Do I need another AWS certification before Security - Specialty?

No. There are no formal prerequisites and no mandatory training. In practice, though, the exam assumes deep hands-on AWS experience - AWS recommends the equivalent of 3-5 years securing cloud solutions - so most candidates hold an Associate-level cert first even though none is required.

How hard is the AWS Security Specialty exam?

It is one of AWS's hardest exams: Specialty-tier, scenario-driven, and deep on IAM policy evaluation, KMS, detection tooling and incident response. People with real AWS security experience find it demanding but fair; without hands-on experience the scenarios are very difficult to reason through.

AWS Security Specialty or CCSP - which should I take?

Take the AWS cert if you secure AWS specifically and want technical depth on one platform. Take CCSP if you need vendor-neutral breadth across clouds, governance and compliance, or you are heading toward security management. They complement rather than replace each other, and senior cloud security roles often value both.

What changed from SCS-C02 to SCS-C03?

SCS-C03 (live since December 2025) split detection and incident response into separate domains, raised IAM to 20%, renamed the governance domain, and added ordering and matching question types. New topics include securing generative-AI applications, OCSF-based integrations, and expanded KMS and Private CA content. C02-based study materials are out of date.

How is the exam scored?

You get a scaled score from 100 to 1000 and need 750 to pass. Only 50 of the 65 questions are scored; 15 are unscored pretest items you cannot identify. Scoring is compensatory - no domain has its own pass line - and unanswered questions count as wrong, so answer everything.

What happens if I fail?

You wait 14 calendar days and can then rebook, paying the full fee each time; there is no cap on attempts. Once you pass, you cannot retake the same exam version for two years - which in practice only matters for recertification, where you take the newest version anyway.

How do I renew AWS Security - Specialty?

The certification is valid for three years. AWS's listed renewal path for this credential is to pass the latest version of the exam again before expiry. The 50% discount voucher you earn from any AWS certification pass can be applied, bringing a typical renewal to about US$150.

Is the exam available online and in my language?

Yes - you can sit it at a Pearson VUE test centre or via online proctoring. As of the current exam page it is offered in English, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Simplified Chinese and Spanish. Check the official exam page for the current list before you book.

Cybersecurity

AWS Certified Security - Specialty (SCS-C03)

expert

AWS Certified Security - Specialty

By The Exam Atlas Editorial Team · Verified 2026-08-05

Free SCS-C03 practice questions 45 questions with full answer explanations. No sign-up. Start practice →

Overview

AWS Certified Security - Specialty is AWS's dedicated security certification, aimed at people who secure AWS workloads for a living. The current version, SCS-C03 (live since December 2, 2025), tests six domains: Identity and Access Management (20%), Infrastructure Security (18%), Data Protection (18%), Detection (16%), Incident Response (14%), and Security Foundations and Governance (14%).

It sits at the Specialty tier - the same fee and length as AWS's Professional-level exams - and assumes real operational depth: IAM policy evaluation, KMS key management, multi-account governance, threat detection tooling, and incident response in AWS. There are no formal prerequisites, but AWS recommends the equivalent of 3-5 years securing cloud solutions. Alongside standard multiple-choice and multiple-response items, SCS-C03 adds ordering and matching question types.

✓ Who it is for

Security engineers who own the security of AWS accounts and workloads day to day
Cloud engineers, DevOps engineers and architects moving into a security-focused role
SOC analysts and incident responders whose scope includes AWS environments
Consultants who audit, harden or build security tooling in customer AWS accounts

✕ Who it is not for

People new to AWS - the exam assumes deep hands-on familiarity; build Associate-level skills first.
Anyone who needs a vendor-neutral credential for multi-cloud or governance-heavy roles - CCSP or CISSP fits better.
Penetration testers looking for offensive-security validation - this exam is about defending and operating AWS, not attack tooling.

Exam structure

Question format	65 questions: multiple choice (one correct of four), multiple response (two or more of five+), plus ordering and matching item types introduced with SCS-C03. Only 50 questions are scored; 15 are unscored pretest items you cannot identify.
Scoring	Scaled 100-1000, pass at 750. Compensatory model: the overall score decides and no individual domain has its own pass line. Unanswered questions count as wrong, so answer everything - there is no penalty for guessing.
Delivery and results	Pearson VUE test centre or online proctoring, in six languages. Results appear in your AWS Certification account within five business days; most exams no longer show pass/fail on screen at the end.

How the exam is weighted

Detection 16%
Incident Response 14%
Infrastructure Security 18%
Identity and Access Management 20%
Data Protection 18%
Security Foundations and Governance 14%

Approximate official domain weighting - confirm the current split in the official exam objectives. Verified 2026-08-05.

Realistic study time

Matches the recommended profile (3-5 years cloud security) 60-100 hours over 1-3 months (estimate - AWS publishes no official figure)
Strong AWS generalist, newer to security work 100-150 hours; close the IAM and KMS depth gaps first
Little hands-on AWS experience Significantly longer - build and certify Associate-level AWS skills before attempting a Specialty exam

Bars show relative effort, not a guarantee. Your time depends on background and study method.

Turn this into a week-by-week schedule with the Study Plan Generator.

What it really costs

Exam fee US$300 Specialty tier; taxes extra, local-currency equivalents vary

Retake after a fail US$300 (full fee again) 14-day wait between attempts; no limit on the number of attempts

Study materials US$0+ The exam guide and the official practice question set (Skill Builder free tier) cost nothing; paid courses and labs are optional

Recertification (every 3 years) US$150-300 Retake the latest exam version; the 50% voucher you earn from any AWS certification pass halves the fee

Fees change and vary by region. Confirm the current amount on the official site before you register.

Want your full out-of-pocket figure? Try the Cost Calculator.

Salary & career value

Indicative ranges for orientation only - not surveyed data, and not financial or career advice. Sources and date below.

Pass rate: Not published. AWS does not release official pass rates for any of its certification exams, so any percentage you see quoted is a third-party estimate, not verified data. The published standard is the passing score: a scaled 750 on a 100-1000 range, under a compensatory model with no per-domain minimum.

Jobs that often ask for it:

Cloud Security Engineer (AWS)
Security Architect
DevSecOps Engineer
Detection / SOC Engineer for AWS environments
Cloud Security Consultant

Is it worth it?

Yes, if your work is specifically securing AWS. It is the deepest AWS-native security credential, and the skills it validates - IAM policy evaluation, KMS design, detection tooling, incident response - map directly to what cloud security engineering roles actually do. The honest comparison with CCSP: they answer different questions. AWS Security Specialty proves you can secure one platform in technical depth; CCSP (ISC2) proves vendor-neutral breadth across cloud governance, legal and architecture concepts, and carries an experience requirement plus annual fees. Choose the AWS cert if your environment is AWS and you want hands-on credibility; choose CCSP if you work across multiple clouds, target security-management roles, or need a governance-recognised credential. Senior cloud security people often end up holding both - the AWS cert for depth, CCSP or CISSP for breadth. It is not worth it as a first cloud certification: without real AWS experience the scenario questions will be out of reach.

Not sure this is the right exam for you? Compare your options with the Exam Finder.

Our specialty · side by side

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Independent, like-for-like comparisons to help you choose the right one.

VS AWS Security Specialty vs CCSP: which cloud security certification should you take? Compare →

What to do next

Pair it with breadth: CCSP or CISSP for a vendor-neutral senior profile, or AWS Solutions Architect - Professional to deepen architecture skills. Not there yet? Start from Solutions Architect - Associate and real security work in AWS.

On exam day

Book through your AWS Certification account for a Pearson VUE test centre or online proctoring. You get 170 minutes for 65 questions - a comfortable pace, so read scenarios carefully rather than rushing. Matching items score only when every pairing is correct, and unanswered questions count as wrong, so always submit an answer. Results land in your AWS Certification account within five business days.

Keeping your certification

Valid for 3 years. AWS lists one renewal path for Security - Specialty: pass the latest version of this exam before your certification expires, which extends it another three years. Passing any AWS exam also puts a 50% discount voucher in your account, which most people apply to the recertification attempt.

FAQ

Do I need another AWS certification before Security - Specialty?: No. There are no formal prerequisites and no mandatory training. In practice, though, the exam assumes deep hands-on AWS experience - AWS recommends the equivalent of 3-5 years securing cloud solutions - so most candidates hold an Associate-level cert first even though none is required.
How hard is the AWS Security Specialty exam?: It is one of AWS's hardest exams: Specialty-tier, scenario-driven, and deep on IAM policy evaluation, KMS, detection tooling and incident response. People with real AWS security experience find it demanding but fair; without hands-on experience the scenarios are very difficult to reason through.
AWS Security Specialty or CCSP - which should I take?: Take the AWS cert if you secure AWS specifically and want technical depth on one platform. Take CCSP if you need vendor-neutral breadth across clouds, governance and compliance, or you are heading toward security management. They complement rather than replace each other, and senior cloud security roles often value both.
What changed from SCS-C02 to SCS-C03?: SCS-C03 (live since December 2025) split detection and incident response into separate domains, raised IAM to 20%, renamed the governance domain, and added ordering and matching question types. New topics include securing generative-AI applications, OCSF-based integrations, and expanded KMS and Private CA content. C02-based study materials are out of date.
How is the exam scored?: You get a scaled score from 100 to 1000 and need 750 to pass. Only 50 of the 65 questions are scored; 15 are unscored pretest items you cannot identify. Scoring is compensatory - no domain has its own pass line - and unanswered questions count as wrong, so answer everything.
What happens if I fail?: You wait 14 calendar days and can then rebook, paying the full fee each time; there is no cap on attempts. Once you pass, you cannot retake the same exam version for two years - which in practice only matters for recertification, where you take the newest version anyway.
How do I renew AWS Security - Specialty?: The certification is valid for three years. AWS's listed renewal path for this credential is to pass the latest version of the exam again before expiry. The 50% discount voucher you earn from any AWS certification pass can be applied, bringing a typical renewal to about US$150.
Is the exam available online and in my language?: Yes - you can sit it at a Pearson VUE test centre or via online proctoring. As of the current exam page it is offered in English, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Simplified Chinese and Spanish. Check the official exam page for the current list before you book.

Related exams

CCSP (ISC2) - ISC2
CISSP (ISC2) - ISC2
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) - CompTIA
AWS Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) - Amazon Web Services (AWS)