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AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03)

The most popular AWS certification and a strong entry point for cloud careers. Validates your ability to design distributed systems on AWS—the dominant cloud platform with roughly 32% market share.

✓ Best for: Developers, sysadmins, or IT professionals moving into cloud roles, especially those targeting companies using AWS infrastructure

Who Is AWS SAA For?

✓ This certification is a good fit if you…

  • Work in IT and want to transition to cloud engineering or architecture roles
  • Are a developer who wants to understand infrastructure and deployment at scale
  • Target companies that use AWS (check job postings—most enterprise cloud jobs mention AWS)
  • Want a vendor-specific cert that carries significant weight in hiring
  • Have some IT or development background and understand basic networking concepts
  • Are pursuing cloud architect, DevOps, or SRE career paths

✗ You might consider alternatives if you…

  • Have zero IT/dev experience—consider AWS Cloud Practitioner first
  • Work primarily with Azure or GCP—get certified on your actual platform
  • Want hands-on DevOps skills specifically—AWS DevOps Engineer or Kubernetes certs may be more targeted
  • Need a quick credential—this requires real study time, not a weekend cram

Prerequisites (In Plain English)

Official requirement: None. AWS recommends 1+ year of hands-on AWS experience, but it's not enforced.

Realistic expectation: You'll have a much easier time if you understand:

  • Basic networking: IP addresses, subnets, DNS, load balancing concepts, firewalls
  • Linux fundamentals: Command line, SSH, basic server administration
  • Web architecture: How web applications work, databases, caching, CDNs
  • Some AWS exposure: Even just spinning up an EC2 instance or S3 bucket helps enormously

If you've never touched a cloud console, spend a week with AWS Free Tier before starting exam prep. The hands-on context makes everything click faster.

What You'll Learn

The SAA-C03 exam covers four domains:

  1. Design Secure Architectures (30%): IAM, security groups, encryption, VPC security, compliance considerations
  2. Design Resilient Architectures (26%): Multi-AZ deployments, disaster recovery, fault-tolerant systems, decoupling
  3. Design High-Performing Architectures (24%): Compute optimization, storage selection, database choices, caching strategies
  4. Design Cost-Optimized Architectures (20%): Right-sizing, Reserved Instances, Spot Instances, storage tiering, cost monitoring

Key services to know deeply: EC2, S3, RDS, DynamoDB, VPC, IAM, Lambda, CloudFront, Route 53, ELB/ALB, Auto Scaling, SQS, SNS, CloudWatch.

The exam tests your ability to select the right AWS service for a given scenario—not memorize service limits or API calls.

Exam Format & Scoring

Exam code: SAA-C03 (current version since August 2022)

Question format: 65 questions, mix of multiple choice (one correct answer) and multiple response (two or more correct answers). No hands-on labs in the exam itself.

Time limit: 130 minutes. Most candidates finish with 20–40 minutes to spare. Use extra time to review flagged questions.

Passing score: 720 out of 1000 (scaled). This roughly translates to ~72% correct, though AWS uses a scaled scoring model.

Testing options: Pearson VUE testing centers or online proctored. Online exams require a clean desk, working webcam, and stable internet.

Results: Pass/fail shown immediately. Detailed score report available within 5 days.

Recommended Study Plan

Beginner Track

10–12 weeks

For those new to AWS or cloud concepts:

  1. Weeks 1–2: Set up AWS Free Tier account. Complete AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials (free) for foundational context.
  2. Weeks 3–6: Work through a comprehensive SAA course. Do hands-on labs for every major service—don't just watch videos.
  3. Weeks 7–9: Deep dive on weak areas. Build a small project (e.g., deploy a web app with EC2, RDS, S3, CloudFront).
  4. Weeks 10–12: Practice exams. Take 4–6 full-length tests. Score 75%+ consistently before booking.

Accelerated Track

4–6 weeks

For IT professionals with AWS exposure:

  1. Week 1: Take a diagnostic practice exam. Identify weak domains. Skim exam guide.
  2. Weeks 2–3: Focus study on weak areas. Use video course at 1.5x for familiar topics, normal speed for gaps.
  3. Weeks 4–5: Hands-on labs for services you haven't used. Practice exams—aim for 500+ questions total.
  4. Week 6: Final review. Take 2–3 timed practice exams. Book exam when scoring 80%+.

Prep Resources

Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend resources with strong track records. Learn more

Best Overall

Stephane Maarek's Ultimate AWS SAA Course (Udemy)

The most popular SAA course with 800k+ students. Comprehensive coverage, regularly updated, includes hands-on demos. Maarek is a former AWS employee.

~$15–20 on sale (usually on sale)

View on Udemy (affiliate)
Best Practice Exams

Tutorials Dojo Practice Exams (Jon Bonso)

Widely considered the most exam-realistic practice tests. Detailed explanations for every answer. Essential for final prep.

~$15 on Udemy

View on Udemy (affiliate)

AWS Skill Builder (Free Tier)

Official AWS training platform. Free digital courses including exam readiness content. Good supplement, though less comprehensive than paid courses.

Free

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A Cloud Guru / Pluralsight

Subscription-based platform with SAA course and hands-on labs. Good if you plan to pursue multiple cloud certs. More expensive than Udemy one-offs.

~$35/month or included with Pluralsight

View Plans (affiliate)

Hands-On Practice

Crucial for this exam—you need to actually use AWS:

  • AWS Free Tier: 12 months of limited free usage for many services. Essential for hands-on learning.
  • Tutorials Dojo Labs: Guided labs specifically designed for SAA prep
  • Build something: Deploy a simple web app with EC2, set up a static site with S3/CloudFront, create a VPC from scratch

Official Information

Always verify current pricing, policies, and exam objectives directly with AWS:

Visit AWS Official Page →

External link to aws.amazon.com. We have no affiliate relationship with AWS exam registration.

Alternative Certifications to Consider

☁️

AWS Cloud Practitioner

If you're completely new to AWS. Foundational cert that covers cloud concepts without deep technical detail.
🔷

Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

If your target company uses Microsoft Azure instead of AWS. Similar level, different platform.
👨‍💻

AWS Developer Associate

If you're primarily a developer. More focus on coding, CI/CD, and application deployment than architecture.
🌐

Google Cloud Associate Engineer

If your target companies use GCP. Growing market share, especially in data/ML-focused organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AWS Solutions Architect Associate worth it in 2025?

For cloud careers, yes—it's one of the most requested certifications in job postings. AWS dominates the cloud market, and SAA is the most recognized AWS cert. However, the cert alone won't get you hired without some practical experience or portfolio projects demonstrating real skills.

How hard is the AWS SAA exam?

Moderately challenging. It requires understanding architectural trade-offs, not just memorizing services. Most people with IT backgrounds and proper preparation (2–3 months of focused study) pass on the first attempt. The exam is scenario-heavy—you need to understand "why" not just "what."

Should I get Cloud Practitioner first?

Not required, but helpful if you're completely new to AWS. Cloud Practitioner takes 2–4 weeks and gives you foundational vocabulary. If you have IT experience and are comfortable with networking concepts, you can skip directly to SAA.

Can I pass with just video courses and no hands-on?

Technically possible, but not recommended. The exam tests practical decision-making. Candidates who've actually deployed services understand the nuances better. AWS Free Tier gives you 12 months of hands-on learning at minimal cost—use it.

How does SAA compare to Azure or GCP certifications?

AWS SAA is generally considered more rigorous than Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) but comparable to Azure Administrator (AZ-104). Google's Associate Cloud Engineer is similar in difficulty. Choose based on what cloud your target employers use, not perceived difficulty.

What jobs can I get with AWS SAA?

Common roles include Cloud Engineer, Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer, Cloud Consultant, and SRE. Entry-level cloud roles typically pay $70,000–$100,000+ depending on location. The cert opens doors but experience and interview performance matter too.

How do I renew the certification?

AWS certs expire after 3 years. To renew, you can either retake the current exam or pass a higher-level exam (e.g., Solutions Architect Professional). AWS sometimes offers shorter recertification exams at reduced cost.