Exam Overview

The AWS Security Specialty exam is the current specialty exam for earning AWS Certified Security – Specialty. It follows the official AWS exam guide for SCS-C03.

• Exam Code: SCS-C03
• Level: Specialty AWS Certification exam
• Duration: 170 minutes. Available languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Simplified Chinese, and Spanish (Latin America).
• Passing Score: 750 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 Security Specialty exam contains 65 questions and measures the weighted domains in the official AWS Security Specialty syllabus.

• Question Types: Multiple choice, multiple response, ordering, and matching.
• 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 Security Specialty 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 Security Specialty exam fee applies to every retake unless a valid AWS promotion or voucher states otherwise.

Certification Validity and Renewal Options

Passing the AWS Security Specialty exam earns the AWS Certified Security – Specialty 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 AWS Certified Security – Specialty exam.

Exam Fee

• Base AWS Security Specialty exam fee: USD 300, excluding applicable taxes. This base amount is the main component of the AWS Security Specialty 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 Security Specialty certification cost.
• Example (India): Candidates in India are subject to 18% GST, bringing the total exam fee to USD 354 (USD 300 + USD 54 GST).

Prerequisites

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

• There are no formal certification prerequisites. AWS describes the target audience as experienced professionals with five years of IT security experience and two or more years securing AWS workloads.
• Preparation should combine the current official AWS Security Specialty 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 Security Specialty exam current.

Exam Topics

The official AWS Security Specialty syllabus includes the following weighted domains and preparation focus:

• Detection – 16%: security monitoring, telemetry, analysis, threat detection, findings, and alerting.
• Incident Response – 14%: containment, investigation, recovery, automation, and incident-response processes.
• Infrastructure Security – 18%: network protection, compute security, workload controls, edge security, and hybrid environments.
• Identity and Access Management – 20%: workforce and workload identity, permissions, federation, access analysis, and multi-account controls.
• Data Protection – 18%: encryption, key management, secrets, storage protection, data classification, and lifecycle controls.
• Security Foundations and Governance – 14%: shared responsibility, compliance, governance, logging, auditing, and organizational security strategy.

Intended Audience

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

• Cloud Security Engineers
• Security Architects
• DevSecOps Engineers
• Incident Responders
• Cloud Governance Specialists
• Security Consultants
• Professionals Securing AWS Workloads

Career Opportunities

Knowledge represented by the AWS Security Specialty exam supports development toward roles such as:

• Cloud Security Engineer
• AWS Security Architect
• DevSecOps Engineer
• Cloud Incident Response Specialist
• Security Consultant
• Cloud Governance Lead

Average Salary (Approximate)

AWS does not publish salary ranges for AWS Security Specialty 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 110,000–190,000 per year in total pay for Cloud Security Engineers (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• India: Approximately INR 800,000–2,500,000 per year in total pay for Cloud Security Engineers (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• United Kingdom: Approximately GBP 55,000–100,000 per year in total pay for Cloud Security Engineers in London (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• UAE: Approximately AED 180,000–360,000 per year for Cloud Security Engineers in Dubai (Glassdoor, July 2026).

Exam Delivery Options

During AWS Security Specialty 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 Security Specialty exam registration:

• Sign in to the AWS Certification Account and choose Schedule New Exam.
• Find the SCS-C03 AWS Security Specialty 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 Security Specialty exam fee or apply an eligible voucher, confirm the booking, and save the appointment email.

After Passing the Exam

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

• The AWS Certified Security – Specialty 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 Security – Specialty before it expires.

Why the AWS Security Specialty exam Is Worth It

• Earns the AWS Certified Security – Specialty 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