ACK Certification Process

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This page provides information about how to certify your Alexa Connect Kit (ACK)-based device. You must certify your device with both Works with Alexa (WWA) and Frustration-Free Setup (FFS) before you begin manufacturing and release it.

Passing certification before you mass produce your devices can help you avoid downstream issues due to unexpected certification failures. For example, a certification failure can sometimes require software or hardware changes.

Use the following instructions to complete WWA and FFS certifications for your ACK-based device.

ACK certification prerequisites

Meet the following prerequisites to certify your product.

Amazon developer account – When you submit your devices for certification, use the same developer account associated with your ACK virtual products.
Product description – Your product description must include your brand name or manufacturer name, and device model. You update these values on the ACK developer console products page.
Design Validation Test (DVT) samples – You produced a minimum of three DVT sample devices that use production-ready firmware and operate with full device functionality. They should be as close as possible to the final product, but they don't have to be final production units.
Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) – You created retail ASINs for your devices. For more details about your product ASINs, see Works with Alexa Badge Requirements.
Device barcodes – You generated your device barcodes and they're ready for testing.
Product packaging – You created production-packaging or appropriate physical production-packaging proofs with FFS-ready barcodes. You must include this packaging with your device when you ship it to your device tester. You can provide a physical or digital copy. For more details about FFS-ready barcodes, see Provisionee Barcode Specification and Wi-Fi Simple Setup Provisionee 2D Barcode Specification.
Instructions and documentation – You created detailed instructions on how to use your device, such as a device user guide. Include these instructions with your device when you ship it to your device tester. You can provide either a physical or digital copy.

Prepare your devices for certification

To prepare your devices for WWA and FFS certification, you must complete a series of device tests. The certification team uses the results of your tests to facilitate the certification process. Make sure your answers are accurate and detailed, otherwise it can delay the certification process.

Note: If you have device SKUs that share the same DeviceType, you only have to test a single device.

Self-test your devices for Works with Alexa (WWA)

Before you submit your devices for WWA certification, complete the following WWA test plans.

You must complete the corresponding WWA test plan for each of the smart home capability interfaces that you implemented on your device. For example, if you implemented two different capabilities on your device, such as PowerController and BrightnessController, complete two separate test plans.

To self-test your devices for WWA

Sign-in to the Alexa Certification Console.
Select Resources.
Under the Test Plans header, select View.
In the drop down box, choose WWA.
Search and download the relevant test plans for the smart home capabilities that you're using on your device.

Note: You must also complete the EndpointManagement test plan, regardless of the capabilities you're using on your device.
Complete all the test cases provided in the guides you download in step 5.
Document the results of your test cases in Column K of the test plan file. Document your device behavior in Column L with one of the following statuses: Pass, Fail, or N/A.

Try to follow the test plans in Columns H and I exactly as written. If you make any changes to these steps follow these instructions:
1. Document your test procedures changes and the new corresponding steps to follow.
  
  Provide this information in Columns M.
2. Provide any other relevant test preparation notes in Column N.
When you're satisfied with your testing results, send the files to your ACK representative for review.

Self-test your devices for Frustration-Free Setup (FFS)

Before you submit your devices for FFS certification, complete the following FFS test plans.

To self-test your devices for FFS

Sign-in to the Alexa Certification Console.
Click Resources.
Under the Test Plans header, click View.
Search for WSSOverBLEProvisioneeFFSTestPlanWithACK and download the guide.
Complete all the test cases provided in the guides you download.
Document the results of your test cases in the excel sheet Column G - Actual Results.

In this column, include the behavior you observed on your devices when running the test cases. Examples of behavior might include the content of your barcodes, setup success ratio, average connection time, and average registration time.
Update Column H with the results of your tests using one of the following statuses: Pass or Fail.

Try to follow the test plans in Columns D and E exactly as written. If you make any changes to these steps follow these instructions:
1. Document your test procedures changes and the new corresponding steps to follow. Provide this information in Columns I.
2. Provide any other relevant test preparation notes in Column J.
When you're satisfied with your testing results, send the files to your ACK representative for review. After your test cases are approved, you're provided with device shipping instructions.

Important: Before you ship any devices, meet the minimum certification prerequisites. For example, remember to include the production packaging or production packaging proofs with the final production barcodes in the actual size that you're using for production.

Submit your devices for certification

The following sections detail how to submit an ACK-based device for WWA and FFS certification.

Works with Alexa (WWA) certification

Use the following instructions to submit your devices for WWA certification.

To register your products in the certification console

Sign-in to the Alexa Certification Console.
Register your smart home products. To complete this task, follow all the instructions in Register Your Product.
- During the registration process, you complete the Product page, Services page, Capabilities page, and Setup page. Make sure you save each page as you complete them.
- On the Product page, if you're selling your device online, select Yes. Providing your ASIN is optional. If you have multiple ASINs, provide the ASIN for the device that you're using for certification and testing. Otherwise, leave the field blank.
- On the Capabilities page, select the Alexa Smart Home capabilities that you're using on your device. These capabilities must match the information you provided in your self-testing plans.
- On the Setup page, click Save & Finish to submit your product for registration.
- On the Setup page, click Yes to start your certification request.

To submit your product to WWA Certification

Sign-in to the Alexa Certification Console.
Follow all the instructions in Submit a Certification Request.
- For (a) Which product do you want to certify?, select the Works with Alexa program and the ACK-based product that you want to certify.
- For (f) Chipset model number, provide the name and model of the host microcontroller unit (HMCU) your using in your device.
- For (h) Optional media file upload, provide the detailed user guide, manual, and WWA self-testing results for your device. The ACK device tester uses these files during the testing process.
- For (j) Connection Type, select Alexa Connect Kit.
After you have submitted your product for certification, send an email to your ACK representative to confirm the WWA certification submission. In your email, include the project IDs of your certification submissions.

Frustration-Free Setup (FFS) certification

Use the following instructions to submit your devices for FFS certification.

To submit your product for FFS certification

Sign-in to the Alexa Certification Console.
Select Certification Requests.
Select Create Project.
In the certification program drop-down, choose Frustration-Free Setup.
Complete the rest of the instructions appropriately.

This includes filling out the form and uploading your self-testing certification plans, user guides, and any other relevant materials.
Submit the request.

Note: After a device passes FFS certification, you can certify it in other regions with a simplified process called FFS Derivative certification. To determine if your devices qualify for this process, see FFS Derivative Certification.

Request the Works with Alexa (WWA) badge

After you submit your product for certification, you can request the Works with Alexa (WWA) badge for your device ASINs. For more details about how to do this, see Request the Works with Alexa Badge.

Important: Only request WWA badges for the regions you're actively launching in, not regions you plan to launch in later. You can request new badges for new regions at a later date, when you actually launch your devices in that region. For example, if you're only initially launching your device in the United States, but plan to expand to another region later, only request a badge for the United States.

Track your certification status

After you submit your certification request, you can track its status.

To track your certification status

Sign-in to the Alexa Certification Console.
Select Certification.
Select Status.

For more details about status codes and your certification progress, see Monitor Certification Testing.

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Last updated: Nov 27, 2023