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Amazon Web Services
Cloud & DevOps
Intermediate
🔥 Popular
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
Also known as: AWS SAA-C03
130 minutes
Duration
3 yrs
Validity
0+
Booked
Pearson VUE (test centre or online proctored)
Delivery
About This Certification
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate (SAA-C03) is consistently ranked as one of the highest-value and most in-demand IT certifications globally. Offered by Amazon Web Services, this credential validates your ability to design distributed systems, scalable architectures, and cost-optimised cloud solutions on AWS.
Earning the SAA-C03 proves that you can architect AWS-based applications that are secure, resilient, performant, and cost-effective, aligned with the AWS Well-Architected Framework. The exam covers the full breadth of AWS architecture, from compute and storage to databases, networking, and serverless technologies.
The SAA-C03 is the most widely held AWS professional certification and is frequently listed as a requirement for cloud architect, solutions engineer, and cloud infrastructure roles. With AWS holding a significant share of the global cloud market, AWS-certified professionals are in extraordinary demand across every industry worldwide.
This certification is the gateway to more advanced AWS credentials including the Solutions Architect Professional, DevOps Engineer Professional, and specialty certifications in security, machine learning, and networking.
Earning the SAA-C03 proves that you can architect AWS-based applications that are secure, resilient, performant, and cost-effective, aligned with the AWS Well-Architected Framework. The exam covers the full breadth of AWS architecture, from compute and storage to databases, networking, and serverless technologies.
The SAA-C03 is the most widely held AWS professional certification and is frequently listed as a requirement for cloud architect, solutions engineer, and cloud infrastructure roles. With AWS holding a significant share of the global cloud market, AWS-certified professionals are in extraordinary demand across every industry worldwide.
This certification is the gateway to more advanced AWS credentials including the Solutions Architect Professional, DevOps Engineer Professional, and specialty certifications in security, machine learning, and networking.
Who Should Take This Exam?
This certification is designed for IT professionals with hands-on AWS experience who want formal validation of their architecture skills. Ideal candidates include:
Cloud Architects designing AWS-based applications
DevOps Engineers working with AWS infrastructure
IT professionals transitioning from on-premises to cloud
Software engineers building cloud-native applications
System administrators expanding into cloud roles
Technical leads making AWS service selection decisions
AWS recommends at least one year of practical experience designing distributed systems on AWS before attempting the exam.
Cloud Architects designing AWS-based applications
DevOps Engineers working with AWS infrastructure
IT professionals transitioning from on-premises to cloud
Software engineers building cloud-native applications
System administrators expanding into cloud roles
Technical leads making AWS service selection decisions
AWS recommends at least one year of practical experience designing distributed systems on AWS before attempting the exam.
What You'll Learn
Design resilient multi-tier architectures on AWS
Select the right AWS compute service for given requirements
Implement cost-effective storage solutions
Design secure network architectures with VPC
Configure identity and access management
Build fault-tolerant, high-availability systems
Apply AWS Well-Architected Framework across all pillars
Design serverless architectures with Lambda and API Gateway
Implement disaster recovery and backup strategies
Optimise architectures for performance and cost
Prerequisites
Minimum 1 year of hands-on AWS experience recommended
Understanding of AWS core services: EC2, S3, RDS, VPC, IAM, CloudFront
Familiarity with multi-tier application architecture
Basic knowledge of networking concepts (DNS, HTTP/S, TCP/IP)
Understanding of security concepts and best practices
No formal prerequisites - self-declaration of readiness required
Understanding of AWS core services: EC2, S3, RDS, VPC, IAM, CloudFront
Familiarity with multi-tier application architecture
Basic knowledge of networking concepts (DNS, HTTP/S, TCP/IP)
Understanding of security concepts and best practices
No formal prerequisites - self-declaration of readiness required
Exam Details
Exam Code: SAA-C03
Format: Multiple choice and multiple response
Questions: 65 (including 15 unscored)
Duration: 130 minutes
Passing Score: 720/1000 (scaled)
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese
Delivery: Pearson VUE (test centre or OnVUE online proctored)
Exam Fee: USD 150
Validity: 3 years from certification date
Format: Multiple choice and multiple response
Questions: 65 (including 15 unscored)
Duration: 130 minutes
Passing Score: 720/1000 (scaled)
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese
Delivery: Pearson VUE (test centre or OnVUE online proctored)
Exam Fee: USD 150
Validity: 3 years from certification date
Salary Potential
AWS Solutions Architects are among the highest-paid IT professionals globally. The AWS SAA-C03 certification consistently appears in top-paying certification lists:
United States: USD 120,000 - USD 175,000 per year
United Kingdom: GBP 65,000 - GBP 110,000 per year
UAE / Gulf Region: AED 180,000 - AED 350,000 per year
India: INR 12,00,000 - INR 30,00,000 per year
Canada: CAD 100,000 - CAD 155,000 per year
Australia: AUD 130,000 - AUD 180,000 per year
Germany: EUR 80,000 - EUR 130,000 per year
Singapore: SGD 110,000 - SGD 175,000 per year
Salary data sourced from LinkedIn Salary, Glassdoor, and industry surveys. Actual compensation varies based on experience, location, and employer.
United States: USD 120,000 - USD 175,000 per year
United Kingdom: GBP 65,000 - GBP 110,000 per year
UAE / Gulf Region: AED 180,000 - AED 350,000 per year
India: INR 12,00,000 - INR 30,00,000 per year
Canada: CAD 100,000 - CAD 155,000 per year
Australia: AUD 130,000 - AUD 180,000 per year
Germany: EUR 80,000 - EUR 130,000 per year
Singapore: SGD 110,000 - SGD 175,000 per year
Salary data sourced from LinkedIn Salary, Glassdoor, and industry surveys. Actual compensation varies based on experience, location, and employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The AWS SAA-C03 uses scaled scoring from 100 to 1000. The minimum passing score is 720, which corresponds roughly to 72% correct answers. AWS uses a scaled scoring methodology where different questions carry different weights based on difficulty.
The exam duration is 130 minutes. You will answer 65 questions in this time. Candidates testing in a non-native language may receive additional time accommodations - check with Pearson VUE when scheduling.
The standard exam fee is USD 150. Regional pricing may apply in some countries. PrimeCerts can assist with booking at the best available rate for your region, including access to discounted vouchers when available.
The SAA-C03 is considered intermediate difficulty. Candidates with at least one year of hands-on AWS experience who study the exam domains thoroughly typically pass on their first attempt. Practice exams are highly recommended.
The certification is valid for 3 years from the date you pass the exam. You can recertify by passing the current SAA-C03 exam, or by passing a professional-level AWS exam, or any specialty certification.
Yes. The exam is available via Pearson VUE OnVUE online proctored platform. You need a stable internet connection, a quiet private space, and a webcam. Online exams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The most important services to master include EC2, S3, RDS, DynamoDB, VPC, IAM, Route 53, CloudFront, Lambda, SQS, SNS, and storage services including EBS and EFS.
Yes. PrimeCerts provides access to mock exams, study guides, and preparation support as part of our certification booking packages.
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