AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate Quick Facts (2025)

AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate Exam Overview

Preparing for the AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate exam can feel overwhelming due to the expansive AWS ecosystem and breadth of data engineering responsibilities. This overview simplifies your journey and provides essential information to guide your study plan.

What is the AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate Certification?

The AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate Certification validates your ability to ingest, transform, store, and operationalize data using AWS analytics services. It demonstrates your understanding of designing secure, robust, and cost-effective data pipelines using modern cloud-first architectures. This certification is ideal for professionals who want to prove expertise in AWS data engineering and unlock new career opportunities in cloud-based data roles.

Who Is This Certification For?

This certification is designed for:

• Data Engineers and Data Architects working in AWS environments
• Cloud Engineers transitioning into data-focused roles
• Developers or DevOps professionals managing data operations
• Business Intelligence Engineers who want to deepen AWS analytics knowledge
• Professionals aiming to validate and enhance their cloud data engineering skills

What Jobs Can I Get with This Certification?

Earning this AWS credential can significantly boost your résumé and qualify you for roles such as:

• Data Engineer
• Analytics Specialist
• Cloud Data Engineer
• AWS Data Architect
• Data Platform Engineer
• ETL Developer
• Big Data Engineer

Employers increasingly seek AWS-certified data professionals to design and manage modern cloud-native and hybrid data platforms.

What Version Is the Exam?

The current exam version is DEA-C01, the first release of this associate-level certification focused on essential AWS data engineering skills.

How Much Does the Exam Cost?

The AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate exam costs $150 USD. AWS also provides a 50% discount on your next exam after earning a certification. Additional savings may apply based on conversion rates or promotions. Visit the official pricing page on the AWS Certification website for details.

How Many Questions Are on the Exam?

The DEA-C01 exam includes 65 questions. These are a mix of multiple-choice and multiple-response formats. Note that 15 of these questions are unscored and used for future exam development but are indistinguishable during the exam.

How Much Time Is Given for the Exam?

You’ll have 130 minutes (2 hours and 10 minutes) to complete the exam. Use this time wisely to read all questions carefully and flag any to review later.

What Languages Is the Exam Available In?

Candidates can take the exam in:

• English
• Japanese
• Korean
• Simplified Chinese

What’s the Passing Score?

The exam is scored on a scale of 100–1000. To pass, you must achieve a minimum scaled score of 720. Scores are calculated to account for minor variations in difficulty across multiple versions of the exam.

Is the Exam Difficult?

Yes, the AWS Data Engineer – Associate exam is considered moderately to highly challenging, especially for candidates without strong AWS or data pipeline experience. It covers real-world data engineering problems and scenarios, not just definitions or theory. Success requires hands-on experience, solid AWS service knowledge, and strategic thinking in data handling, optimization, and security.

To build confidence and exam-readiness, many successful candidates rely on realistic, scenario-based practice exams. Try our expert AWS Certified Data Engineer practice exams to simulate the exam experience and identify weak areas.

What Domains Does the Exam Cover and What Are Their Weightings?

The AWS Data Engineer certification exam is divided into four domains:

1. Data Ingestion and Transformation (34%)

   • Batch vs. streaming ingestion
   • ETL/ELT pipeline design
   • AWS Glue, Amazon EMR, Kinesis, Lambda
   • Apache Spark integration
   • Event-driven orchestration and workflows

2. Data Store Management (26%)

   • Choosing optimal storage solutions (S3, Redshift, DynamoDB)
   • Managing data formats and schema evolution
   • Implementing data lifecycle policies and versioning
   • Data cataloging with AWS Glue and Lake Formation

3. Data Operations and Support (22%)

   • Monitoring and logging with CloudTrail, CloudWatch
   • Pipeline automation and scripting
   • Analyzing data with Athena, Redshift, and QuickSight
   • Data quality checks, validation, and profiling

4. Data Security and Governance (18%)

   • Authentication, IAM roles, and policies
   • Encryption methods (KMS, server/client-side)
   • Data anonymization, masking, and audit logs
   • Governance and data privacy strategies with Macie and Config

Are There Any Prerequisites?

While there are no official prerequisites, AWS recommends that you have:

• 2–3 years of experience in data engineering or data architecture
• 1–2 years of hands-on AWS experience
• Familiarity with SQL, distributed systems, pipelines, and cloud service integration
• Understanding of core AWS services such as S3, Glue, Redshift, Kinesis, Lambda, and IAM

What Skills and Knowledge Areas Should I Focus On?

To pass with confidence, prioritize these skill sets:

1. Pipeline Design

   • Streaming ingestion using Kinesis and MSK
   • Batch processing with Glue and EMR
   • Designing scalable, fault-tolerant workflows

2. Storage and Modeling

   • Choosing between Redshift, S3, RDS, and DynamoDB
   • Data modeling and schema evolution
   • Managing partitions, formats (CSV, Parquet), and access patterns

3. Orchestration & CI/CD

   • Using Step Functions, Airflow (MWAA), and Lambda triggers
   • Infrastructure as Code (CloudFormation/CDK)
   • Automated testing and deployment of pipelines

4. Data Quality and Observability

   • Running data validation checks
   • Troubleshooting performance issues
   • Logging and monitoring best practices

5. Security and Compliance

   • IAM roles, policies, and access controls
   • Encryption, masking, and secure data sharing
   • Regulatory compliance, PII handling, and audit readiness

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these pitfalls often seen among candidates:

• Underestimating the real-world context – many questions require scenario-based reasoning
• Neglecting orchestration and security – Glue, IAM, and Step Functions feature heavily
• Skipping practice exams – limited exposure can hurt your preparedness
• Not reading AWS service documentation thoroughly – subtle differences between services matter
• Overlooking cost and optimization best practices

To close your knowledge gaps and refine your test-taking strategy, take our real AWS practice exams for Data Engineer – Associate. These accurately reflect real-world exam difficulty and include detailed answer explanations.

How Can I Prepare for the Exam?

Maximize your chances of passing by using these resources:

1. Official Exam Guide & Practice Materials

   • Download and review the AWS DEA-C01 Exam Guide
   • Take the official practice questions and readiness pretest

2. Training and Labs

   • Enroll in AWS Skill Builder courses
   • Use AWS Builder Labs and Cloud Quest scenarios
   • Practice with services like Glue, Kinesis, Redshift in a real AWS environment

3. Documentation and Whitepapers

   • Read docs for Redshift, Glue, Lambda, S3, Lake Formation, and IAM
   • Review AWS Big Data and Data Lake architecture whitepapers

4. Community and Forums

   • Participate in AWS forums or connect with others preparing for the certification
   • Share insights and learn about real exam experiences

How Long Is the Certification Valid?

The AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate certification remains valid for 3 years from the date you pass. You’ll need to recertify by passing the latest version of the same exam before expiration.

What Should I Take After the AWS Data Engineer – Associate?

Once you’ve passed this exam, consider these logical next certifications:

• AWS Certified Security – Specialty – for mastering cloud data governance and encryption
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate or Professional
• AWS Analytics Specialty Certification (when available)

These paths enhance your credibility and technical depth for increasingly complex data roles in AWS.

Where Can I Take the Exam?

You can take the exam in two flexible ways:

1. Online proctoring – take it remotely from home or office

   • Requires webcam, microphone, and stable internet
   • Quiet, private space is a must

2. Testing Center – take it in person at a Pearson VUE authorized location

   • Offers professional setting and equipment
   • Available worldwide

How Do I Register?

To schedule your exam:

1. Go to the official AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate exam page
2. Click “Schedule Exam”
3. Choose online or testing center
4. Select your date and time
5. Pay the fee and receive confirmation

What If I Don’t Pass the Exam?

If you don’t pass:

• You must wait 14 days before retaking
• No limit on attempts, but each attempt requires payment
• Review your section-level feedback to identify weaknesses
• Reinforce your preparation with new study methods and labs

Remember, consistent practice and real-world AWS hands-on experience are the keys to success. Good luck with your AWS certification journey!