AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional Professional
DOP-C02
A comprehensive resource guide for the AWS DevOps Engineer Professional exam.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | DOP-C02 |
| Duration | 180 minutes |
| Cost | $300 USD |
| Passing Score | 750 / 1000 |
| Questions | 75 (scored) |
| Recommended Experience | 2+ years DevOps on AWS |
| Official Page | AWS DevOps Engineer Professional |
Last Updated
This guide was last updated on 20 March 2025 by u/madrasi2021.
tl;dr
- Associate level first — you need Developer Associate + SysOps Associate knowledge
- Get one video course:
- Exam-focused: Stephane Maarek
- Read whitepapers and review re:Invent announcements
- Do one set of quality practice exams — TutorialsDojo or Udemy
- Consider exam center and ESL+30 min accommodation if eligible
Exam Details
- Exam code: DOP-C02
- Official page: AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional
- Exam guide: DOP-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.
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 |
| QA Learning | Enterprise training; includes learning plan and practice exam | QA Platform |
| ExamPro | Partially complete — not yet recommended | exampro.co |
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 Some AWS certification courses are becoming outdated compared to more actively maintained providers.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
AWS Developer Tools
- CodeCommit, CodeBuild, CodeDeploy, CodePipeline — core CI/CD services
- CloudFormation — infrastructure as code
- Elastic Beanstalk — platform as a service
Monitoring & Logging
- CloudWatch — metrics, alarms, logs, dashboards
- CloudTrail — API auditing
- AWS Config — compliance and configuration tracking
- Systems Manager — operational management
Security & Compliance
- IAM — identity and access management
- KMS — key management and encryption
- Secrets Manager — secret rotation and storage
Well-Architected Framework
- Focus on the Operational Excellence and Reliability pillars
- WAF Whitepapers
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
None worth it for this exam.
Paid
| Provider | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Official Practice Exam | Skill Builder | Subscription required |
| TutorialsDojo | tutorialsdojo.com | Highly recommended. Use review mode on their site |
| Stephane Maarek (Udemy) | courses.datacumulus.com | |
| Neal Davis (Udemy) | Udemy Course | |
| QA Learning | 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.
Hands-on Practice
AWS Free Tier
The AWS Free Tier covers core DOP services: CodePipeline (free), CodeBuild (100 minutes/month), Lambda (1 million requests), CloudFormation (free), and Systems Manager (free). Build production CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment workflows. 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.
Advanced DevOps Projects
At the Professional level, build end-to-end pipelines that demonstrate operational excellence:
- CI/CD pipelines — Build multi-stage pipelines with CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy across multiple environments.
- Infrastructure as Code — Write complex CloudFormation templates with nested stacks, StackSets, and custom resources.
- Configuration management — Use Systems Manager to manage configurations, patching, and compliance at scale.
- Monitoring & observability — Set up centralized logging, distributed tracing with X-Ray, and composite alarms.
- Security automation — Automate security responses with Lambda, Config rules, and EventBridge.
AWS Skill Builder Labs
Skill Builder offers advanced DevOps labs covering CI/CD, infrastructure as code, and monitoring at scale.
Third-Party Platforms
- KodeKloud — DevOps-focused labs covering CI/CD, Terraform, Docker, and Kubernetes on AWS.
- Cloud Academy — Professional-level DevOps learning paths with hands-on labs.
Projects & Hands-on — more practice resources and comparison of platforms.
Community Advice
- Hands-on practice matters. Build CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code.
- 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.
- Consider exam center over home — the exam is 3 hours long.
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 required at the Professional level. Use a sandbox or your own account (with billing alarms enabled).
Where can I find vouchers? See Vouchers & Discounts.
Home vs exam center? The exam is 3 hours long. Exam center is recommended for fewer distractions.
Is ESL accommodation available? Yes — ESL+30 minutes is available at exam centers. You need to select it during registration.
I skipped DVA and/or SOA — is that okay? No. You must learn the curriculum covered by the Developer Associate and SysOps Associate exams.
Can someone new to IT take this? No. This is a Professional-level exam. Significant real-world AWS experience is expected.
Is it worth it? It is the gold standard for DevOps on AWS, though the market is tough.
Is coding required? Basic CLI and scripting skills are needed. AI tools can help, but you should understand the concepts.
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 too quickly. Video courses are recommended instead.
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.
I keep failing practice exams — is that normal? Yes. Video courses don't cover 100% of the curriculum. Work through incorrect answers and learn from them.
What score should I get on practice exams? There is no magic number. 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.
How does renewal work? DevOps Engineer Professional renews your active Developer Associate, SysOps Administrator Associate, and Cloud Practitioner certifications.