AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Associate
SAA-C03
A comprehensive resource guide for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | SAA-C03 |
| Duration | 130 minutes |
| Cost | $150 USD |
| Passing Score | 720 / 1000 |
| Questions | 65 (50 scored + 15 unscored) |
| Recommended Experience | 1 year of hands-on AWS experience |
| Official Page | AWS Solutions Architect Associate |
Last Updated
This guide was last updated on 7 June 2025.
tl;dr
- Get one video course:
- Free: Andrew Brown's YouTube course
- Exam-focused: Stephane Maarek on Udemy
- Read whitepapers (especially WAF) and review re:Invent announcements
- Do one set of quality practice exams — TutorialsDojo or Stephane Maarek
- Take and pass the exam!
Exam Details
- Exam code: SAA-C03
- Official page: AWS Solutions Architect Associate
- Exam guide: SAA-C03 Exam Guide (PDF)
Video Courses
Free
AWS Skill Builder — Exam Prep Course
Covers high-level domains but is not a comprehensive deep dive. The learning plan includes both free and paid items — you can take just the free ones.
Note
Skill Builder courses alone are not enough to pass.
Andrew Brown / FreeCodeCamp (YouTube)
Approximately 50 hours of 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 | Udemy Course |
| QA Learning | Enterprise training; includes a learning plan and practice exam | QA SAA 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 Some AWS certification courses are becoming outdated compared to more actively maintained providers.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
WAF — Well-Architected Framework
- AWS WAF Overview
- Read the Reliability and Cost Optimization whitepapers from AWS Whitepapers
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.
Books
Books go out of date quickly. The Sybex guide, TutorialsDojo ebook, and Neil Davis ebook exist but video courses are recommended instead.
Hands-on Practice
AWS Free Tier
The AWS Free Tier covers core SAA services: EC2 (750 hours/month), S3 (5 GB), RDS (750 hours), and Lambda (1 million requests). Use the free tier to build multi-tier architectures, VPC configurations, and hybrid storage solutions. 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 browser-based, step-by-step environments aligned with SAA objectives. Labs cover VPC design, EC2 auto scaling, S3 lifecycle policies, and RDS configurations with temporary AWS accounts.
AWS Skill Builder Labs
Skill Builder offers additional guided labs focused on architectural patterns including high availability, fault tolerance, and disaster recovery scenarios.
Architecture Projects
- Cloud Resume Challenge — Build a serverless resume website using S3, Lambda, DynamoDB, API Gateway, and CloudFront. A popular community project that covers many SAA concepts.
- KodeKloud — AWS architecture scenarios with hands-on labs covering VPC design, EC2 auto scaling, load balancing, and hybrid networking.
Projects & Hands-on — more practice resources and comparison of platforms.
Community Advice
- Hands-on practice matters. Don't just watch videos — build things.
- Don't memorize dumps.
- Practice exams identify weak areas; review every wrong answer.
- Read AWS documentation for unfamiliar services.
- Focus on understanding the Well-Architected Framework pillars.
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.
Can I cheat using dumps? You risk a ban. Not worth it.
Can I pass with only free resources? Possible, but spending on quality practice exams is strongly recommended.
I skipped CCP — is that okay? Yes. Almost all SAA courses teach from scratch.
Can someone new to IT take this? Yes, but be prepared to invest significant time.
Is coding required? No coding is required, but basic scripting and AWS CLI knowledge are very helpful.
Can I use ChatGPT / Amazon Q to learn? Use them cautiously — they can give incorrect answers. Always double-check against official docs.
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.