AWS Certification
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional provides accreditation which helps professionals with their advanced knowledge and abilities in automating manual operations, optimizing security, cost, and performance deriving complicated solutions to complex problems.
We recommend individuals to have at least two years of practical experience developing and implementing cloud architecture on AWS. Moreover, acquaintance with AWS CLI, AWS APIs, AWS CloudFormation templates, the AWS Billing Console, the AWS Management Console, a scripting language, and Windows and Linux environments would help professionals gain an upper hand over the others.
Who should take this exam?
- Familiarity with AWS CLI, AWS APIs, AWS CloudFormation templates, the AWS Billing Console, the AWS Management Console, a scripting language, and Windows and Linux environment
- Ability to provide best practice guidance on the architectural design across multiple applications and projects of the enterprise as well as an ability to map business objectives to application/architecture requirements
- Ability to evaluate cloud application requirements and make architectural recommendations for implementation, deployment, and provisioning applications on AWS
- Ability to design a hybrid architecture using key AWS technologies (e.g., VPN, AWS Direct Connect) as well as a continuous integration and deployment process
Exam Overview
Level: Professional
Length: 180 minutes to complete the exam
Cost: 300 USD
Format: 75 questions; either multiple choice or multiple response
Exam Content
- Response types
There are two types of questions on the exam: - Multiple choice: Has one correct response and three incorrect responses
(distractors) - Multiple response: Has two or more correct responses out of five or more
response options
Select one or more responses that best complete the statement or answer the question. Distractors, or incorrect answers, are response options that a candidate with incomplete knowledge or skill might choose. Distractors are generally plausible responses that match the content area.
Unanswered questions are scored as incorrect; there is no penalty for guessing. The exam includes 65 questions that affect your score.
Content outline
This exam guide includes weightings, content domains, and task statements for the exam. This guide does not provide a comprehensive list of the content on the exam. However, additional context for each task statement is available to help you prepare for the exam.
The exam has the following content domains and weightings:
- Domain 1: Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity (26% of scored content)
- Domain 2: Design for New Solutions (29% of scored content)
- Domain 3: Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions (25% of scored content)
- Domain 4: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization (20% of scored content)
Prepare for the exam
Below are recommended steps you can follow to get ready for exam day. Note: AWS does not require you to take any specific AWS training as part of your exam prep.
Classroom Training
Learn the official AWS Course deliver by an Amazon Authorised Instructor.
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Exam Readiness
Learn about navigating the logistics of the examination process, the exam structure.
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Exam Guide
Download the Exam Guiide>
Practice Questionnaire
Attempt exam questions built by experts to assess your preparation for the certification exam.
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FAQs
No, there are no prerequisites to prepare for and take this certification exam. The content outline for this exam is designed for candidates new to Cloud who may not have an information technology (IT) background. Candidates for this exam could have up to 6 months of exposure to AWS Cloud, but it is not required.
Earning this certification validates high-level understanding of AWS Cloud, services, and terminology. This certification serves as an entry point to a cloud career for candidates from non-IT backgrounds switching to cloud. Job listings requiring AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner have increased 84% (Oct 2021 – Sept 2022) per Lightcast™ October 2022. This certification is also ideal for line-of-business employees (sales, product management, project management, etc.) who want to gain cloud literacy and communicate more effectively with technical teams and customers.
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and/or AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate are next certifications that other cloud professionals have earned to advance further in cloud architect, cloud engineer, developer, and systems administrator roles.
This certification is valid for 3 years.
Before your certification expires, you can recertify through one of the options below:
- Complete the new AWS Cloud Quest: Recertify Cloud Practitioner game-based learning. This guided, self-paced option is free during the beta period November 21, 2023 – May 31, 2024. No exam prep or exam is needed for this game-based recertification option.
- Pass the latest version of the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam
- Pass an Associate-level or Professional-level exam
Yes. Once you earn one AWS Certification, you get 50% discount on other AWS Certification exams. You can sign in and access this discount in your AWS Certification Account.