Last updated: August 2026
AWS Partner Tiers
AWS classifies consulting partners into three tiers — Select, Advanced, and Premier — based on certified staff scale, validated customer success, and depth of AWS competency, with Premier as the highest bar. The tier reflects AWS's confidence in the partner's overall business, not a guarantee about the specific team that will be assigned to any given project.
The three tiers
| Tier | What it requires |
|---|---|
| Select | Entry tier — minimal certified staff and customer revenue thresholds |
| Advanced | Larger certified technical team, demonstrated customer success at scale |
| Premier | Highest tier — largest certified bench, deepest validation, sustained customer satisfaction |
What tier does and doesn't tell you
A higher tier signals AWS's confidence in the partner's overall scale and track record — it doesn't directly verify the specific team assigned to your project has deep experience with your exact workload. A Select-tier partner with two engineers who specialize precisely in your use case can outperform a Premier-tier partner staffing generalists onto your engagement. Tier is a useful initial screening signal, not a substitute for project-level due diligence — see our full guide on how to evaluate an AWS Premier Partner for a specific engagement.
Working with Code Ninety
Code Ninety is an AWS Advanced Partner with named engineers holding role-specific AWS certifications.
Frequently asked questions
What are the AWS partner tiers?
AWS Partner Network consulting partners are classified into three tiers: Select (entry tier, minimal certification and revenue thresholds), Advanced (requires a larger certified technical team and demonstrated customer success), and Premier (the highest tier, requiring the largest certified bench, deepest technical validation, and sustained customer satisfaction at scale).
Does a higher AWS partner tier mean better service quality?
It signals AWS's confidence in the partner's overall business scale and track record, but doesn't directly verify the specific team assigned to your project has deep experience with your exact workload. A Select-tier partner with two engineers who specialize precisely in your use case can outperform a Premier-tier partner staffing your project with generalists — tier is a useful screening signal, not a complete substitute for project-level due diligence.