Exam Overview

The AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam is the current associate exam for earning AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate. It follows the official AWS exam guide for SOA-C03.

• Exam Code: SOA-C03
• Level: Associate AWS Certification exam
• Duration: 130 minutes. Available languages: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese.
• Passing Score: 720 on AWS’s scaled score range of 100–1,000.
• Scored and Unscored Content: 50 questions affect the score and 15 unscored questions are not identified.

Exam Structure

The AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam contains 65 questions and measures the weighted domains in the official AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate syllabus.

• Question Types: Multiple choice and multiple response.
• Number of Questions: 65.
• Hands-On Questions: The official exam guide describes computer-delivered selected-response question types; it does not list a separate hands-on lab section.

Exam Policies

Before completing AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam registration, review the AWS Certification Program Agreement, Candidate Code of Conduct, identification requirements, Pearson VUE rules, and appointment terms.

• Rescheduling: Reschedule through the AWS Certification Account at least 24 hours before the appointment. AWS permits an appointment to be rescheduled twice.
• Cancellation: Cancel at least 24 hours before the appointment. A late cancellation or missed appointment normally forfeits the exam fee.
• Retake Policy: After a failed attempt, wait 14 calendar days before retaking the exam. There is no attempt limit, but each attempt requires a new registration fee.
• Retake Fee: The full AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam fee applies to every retake unless a valid AWS promotion or voucher states otherwise.

Certification Validity and Renewal Options

Passing the AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam earns the AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate credential and its verifiable AWS digital badge.

• Validity: The certification is valid for three years from the date it is earned.
• Renewal Options: Recertify by passing the latest CloudOps Engineer – Associate exam, passing DevOps Engineer – Professional, or using the current AWS Skill Builder maintenance option.

Exam Fee

• Base AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam fee: USD 150, excluding applicable taxes. This base amount is the main component of the AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate certification cost, and AWS may display supported local-currency pricing during checkout.
• Taxes: Value-added tax and other local taxes may apply and can change the final AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate certification cost.
• Example (India): Candidates in India are subject to 18% GST, bringing the total exam fee to USD 177 (USD 150 + USD 27 GST).

Prerequisites

Formal Prerequisites: AWS does not require candidates to hold another certification before taking this exam.

• AWS targets candidates with one year of experience in deployment, management, troubleshooting, networking, and security on AWS, plus experience in a related operations role.
• Preparation should combine the current official AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate syllabus, AWS Skill Builder exam-preparation resources, and hands-on practice appropriate to the target role.
• Candidates should review the official in-scope and out-of-scope service lists because AWS periodically revises exam guides to keep the AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam current.

Exam Topics

The official AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate syllabus includes the following weighted domains and preparation focus:

• Monitoring, Logging, Analysis, Remediation, and Performance Optimization – 22%: observability, incident analysis, automated remediation, and resource performance.
• Reliability and Business Continuity – 22%: high availability, backups, disaster recovery, and recovery testing.
• Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation – 22%: resource provisioning, configuration, IaC, deployment, patching, and operational automation.
• Security and Compliance – 16%: security controls, access, data protection, compliance, and operational governance.
• Networking and Content Delivery – 18%: DNS, VPC connectivity, routing, traffic controls, troubleshooting, and content delivery.
• Current Scope: The official AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate syllabus also includes an in-scope AWS service list and task statements that candidates should review before scheduling.

Intended Audience

The AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam is intended for professionals whose work or goals align with the AWS target candidate, including:

• CloudOps Engineers
• Cloud Support Engineers
• Systems Administrators
• Cloud Consultants
• Migration Specialists
• Systems Integration Engineers
• Professionals Operating AWS Workloads

Career Opportunities

Knowledge represented by the AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam supports development toward roles such as:

• CloudOps Engineer
• Cloud Operations Specialist
• Cloud Support Engineer
• Systems Administrator
• Site Reliability Engineer
• Cloud Migration Specialist

Average Salary (Approximate)

AWS does not publish salary ranges for AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate holders. The following reputable employment-market estimates use closely related roles. Salaries vary by experience, employer, location, job role, and industry.

• United States: Approximately USD 110,000–180,000 per year in total pay for DevOps Engineers (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• India: Approximately INR 800,000–2,400,000 per year in total pay for DevOps Engineers (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• United Kingdom: Approximately GBP 55,000–95,000 per year in total pay for DevOps Engineers in London (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• UAE: Approximately AED 150,000–330,000 per year for DevOps Engineers in Dubai (Glassdoor, July 2026).

Exam Delivery Options

During AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam registration, candidates can select an available Pearson VUE testing center or an online-proctored appointment.

• Pearson VUE Test Center – Take the exam in person at an authorized testing center, subject to appointment availability.
• Online Proctored Exam – AWS makes online proctoring available for AWS Certification exams through Pearson VUE, subject to the current technical and location requirements.
• Online Exam Rules: Run the system test, use an approved computer and private testing area, present acceptable identification, remove prohibited materials, and follow all proctor instructions.
• Test Center Rules: Arrive as directed, present accepted identification, store prohibited items, complete check-in, and comply with the AWS Candidate Code of Conduct and center procedures.

Exam Registration

Follow these steps to complete AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam registration:

• Sign in to the AWS Certification Account and choose Schedule New Exam.
• Find the SOA-C03 AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam, select Schedule at Pearson VUE, and choose test-center or online delivery.
• Select the language, location, date, and time, then verify the legal name, identification requirements, and appointment policies.
• Pay the displayed AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam fee or apply an eligible voucher, confirm the booking, and save the appointment email.

After Passing the Exam

After passing the AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam, review the result in the AWS Certification Account. AWS states that results are available within five business days.

• The AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate digital badge is issued through Credly and can be shared to verify the credential.
• Use the AWS Certification Account to access exam history, certification benefits, and the 50% discount voucher for a future AWS Certification exam.
• Track the three-year expiration date and follow the current AWS recertification option for AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate before it expires.

Why the AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam Is Worth It

• Earns the AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate credential
• Validates knowledge against the current AWS-published exam guide
• Demonstrates role-aligned cloud capability to employers and customers
• Unlocks AWS Certified benefits, including a future-exam discount voucher