AWS · Associate
AWS Developer Associate (DVA-C02)
Build, deploy, and debug cloud-native applications on AWS using Lambda, DynamoDB, API Gateway, and CI/CD pipelines.
This exam retires on November 30, 2026 — 34 days left · successor: DVA-C03
November 30, 2026 is the last day to take DVA-C02. DVA-C03 registration opens October 27, 2026 and general availability begins December 1, 2026. AWS says DVA-C03 validates AI-assisted development workflows and modern security practices for AI services; take DVA-C02 before the cut-off if you are already prepared.
Source: AWS Training and Certification blog, aws.amazon.com/blogs/training-and-certification/september-2026-new-offerings/, verified 2026-10-11
DVA-C02 exam at a glance
| Exam code | DVA-C02 |
|---|---|
| Vendor | AWS |
| Level | Associate |
| Domains | 5 |
| Published practice questions | 275 |
| Our mock exam | 65 questions in 130 minutes |
| Our practice pass target | 72% |
| Checked against the exam guide | October 27, 2026 |
| Last exam day | November 30, 2026 |
| Official exam page | AWS — DVA-C02 |
The mock exam length, time limit and pass target are our practice settings, not official exam scores or a guarantee of passing. Check the official DVA-C02 exam page for the current format, price and scoring before you book.
DVA-C02 exam domains
Weights show our practice allocation, built from the official exam guide; official blueprints may give ranges. Each domain links to its free sample questions (with explanations) and study guide preview once they are published.
Development with AWS Services
30%Build serverless, event-driven, and containerised applications using core AWS developer services.
- AWS Lambda: function configuration, layers, execution role, concurrency, cold starts, reserved vs provisioned concurrency
- Lambda triggers: API Gateway, S3, DynamoDB Streams, SQS, SNS, EventBridge, Kinesis
- Amazon API Gateway: REST vs HTTP vs WebSocket APIs, stages, throttling, caching, CORS
- Amazon DynamoDB: table design, partition key selection, GSI/LSI, DynamoDB Streams
- DynamoDB API: GetItem, PutItem, UpdateItem, Query, Scan, BatchWriteItem, TransactWriteItems
- DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX): in-memory caching, read/write-through
- Amazon SQS: standard vs FIFO queues, visibility timeout, dead-letter queues, long polling
- Amazon SNS: topics, subscriptions, fan-out pattern, message filtering
- Amazon EventBridge: rules, event buses, scheduling, cross-account events
- Amazon Kinesis Data Streams: producers, consumers, shards, enhanced fan-out
- AWS Step Functions: standard vs express workflows, states, error handling, parallel execution
- Amazon S3: presigned URLs, multipart upload, event notifications, S3 Select
- AWS AppSync: GraphQL API, resolvers, real-time subscriptions
- Amazon ElastiCache: Redis vs Memcached, lazy loading vs write-through caching patterns
- AWS Amplify: frontend framework integration, hosting, authentication
Free Development with AWS Services practice questions →Development with AWS Services study guide →
Security
26%Implement authentication, authorisation, encryption, and secrets management in AWS applications.
- AWS IAM: policies, roles, trust policies, resource-based policies, permission boundaries
- IAM identity-based vs resource-based policies: evaluation logic
- Amazon Cognito User Pools: user authentication, JWT tokens, hosted UI, triggers
- Amazon Cognito Identity Pools: federated identities, temporary AWS credentials
- AWS STS: AssumeRole, AssumeRoleWithWebIdentity, GetSessionToken
- API Gateway authorization: Lambda authorizers, Cognito authorizers, IAM authorization
- AWS Secrets Manager: storing and rotating database credentials and API keys
- AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store: SecureString, hierarchy, versioning
- AWS KMS: CMKs, envelope encryption, grant-based access, key policies
- Encryption in transit and at rest for DynamoDB, SQS, S3, Lambda
- S3 bucket policies, ACLs, Block Public Access, presigned URLs security
- VPC for Lambda: ENI attachment, security groups, VPC endpoints for private API calls
- AWS WAF integration with API Gateway and CloudFront
- Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) for API Gateway
Deployment
22%Deploy applications using AWS CI/CD tools, infrastructure as code, and container orchestration services.
- AWS CodeCommit: Git repositories, branching strategies, pull requests
- AWS CodeBuild: build specification (buildspec.yml), environment variables, artifacts
- AWS CodeDeploy: deployment groups, AppSpec file, in-place vs blue/green deployments
- AWS CodePipeline: stages, actions, manual approval, cross-region pipelines
- AWS Elastic Beanstalk: deployment policies (all-at-once, rolling, immutable, blue/green)
- Elastic Beanstalk: .ebextensions, Procfile, environment tiers
- AWS CloudFormation: templates, stacks, change sets, drift detection, nested stacks
- AWS SAM (Serverless Application Model): template syntax, sam build/deploy, local testing
- AWS CDK: constructs, stacks, synthesis, bootstrapping
- Amazon ECR: image repositories, lifecycle policies, image scanning
- Amazon ECS: task definitions, services, Fargate vs EC2 launch types
- AWS Lambda deployment packages: zip vs container image, versioning, aliases
- Lambda traffic shifting: canary and linear deployment configurations
- Environment variables and Lambda configuration management
Free Deployment practice questions →Deployment study guide →
Refactoring
10%Free Refactoring practice questions →Refactoring study guide →
Monitoring and Troubleshooting
12%Free Monitoring and Troubleshooting practice questions →Monitoring and Troubleshooting study guide →
DVA-C02 FAQ
When is the last day to take DVA-C02?
AWS has announced that November 30, 2026 is the last day to take DVA-C02. DVA-C03 replaces it. If you are already close to ready, book DVA-C02 before that date; otherwise plan for the successor exam and check its exam guide.
How is the Developer Associate (DVA-C02) practice assessment configured?
Our practice format targets 65 questions in 130 minutes. Availability depends on the published question bank and is shown on this course page. Official exam question counts and formats may differ.
What does the 72% practice target mean?
Check the provider's current exam guide for official scoring. A practice percentage is not an official scaled score. DataCertPrep uses 72% as an internal practice target, not a prediction or guarantee of passing.
How should I assess my progress in Developer Associate (DVA-C02)?
Use practice accuracy to find weak topics. Repeating familiar questions can inflate your score. Check coverage of the current objectives, practise hands-on tasks, and assess yourself on unseen questions.
What is the best way to study Developer Associate (DVA-C02)?
Read the available guides, work through practice explanations, use flashcards and complete practical exercises. Take a timed assessment when available. Check the provider's current exam guide before booking your exam.
Should I use DVA-C02 exam dumps?
No. "Dumps" are questions copied or recalled from the live exam. Certification exams are covered by a candidate agreement that prohibits sharing or using them, and breaking it can lead to a revoked certification or a ban from future exams. Dumps are also often wrong, and they go out of date when the exam blueprint changes. Memorising answers does not build the skills the exam tests. Study the official AWS exam guide and practise with original questions that explain each answer, such as the free sample questions linked on this page.