Certification Guide
AWS Certified Developer – Associate
The AWS Developer – Associate validates hands-on skill with the AWS SDK, IAM, Lambda, DynamoDB, API Gateway, ECS, and CI/CD services. It goes deeper on developer-facing services than the Solutions Architect track and is the strongest AWS credential for backend engineers building on serverless or container platforms.
Exam Code
DVA-C02
Cost
$150
Duration
130 minutes
Passing Score
720 / 1000
Validity
3 years
Vendor
Amazon Web Services
Difficulty
Associate
Salary Impact
$8K – $20K premium; strongest signal for backend + serverless roles
Who This Certification Is For
- Backend engineers who write AWS SDK code (Lambda handlers, DynamoDB queries)
- Engineers who already hold SAA and want a second, more code-focused cert
- Full-stack developers building on Amplify, App Runner, or ECS Fargate
- Contractors who want to signal serverless credibility on their profile
Exam Domains
What AWS DVA-C02 actually tests, with weightings where the vendor publishes them:
- Development with AWS Services (32%)
- Security (26%)
- Deployment (24%)
- Troubleshooting and Optimization (18%)
Study Path
An opinionated plan, in order. Timelines assume ~10 hours per week.
Week 1: Skim the exam guide; write a small Lambda + DynamoDB app if you haven't
Week 2–4: Video course (Stephane Maarek's DVA-C02 is the standard)
Week 5: Deep-dive on IAM policies, KMS, and Cognito — these dominate the security domain
Week 6: Practice exams (Tutorials Dojo) — expect DynamoDB partition-key and Lambda cold-start questions
Week 7: Book the exam once you're consistently 80%+
Top Employers That Value AWS DVA-C02
How HiringFunnel Uses Your AWS DVA-C02
Serverless-first startups pay a premium for engineers who can ship Lambda + DynamoDB code without hand-holding. HiringFunnel targets these companies at the senior level and surfaces roles where DVA is either required or a strong plus.
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