aws developer associate Study Guide: Everything You Need to Know 2025
Your complete roadmap to passing the DVA-C02 certification exam. This comprehensive study guide covers all 4 exam domains with detailed explanations, study tips, and practice resources.
Quick Start
Essential steps to begin your preparation
Review Exam Objectives
View all domains →Take Assessment Quiz
Free practice test →Follow Study Plan
8-week roadmap →Full Practice Exams
Start practicing →Exam Domains & Objectives
Master these 4 domains to pass the DVA-C02 exam
Development with AWS Services
Security
Deployment
Troubleshooting and Optimization
8-Week Study Plan
Follow this structured plan to prepare for your AWS Certified Developer - Associate exam
Foundation
Understand core concepts and exam objectives
Focus Areas:
- Development with AWS Services
- Security
Deep Dive
Master advanced topics and practical applications
Focus Areas:
- Deployment
- Troubleshooting and Optimization
Practice & Review
Take practice exams and review weak areas
Focus Areas:
Final Prep
Full practice exams and last-minute review
Focus Areas:
- Full-length practice tests
- Review all domains
Curated Study Resources
AI-curated resources with real links to help you prepare for the AWS Certified Developer - Associate exam
Complete Study Guide for AWS Certified Developer - Associate (DVA-C02)
The AWS Certified Developer - Associate certification validates your ability to develop, deploy, and debug cloud-based applications using AWS services. This certification demonstrates expertise in core AWS services, best practices for security, and application lifecycle management. It's highly valued by employers seeking developers who can build modern, scalable applications on AWS infrastructure.
Who Should Take This Exam
- Software developers with 1+ years of AWS experience
- Application developers building cloud-native solutions
- Developers transitioning to cloud development
- DevOps engineers focusing on application deployment
- Full-stack developers working with AWS services
Prerequisites
- Basic understanding of at least one high-level programming language (Python, Java, JavaScript, etc.)
- Fundamental knowledge of AWS core services (EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda)
- Understanding of basic networking concepts
- Familiarity with RESTful APIs and web services
- Experience with version control systems (Git)
- Basic Linux/Unix command line skills
Official Resources
AWS Certified Developer - Associate Official Exam Guide
Official exam page with overview, exam guide PDF, and registration information
View ResourceAWS Developer Center
Central hub for AWS developer resources, SDKs, and tools
View ResourceAWS Documentation Hub
Complete technical documentation for all AWS services covered in the exam
View ResourceAWS Whitepapers and Guides
Technical whitepapers covering AWS architecture, security, and best practices
View ResourceAWS Well-Architected Framework
Best practices for building secure, high-performing, resilient, and efficient infrastructure
View ResourceAWS Training and Certification
Official AWS training courses, learning paths, and exam preparation resources
View ResourceAWS Skill Builder
AWS's official learning platform with free and paid courses, labs, and practice exams
View ResourceAWS Official Practice Question Set
Official practice questions and exam readiness resources
View ResourceAWS SDK Documentation
SDKs and developer tools for various programming languages
View ResourceRecommended Courses
Exam Prep: AWS Certified Developer - Associate (DVA-C02)
AWS Skill Builder • 8 hours
View CourseRecommended Books
AWS Certified Developer Associate All-in-One Exam Guide (Exam DVA-C02)
by Joyjeet Banerjee
Comprehensive guide covering all exam objectives with practice questions and real-world scenarios
View on AmazonAWS Certified Developer - Associate (DVA-C02) Cert Guide
by Marko Sluga
Detailed exam preparation with hands-on exercises and chapter quizzes
View on AmazonAWS Certified Developer Official Study Guide: Associate (DVA-C02) Exam
by Nick Alteen, Ben Piper, David Clinton
Official study guide from AWS with comprehensive coverage and practice tests
View on AmazonAWS Certified Developer Associate Practice Tests
by Jon Bonso
Six full-length practice exams with detailed explanations for all answers
View on AmazonPractice & Hands-On Resources
AWS Skill Builder Practice Exam
Official practice exam from AWS with questions similar to the actual test
View ResourceAWS Free Tier Account
Free hands-on access to AWS services for 12 months with usage limits
View ResourceAWS Workshops
Collection of hands-on workshops covering various AWS services and scenarios
View ResourceTutorials Dojo DVA-C02 Practice Exams
High-quality practice tests with detailed explanations and exam simulator
View ResourceAWS Samples GitHub Repository
Official AWS code samples and reference architectures
View ResourceStephane Maarek Practice Tests
Practice exams on Udemy with detailed explanations
View ResourceWhizlabs Practice Tests
Practice exams with performance tracking and custom tests
View ResourceCommunity & Forums
AWS Developer Forums
Official AWS community forums for asking questions and getting support
Join Communityr/AWSCertifications
Active Reddit community sharing study tips, exam experiences, and resources
Join CommunityAWS Developers Slack Community
Active Slack workspace for AWS developers to share knowledge
Join CommunityLinkedIn AWS Certification Groups
Professional networking groups focused on AWS certifications
Join CommunityStudy Tips
Hands-On Practice
- Build at least 3-5 complete applications using multiple AWS services
- Use AWS Free Tier extensively - theoretical knowledge alone is insufficient
- Practice with AWS CLI and at least one SDK (Python boto3, JavaScript, or Java)
- Deploy sample applications using different deployment methods (CloudFormation, SAM, Elastic Beanstalk)
- Break things intentionally and practice troubleshooting with CloudWatch and X-Ray
Service-Specific Focus
- Lambda: Master all invocation models (synchronous, asynchronous, stream-based), environment variables, layers, and versions
- DynamoDB: Practice queries vs scans, GSI vs LSI, capacity modes, and streams
- API Gateway: Understand integration types, stages, canary deployments, and caching
- IAM: Write policies from scratch, understand policy evaluation logic and boundaries
- CodePipeline: Build complete CI/CD pipelines including build, test, and deploy stages
Exam-Specific Strategies
- The exam emphasizes serverless architectures - expect 40% of questions on Lambda, API Gateway, and related services
- Understand the 'AWS Way' - know when AWS recommends managed services over self-managed solutions
- Learn to eliminate obviously wrong answers first - usually 2 choices can be quickly eliminated
- Time management: 2 minutes per question average, flag difficult questions and return later
- Watch for trick questions about service limits, pricing models, and regional availability
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don't confuse CloudWatch Logs with CloudTrail - know which service tracks what
- Understand the difference between SQS standard vs FIFO queues and when to use each
- Know Lambda limitations: 15-minute timeout, 10GB memory max, /tmp storage limits
- Remember that S3 is eventually consistent for overwrite PUTS and DELETES in certain scenarios
- Don't overlook Step Functions - it appears more frequently in DVA-C02 than previous versions
Practice Test Strategy
- Take your first practice test after week 6 to identify weak areas
- Complete at least 4-5 full-length practice exams before the actual test
- Review every incorrect answer thoroughly, understanding why it's wrong
- Take practice tests under timed conditions to build exam stamina
- Aim for consistent 85%+ scores on practice tests before scheduling the exam
Documentation Deep Dives
- Read the Developer Guide (not just API reference) for Lambda, DynamoDB, and API Gateway
- Study AWS SDK error handling patterns and retry strategies
- Review CloudFormation resource properties for commonly used services
- Understand CloudWatch Logs Insights query syntax and common query patterns
- Memorize important service quotas and limits that affect application design
Exam Day Tips
- 1Arrive 30 minutes early if testing at a center, or start your system check 30 minutes before for online proctoring
- 2Read each question carefully - AWS often includes extra information as distractors
- 3Use the 'Mark for Review' feature liberally - don't get stuck on difficult questions
- 4Watch for keywords: 'most cost-effective', 'least operational overhead', 'most secure', 'highest performance'
- 5If two answers seem correct, choose the one that's more 'serverless' or 'managed' - AWS prefers these approaches
- 6Remember that Lambda cold starts, DynamoDB capacity modes, and IAM policy evaluation are frequently tested
- 7For scenario-based questions, identify the main requirement first, then eliminate solutions that don't meet it
- 8Budget your time: aim to complete first pass through all questions with 30-40 minutes remaining for review
- 9Don't second-guess yourself too much - your first instinct is often correct if you've studied thoroughly
- 10Stay calm and confident - the exam tests practical knowledge, and if you've built real applications, you'll recognize scenarios
Study guide generated on January 7, 2026
Pro Study Tips
Expert advice to maximize your study effectiveness
Active Learning Strategies
- Hands-on practice: Apply concepts in real scenarios
- Teach others: Explain concepts to reinforce learning
- Take notes: Write summaries in your own words
Exam Day Preparation
- Get enough sleep: Rest well the night before
- Review key points: Go through your notes and cheat sheets
- Time management: Practice pacing with timed exams
Continue Your Preparation
More resources to help you succeed
Complete AWS Certified Developer - Associate Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide will help you prepare for the DVA-C02 certification exam offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). Whether you are a beginner or experienced professional, this guide covers everything you need to know to pass on your first attempt.
What You Will Learn
Our study guide covers all 4 exam domains in detail:
- Development with AWS Services (32%)
- Security (26%)
- Deployment (24%)
- Troubleshooting and Optimization (18%)
Recommended Timeline
Most candidates need 6-8 weeks of dedicated study to pass the AWS Certified Developer - Associate exam. We recommend studying 1-2 hours daily and taking practice exams weekly to track your progress.
Next Step: Start with our free practice test to assess your current knowledge level.