AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer Associate
AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer Associate Associate
SOA-C02 / SOA-C03
A comprehensive resource guide for the AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | SOA-C02 / SOA-C03 |
| Duration | 130 minutes |
| Cost | $150 USD |
| Passing Score | 720 / 1000 |
| Questions | 65 (50 scored + 15 unscored) |
| Recommended Experience | 1 year of AWS operations experience |
| Official Page | AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate |
Last Updated
This guide was last updated on 23 June 2025.
Exam Rename
The exam was previously called SysOps Administrator Associate (SOA-C02) and is now renamed to CloudOps Engineer Associate (SOA-C03). The last day for SOA-C02 is September 29, 2025. SOA-C03 adds containers, modern services, and multi-account emphasis.
tl;dr
- Get one video course:
- Free: Andrew Brown's YouTube course on FreeCodeCamp
- Exam-focused: Stephane Maarek on Udemy
- Get hands-on with CLI and scripting — SysOps needs command line skills
- Do one set of quality practice exams — TutorialsDojo or Stephane Maarek
- Take and pass the exam!
Exam Details
- Exam code: SOA-C02 (transitioning to SOA-C03)
- Official page: AWS Certified SysOps Admin Associate
- Exam guide: SOA-C02 Exam Guide (PDF)
Video Courses
Free
AWS Skill Builder — Exam Prep Course
Covers high-level domains but is not a comprehensive deep dive.
Note
Skill Builder courses alone are not enough to pass.
Andrew Brown / FreeCodeCamp (YouTube)
Approximately full-length free content.
Andrew also has additional content on ExamPro.
Paid
| Instructor | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Stephane Maarek | Frequently updated, exam-focused, recommended for most certification candidates. Best suited for preparing for the latest AWS certification exams. | courses.datacumulus.com |
| Neil Davis | Solid hands-on course on Udemy | Digital Cloud Training |
| QA Learning | Enterprise training; includes a learning plan and practice exam | QA SOA Course |
Udemy Pricing
Never pay more than USD 20 for any Udemy course. Prices fluctuate daily. Use the author's coupon site, open in incognito, or create a new account for the best price.
Deep Learning Resources
| Instructor | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Adrian Cantrill | Excellent for learning AWS architecture and AWS fundamentals. Exceptional hands-on explanations and deep technical content. Some AWS certification courses are becoming outdated compared to more actively maintained providers. Course updates generally lag behind the latest AWS certification blueprints. Better suited for building long-term AWS knowledge than for preparing for the latest certification exams. | learn.cantrill.io |
Additional Material
CLI & Scripting
- AWS CLI User Guide
- Basic shell scripting (Bash / PowerShell) is very helpful for this exam
Cheat Sheets (for revision only)
AWS Skill Builder Microcredentials
Official AWS Skill Builder learning paths that include focused training, knowledge assessments, and digital badges. Useful for strengthening knowledge in specific AWS domains before or after certification preparation.
AWS Customer Learning Programs
Official AWS service-specific learning programs that award Credly digital badges. These programs help learners deepen knowledge of individual AWS services, products, and solution areas beyond the certification blueprint.
AWS SimuLearn Learning Plan Badges
Official AWS interactive learning plans that validate practical cloud skills using simulated hands-on scenarios. Recommended for learners who want hands-on validation alongside certification preparation.
AWS Builder Center Sandbox
Official free temporary AWS environment for hands-on learning and certification practice.
https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2026/07/aws-builder-center-sandbox/
Practice Exams
Free
Paid
| Provider | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Official Practice Exam | Skill Builder | Subscription required |
| TutorialsDojo | tutorialsdojo.com | Highly recommended. AWS Authorized Training Partner. Use the review mode on their site |
| Stephane Maarek (Udemy) | courses.datacumulus.com | |
| Neil Davis (Udemy) | Udemy Course | |
| ExamPro | exampro.co | 3 exams (1 free, 2 paid) |
| Whizlabs | whizlabs.com | |
| QA Learn | QA Platform | Includes learning plan + practice exam |
Avoid Dumps
If someone offers the exact list of AWS questions or guarantees the question bank matches the exam — that is a dump. Using dumps risks a ban. Stick to legitimate sources.
Not Recommended
A Cloud Guru / Pluralsight — their courses have fallen behind. If you have free access via work, use their sandbox/labs but do not rely on their courses or practice exams.
Hands-on Practice
AWS Free Tier
The AWS Free Tier covers key SOA services: CloudFormation (free), Systems Manager (free), CloudWatch (10 metrics/dashboards), and Lambda (1 million requests). Build automated operational workflows, monitoring dashboards, and infrastructure-as-code templates. Set up billing alerts and monitor usage to avoid unexpected charges.
AWS Builder Center Sandbox (Official)
- Official free AWS sandbox environment
- No AWS account billing or credit card required
- Temporary AWS environment for learning and experimentation
- No risk of accidental AWS charges
- Ideal for certification practice, workshops, and learning new AWS services
- Sessions currently last up to 8 hours
- Availability depends on supported Builder Center workshops
Official announcement: https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2026/07/aws-builder-center-sandbox/
AWS Builder Center Sandbox — more details about the Builder Center Sandbox program.
AWS Builder Labs
Builder Labs provide guided environments for operations-focused services including Systems Manager, CloudWatch, and CloudFormation. Labs use temporary AWS accounts for safe experimentation.
AWS Skill Builder Labs
Skill Builder offers additional labs for operations and management services including AWS Config, EventBridge, and Auto Scaling.
Operations Services to Practice
- AWS CloudFormation — Write templates to provision and manage infrastructure as code.
- AWS Systems Manager — Automate patching, run commands, and manage EC2 at scale.
- Amazon CloudWatch — Create metrics, alarms, dashboards, and log insights.
- Amazon EventBridge — Build event-driven automation rules across AWS services.
- AWS Config — Track resource compliance and configuration changes.
- AWS Auto Scaling — Configure scaling policies for EC2 and other services.
Third-Party Platforms
- KodeKloud — Operations-focused AWS labs covering CloudFormation, Systems Manager, and monitoring scenarios.
- Whizlabs — Sandbox environment for practicing AWS operations and management services.
- Cloud Academy — Structured SysOps learning paths with hands-on labs.
- A Cloud Guru / Pluralsight — Includes operations sandboxes. Best if you have free access through work.
Projects & Hands-on — more practice resources and comparison of platforms.
Community Advice
- Hands-on practice matters. Use CLI and scripting for operations tasks.
- Don't memorize dumps.
- Practice exams identify weak areas; review every wrong answer.
- Read AWS documentation for unfamiliar services.
Exam Tips
- Sleep well before the exam.
- Read every question carefully.
- Eliminate wrong answers first.
- Flag difficult questions and come back to them.
FAQ
Do I need all this material? No. One from each category is enough. Example: Stephane Maarek's course + TutorialsDojo.
Do I need hands-on work? Yes — hands-on experience is strongly recommended at the Associate level. Use a sandbox or your own account (with billing alarms enabled).
Where can I find vouchers? See Vouchers & Discounts.
Are there Hands On Labs in the exam? No, labs were removed. Only multiple choice questions.
Can I pass with only free resources? Possible, but spending on quality practice exams is strongly recommended.
I skipped CCP / CLF — is that okay? Yes. Most courses teach from scratch.
Can someone new to IT take this? Yes, but be prepared to invest significant time.
Is coding / shell scripting required? No coding required, but basic CLI and shell scripting (Bash / PowerShell) are very helpful. SysOps roles need command line skills.
Can I use ChatGPT / Amazon Q to learn? Use them cautiously — they can give incorrect answers. Always double-check against official docs.
Are there books for this exam? Books go out of date quickly. Not recommended.
Should I buy TutorialsDojo via Udemy or direct? Buy direct from their site — the review mode lets you go question-by-question rather than taking full exams.
Why are practice exams harder than the video course? Video courses don't cover 100% of the curriculum. That's normal — work through incorrect answers and learn from them.
What score should I get on practice exams? There is no magic number. High 80s is good, but the learning from reviewing incorrect answers matters more than the score.
Can I skip a topic if someone said it wasn't on their exam? No. Everyone gets a different exam from a large question pool. Study everything in the exam guide.
Does passing SOA renew Cloud Practitioner (CCP)? Yes.
Does DevOps Professional renew SOA? Yes, if unexpired.