AWS Developer Associate DVA-C02 to DVA-C03: What’s Changing and Which Exam to Take
AWS Certified Developer – Associate is updating from DVA-C02 to DVA-C03. Per the AWS Training and Certification September 2026 announcement, registration for DVA-C03 opens on 27 October 2026, the last day to take DVA-C02 is 30 November 2026, and DVA-C03 general availability begins 1 December 2026.
Unlike some other 2026 exam refreshes, AWS has already published domain names and percentage weights for DVA-C03 in that blog post. The full exam guide with detailed task statements is still due when registration opens. Here is what is confirmed, what changed versus C02, and how to choose which version to sit.
Key dates
- 27 October 2026 — DVA-C03 registration opens (all currently supported languages); full exam guide with detailed task statements expected
- 30 November 2026 — Last day to take DVA-C02
- 1 December 2026 — DVA-C03 GA delivery begins
The official AWS Certified Developer – Associate page mirrors the registration and last-testing dates and asks candidates to check back on 27 October for more C03 prep resources. No beta period is announced for DVA-C03 in the September blog.
Exam format
For DVA-C03 GA, AWS lists:
- Duration: 130 minutes
- Questions: 65 (50 scored, 15 unscored)
- Price: $150 USD
- Passing score: 720 out of 1,000
- Delivery: Pearson VUE (test center or online proctoring)
- Languages: all currently supported languages at launch
Those figures align with the current Developer Associate overview and with the DVA-C02 exam guide (130 minutes; 50 scored + 15 unscored; minimum passing score 720). So the headline format is stable across the version change; the update is about content emphasis—especially AI-assisted development and AI security—not a longer or more expensive exam.
Domain comparison: C02 vs C03
AWS still uses four domains. C02 weights come from the official exam guide. C03 weights and domain titles below are from the September 2026 Training and Certification blog (pending the fuller Oct 27 guide for task-level detail).
| Domain | DVA-C02 | DVA-C03 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development with AWS Services | 32% | 30% | −2% |
| Security | 26% | 26% | 0% |
| Deployment → Testing and Deployment* | 24% | 22% | −2% |
| Troubleshooting and Optimization | 18% | 22% | +4% |
*On C02 this domain is titled “Deployment.” The September blog lists C03 domain 3 as “Testing and Deployment.”
The biggest numerical shift is Troubleshooting and Optimization rising from 18% to 22%. Development and the deployment/testing domain each trim two points; Security stays at 26%. AWS describes the four-domain structure as remaining in place while skills inside those domains are updated.
What’s new in DVA-C03
AWS positions AI-assisted development as a core competency, not an optional add-on. Published additions include:
- New Task 2.3 — AI security (5 skills): access management for AI services; data privacy controls (including VPC endpoints and ensuring inputs/outputs are not used to train AI models); content filtering and prompt-injection protection; AI agent interaction security (tool-use authorization, session isolation, human-in-the-loop approvals); protecting sensitive content in monitoring logs
- AI-assisted development across domains: code generation/review (Domain 1); test automation and regression testing (Domain 3); CI/CD support including automated deployment approvals (Domain 3); error analysis and troubleshooting suggestions (Domain 4); performance optimization recommendations (Domain 4)
- Container management: Amazon ECR images; deploy with Amazon ECS, Amazon EKS, and AWS Fargate
- New in-scope services named in the blog: Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Bedrock AgentCore, Amazon Q, Kiro, Amazon Data Firehose, AWS PrivateLink
AWS also notes consolidation of some existing skills (for example DynamoDB, encryption/sensitive data, testing, observability, and optimization skills were reduced in count while remaining in scope). Out of scope for DVA-C03 per the blog: prompt engineering, RAG design, AI model selection, Amazon SageMaker AI, and AI governance framework design.
Recommended experience stays familiar: one or more years developing/maintaining applications on AWS, proficiency in at least one high-level language, plus—newly emphasised—experience with AI-assisted development tools and CI/CD lifecycle understanding.
Should you take DVA-C02 or DVA-C03?
- Take DVA-C02 by 30 November 2026 if you are already prepared and want the credential now. Your certification remains active through its original expiration date.
- Wait for DVA-C03 (register from 27 October; sit from 1 December) if you want validation of AI-assisted development skills and modern AI-service security practices.
If your practice scores are already strong on C02 materials and you can book before end of November, finishing C02 is the low-friction path. If you are early in study—or you work daily with Bedrock, Amazon Q, or AI coding assistants—plan for C03 once the detailed guide is out.
How to prepare
- Lock the version you will sit and use the matching objectives. C02 candidates should stay on the current exam guide. C03 candidates should download the new guide on 27 October and map labs to the published domains.
- Weight study time to the percentages for your version—especially Development (largest) and Security (stable at 26%). For C03, give Troubleshooting and Optimization more practice time than older C02 plans assumed.
- For a C03 path, add hands-on time with AI-assisted workflows and AI security controls, without drifting into out-of-scope topics like RAG design or SageMaker.
- Drill under timed conditions (130 minutes / 65-question style) and practise CI/CD, containers, and debugging scenarios.
New to AWS certifications? Start with our AWS Cloud Practitioner exam preparation guide, then consider the Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) guide if you are branching into architecture as well as development.
When you want to pressure-test Developer Associate scenarios, use the AWS Developer Associate practice exam on Testimea, or begin with the Developer Associate practice exam trial.
Bottom line
DVA-C03 registration opens 27 October 2026; DVA-C02 ends 30 November 2026; C03 delivery starts 1 December 2026. Format stays 130 minutes, 65 questions (50 scored / 15 unscored), $150, and pass mark 720. Domain weights are published for both versions—C03 shifts more weight into Troubleshooting and Optimization and renames Deployment to Testing and Deployment—while AI-assisted development and AI security become first-class content. Choose C02 if you can finish soon; choose C03 if you want the updated blueprint. Confirm dates on AWS’s certification pages before you book.
Ready to practise? Try the Developer Associate trial or the full AWS Developer Associate practice exam.
