How to Become an AWS Certified Developer Associate

Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a number of certifications for software development professionals to demonstrate their skills and experience in using AWS Cloud services for cloud computing and cloud-based software. The AWS Certified Developer Associate is a credential for professionals with about one year of experience working with AWS services and basic knowledge about developing and deploying cloud-based applications. Learn more about the AWS Certified Developer Associate certification and the steps you can take to prepare. 

What is an AWS Certified Developer Associate?

The AWS Certified Developer Associate is a certification Amazon Web Services offers for professionals who work as AWS Cloud developers. AWS certification demonstrates to potential employers that you have knowledge and experience developing, testing, and deploying programs and apps based on AWS Cloud. 

AWS certification hierarchy

AWS offers certifications at four different levels: foundational, associate, professional, and specialty. Foundational exams are for beginners who don’t have prior experience in the topic, while associate certifications represent some level of experience in the field. Professional certifications represent professionals with at least two years of experience working with AWS Cloud products, and a specialty certification represents a professional with deep expertise in a particular area. 

Within each level, AWS offers certifications tailored to your career goals. You can choose to follow an established certification path or create your own for even more flexibility. 

• Foundational certifications: Cloud Practitioner and AI Practitioner

• Associate certifications: SysOps Administrator, Developer, Solutions Architect, Data Engineer, or Machine Learning Engineer

• Professional certifications: Solutions Architect and DevOps Engineer

• Specialty certifications: Advanced Networking, Machine Learning, Security 

AWS Certified Developer Associate

Earning your AWS Certified Developer Associate can help you learn new skills and demonstrate your expertise using AWS Cloud services. You can also apply what you learn to more advanced certifications at the professional or specialty level. Explore the requirements, prerequisites, exam format, and key topics on the exam. 

Certification requirements

To become an AWS Certified Developer Associate, you will need to take and pass the exam. You can choose to use AWS resources to prepare for the exam, but they are optional. You can also choose which exam is right for you based on your education and experience in the field. 

Prerequisites for candidates

Amazon recommends that you have at least one year of experience working with AWS Cloud services before taking this exam. You should also have general IT skills such as: 

• At least one high-level programming language

• Basic understanding of cloud-based apps

• Basic experience with software and app development 

• Experience developing with AWS Services

You don’t have to complete a foundational level certification to qualify for the associate level, although the foundational certification is one way to gain the IT and AWS skills you’ll need to be successful in the AWS Certified Developer Associate exam. 

Exam format and structure

The AWS Certified Developer Associate exam consists of 65 multiple-choice or multiple-response questions. Multiple-choice questions have one correct answer and several incorrect answers, while multiple-response questions have two or more correct answers within a set of options. You will have 130 minutes to complete it. You can also choose between taking the exam through an in-person testing center or a proctored online exam. To pass the exam, you will need a score of at least 720 out of a possible 1,000 [1]. 

Key topics covered

The contents of the AWS Certified Developer Associate exam consist of four sections: development with AWS services, security, deployment, and troubleshooting and optimization. Development, representing 32 percent of the exam, covers topics like developing with AWS Services, developing with AWS Lambda, and data storage [1]. 

The security component represents 26 percent of the exam and covers topics like implementing authentication, implementing encryption, and managing sensitive data. Deployment, worth 24 percent of the exam, covers preparing artifacts for deployment, testing apps within IDEs, automating deployment testing, and deploying with AWS CI/CD [1]. 

Finally, the troubleshooting and optimization section represents the remaining 18 percent of the exam and covers root cause analysis, observability, and optimizing apps with AWS services[1]. 

How to become an AWS Certified Developer Associate

To become an AWS Certified Developer Associate, you will need to have a strong knowledge of the concepts covered on the exam and gain experience working with AWS services. Additionally, you’ll need to study and prepare for the exam and then register and pass the exam. After completing these steps, you’ll officially be an AWS Certified Developer Associate. 

Step 1: Gain experience and learn AWS developer concepts 

The first step is to learn AWS developer concepts and to gain the recommended one year of experience working with AWS applications before taking the exam. While you can choose from many paths to gain experience and knowledge in the field, one strategy is to complete the AWS Fundamentals Specialization offered by AWS on Coursera. This option allows you to learn about AWS services directly from AWS with three courses: AWS Cloud Technical Essentials, Migrating to the AWS Cloud, and Architecting Solutions on AWS. 

Step 2: Study and prepare for the exam

The second step is to study and prepare for the exam. You can prepare for the exam by learning about the format and structure of the exam and by deciding if you will take the exam in person or take a proctored online exam. You can learn more about the contents of the exam by reading the exam guide. 

You can also refresh your AWS skills and get ready for the test by taking an exam preparation course, such as the Exam Prep Standard Course offered through AWS Skillbuilder. You may also be able to find short but intensive boot camps to help you review. You don’t have to complete any particular exam or study prep course before you can qualify to take the exam, so the method you choose is up to you. 

Step 3: Register and pass the exam

The third step is to register for and pass the exam. You can check to make sure you’re prepared with the AWS practice exam before creating an AWS Training and Certification account and scheduling your exam. 

Careers for an AWS Certified Developer Associate

After earning your AWS Certified Developer Associate, you can consider continuing to earn a professional or specialty-level AWS certification, as well. Or, you can put your skills to practice in an AWS developer position. A few careers you can explore after an AWS Certified Developer Associate include software engineer, test engineer, or Cloud DevOps engineer. 

Software engineer

Average salary in the US (Glassdoor): $119,222 [2]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 17 percent [3]

As a software engineer, you will use engineering principles to design and develop software solutions. In some cases, software engineers work on software for other software solutions, such as operating systems or apps that allow two pieces of software to communicate. In this role, you can work in many different industries that rely on software for business and organizational operations. 

Test engineer

Average salary in the US (Glassdoor): $106,500 [4]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 17 percent [3]

As a test engineer, you will design tests that other professionals will use to analyze the quality of software, products, mechanical and electrical systems, and more. In this role, you will likely specialize in one kind of product or system and develop a process for determining quality. As a software testing engineer, you will specialize in assessing the quality of software, and you may work as part of the quality assurance team. 

Cloud DevOps engineer 

Average salary in the US (Glassdoor): $112,500 [5]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 17 percent [3]

As a cloud DevOps engineer, you will help oversee and manage the development and operations of cloud-based applications or computing systems. You will help create, deploy, and manage cloud services while implementing continuous integration and continuous deployment and other aspects of the development lifecycle. In this role, you will have a leadership role in a team of development professionals. 

Getting started with Coursera

As an AWS Certified Developer Associate, you can demonstrate your experience and knowledge of AWS concepts to potential employers or prepare for a certificate at the professional or associate level. To start learning about AWS Cloud Services today, explore AWS Fundamentals offered by AWS on Coursera. You can also gain related skills with the AWS Cloud Solutions Architect Professional Certificate to learn how to design architectural solutions and prepare for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate exam.