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AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional Quick Facts
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional is a prestigious credential that highlights your ability to design and implement advanced cloud solutions on AWS. This overview provides the clarity and structure you need to approach the exam with confidence, helping you see exactly how your expertise fits into AWS’s design principles.
Why pursue the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional certification?
This certification validates your deep understanding of AWS services, architectures, and enterprise solutions. It is designed for experienced cloud professionals who define large-scale, reliable, secure, and cost-effective solutions in AWS environments. With a strong focus on hybrid systems, multi-account strategies, disaster recovery, and modernization opportunities, this certification demonstrates that you can deliver high-value solutions that align with organizational goals and industry best practices.
Who should consider earning the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional certification?
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional credential is ideal for individuals who already have a solid foundation in AWS cloud architecture and want to demonstrate mastery in designing enterprise-grade cloud solutions. This certification is typically pursued by:
- Experienced cloud architects who design solutions across multiple business units
- Senior engineers and consultants leading complex cloud implementation projects
- Enterprise IT leaders seeking to validate their ability to guide cloud strategy
- Professionals moving from Associate-level certifications to more advanced roles
If your goal is to stand out as a cloud leader who can architect secure, cost-optimized, and scalable solutions across complex environments, this certification is the perfect next step in your career.
What type of jobs open up after becoming AWS Solutions Architect Professional?
Achieving this certification signals to employers that you can handle complex, mission-critical workloads on AWS. It can unlock high-demand roles such as:
- Senior Solutions Architect
- Enterprise Cloud Architect
- Principal Systems Engineer
- Cloud Infrastructure Consultant
- Lead Cloud Migration Specialist
- DevOps Cloud Architect
Because this is one of the top-paying certifications in IT, professionals who hold it often find themselves in influential roles that guide cloud adoption and architectural decisions for medium to large organizations.
What version of the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional exam is current?
The current version of the exam is SAP-C02. It reflects AWS's most up-to-date architectural practices, cloud-native design patterns, and modernization strategies. Preparing with SAP-C02–specific study resources is crucial for success, as this version includes advanced topics such as workload migration, enterprise governance, and optimized disaster recovery approaches.
How much does the AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam cost?
The exam is priced at 300 USD. Depending on your country, local taxes or exchange rates may also apply. One excellent benefit AWS provides is that if you already hold an active AWS certification, you can use a 50 percent discount voucher toward this exam, making it easier to continue advancing your cloud career without a high upfront cost.
How many questions are included in the SAP-C02 exam?
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional (SAP-C02) exam includes 75 questions in total. These questions come in both multiple-choice and multiple-response formats. Within the exam, 65 questions are scored while 10 are unscored, experimental items AWS uses to evaluate future test content. You won’t be able to tell which items are unscored, so you should treat every question with the same focus.
How long do candidates have to complete the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional exam?
You are provided with 180 minutes (3 hours) for the exam. Because the test presents complex, scenario-based questions, candidates should manage time carefully. Many find it useful to make one pass through the exam answering the easier questions, then revisit more involved, case-study style items to ensure they have enough time for thoughtful analysis.
What is the passing score for the SAP-C02 test?
The minimum passing score for the exam is 750 out of 1000. AWS uses a scaled scoring method, meaning the raw score is adjusted to account for variations in exam versions and question difficulty. Importantly, the exam uses a compensatory scoring model, so you don’t need to pass individual sections—it’s your overall performance that determines if you earn the certification.
What languages can you take the AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam in?
AWS makes this certification accessible worldwide by offering it in multiple languages. You can take the exam in English, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Latin America), and Simplified Chinese. This availability allows professionals across the globe to demonstrate their expertise and validate their AWS architecture skills within their preferred language.
Which domains are covered in the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam?
The blueprint for the certification is divided into four weighted domains:
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Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity (26 percent)
- Multi-account strategies
- Security controls
- Cost visibility and optimization
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Design for New Solutions (29 percent)
- Deploying new workloads
- Reliability, high availability, and business continuity
- Performance optimization strategies
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Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions (25 percent)
- Enhancing performance, reliability, and security of current workloads
- Cost reduction strategies
- Operational excellence and automation
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Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization (20 percent)
- Application migration assessments
- Data and workload migration approaches
- Cloud-native modernization options
These domains emphasize not only technical depth but also the ability to strategize, design, and lead AWS initiatives across complex organizations.
Are there any prerequisites for enrolling in the AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam?
There are no mandatory prerequisites, meaning anyone can register for the exam. However, AWS recommends at least two years of hands-on experience designing and deploying cloud architecture on AWS. To maximize success, many candidates earn the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate or other Associate-level credentials first, then move up to the Professional tier for advanced design validation.
How is this exam different from the Associate-level Solutions Architect exam?
While the Solutions Architect Associate exam verifies foundational knowledge of designing cloud solutions, the Professional level takes this significantly further. The SAP-C02 exam dives deep into topics like:
- Complex multi-account governance models
- Advanced disaster recovery solutions
- Hybrid and multi-cloud connectivity
- Cost control in enterprise-scale deployments
- Cloud migration and modernization design principles
In short, the Professional cert proves the ability to architect at an enterprise scale, making it a highly valuable credential for senior-level professionals.
Is the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional exam considered worth it?
Absolutely. This certification consistently ranks among the highest-paying IT certifications worldwide. Beyond salary potential, it boosts credibility with peers, executives, and customers, and it solidifies your role as a trusted advisor for cloud strategy. Companies actively seek out professionals with this credential because it proves both technical mastery and strategic design capability.
Does the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional exam include case study questions?
Yes, case studies are a key part of the exam. These scenario-based questions present real-world architecture challenges and ask you to identify the most effective design solutions. The ability to interpret complex requirements and translate them into optimal AWS architectures is exactly what differentiates Professional-level architects from those at earlier certification stages.
How long is this AWS certification valid once earned?
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional certification remains valid for 3 years. To maintain your credential, you can retake the latest version of the exam before it expires, or advance your career by earning another AWS Certification such as a Specialty Certification in Security, Data Analytics, or Advanced Networking.
What knowledge areas should I prioritize when studying?
While the exam covers a wide spectrum, here are critical study focus areas:
- Networking and hybrid environments: VPC, VPN, Transit Gateway, Direct Connect
- Security and compliance: IAM, KMS, encryption, cross-account access
- Resiliency and business continuity: DR planning, RTO/RPO, backup automation
- Data strategies: migration, storage tiers, and purpose-built databases
- Cost management: reserved options, cost allocation, AWS Budgets
Practical, hands-on experience combined with practice exams will ensure you are ready for the full breadth of topics.
How challenging are the scenario questions in SAP-C02?
Scenario-based questions often test your ability to evaluate trade-offs between performance, cost, and resiliency. For example, you might need to design a solution that balances high availability across multiple Regions with strict cost limitations. The best preparation strategy is to practice architectural design thinking with real AWS services, then reinforce your readiness through high-quality AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional practice exams that simulate the exam environment.
Does AWS provide tools or resources to prepare for the Solutions Architect Professional exam?
Yes, AWS offers a wealth of preparation resources:
- Exam Guide and Practice Questions
- AWS Skill Builder learning plans
- Hands-on Builder Labs and Jam events
- Official practice exams through AWS Training
- Well-Architected Framework whitepapers for design principles
Additionally, communities such as AWS re:Post and user groups are excellent spaces to exchange strategies with other learners.
How can I take the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional exam?
You have two options when scheduling your exam through Pearson VUE:
- Online proctored exam – taken from the comfort of your home with an eligible testing environment.
- Testing center exam – at a certified Pearson VUE testing location.
Both options offer the same validity for your results. Choose whichever method best fits your schedule and comfort level.
After passing this exam, what certifications are recommended next?
Many professionals choose to deepen their specialization after earning the Professional cert. Popular next credentials include:
- AWS Certified Security – Specialty for cloud security expertise
- AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty for architects working on hybrid/cloud networking
- AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty for big data and analytic workloads
These certifications complement your Professional credential by building domain-specific depth.
How do I register and begin the exam process?
To register:
- Sign in to your AWS Certification Account.
- Choose the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional exam (SAP-C02).
- Select your preferred testing option: online or in-person.
- Pick a time slot that works for you.
- Complete your payment and schedule confirmation.
You can begin scheduling directly through the official AWS Solutions Architect Professional page.
Summary
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional certification is more than a credential—it is a career accelerator. It validates your ability to design sophisticated cloud solutions, guides you toward high-paying and senior-level roles, and demonstrates to organizations that you can lead complex AWS implementations with confidence. With careful preparation, hands-on experience, and smart use of practice exams, you’ll be well on your way to joining the elite professionals who hold this prestigious AWS certification.
