AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Quick Facts (2025)

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate Exam Overview

Preparing for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) exam can feel overwhelming, especially with the rapid evolution of cloud technologies. This guide breaks down everything you need to know—exam format, cost, domains, and preparation tips—to help you pass with confidence.

What is the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate?

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate certifies your ability to design secure, cost-optimized, and high-performing architectures on AWS. It’s ideal for individuals with experience in cloud or on-premises systems who want to validate their cloud expertise and accelerate their AWS careers.

This certification focuses on applying the AWS Well-Architected Framework to real-world scenarios while requiring a foundational understanding of key AWS services. Coding experience is not required, but knowing basic programming principles is recommended.

Who Should Take This Certification?

This certification is ideal for:

• Solutions architects and cloud architects
• Systems engineers and implementation engineers
• IT professionals with some AWS or infrastructure experience
• Cloud consultants and technical product managers
• Professionals transitioning to cloud-based roles

Candidates should ideally have at least one year of hands-on experience designing cloud-based applications using AWS. Beginners may consider earning the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner as a stepping stone.

What Roles Can This Certification Help With?

Earning this certification strengthens your résumé for roles such as:

• Solutions Architect (Associate/Cloud)
• Cloud Consultant
• Cloud Engineer
• DevOps Engineer
• Infrastructure Architect
• Systems Administrator
• Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)

This AWS cert is among the top-paying and most in-demand tech certifications, opening doors to both cloud-native businesses and growing enterprise cloud environments.

What Exam Version Is Current?

The current version of the certification exam is SAA-C03. Candidates renewing their certification must either pass the latest version of the Associate exam or pass the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional exam to automatically recertify the Associate-level credential.

How Much Does the Exam Cost?

The AWS Solutions Architect – Associate exam costs $150 USD. Regional currency conversions may apply. AWS also offers a 50% discount on your next certification once you hold a valid AWS certification, so take advantage if you’re planning multiple credentials.

What Is the Exam Format?

The exam includes the following:

• Total Questions: 65 (including 5 unscored questions)
• Question Types: Multiple choice and multiple response
• Time Allotted: 130 minutes
• Delivery Method: In-person at Pearson VUE test centers or online via proctored format
• Score Range: 100–1000
• Minimum Passing Score: 720

The exam uses scaled scoring, meaning scores are adjusted for difficulty differences across versions.

What Languages Is the Exam Offered In?

You can take the exam in:

• English
• French (France)
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Spanish (Latin America and Spain)
• Simplified Chinese
• Traditional Chinese

Is the Exam Difficult?

This is a mid-level certification that requires an applied understanding of AWS services, including how to combine multiple technologies to meet security, scalability, and performance goals.

Don’t expect success from memorizing terms alone. Scenario-based questions simulate real decision-making, so preparation with hands-on exercises and realistic practice exams is critical.

Many test-takers pass on their first attempt by using trusted training sources and top-rated AWS Solutions Architect Associate practice exams that mirror the actual test environment and difficulty level.

What Are the Exam Domains and Weightings?

The exam is divided into two core content domains:

1. Design Secure Architectures (62%)

Topics include:

• Identity and access management (IAM, AWS IAM Identity Center, Federation)
• Application security (GuardDuty, Macie, Cognito)
• Securing VPCs (Security groups, NACLs, NAT Gateways)
• Data protection and compliance controls
• Backup, recovery, and governance features

2. Design Resilient Architectures (38%)

Topics include:

• Scalable architecture design (event-driven, microservice, multi-tier)
• Managed services usage (API Gateway, Amazon SQS, Transfer Family)
• Scenario-based high availability and fault tolerance
• Regional architecture using Availability Zones and Route 53
• Automation for resilient infrastructure

Are There Any Prerequisites?

There are no mandatory prerequisites, but AWS recommends you have:

• At least 1 year of hands-on experience with AWS
• Knowledge of AWS global infrastructure and core services
• Familiarity with the AWS Management Console, CLI, CloudFormation, and IAM
• Basic understanding of networking, security, and relational vs. non-relational databases

What Key Topics Should I Focus On?

Some high-importance study areas include:

• Designing secure access to AWS resources (IAM, OIDC, RBAC)
• VPC configuration: public/private subnets, route tables, gateways
• Cost-optimized architecture practices: right-sizing, auto scaling
• High availability and fault tolerance strategies
• Monitoring and logging (CloudWatch, AWS X-Ray, CloudTrail)
• Load balancing, storage options, and backup strategies
• Practical use cases across services like EC2, RDS, DynamoDB, Lambda, S3

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these exam pitfalls:

• Overlooking security principles—IAM, encryption, and network security are heavily tested
• Studying only individual services without understanding how they work together in architectural scenarios
• Underprepared on performance trade-offs, such as latency vs. availability
• Skipping hands-on practice labs, leading to confusion with interface-based questions
• Not using high-quality, real-world AWS practice exams that challenge your applied knowledge and offer detailed explanations

How Do I Prepare for the Exam?

AWS recommends the following four-step plan through AWS Skill Builder:

1. Review the Exam Guide
   Understand exam domains and question types with the official exam guide.

2. Take Practice Questions
   Start with the AWS Certification Practice Question Set and graduate to full-length practice tests.

3. Strengthen Weak Areas
   Focus training on challenging topics using video courses, AWS Builder Labs, and AWS Cloud Quest.

4. Test Your Readiness
   Take the official practice exam available through AWS.

Supplement these with:

• Free-tier AWS accounts for hands-on experience
• Community forums and AWS user groups
• Flashcards to drill terminology and architecture patterns
• Walkthrough videos for realistic scenario-based learning

How Long Is the Certification Valid?

This certification is valid for three years. To maintain active status, you must:

• Pass the latest version of the Associate exam, or
• Pass a Professional-level AWS exam (which renews lower-level certifications)

What Comes After the Associate Exam?

After earning the Associate-level certification, consider the following:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional: Advanced design of scalable, secure systems across multiple domains and enterprise scale
• AWS Certified Security – Specialty: Deep dive into AWS security services and architecture
• AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate: Focuses on data lakes, streaming, and processing across AWS platforms

Also explore AWS certification paths to map your long-term learning plan.

Where Can I Take the Exam?

You have two delivery options:

1. Online Proctored Exam

   • Flexibility to test from anywhere
   • Requires system test, webcam, and quiet room

2. In-Person at Pearson VUE Centers

   • Proctored experience at an official test site
   • Check local availability and regulations

How to Register for the Exam

Follow these steps to schedule your exam:

1. Go to the AWS Certification account portal
2. Choose the "Solutions Architect – Associate" exam (SAA-C03)
3. Select delivery method: online or in-person
4. Choose a date and time
5. Pay the exam fee
6. Check your email for confirmation and preparation guidance

What If I Don’t Pass?

If you don’t pass the exam:

• There is a 14-day waiting period before retaking
• Review your score report for weaker areas
• Study with new resources, labs, or instructor-led classes
• Take multiple practice exams to verify readiness

Where Can I Find More Information?

You can find official certification information, FAQs, exam guides, and study resources on the official AWS Solutions Architect – Associate certification page.

The key to passing is consistent study, lots of hands-on practice, and using high-quality resources. Your journey to becoming a certified AWS Solutions Architect starts today—good luck!