What is SAA-C03?

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) exam is offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It validates your ability to design cost-efficient, secure, and scalable cloud solutions on AWS. The exam focuses on core AWS services, best practices for architectural design, and hands-on knowledge needed to build resilient systems in the cloud.

Who should take this exam

This AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) exam is ideal for:

• Solutions Architects designing cloud infrastructures.
• Cloud Engineers and DevOps professionals building and deploying workloads on AWS.
• System Administrators moving from on-premise to cloud-based systems.
• Candidates with around 1+ year of hands-on AWS experience who want to showcase cloud design and implementation skills.

Typical candidates are professionals who already work with cloud platforms and want to validate their ability to architect solutions that are secure, performant, and aligned with AWS best practices.

Prerequisites and recommendations

• Official prerequisites: None. AWS does not require prior certifications.
• Recommendations:
  • Having AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner before attempting SAA-C03 is beneficial but not mandatory.
  • At least 1 year of hands-on experience designing systems on AWS.
  • Basic understanding of networking, databases, and security concepts.
  • Familiarity with AWS services like EC2, S3, RDS, IAM, VPC.

Exam objectives and domains

The SAA-C03 exam covers four main domains:

• Domain 1 – Design Secure Architectures (30%)
• Domain 2 – Design Resilient Architectures (26%)
• Domain 3 – Design High-Performing Architectures (24%)
• Domain 4 – Design Cost-Optimized Architectures (20%)

Objective details by domain

Domain 1: Design Secure Architectures

• Design secure access to AWS resources.
• Select secure workloads and data protection strategies.
• Apply encryption and compliance-based design.

Domain 2: Design Resilient Architectures

• Design highly available and fault-tolerant systems.
• Implement backup and disaster recovery strategies.
• Apply elasticity and scalability principles.

Domain 3: Design High-Performing Architectures

• Choose performance-optimized compute/storage/database solutions.
• Optimize networking for latency and throughput.
• Implement caching and load balancing.

Domain 4: Design Cost-Optimized Architectures

• Apply AWS pricing models effectively.
• Select cost-effective storage and compute options.
• Design architectures that reduce operational overhead.

What changed in this version

• Updated to reflect new AWS services and features (e.g., Graviton2, EFS, FSx, and newer networking options).
• More focus on security and resilience compared to older versions.
• Less emphasis on purely legacy services; stronger focus on serverless, containers, and cost optimization.
• Domains reorganized with slightly different weightings.

Registration and scheduling

• Register through AWS Training and Certification portal or Pearson VUE / PSI.
• Exam delivery: online proctored or in-person at a test center.
• Duration: 130 minutes.
• Format: 65 multiple-choice and multiple-response questions.

Pricing and vouchers

• Standard exam cost: $150 USD.
• Practice exam: $20 USD (optional).
• Regional pricing: may vary by country (e.g., often cheaper in Asia-Pacific regions).
• Discounts: AWS sometimes offers 50% off vouchers after completing training events or via employer/partner programs.
• Students & military: can often get discounts via AWS Academy or training partners.

Policies you should know

• You can reschedule or cancel up to 24 hours before the exam.
• Retake policy: If you fail, you must wait 14 days before retaking. No maximum attempts.
• NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) must be accepted before starting the exam.
• Identification: Government-issued ID required.

Scoring and results

• Score range: 100–1000.
• Passing score: 720.
• Partial credit is given for multiple-response questions (no penalty for wrong answers).
• Results: Preliminary pass/fail immediately shown; detailed score report available within 5 business days in the AWS Certification account.

Exam day and test experience

On-site test center: Bring valid ID, no personal items allowed, locker provided.

Online proctoring: Room scan required, webcam & microphone must remain on, no one else allowed in the room.

Breaks: No scheduled breaks; time keeps running if you leave.

Interface tips:

Manage time: ~2 minutes per question, with 10–15 minutes for review.

Use the flag for review option for tricky questions.

Study plan and resources

Beginner plan (10–12 weeks)

• Weeks 1–2: Study AWS core services (EC2, S3, RDS, IAM, VPC).
• Weeks 3–5: Deep dive into resilience, HA, and security design.
• Weeks 6–7: Explore cost optimization and performance.
• Weeks 8–9: Hands-on practice with AWS Free Tier and labs.
• Weeks 10–11: Attempt practice exams and refine weak areas.
• Week 12: Final review + take exam.

Experienced plan (4–6 weeks)

• Week 1: Review domains and exam guide.
• Week 2–3: Focus on weak areas, practice with whitepapers.
• Week 4: Take 2–3 practice exams under timed conditions.
• Week 5: Final hands-on labs + review.
• Week 6: Sit the exam.

Resources:

• Exam dumps & practice tests (e.g., Cert Mage) for realistic prep.
• AWS Whitepapers (Well-Architected Framework, Security Best Practices, Cost Optimization).
• AWS Training (Architecting on AWS course).
• Hands-on practice via AWS Free Tier.

Certification validity and renewal

• Validity: 3 years.
• Renewal options:
  • Or upgrade to a higher-level certification (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect – Professional).
  • Retake the latest version of the exam.

Career outcomes

• Common job titles: Cloud Solutions Architect, AWS Engineer, Cloud Consultant, DevOps Engineer.
• Used to: demonstrate credibility in designing AWS workloads for enterprises.
• Average salary:
  • Globally: varies but generally among the highest-paying associate-level cloud certs.
  • In the US: ~$120,000 – $140,000/year (Payscale & Glassdoor).

Job Roles for AWS SAA-C03 Certified Professionals

Related or next-step certifications

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02): next natural step.
• AWS Certified Security – Specialty: for security-focused professionals.
• AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate: for more operational roles.

How this exam compares to similar certifications

• Azure Solutions Architect Associate (AZ-305): broader focus on hybrid + Azure, while SAA-C03 is AWS-specific.
• Google Professional Cloud Architect: more open-ended scenario-based questions, slightly harder than AWS Associate.
• Difficulty: SAA-C03 is moderately difficult, easier than AWS Professional-level, tougher than AWS Cloud Practitioner.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the SAA-C03 exam hard?

It’s moderately difficult. If you have hands-on AWS experience, it’s very manageable. The challenge is in understanding architectural trade-offs, not memorization.

Can I pass SAA-C03 without AWS work experience?

Possible, but tough. Hands-on labs and free-tier practice are almost essential to understand practical scenarios.

How long should I study for SAA-C03?

Beginners usually need 3 months of study. Experienced cloud professionals may need only 4–6 weeks of focused prep.

What happens if I fail the exam?

You can retake it after 14 days. There’s no limit on attempts, but you’ll have to pay the fee again.