Introduction

Programmatic AWS access usually requires credentials such as an access key ID, secret access key, and sometimes a session token. In AWS Educate-style environments, the important detail is that not every learner account is allowed to create long-lived IAM access keys directly, so the answer often depends on whether your account includes full IAM control or only temporary lab credentials.

Understand The Credential Types

For normal AWS programmatic access, the common credential set is:

• 'AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID'
• 'AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY'
• sometimes AWS_SESSION_TOKEN

The first two identify and sign requests. The session token is required when the credentials are temporary, which is common in educational lab environments.

Why AWS Educate Can Be Different

Many education-focused AWS setups are intentionally restricted. The goal is to let students learn and run labs without giving unrestricted IAM administration. That leads to common patterns such as:

• console-only access
• temporary lab credentials generated for a session
• managed roles with limited permissions
• no ability to create permanent IAM users or long-lived access keys

So if you cannot find an "Access Keys" screen in the usual IAM workflow, that may be a policy restriction rather than a bug.

If Temporary Credentials Are Provided

Some environments provide credentials explicitly in a lab portal or classroom interface. In that case, configure them in the CLI or environment variables.

1export AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY_ID"
2export AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY="YOUR_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY"
3export AWS_SESSION_TOKEN="YOUR_SESSION_TOKEN"
4export AWS_DEFAULT_REGION="us-east-1"

Then test them:

aws sts get-caller-identity

If the session token is required and omitted, many commands will fail even if the access key ID and secret look correct.

CLI Credentials File Example

You can also store the credentials in the standard AWS shared credentials files.

1[default]
2aws_access_key_id = YOUR_ACCESS_KEY_ID
3aws_secret_access_key = YOUR_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY
4aws_session_token = YOUR_SESSION_TOKEN
5region = us-east-1

This is convenient for short lab sessions, but remember that temporary credentials expire.

If You Do Not See Any Keys At All

If your AWS Educate environment does not expose programmatic credentials, the next step is usually administrative rather than technical. Check:

• whether the course portal offers temporary CLI credentials
• whether the lab instructions require browser-only use
• whether the instructor or program admin has disabled IAM user key creation

Trying to create keys inside IAM will fail if the account model does not grant that permission.

Security Basics Still Apply

Even in a student environment, credentials should be treated as secrets.

Do not:

• paste keys into source code
• commit them to Git
• share screenshots containing them
• assume temporary credentials are harmless just because they expire

Use environment variables or the AWS credentials file instead of hard-coding values into applications.

Python Example With Boto3

If your environment does provide valid credentials, boto3 can use them automatically from the environment or credentials file.

1import boto3
2
3s3 = boto3.client("s3")
4response = s3.list_buckets()
5for bucket in response.get("Buckets", []):
6    print(bucket["Name"])

This works only if the credentials exist and the attached permissions allow the requested action.

Common Pitfalls

The most common mistake is looking only for long-lived IAM access keys when the environment actually provides temporary credentials plus a session token. In that case, two fields are not enough.

Another mistake is assuming every AWS Educate account includes the same IAM permissions as a personal AWS account. Educational programs often restrict what can be created or viewed.

A third issue is copying credentials correctly but forgetting expiration. Temporary credentials that worked earlier in the day may simply have timed out.

Summary

• Programmatic AWS access may require an access key ID, secret access key, and a session token.
• Educational AWS environments often restrict or replace long-lived IAM keys with temporary credentials.
• If credentials are provided, configure them with the CLI, environment variables, or the shared credentials file.
• If credentials are not visible, check the lab portal or program administrator rather than assuming IAM is broken.
• Treat all credentials as secrets, even in short-lived lab environments.