Exam Overview

The AWS Developer Associate exam is the current associate exam for earning AWS Certified Developer – Associate. It follows the official AWS exam guide for DVA-C02.

• Exam Code: DVA-C02
• Level: Associate AWS Certification exam
• Duration: 130 minutes. Available languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Simplified Chinese, and Spanish (Latin America).
• 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 Developer Associate exam contains 65 questions and measures the weighted domains in the official AWS Developer 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 Developer 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 Developer Associate exam fee applies to every retake unless a valid AWS promotion or voucher states otherwise.

Certification Validity and Renewal Options

Passing the AWS Developer Associate exam earns the AWS Certified Developer – 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 Developer – Associate exam, passing DevOps Engineer – Professional, or using the current AWS Skill Builder maintenance option.

Exam Fee

• Base AWS Developer Associate exam fee: USD 150, excluding applicable taxes. This base amount is the main component of the AWS Developer 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 Developer 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.

• There are no formal prerequisites. AWS recommends one or more years of hands-on experience developing and maintaining applications by using AWS services.
• Preparation should combine the current official AWS Developer 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 Developer Associate exam current.

Exam Topics

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

• Development with AWS Services – 32%: application development, service APIs, event-driven designs, data stores, and application integration.
• Security – 26%: authentication, authorization, encryption, secrets, and secure application code and data.
• Deployment – 24%: packaging, deployment strategies, infrastructure definitions, and CI/CD workflows.
• Troubleshooting and Optimization – 18%: logging, monitoring, root-cause analysis, performance, and application optimization.
• Exam Focus: The AWS Developer Associate exam requires candidates to connect services and architectural choices across the four weighted domains rather than study each domain in isolation.
• Current Scope: The official AWS Developer Associate syllabus also includes an in-scope AWS service list and task statements that candidates should review before scheduling.

Intended Audience

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

• Cloud Developers
• Software Engineers
• Backend Developers
• Application Engineers
• DevOps Developers
• Full-Stack Developers
• Professionals Building AWS Applications

Career Opportunities

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

• AWS Cloud Developer
• Software Development Engineer
• Backend Engineer
• Serverless Developer
• Application Engineer
• Cloud Integration Developer

Average Salary (Approximate)

AWS does not publish salary ranges for AWS Developer 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 95,000–165,000 per year in total pay for Cloud Software Engineers (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• India: Approximately INR 600,000–1,800,000 per year in total pay for Cloud Developers and Software Engineers (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• United Kingdom: Approximately GBP 45,000–80,000 per year in total pay for Cloud Developers in London (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• UAE: Approximately AED 120,000–300,000 per year for Cloud Developers in Dubai (Glassdoor, July 2026).

Exam Delivery Options

During AWS Developer 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 Developer Associate exam registration:

• Sign in to the AWS Certification Account and choose Schedule New Exam.
• Find the DVA-C02 AWS Developer 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 Developer Associate exam fee or apply an eligible voucher, confirm the booking, and save the appointment email.

After Passing the Exam

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

• The AWS Certified Developer – 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 Developer – Associate before it expires.

Why the AWS Developer Associate exam Is Worth It

• Earns the AWS Certified Developer – 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