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Is AWS Developer Certification Hard?

By Kingson Jebaraj

Updated on Aug 20, 2025 | 9 min read | 5.76K+ views

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Imagine the capability to design and manage a cloud-based infrastructure capable of handling millions of requests from users across the globe. That's precisely what I do as an AWS Developer! From creating cloud-based solutions to implementing backup and disaster recovery strategies, I assist companies in harnessing the power of the AWS platform for their web applications. I learned all these concepts via the Amazon AWS startup program. 

But is AWS developer certification hard? To know the answer, read on to learn all the details about the AWS certification exam.

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What is the AWS Developer Certification Exam? 

The AWS Developer Certification Exam evaluates your understanding of important AWS services, how well you can create good architectures, and how good you are at creating and fixing cloud-based applications with AWS. The following will help in understanding how hard the AWS developer associate exam is.

Is AWS Developer Certification Hard? 

Cloudthat

Is AWS developer associate hard? Determining the difficulty of an exam can be challenging because it often involves subjective opinions. To provide a perspective on how tough the AWS developer associate exam is, I evaluated the standard AWS exams to gauge their difficulty levels.

  • Solutions Architect Associate: Medium
  • Developer Associate: Medium
  • SysOp Administrator Associate: Slightly harder
  • Solution Architect Professional: Difficult
  • DevOps Engineer Professional: Very tough

AWS Developer Exam Details 

This section will examine the AWS Developer exam details, including the exam format, eligibility, and the exam duration.

  1. Eligibility: To be e­ligible for the AWS Certifie­d Developer- Associate­ exam, you must know how AWS operates. Furthermore, at least 6 months of experience working with AWS in sales, managerial, te­chnical, or financial capacities is required. Look at the following section for the answer: “Is AWS developer certification hard.”
  2. Exam Structure: The DVA-C01 exam evaluates candidates' proficiency in creating and implementing AWS applications. Here is a summary of the exam format and the various question types that will help you understand how hard is the AWS developer associate certification:
    • Exam Type: The exam consists of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions (MCQs).
    • Number of Questions: Candidates are required to answer 65 questions in total.
  3. Cost: The exam fee is $150.
  4. Exam Duration: The exam lasts for 130 minutes.

AWS Developer Associate Exam Outline 

The exam outline is divided into six domains, as mentioned above. Now, let's break down each domain further to understand how hard is AWS developer certification:

1. Deployment- 22%

You can use AWS Elastic Beanstalk or AWS CloudFormation to deploy code in AWS. AWS SAM can be used for serverless applications. For container-based applications, use Amazon ECS or Amazon EKS. 

2. Security- 26%

It includes authentication and authorization through IAM and Amazon Cognito, encryption with KMS, Certificate Manager, and CloudHSM, logging and monitoring through CloudWatch and CloudTrail, and secure application integration with API Gateway and Lambda. Is the AWS developer certification hard? Indeed, due to the security domain, it is!

3. Development with AWS Services- 30%

Write code that interacts with AWS services using AWS SDKs and AWS CLI. Additionally, use AWS Lambda for event-driven code, AWS Elastic Beanstalk for application deployment and monitoring, and AWS DynamoDB, AWS RDS, and Amazon S3 for data storage in applications.

4. Refactoring and Troubleshooting- 10%

Application code can be optimized using various AWS services and features to enhance performance and reduce costs. Furthermore, common issues in code and applications deployed on AWS can be identified and resolved. Troubleshooting and debugging can be done efficiently using AWS X-Ray and AWS CloudTrail.

5. Monitoring and Troubleshooting- 12%

AWS CloudWatch is a service that helps monitor applications on AWS. Additionally, users can utilize AWS CloudFormation and AWS OpsWorks for easier resource management and deployment automation.

AWS Developer Exam Preparation 

This section will equip you with the knowledge and resources to understand AWS certified developers exam and what resources to look while preparing. 

1. Official Study Guide and Books

The following are some of the books that will help you in your preparation:

2. AWS Whitepapers and FAQs

The following are some of the whitepapers that can be useful: 

3. Join Online Forums

To get guidance and help to solve your doubts, you can join the following online forums:

4. Practice Tests

The following are some of the practice tests that can help:

  • Free AWS Developer Associate Practice Test [300+ QA]

Value of AWS Developer Certification

The AWS Developer Certification holds significant value in career advancement for professionals in understanding how hard it is to be an AWS-certified developer associate. Here are a few ways in which this certification can benefit your career:

  • Demonstrating Skills: The Cloud Engineer certificate validate­s the expertise and proficie­ncy in developing, deploying, and maintaining applications on the AWS platform. It highlights the ability to utilize essential AWS services and tools, making me highly desirable­ to employers see­king individuals with practical cloud development skills.
  • Building Expertise: By becoming ce­rtified in AWS, you'll have the chance to dive deep into various se­rvices and technologies. This valuable certification equips you with the knowledge and practical skills to design, build, and troubleshoot cloud-base­d applications effectively. 
  • Career Advancement: With this certification in hand, you position yourself as a qualifie­d candidate for various roles relate­d to cloud computing, such as AWS Developer, Cloud Engine­er, Solution Architect, or DevOps Engine­er.

Conclusion 

Looking to enhance your skills and knowledge in the ever-evolving digital landscape? Take a look at the expansive KnowledgeHut Cloud Computing courses list. Whether you're just beginning your journey or are curious about the difficulty of AWS developer certification, Knowledgehut’s top-tier cloud computing courses are designed to empower you for success. With a curated selection tailored to meet varying needs, you'll find the perfect course to propel you forward in the world of cloud computing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is AWS developer certification worth it?

According to a Jefferson Frank Careers and Hiring Guide, AWS Certified Developer (Associate) certification commands an average salary of $165,333, and 73% of AWS professionals received a salary increase (averaging 27% after certification). 

2. How long does it take to study for AWS developer certification?

According to Andrew Brown, pre­paring for the AWS develope­r certification exam can take around two months of de­dicated study.

3. How many days are required for AWS developer exam preparation?

To best prepare for the exam, many successful candidates suggest dedicating 2-3 months for pre­paration.

Kingson Jebaraj

255 articles published

Kingson Jebaraj is a highly respected technology professional, recognized as both a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) and an Alibaba Most Valuable Professional. With a wealth of experience in...

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