IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity • Certification
AWS Certified Security - Specialty
Validate deep AWS security, logging and incident response skill.
Researched and maintained by TestPrepPilot Editorial BoardCloud, IT & cybersecurity certifications desk · Figures last verified August 2026
The short version
What is the AWS Certified Security - Specialty and is it worth it?
SCS-C03 is a 170-minute specialty exam with 65 questions, costing $300 and requiring a 750 score to pass. It is AWS's dedicated security credential.
- AWS's dedicated security cert
- Covers IAM, logging, data protection
- Recognised for security roles
- Three-year validity
- Pairs with DevOps Pro
What is it?
What exactly is the AWS Certified Security - Specialty?
Validate deep AWS security, logging and incident response skill.
The AWS Certified Security - Specialty (SCS-C03) validates skill in securing the AWS platform, including incident response, logging and monitoring, infrastructure security, identity and access management, and data protection. It is the AWS credential for security engineers and architects who design and operate hardened cloud environments.
The path in brief
- Build AWS security experience
- Book SCS-C03
- Study IAM, logging, incident response
- Pass at 750
- Maintain with recertification
Before you book
Who is eligible to sit the AWS Certified Security - Specialty?
Who it is for: Cloud security engineers and architects.
The test itself
What is the format of the AWS Certified Security - Specialty?
The AWS Certified Security - Specialty is administered by Remote proctored (Pearson VUE) and runs 170 minutes, contains 65 questions (50 scored + 15 unscored) questions and requires 750 to pass.
| Administered by | Remote proctored (Pearson VUE) |
|---|---|
| Questions | 65 questions (50 scored + 15 unscored) |
| Time limit | 170 minutes |
| Pass mark | 750 |
| Exam fee | $300 |
| Format | Multiple choice and multiple response, online proctored |
Content outline
What topics are on the AWS Certified Security - Specialty?
The AWS Certified Security - Specialty is weighted across 5 domains; the largest are Infrastructure Security (26%), Data Protection (22%), Logging and Monitoring (20%).
Weightings come from the official exam outline. Study time is best allocated in roughly these proportions rather than evenly across domains.
- Incident Response 12%
Detection, response
- Logging and Monitoring 20%
CloudTrail, GuardDuty
- Infrastructure Security 26%
VPC, perimeter
- Identity and Access Management 20%
IAM, permissions
- Data Protection 22%
KMS, Macie
Money & time
How much does the AWS Certified Security - Specialty cost?
For the AWS Certified Security - Specialty, the exam fee is $300; the all-in cost is typically $300; most candidates spend 8-12 weeks preparing.
Cost breakdown
| Exam fee | $300 |
|---|---|
| Typical total | $300 |
Standard AWS list price.
Timeline
- Study 8-12 weeks
- Exam 170 minutes
Typical prep: 8-12 weeks
The path
How do you register for the AWS Certified Security - Specialty?
- 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 Security - Specialty?
- 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?
$124,910 median for information security analysts (BLS, May 2024)
There is no Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation called "AWS Security Specialty" — the certification validates security-engineering skill on AWS, and the wage question belongs to the role you perform with it. The closest official BLS occupation is Information Security Analysts, SOC 15-1212, which had a May 2024 median wage of $124,910, with the lowest 10 percent under $71,280 and the highest 10 percent above $173,780. The fit is deliberate: AWS Security Specialty holders work as cloud security engineers, security architects and cloud security analysts in AWS environments, all inside or directly adjacent to the information-security occupation, and BLS counted 182,300 information security analyst jobs in 2024, projecting a striking 30 percent growth from 2024 to 2034 with about 17,500 openings a year. The limitation to state plainly: the BLS median covers the whole occupation at all levels, credentialed or not, and the certification's value is as a recognised cloud-security signal that employers in AWS shops require or prefer for security roles. Read the number as the market for the occupation the credential serves.
| Measure | Figure | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage, information security analysts | $124,910 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1212, May 2024 |
| Lowest 10 percent | Under $71,280 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1212, May 2024 |
| Highest 10 percent | Above $173,780 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1212, May 2024 |
| Projected openings per year | ~17,500 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1212, 2024-2034 |
Job growth.BLS projects 30 percent growth for information security analysts from 2024 to 2034, about 17,500 openings per year.
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook - Information Security Analysts
Your odds
What are the pass rates?
AWS publishes no pass rate — the Security Specialty exam (SCS-C02) has 65 questions in 170 minutes, passing 750 of 1000
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 Security - Specialty exam (SCS-C02) has 65 questions with a 170-minute time limit, and a passing score of 750 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: threat detection and incident response; security logging and monitoring; infrastructure security; identity and access management; and data protection and compliance. The absence of a published pass rate is not an absence of standards: the 750 line on a Specialty exam is a demanding bar, and the exam rewards hands-on knowledge of the AWS security services — GuardDuty, Security Hub, CloudTrail, IAM, KMS and the detective and preventive controls. The practical reading: target 80 percent-plus on practice, use AWS's official exam guide and sample questions, and build the security experience the exam rewards.
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?
120-180 hours over 10-14 weeks of focused study
The SCS-C02 is a 65-question, 170-minute Specialty exam with a 750/1000 passing score, built on the official exam guide domains: threat detection and incident response, security logging and monitoring, infrastructure security, identity and access management, and data protection and compliance. A defensible plan runs 120 to 180 hours over 10 to 14 weeks. Weeks 1-3: identity and access management — IAM, the policies, the roles and the federation, because the identity domain anchors the exam. Weeks 4-6: detection and response — GuardDuty, Security Hub, CloudTrail, the detective controls and the incident-response patterns. Weeks 7-9: infrastructure and logging — the network security (VPC, security groups, WAF), the logging and monitoring stack, and the workload security. Weeks 10-11: data protection and compliance — KMS and encryption, the data-protection controls and the compliance frameworks. Weeks 12-14: scenario drilling and two full timed practice exams at the real format. The plan is security-service-heavy because the exam rewards hands-on knowledge of the AWS security stack.
- Weeks 1-340
Identity and access
- IAM policies, roles and federation
- Least privilege and the access patterns
- Hands-on IAM labs
- Weeks 4-640
Detection and response
- GuardDuty, Security Hub and CloudTrail
- Detective controls and findings
- Incident-response patterns
- Weeks 7-940
Infrastructure and logging
- VPC, security groups and WAF
- Logging and monitoring stack
- Workload security
- Weeks 10-1125
Data protection and compliance
- KMS and encryption patterns
- Data-protection controls
- Compliance frameworks
- Weeks 12-1430
Drill and mocks
- Scenario drilling in volume
- Two full timed practice exams
- Review weak domains
Adjusting the pace
Working security engineer.The security stack accelerates the plan; focus study on the domains outside your daily work and the exam format.
From general cloud administration.Add 2-3 weeks of security fundamentals before the full plan.
How to study
How do I prepare most effectively?
The SCS-C02 rewards hands-on knowledge of the AWS security services, so the dominant strategy is practising with the services in a lab: set up GuardDuty, CloudTrail and IAM policies, and work the detective-and-preventive control patterns, because the exam items test the services in practice. Second, master the identity domain deeply — IAM policies, roles, federation and least privilege — because it anchors the exam. Third, learn the detection and response patterns: which service detects what, and how the incident-response workflow operates, a distinct and heavily weighted domain. 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 750 line leaves little margin. Finally, take at least two full timed practice exams; 65 questions in 170 minutes is about 2.6 minutes per item, and the scenario items are reading-heavy.
Practise with the services
GuardDuty, CloudTrail and IAM in a lab — the exam tests the stack.
Master the identity domain
IAM policies, roles and federation anchor the exam.
Learn detection and response
Which service detects what and the response workflow.
Hold to 80%+ on practice
The Specialty-level 750 line leaves little margin.
Run two full simulations
65 questions in 170 minutes; drill the pace.
What to buy
Which study resources are worth paying for?
SCS-C02 prep spans official AWS resources and third-party courses. AWS's own materials — the exam guide (free), sample questions and the AWS Skill Builder security courses — are the authoritative source; a Skill Builder subscription runs roughly $29-$99/month. Third-party providers sell Security Specialty courses and practice exams at $50-$400. The AWS free tier supports hands-on security-lab practice. A realistic total budget is $200 to $700 including the $300 exam fee. 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 | $29-$99/month | Courses and hands-on labs | The official hands-on path |
| AWS free tier | $0 | Real cloud environment | Security-service labs |
| Third-party courses | $50-$400 | Video courses and labs | Structured walkthrough of the domains |
| Practice-exam products | $30-$120 | Online simulated exams | Scenario drilling before the exam |
List prices as of mid-2026, subject to change; the SCS-C02 exam fee is $300; no commission or affiliate ranking is implied.
Avoid these
What mistakes do candidates most often make?
The most common SCS-C02 mistake is studying the services in isolation: candidates who learn each AWS security service alone cannot answer the integration items, which ask which combination of services detects or prevents a described threat. The fix is studying the control patterns. The second mistake is under-preparing the identity domain, which anchors the exam and rewards precise IAM knowledge. Third, candidates new to AWS security under-prepare the detection and response domain, treating it as secondary when it is heavily weighted. Fourth, many candidates skip full timed simulations and misjudge the reading-heavy pace. Finally, some candidates rely on a single third-party course without reading the official exam guide, losing the exact scope and weighting.
✕Studying services in isolation
✓Study the control patterns: which combination detects or prevents.
✕Under-preparing identity
✓IAM anchors the exam; master the policies, roles and federation.
✕Treating detection as secondary
✓Detection and response is a heavily weighted domain.
✕Skipping full simulations
✓65 questions in 170 minutes; run two full timed exams.
✕Relying on one course
✓Audit against the official exam guide for the exact scope.
What you'll face
What question types will I see?
The SCS-C02 is a 65-question multiple-choice and multiple-response exam in 170 minutes. The items are scenario-heavy: a described security need — detect a threat, respond to an incident, secure access, protect data — followed by the correct service combination, configuration or practice across the exam guide domains. Samples below are editor-written illustrations of the published exam guide, not live exam items; they show the security-service style of the real items.
Which service detects what and the response workflow.
IAM policies, roles, federation and least privilege.
KMS, encryption and the compliance frameworks.
Try these
Q1A security team must continuously monitor for suspicious API activity across an AWS environment. The most appropriate service combination is:
Answer:A
CloudTrail records the API activity and GuardDuty detects suspicious patterns — the standard monitoring-and-detection combination. Log storage, manual review or a static dashboard each lack the detection capability.
Q2An application running on EC2 needs to access an S3 bucket without long-term credentials on the instance. The most appropriate approach is:
Answer:A
An instance profile with a least-privilege IAM role grants the EC2 instance temporary credentials — the secure pattern. Stored keys, root credentials or a public bucket each violate security best practice.
Q3To protect sensitive data at rest in S3, the most appropriate control is:
Answer:A
Server-side encryption with KMS protects data at rest — the standard control. Public buckets, no encryption or obfuscated names each fail the data-protection requirement.
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 SCS-C02 is a 65-question, 170-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 $300 fee. Pace at about 2.6 minutes per item, flag uncertain items for review, and budget extra time for the reading-heavy scenario items. You receive your score on screen immediately, with the official result and score report following; AWS reports your scaled score against the 750 line. If you fail, you may retake after a 14-day waiting period. On a pass, the certification is valid for three years. The afterwards matters: record the expiration date and plan the recertification cycle 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
- 170 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 Security - Specialty?
AWS Certified Security - Specialty is a certification credential; awarded by Amazon Web Services; the exam fee is $300; typical preparation is 8-12 weeks; holders typically earn $140,000-$185,000.
| Credential | AWS Certified Security - Specialty |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | AWS Security Specialty |
| Type | Certification |
| Profession | IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity |
| Specialty | Amazon Web Services |
| Awarded by | Amazon Web Services |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Typical prep time | 8-12 weeks |
| All-in cost | $300 |
| Typical salary range | $140,000-$185,000 |
| Delivery | Online proctored multiple choice |
| Level | Specialty |
| Validity | 3 years |
| Cost | $300 |
| Scope | National / Multi-state |
| Also known as | SCS-C03, SCS-C02 |
Real questions
Frequently asked questions about the AWS Certified Security - Specialty
Is SCS-C03 the same as the old SCS-C02?
SCS-C03 is the current version; it replaced SCS-C02 in 2025 with refreshed content but the same security focus and 750 pass mark.
Which services matter most?
IAM, CloudTrail, GuardDuty, KMS, Macie, and VPC security (security groups, NACLs, private connectivity) appear throughout the exam.
Do I need a Developer or Architect cert first?
An Associate cert is recommended as a baseline, but the exam focuses on security specifically rather than broad architecture.
How long is it valid?
Three years. Recertify by passing the current version or a higher AWS credential.
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 Security - Specialty worth it?
- AWS security specialty exam
- Covers incident response, logging, IAM, data protection
- 750 pass, $300, 170 minutes
- Valid for three years
Same awarding body
What other credentials does Amazon Web Services award?
Worth comparing
How does the AWS Certified Security - Specialty 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 Security - Specialty exam page Exam page
Research confidence: high · Last reviewed 2026-08