AWS Certified Developer – Associate (DVA-C02) Study Guide
AWS Certified Developer – Associate validates building, deploying and debugging cloud-native applications on AWS. Exam DVA-C02 is 65 questions in 130 minutes, scored out of 1000 with 720 to pass, and costs $150 USD. It concentrates on development with AWS services — Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, S3 and the SDKs — plus security (IAM, Cognito, KMS), deployment through CI/CD, and troubleshooting with CloudWatch and X-Ray. Questions are scenario-based and often hinge on the specific limit, permission or retry behaviour of a service.
Overview
Level
Associate
Vendor
AWS
Audience
Software developers building on AWS, engineers adding cloud to an existing development skill set, and Solutions Architect or Cloud Practitioner holders who write code and want a development-focused credential. AWS recommends at least a year of hands-on experience with its services and comfort in at least one programming language. You do not need to be a strong programmer, but you do need to read code and understand APIs — the exam assumes both.
Why get AWS Developer Associate
The Developer Associate proves you can actually build on AWS—not just architect it, but write code against the SDKs, work with serverless (Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB), handle authentication and encryption, and ship through CI/CD. It's one of the most valuable associate AWS certs for software engineers because it maps directly to the day-to-day work of building cloud-native applications. As more development moves serverless and cloud-first, validating these skills is a strong signal to employers, and AWS developers consistently rank among the better-paid engineering roles.
Salary expectations
Typical salary range
$100,000 – $145,000
AWS development is well-paid engineering work. Developers with the DVA-C02 and cloud-native experience commonly earn $100K–$130K, with senior cloud and serverless engineers reaching $140K+. The cert is most valuable backed by a real portfolio—shipped applications and code matter as much as the credential to hiring managers.
When to get AWS Developer Associate
Take the Developer Associate if you write code against AWS, or want to. It pairs well with Solutions Architect – Associate: architecture plus development covers most of what an employer means by "cloud engineer". If you are brand new to AWS, do SAA-C03 or Cloud Practitioner first to learn the service catalogue. One piece of timing to plan around: AWS is replacing DVA-C02 with DVA-C03. Registration for the new version opens on 27 October 2026, and the last day to sit DVA-C02 is 1 December 2026 — so if you are starting now, check which version your booking and your study material target. Both award the same certification.
Exam details
Exam Quick Reference
- Exam Code
- DVA-C02
- Vendor
- AWS
- Level
- Associate
- Duration
- 130 minutes
- Format
- 65 questions: multiple choice and multiple response. Passing score: 720 (on a scale of 100–1000).
- Questions
- 65 questions
Renewal: Valid for 3 years. Recertify by passing the current Developer Associate exam, or by earning a higher-level AWS certification, which extends your validity.
Facts on this page last verified September 24, 2026 against official AWS sources.
Skills covered
Development with AWS Services (32%)
- Writing code using the AWS SDKs and CLI
- Serverless development: Lambda, API Gateway, Step Functions
- Working with DynamoDB and data modeling
- Event-driven patterns: SQS, SNS, EventBridge
- Authentication and authorization (Cognito, IAM roles)
Security (26%)
- IAM roles, policies, and least-privilege access for applications
- Encryption at rest and in transit (KMS)
- Managing secrets (Secrets Manager, Parameter Store)
- Securing API and service-to-service communication
- Cognito user and identity pools
Deployment (24%)
- CI/CD with CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy
- Infrastructure as code (CloudFormation, SAM)
- Deployment strategies: blue/green, canary, rolling
- Elastic Beanstalk and container deployment basics
- Packaging and deploying Lambda functions
Troubleshooting and Optimization (18%)
- Debugging with CloudWatch Logs, Metrics, and X-Ray
- Identifying and resolving deployment failures
- Optimizing application performance and cost
- Caching strategies (ElastiCache, DAX, CloudFront)
- Interpreting errors and exceptions from AWS services
Step-by-step study path
This sequence reflects what consistently works. Follow it in order—don't skip ahead.
- 1
Download the DVA-C02 exam guide
Get the official AWS Certified Developer – Associate (DVA-C02) exam guide. The four domains center on building, securing, deploying, and debugging applications—use the weightings to focus your study.
- 2
Work through a primary video course
Choose one comprehensive DVA-C02 course and complete it end to end. Stephane Maarek's course on Udemy is the community standard and includes hands-on coding demos. See the paid resources section.
- 3
Build something serverless in the free tier
Theory isn't enough here. Build a small app: a Lambda function behind API Gateway writing to DynamoDB, with IAM roles and CloudWatch logging. Hands-on building makes the development and troubleshooting domains intuitive.
- 4
Get comfortable with the SDK and CLI
The exam assumes you can read and reason about SDK calls and CLI commands. Practice in your language of choice—make API calls, handle pagination and errors, and use the CLI for deployments.
- 5
Learn the deployment toolchain
Work through CI/CD with CodePipeline/CodeBuild/CodeDeploy and infrastructure as code with CloudFormation/SAM. Deployment is 24% of the exam and rewards hands-on familiarity with the AWS developer tools.
- 6
Take practice exams
Work through full-length DVA-C02 practice exams—Tutorials Dojo's are the community favorite. Aim for 85%+ consistently before booking. Review every miss and reproduce the scenario where you can.
- 7
Schedule and sit the exam
Register through Pearson VUE or PSI (test center or online proctored). The exam is 130 minutes. Read code and CLI snippets carefully—several questions hinge on small details.
Ready for a structured course?
A top-rated course covers every AWS Developer Associate exam domain in order. See the paid resources section below for options and pricing.
View course options →Free resources
The official DVA-C02 exam guide with all four domains and weightings. Your study roadmap—start here.
A free AWS account for building. Nothing prepares you for the development domains like actually shipping a small serverless app.
AWS's own free training, including developer-focused learning plans. The official terminology matches the exam.
The Lambda, DynamoDB, and API Gateway developer guides are the authoritative source for the service behavior the exam tests.
Active community with recent DVA-C02 pass reports and resource recommendations.
Paid resources
The resources below are the most commonly recommended for the DVA-C02 exam. Prices reflect typical pricing—discounts run frequently.
| Provider | Type | Price | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Udemy – Stephane Maarek Developer Associate (DVA-C02) Course | Video Course | ~$15–$20 (on sale) | Most candidates – the community-standard DVA-C02 course with hands-on coding and deployment demos | |
| Udemy – Developer Associate (DVA-C02) Practice Exams | Practice Exams | ~$15–$20 (on sale) | Final exam preparation with realistic, full-length DVA-C02 practice tests | |
| AWS Certified Developer Study Guide DVA-C02 (Sybex, Brandon Rich) | Book | ~$40–$55 | Candidates who want a thorough written reference with online practice questions | |
| Tutorials Dojo – DVA-C02 Practice Exams (Jon Bonso) | Practice Exams | ~$15–$20 | Exam-style practice with detailed explanations—the community favorite for AWS practice tests |
Udemy – Stephane Maarek Developer Associate (DVA-C02) Course
Video Course · ~$15–$20 (on sale)
Most candidates – the community-standard DVA-C02 course with hands-on coding and deployment demos
Stephane Maarek's DVA-C02 course covers 30+ AWS services with hands-on demos. Frequently on sale—check current pricing.
Udemy – Developer Associate (DVA-C02) Practice Exams
Practice Exams · ~$15–$20 (on sale)
Final exam preparation with realistic, full-length DVA-C02 practice tests
Full-length practice exams matched to the real DVA-C02 difficulty. Use to confirm readiness before booking.
AWS Certified Developer Study Guide DVA-C02 (Sybex, Brandon Rich)
Book · ~$40–$55
Candidates who want a thorough written reference with online practice questions
The standard DVA-C02 book. Best used alongside a video course and hands-on building in the free tier.
Tutorials Dojo – DVA-C02 Practice Exams (Jon Bonso)
Practice Exams · ~$15–$20
Exam-style practice with detailed explanations—the community favorite for AWS practice tests
Jon Bonso's practice exams are widely cited as the closest match to real AWS exam difficulty. Explanations are as valuable as the questions.
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Vouchers & exam cost
The Developer Associate exam is $150 USD and is scheduled through Pearson VUE or PSI. Verify current pricing on the AWS certification page before booking.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take DVA-C02 or DVA-C03?
DVA-C02 is the current exam. AWS opens registration for DVA-C03 on 27 October 2026, and the last day to sit DVA-C02 is 1 December 2026. If you plan to test before December, stay on DVA-C02 and use the material you already have. If you are starting from scratch now, check the DVA-C03 exam guide before buying a course — content written for C02 will go stale. Either version awards the same certification for three years.
Is the AWS Developer Associate worth it?
For software engineers building on AWS, yes. It validates real development skills—SDKs, serverless, security, and CI/CD—that map to day-to-day cloud engineering work. It's most valuable paired with a portfolio of shipped applications.
Developer Associate or Solutions Architect Associate — which first?
SAA-C03 is more in-demand by name and broader; Developer Associate is more focused on building applications. If you write code, Developer Associate maps better to your work. Many engineers do both—architecture plus development is a strong combination.
Do I need to be a strong programmer for DVA-C02?
You need to be comfortable reading and reasoning about code and API calls, but you don't need to be an expert in any single language. The exam tests how you use AWS services from code, not advanced programming.
How hard is the DVA-C02 exam?
It's a genuine associate-level exam. The breadth—development, security, deployment, troubleshooting—is the challenge. Candidates who build hands-on (a serverless app in the free tier) find it much more approachable than those who only watch videos.
How long does it take to study for Developer Associate?
Most candidates spend 2 to 3 months part-time. Those with existing AWS or development experience may move faster. Budget time for hands-on building, not just video courses.
What comes after Developer Associate?
Common next steps are the DevOps Engineer Professional, the Solutions Architect Professional, or specialty certifications. Developer Associate plus SysOps or Solutions Architect Associate is also a strong combination.
Does the AWS Developer Associate expire?
Yes. It's valid for three years. Recertify by retaking the current exam or by earning a higher-level AWS certification, which extends your validity.
Jobs where AWS Developer Associate shows up
4 roles in our Career Navigator list AWS Developer Associate as worth having. Each page covers what the job involves day to day, its honest downside, and the typical pay.
- Software DeveloperEntry-level · AdjacentUseful once you are building cloud-hosted applications.
- Application Security EngineerSecond step · AdjacentMost application security work now happens in cloud-hosted apps.
- DevOps EngineerSecond step · CoreBuild, deploy and application-integration depth.
- DevSecOps EngineerSenior · CoreThe build-and-deploy side of cloud, properly.
Not sure which of these fits you? Take the free Navigator assessment →
More AWS certifications
- AWS Cloud PractitionerFoundation
- AWS Solutions Architect Associate SAA-C03Associate
Ready to study?
Start with the free resources above, then add a top-rated course and practice exams when you're ready to test yourself.