IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity • Certification
AWS Certified Developer - Associate
Prove you can build and deploy apps on AWS as a developer.
Researched and maintained by TestPrepPilot Editorial BoardCloud, IT & cybersecurity certifications desk · Figures last verified August 2026
The short version
What is the AWS Certified Developer - Associate and is it worth it?
DVA-C02 is a 130-minute associate exam with 65 questions, costing $150 and requiring a 720 score to pass. It is aimed at developers building on AWS.
- Developer-focused AWS credential
- Covers Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB
- Emphasizes CI/CD and IaC
- Three-year validity
- Strong for app-developer roles
What is it?
What exactly is the AWS Certified Developer - Associate?
Prove you can build and deploy apps on AWS as a developer.
The AWS Certified Developer - Associate (DVA-C02) validates the ability to develop, deploy and debug cloud-based applications using AWS services. It covers development with AWS services, security and compliance, deployment and infrastructure as code, and monitoring and troubleshooting, with emphasis on Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB and developer tooling.
The path in brief
- Build apps on Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB
- Book DVA-C02
- Study IaC, CI/CD and security
- Pass at 720
- Advance to DevOps Pro
Before you book
Who is eligible to sit the AWS Certified Developer - Associate?
Who it is for: Software developers building on AWS.
The test itself
What is the format of the AWS Certified Developer - Associate?
The AWS Certified Developer - Associate is administered by Remote proctored (Pearson VUE) and runs 130 minutes, contains 65 questions (50 scored + 15 unscored) questions and requires 720 to pass.
| Administered by | Remote proctored (Pearson VUE) |
|---|---|
| Questions | 65 questions (50 scored + 15 unscored) |
| Time limit | 130 minutes |
| Pass mark | 720 |
| Exam fee | $150 |
| Format | Multiple choice and multiple response, online proctored |
Content outline
What topics are on the AWS Certified Developer - Associate?
The AWS Certified Developer - Associate is weighted across 4 domains; the largest are Development with AWS Services (32%), Security and Compliance (26%), Deployment and Infrastructure as Code (24%).
Weightings come from the official exam outline. Study time is best allocated in roughly these proportions rather than evenly across domains.
- Development with AWS Services 32%
Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB
- Security and Compliance 26%
IAM, secrets, KMS
- Deployment and Infrastructure as Code 24%
CloudFormation, CodePipeline
- Monitoring and Troubleshooting 18%
CloudWatch, X-Ray
Money & time
How much does the AWS Certified Developer - Associate cost?
For the AWS Certified Developer - Associate, the exam fee is $150; the all-in cost is typically $150; most candidates spend 6-10 weeks preparing.
Cost breakdown
| Exam fee | $150 |
|---|---|
| Typical total | $150 |
Standard AWS list price.
Timeline
- Study 6-10 weeks
- Exam 130 minutes
Typical prep: 6-10 weeks
The path
How do you register for the AWS Certified Developer - Associate?
- 1
Create an AWS Certification account5 minutes
Sign in with your AWS Training account or create one at aws.amazon.com/certification; it manages your exam registration, score report and digital badge.
- 2
Choose your exam and level
Pick the credential that matches your role. Most candidates start at Foundational (CLF/AIF) or Associate (SAA, DVA, SOA) and progress to Professional or Specialty.
- Foundational: CLF-C02, AIF-C01
- Associate: SAA-C03, DVA-C02, SOA-C03, DEA-C01, MLA-C01
- Professional: SAP-C02, DOP-C02, AIP-C01
- Specialty: SCS-C03, ANS-C01
- 3
Schedule and pay10 minutes
Book through Pearson VUE at a test centre or online proctored. Foundational and Associate cost $100/$150; Professional and Specialty cost $300.
- 4
Prepare with official resources2-12 weeks
Use the free Exam Guide, AWS Skill Builder Official Practice Questions and Builder labs. Budget 2-12 weeks depending on level.
- 5
Sit the exam
Exams are scored 100-1000 against a fixed pass mark (700 Foundational, 720 Associate, 750 Professional/Specialty). Results appear immediately.
The fine print
What are the retake and renewal rules for the AWS Certified Developer - Associate?
- Proctoring & delivery
- Delivered by Pearson VUE at a test centre or online with a live proctor. A government photo ID is required and the online environment is scanned before the session.
- Retake policy
- If you do not pass, you must wait 14 days before retaking the same exam. Each attempt is paid; there is no limit on attempts.
- Score reporting
- Exams are scored on a 100-1000 scale. Foundational pass at 700, Associate at 720, Professional and Specialty at 750. A score report shows section-level feedback under a compensatory model (no section minimum).
- Recertification
- All AWS certifications are valid for three years. Recertify by passing the latest version of the same exam, or by earning a higher-level credential that automatically refreshes lower ones (for example, DevOps Pro refreshes CloudOps Associate).
- Refunds & rescheduling
- Cancellation and reschedule rules follow Pearson VUE; refunds are generally not given for no-shows, and reschedules must occur before the cut-off window.
Context
AWS certification levels
| Level | Duration | Fee | Pass score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundational (CLF-C02, AIF-C01) | 90 min | $100 | 700 | |
| Associate (SAA/DVA/SOA/DEA/MLA) | 130 min | $150 | 720 | |
| Professional (SAP/DOP/AIP) | 180 min | $300 | 750 | |
| Specialty (SCS/ANS) | 170 min | $300 | 750 |
What it pays
How much does this credential pay?
$132,270 median for software developers (BLS, May 2024)
There is no Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation called "AWS Developer" — the certification validates cloud development skill, and the wage question belongs to the role you perform with it. The closest official BLS occupation is Software Developers, SOC 15-1252, which had a May 2024 median wage of $132,270, with the lowest 10 percent under $84,060 and the highest 10 percent above $208,500. The fit is direct: AWS Certified Developer - Associate holders work as cloud application developers, backend engineers and DevOps-minded developers who build and deploy on AWS. BLS counted 1,684,900 software developer jobs in 2024 and projects 17 percent growth from 2024 to 2034, far faster than the average for all occupations, with about 150,000 openings a year. The limitation to state plainly: the BLS median covers the whole occupation, credentialed or not, and an Associate-level certification is an early-to-mid career signal, so the realistic benchmark for a new holder sits around or below the median, climbing with experience. Read the number as the market for the occupation, and note that developer pay varies strongly by location, stack and seniority.
| Measure | Figure | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage, software developers | $132,270 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1252, May 2024 |
| Lowest 10 percent | Under $84,060 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1252, May 2024 |
| Highest 10 percent | Above $208,500 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1252, May 2024 |
| Projected openings per year | ~150,000 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1252, 2024-2034 |
Job growth.BLS projects 17 percent growth for software developers from 2024 to 2034, about 150,000 openings per year.
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook - Software Developers
Your odds
What are the pass rates?
AWS publishes no pass rate — it publishes the passing score: 720 of 1000, with a 65-question, 130-minute exam
AWS does not publish cohort pass rates for its certification exams, and third-party surveys are not official data, so we do not treat them as authoritative. What AWS does publish is the format and the passing standard: the Developer - Associate exam (DVA-C02) has 65 questions, a 130-minute time limit, and a passing score of 720 on the 100-1000 scale. The exam is delivered at Pearson VUE centres or through online proctoring, and the certification is valid for three years. The exam content follows the official exam guide, with domains covering development with AWS services, deployment (CI/CD and infrastructure as code), debugging and optimisation, and security. The absence of a published pass rate is not an absence of standards: the Developer exam is a hands-on-flavoured test that rewards working knowledge of Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, S3, the SDK and CloudFormation, and the 720 line on 65 questions requires consistent performance across the domains. The practical reading: target 80 percent-plus on practice exams and use AWS's official exam guide and sample questions, the closest thing to the real item style.
Read this before quoting the number.AWS publishes the passing score and format but no pass rate; any percentage circulating online is a third-party estimate.
Your schedule
How long should I study for it?
80-120 hours over 8-10 weeks of focused study
The DVA-C02 is a 65-question, 130-minute exam with a 720/1000 passing score, built on domains that follow the exam guide: development with AWS services, deployment (CI/CD and infrastructure as code), debugging and optimisation, and security for developers. The exam rewards working knowledge of the developer toolkit — Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, S3, IAM, the AWS SDK, CloudFormation and the CI/CD services — and it is one of the most hands-on Associate exams. A defensible plan runs 80 to 120 hours over 8 to 10 weeks. Weeks 1-3 build the service foundation: compute and serverless (Lambda, API Gateway), storage (S3), databases (DynamoDB), and the SDK patterns for each. Weeks 4-5 cover deployment: CodeCommit/CodeBuild/CodeDeploy/CodePipeline, CloudFormation and infrastructure as code. Weeks 6-7 cover debugging, optimisation and security: CloudWatch, X-Ray, IAM and the shared-responsibility model applied to developer choices. Weeks 8-10 add scenario drilling and two full timed practice exams at the real format. The plan is hands-on-heavy because the exam rewards experience; running the services yourself, even at a small scale, converts service knowledge into the applied judgement the items test.
- Weeks 1-335
Service foundation
- Lambda, API Gateway and serverless patterns
- S3 and DynamoDB with SDK patterns
- Build small hands-on exercises in each
- Weeks 4-525
Deployment
- CodeCommit, CodeBuild, CodeDeploy, CodePipeline
- CloudFormation and infrastructure as code
- CI/CD hands-on lab
- Weeks 6-725
Debug, optimise, secure
- CloudWatch and X-Ray patterns
- IAM and security for developers
- Error-log drill against the exam guide
- Weeks 8-1025
Timed simulations
- Two full 65-question, 130-minute practice exams
- Review every miss; re-study weak domains
- Schedule the exam
Adjusting the pace
Working cloud developer.Compress the service foundation; spend the extra time on CI/CD and debugging scenarios.
Coming from general development.Add 2 weeks of AWS fundamentals before the developer-specific domains.
How to study
How do I prepare most effectively?
The DVA-C02 rewards hands-on developer experience, so the dominant strategy is to build small real projects in the core services rather than only studying: a Lambda function behind API Gateway writing to DynamoDB, deployed through a CodePipeline with CloudFormation, covers a large share of the exam's content in one exercise. Second, learn the SDK and CLI patterns, because the exam tests how developers interact with services in code — permissions, retries, pagination and error handling. Third, master the deployment domain: CI/CD and infrastructure as code are a distinct block, and candidates with no pipeline experience routinely under-prepare it. Fourth, use AWS's official exam guide and sample questions, the closest thing to the real item style, and hold yourself to 80 percent-plus on practice because the 720 line leaves little margin. Fifth, take at least two full timed simulations; 65 questions in 130 minutes is exactly 2 minutes per item, and the scenario items are reading-heavy. Finally, practise the "fewest changes / most efficient" reasoning, because the exam frequently asks for the option that meets the requirement with the least modification.
Build real mini-projects
A Lambda-API-DynamoDB pipeline covers a large share of the exam in one exercise.
Learn the SDK patterns
The exam tests how developers interact with services in code — permissions, retries, errors.
Master the deployment domain
CI/CD and CloudFormation are a distinct block; candidates without pipelines under-prepare it.
Hold to 80%+ on practice
The 720/1000 line on 65 questions leaves little margin.
Drill the fewest-changes reasoning
The exam rewards the option that meets the requirement with the least modification.
What to buy
Which study resources are worth paying for?
DVA-C02 prep spans official AWS materials and third-party courses. AWS's own resources — the exam guide, sample questions, skill builder digital courses and labs — are the authoritative source and range from free to a few hundred dollars. Third-party video courses run from roughly $30/month subscriptions to several-hundred-dollar packages, and practice-exam products are essential given the scenario-heavy format. Hands-on practice is non-negotiable: AWS's free tier supports realistic developer experiments at low cost, and the AWS free tier budget is the highest-value line item in most study plans. A realistic total budget is $250 to $800 including the exam fee ($150) and one to three months of a course subscription. Prices below are list prices as of mid-2026 and change frequently; we rank nothing by commission.
| Resource | Price | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS exam guide + sample questions | Free | Official PDF + practice items | The authoritative scope; read it first |
| AWS Skill Builder courses | $29-$99/month | Digital courses and labs | Official learning aligned to the exam |
| Third-party video courses | $30-$300 | Video subscriptions or packages | Structured walkthrough of the domains |
| Practice-exam products | $30-$120 | Online simulated exams | The scenario format is essential to drill |
| AWS free tier | $0 | Hands-on environment | Building the developer projects the exam rewards |
List prices as of mid-2026, subject to change; the DVA-C02 exam fee is $150; no commission or affiliate ranking is implied.
Avoid these
What mistakes do candidates most often make?
The most common DVA-C02 mistake is studying services without building: candidates who read about Lambda and DynamoDB but never write a function miss the SDK and error-handling items that the exam concentrates on. The fix is hands-on projects from the start. The second mistake is under-preparing the deployment domain — candidates with no CI/CD or CloudFormation experience routinely lose that block; build one pipeline end to end. Third, many candidates study like architects and under-weight the developer-specific mechanics: IAM permissions in code, retries, pagination and error handling, which the Developer exam tests more than the Architect exam. Fourth, candidates skip full timed simulations and misjudge the 2-minutes-per-item pace on reading-heavy scenarios. Fifth, some candidates rely on a single third-party course without ever reading the official exam guide, losing the exact scope and weighting. Finally, ignoring the three-year validity clock is a quiet mistake; plan recertification early.
✕Studying without building
✓Write real Lambda-API-DynamoDB code; the exam rewards hands-on experience.
✕Under-preparing deployment
✓Build one CI/CD pipeline with CloudFormation end to end.
✕Studying like an architect
✓Master the developer mechanics: SDK, IAM in code, retries, pagination, errors.
✕Skipping timed simulations
✓65 questions in 130 minutes; run two full simulations.
✕Ignoring the validity clock
✓The certification expires in three years; plan recertification.
What you'll face
What question types will I see?
The DVA-C02 is a 65-question multiple-choice and multiple-response exam in 130 minutes. The items are scenario-heavy: a described application or development task — building an API, debugging a Lambda, deploying through a pipeline, securing an SDK call — followed by the correct service choice, code pattern, or the "fewest changes" option. The exam tests the developer toolkit across the exam guide domains: development with AWS services, deployment, debugging and optimisation, and security. Samples below are editor-written illustrations of the published exam guide, not live exam items; they show the hands-on, code-flavoured style of the real items.
Building and integrating applications with AWS services.
Pipelines, infrastructure as code and deployment strategy.
CloudWatch, X-Ray, IAM and error-handling patterns.
Try these
Q1A developer must expose a REST API backed by AWS Lambda with per-user access control. The most appropriate combination is:
Answer:A
API Gateway fronting Lambda with authorizers and IAM delivers a serverless REST API with per-user access control. A public gateway, an EC2 web server, or S3 static hosting each miss the serverless-plus-authorization combination the requirement specifies.
Q2A Lambda function intermittently fails when calling a downstream API that returns throttling errors. The most appropriate fix is:
Answer:A
Throttling errors are transient; exponential backoff with retries is the standard client pattern for handling them gracefully. Increasing memory, changing regions or shrinking the timeout do not address throttled downstream calls.
Q3A developer must deploy application changes automatically when code is merged to the main branch. The most appropriate service is:
Answer:A
CodePipeline can be triggered by repository events, orchestrating build and deploy automatically on merge — the standard CI/CD pattern. Manual deploys, hand-copying code or event-driven copying each lack the automated pipeline the requirement specifies.
Samples are editor-written illustrations of the published exam guide, not live exam items.
The big day
What should I expect on exam day?
The DVA-C02 is a 65-question, 130-minute computer-based exam at a Pearson VUE centre or through online proctoring. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name and your appointment confirmation; personal items go in the locker. Arrive 30 minutes early; late arrivals forfeit the appointment and the $150 fee. Pace at exactly 2 minutes per item, flag uncertain items for review, and budget extra time for the reading-heavy scenario items. You receive your score immediately on screen, with the official result and score report following; AWS does not reveal a pass rate, only your 100-1000 scaled score against the 720 line. If you fail, you may retake after a 14-day waiting period. On a pass, the certification is valid for three years; recertify by passing the current exam again or the recertification path. The afterwards matters: record the expiration date and plan recertification early.
Bring
- Valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name
- Appointment confirmation
Leave at home
- Phone, smartwatch and all electronics
- Notes and study materials
- Personal bags beyond what the centre allows
How the day runs
Rules in the room
- No personal electronics in the testing room
- 130 minutes for 65 questions; the clock does not pause
- A 14-day wait applies before retaking after a fail
Afterwards.On a pass, your certification is valid for three years; recertify by passing the current exam or the recertification path. On a fail, wait 14 days and retake after additional domain study.
Reference
What are the key facts about the AWS Certified Developer - Associate?
AWS Certified Developer - Associate is a certification credential; awarded by Amazon Web Services; the exam fee is $150; typical preparation is 6-10 weeks; holders typically earn $115,000-$155,000.
| Credential | AWS Certified Developer - Associate |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | AWS Developer |
| Type | Certification |
| Profession | IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity |
| Specialty | Amazon Web Services |
| Awarded by | Amazon Web Services |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Typical prep time | 6-10 weeks |
| All-in cost | $150 |
| Typical salary range | $115,000-$155,000 |
| Delivery | Online proctored multiple choice |
| Level | Associate |
| Validity | 3 years |
| Cost | $150 |
| Scope | National / Multi-state |
| Also known as | DVA-C02 |
Real questions
Frequently asked questions about the AWS Certified Developer - Associate
Is DVA-C02 coding-heavy?
It is scenario-based, not a live coding test, but you must understand SDKs, Lambda, API Gateway and deployment patterns rather than just theory.
Which services should I prioritise?
Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, S3, CloudFormation and CodePipeline appear most often, along with CloudWatch and X-Ray for monitoring.
How does it compare with Solutions Architect Associate?
SAA-C03 focuses on architecture design; DVA-C02 focuses on building and deploying applications, so they overlap but target different daily work.
How long is it valid?
Three years. Recertify by passing the current version or a higher AWS certification such as DevOps Engineer Professional.
Which AWS cert should I start with?
Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) for general cloud literacy or AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) for AI/ML context. Role-based candidates often go straight to Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03).
Do AWS certifications expire?
Yes, after three years. You recertify by passing the current version or a higher credential that refreshes it.
Are the exams hands-on?
AWS exams are scenario-based multiple choice and multiple response, not live-terminal. They test applied judgement rather than memorisation.
How are questions scored?
Each exam has 50 scored questions plus 15 unscored items used for future research; the 100-1000 scaled score maps difficulty across forms.
In short
Is the AWS Certified Developer - Associate worth it?
- AWS developer associate exam
- Covers development, security, deployment, monitoring
- 720 pass, $150, 130 minutes
- Valid for three years
Same awarding body
What other credentials does Amazon Web Services award?
Worth comparing
How does the AWS Certified Developer - Associate compare with similar credentials?
Trust
Where does this information come from?
Everything above is taken from the awarding body's own published material. Fees, question counts and domain weights are revised regularly — check the official page before you pay.
- Amazon Web Services Awarding body
- Official AWS Certified Developer - Associate exam page Exam page
Research confidence: high · Last reviewed 2026-08