reinforce knowledge in areas where I made mistakes on practice tests

I was able to pass following this approach.

Here's the textbook I used:
『AWS Certified AI Practitioner Study Guide + Practice Tests』
This textbook was written by a Classmethod employee and was very easy to understand even for beginners who have never used AWS. With beginner-friendly explanations and illustrations rather than just technical terms, I was able to absorb the knowledge. Although it had been 4 years since I last studied for an AWS exam, this textbook helped me deepen my understanding smoothly.

Here's the Udemy course I used:
This course was widely used within the company:
『【Shortest Path to Success! 2026 Latest Version】AWS Certified AI Practitioner Practice Exam【AIF-C01】+Basic Knowledge Questions』
I believe repeatedly working through this question set until achieving a score of over 80% helps reinforce memory and leads to passing the exam.

Future Outlook

Although I don't have opportunities to use AWS in my general affairs work, through studying, I feel I've become able to craft prompts more effectively and use AI with an understanding of its risks.
When handling company information as part of general affairs, I want to utilize AI safely while avoiding risks based on the security and compliance knowledge I learned in the exam.
Going forward, I aim to achieve further operational efficiency through rapidly evolving AI!

About Classmethod Operations Co., Ltd.

We are the operations company of the Classmethod Group.

We are a group of experts with specialized teams in operations, maintenance development, support, information systems, and back-office functions, providing everything from business agency services to problem-solving and high-value-added services through fully utilizing IT and AI "systems."

We are recruiting members for various positions.

If you are interested in our culture, systems, and work styles that realize "operational excellence" and "working and living authentically," please visit the Classmethod Operations Co., Ltd. Recruitment Site. ※We changed our company name from Annotation Inc. in January 2026.