Exam Details
AWS · DVA-C03
Prepare for DVA-C03: Build, deploy, secure, and debug cloud applications using AWS SDKs, Lambda, DynamoDB, and AI-assisted development workflows.
Overview
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FAQ
The DVA-C03 exam validates your ability to develop, test, deploy, and troubleshoot cloud-native applications on AWS. This associate-level certification targets developers who build serverless applications with Lambda, work with DynamoDB, integrate with S3 and SQS, implement authentication with Cognito, and deploy using CI/CD pipelines. DVA-C03 adds AI-assisted development as a core competency, AI security for protecting AI services and agents, and container management with ECR, ECS, EKS, and Fargate. You'll prove you can write code that interacts with AWS services, handle errors, implement security, optimize application performance, and integrate managed AI services responsibly. As AWS development skills are required for virtually every cloud project, certified developers are in constant demand.
You're a fit for DVA-C03 if you:
Not sure if you're ready? Try a free sample quiz: 10 questions, instant results, identify weak areas.
| Domain | Weight | What This Means |
|---|---|---|
| Development with AWS Services | 30% | Build serverless apps with Lambda, interact with DynamoDB and S3 via SDKs, handle API Gateway integrations, use AI-assisted development tools, and implement event-driven patterns with EventBridge |
| Security | 26% | Implement authentication with Cognito, manage secrets with Secrets Manager, apply IAM least-privilege to functions, and secure AI services and agent interactions (Task 2.3) |
| Testing and Deployment | 22% | Deploy applications using CodePipeline, SAM, CDK, and Elastic Beanstalk with automated rollback, container management with ECR/ECS/EKS/Fargate, and AI-assisted testing workflows |
| Troubleshooting and Optimization | 22% | Debug Lambda timeouts, optimize DynamoDB queries, use X-Ray for tracing, handle transient errors, and apply AI-assisted investigation techniques |
You're probably ready if you can:
You might need more prep if:
If this feels too advanced:
If you know the basics but want to build confidence:
The DVA-C03 exam consists of 65 questions (50 scored, 15 unscored) with 130 minutes of testing time. Question types are multiple-choice and multiple-response. The exam is delivered through Pearson VUE, either at a testing center or online proctored.
The passing score is 720 out of 1000 on a scaled scoring system. The exam fee is $150 USD, plus applicable taxes. AWS may offer a 50% discount voucher for a subsequent exam after you earn a certification; check your AWS Certification account for eligibility.
The DVA-C03 exam retains the same four domains and weightings as DVA-C02:
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Development with AWS Services | 30% |
| Security | 26% |
| Testing and Deployment | 22% |
| Troubleshooting and Optimization | 22% |
The domain structure is unchanged. What changes is the content within each domain: skills are consolidated, and new skills related to AI-assisted development and containers are added.
The update reflects how the developer role has evolved. AI-assisted development is now treated as a core competency, not an optional add-on.
| Area | New Content |
|---|---|
| AI-assisted development | Using AI tools to generate, review, and optimize code; integrating managed AI services into applications |
| AI security (Task 2.3) | VPC endpoints, controls to keep inputs and outputs out of model training, content filtering and prompt-injection defenses, tool-use authorization, session isolation, human-in-the-loop, protecting sensitive data in logs |
| Containers | Container management skills added to the exam scope |
| In-scope AI services | Amazon Q, Kiro, Amazon Bedrock, and Amazon Bedrock AgentCore are named as in-scope examples |
Out of scope: Prompt engineering, RAG design, model selection, Amazon SageMaker AI, and AI governance framework design are explicitly out of scope. The exam does not ask you to design AI solutions from scratch; it tests how a developer integrates and secures AI capabilities within an AWS application lifecycle.
DVA-C03 is designed for developers who develop, optimize, package, and deploy applications on AWS. The recommended experience includes:
There is no formal prerequisite certification. Candidates with no IT experience are advised to start with AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) first.
The certification is valid for three years from the date you pass. To recertify, you can pass the current version of the exam or a higher-level AWS certification. AWS does not offer a separate renewal exam for Associate-level credentials.
If you do not pass, you must wait 14 calendar days before retaking. There is no limit on the number of attempts, but you pay the full fee each time. Once you pass, you cannot retake the same exam for two years.
DVA-C03 validates practical skills in developing, deploying, and maintaining applications on AWS, now including AI-assisted development and AI security. It qualifies you for roles such as Cloud Developer, Application Developer, and Backend Engineer. As AI-assisted development becomes standard practice, certification in these skills positions you for teams adopting modern developer workflows.
| Certification | Exam Code | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate | SAA-C03 | Architecture design and broader AWS service depth |
| AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional | DOP-C02 | CI/CD pipelines and operational automation |
| AWS Certified Security – Specialty | SCS-C03 | Security architecture and compliance |
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