IT & Cloud
AWS Developer – Associate (DVA-C02)
AWS Certified Developer – Associate
Free DVA-C02 practice questions 30 questions with full answer explanations. No sign-up. Start practice →Overview
The AWS Certified Developer – Associate (DVA-C02) validates that you can build, deploy and debug cloud applications on AWS. Where Solutions Architect focuses on designing systems, Developer focuses on writing and shipping code that uses AWS services well.
Expect questions on serverless (Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB), deployment and CI/CD, security (IAM, KMS, Cognito), and troubleshooting. Hands-on experience building something serverless is the fastest way to pass.
✓ Who it is for
- Working developers who write code that calls AWS services daily
- Backend engineers shipping serverless apps with Lambda, API Gateway and DynamoDB
- Engineers who own CI/CD pipelines and deployments on AWS
- Developers who want a code-focused credential rather than an architecture one
- Cloud Practitioner holders with coding experience choosing their first associate exam
✕ Who it is not for
- Non-developers - Solutions Architect Associate maps better to infra roles.
- Cloud beginners (start with Cloud Practitioner).
- Those who never touch code or CI/CD.
Exam structure
| Development with AWS Services | 32% |
|---|---|
| Security | 26% |
| Deployment | 24% |
| Troubleshooting and Optimization | 18% |
How the exam is weighted
- Development with AWS Services 32%
- Security 26%
- Deployment 24%
- Troubleshooting & Optimization 18%
What each domain covers
- Development with AWS Services
- Serverless (Lambda) & APIs · Working with data stores · SDKs & event-driven design
- Security
- IAM & least privilege · Encryption & secrets management · Authentication (Cognito)
- Deployment
- CI/CD pipelines · Infrastructure as code (SAM/CloudFormation) · Deployment strategies
- Troubleshooting & Optimization
- Logging & monitoring (CloudWatch/X-Ray) · Root-cause analysis · Performance & cost optimisation
Realistic study time
- Developer with some AWS 60-80 hours
- New to AWS 100-130 hours
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
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.
US developers building on AWS commonly report indicative pay around ~$95k-135k. The Developer Associate credential maps to application and backend roles; experience and language stack drive the top of the range.
Pass rate: Not published. AWS does not disclose pass rates for the Developer - Associate or any other certification. You only need 720 / 1000 to pass; any percentage figures you see online are unofficial.
Indicative annual pay (USD), each role's typical band on a shared scale.
Other markets (indicative)
| United Kingdom | ~£45k-80k |
|---|---|
| Canada | ~CA$90k-135k |
Jobs that often ask for it:
- Cloud Developer
- Software Developer
- Backend Engineer
- DevOps Engineer
- Application Developer
Is it worth it?
Worth it for developers who already build on AWS and want a recognised signal of cloud-native skills, particularly around serverless, deployment and the SDKs. It maps cleanly to backend and cloud-developer job listings and the knowledge transfers straight to daily work. Skip it if your role is infrastructure design rather than writing application code, where the Solutions Architect Associate is the stronger first choice, or if you do not yet code against AWS at all. On its own a certification rarely lands a job; pair it with a real project you can talk through in interviews.
Not sure this is the right exam for you? Compare your options with the Exam Finder.
Compare DVA-C02 with other exams
Independent, like-for-like comparisons to help you choose the right one.
Career paths featuring DVA-C02
What to do next
Often paired with or following SAA. Next: DevOps Engineer Professional. See the Cloud Engineer career path.
On exam day
Centre or online proctored; 65 questions in 130 minutes, with flag-and-review available.
Keeping your certification
Valid 3 years. Recertify by retaking, or by passing a higher-level AWS exam before expiry.
FAQ
- Developer or Solutions Architect Associate first?
- Solutions Architect is broader and more widely requested. Choose Developer if your day job is writing application code on AWS rather than designing infrastructure.
- Do I need to be a strong programmer?
- You should be comfortable reading code and understand how applications call AWS services. The exam is not a coding test, but development experience helps a lot.
- How long is it valid?
- Three years, with recertification by passing the current exam or a higher-level AWS certification.
- Is AWS Developer Associate worth it?
- Yes for developers working on AWS - it proves you can build, deploy and debug on the platform. Non-developers usually get more from the Solutions Architect Associate.
- Can I self-study for AWS Developer Associate?
- Yes. AWS Skill Builder, the official exam guide and hands-on free-tier practice with the relevant services cover it.
- What jobs can it help me get?
- Cloud or backend developer, DevOps engineer and application engineer roles on AWS. It often follows or pairs with the Solutions Architect Associate.
- How much does it cost in total?
- The exam is US$150, with materials from free (Skill Builder) to a few hundred dollars; recertify by retaking within three years.
Related exams
- AWS Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) - Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) - Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Free study resources
- AWS Skill Builder (free digital training) ↗
- AWS Developer Associate exam guide ↗
- freeCodeCamp free full-length courses ↗