You can see it againUnder pressure people bring back shapes and positions long after the wording has gone.
Picture superiority · Shepard 1967, Standing 1973
AWSAWS Certified CloudOps Engineer - Associate
The AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer - Associate certification validates your ability to deploy, manage, and operate workloads on AWS. It is designed for individuals in cloud operations roles with about one year of hands-on experience. Earning it demonstrates practical skills in monitoring, security, networking, and cost optimization, and it is a strong stepping stone to Professional and Specialty certifications.
Exam formatMultiple choice and multiple response
Duration130 minutes
DeliveryPearson VUE
Passing score720 out of 1000
Free questions338
Content last reviewed 30 July 2026 · Up to date
The certification
What SOA-C03 proves, and what it asks of you
What this certification covers, who it is written for, and what the exam itself looks like on the day.
5domains
13objectives
124concepts
US $150exam fee
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
About this certification
The AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer - Associate (SOA-C03) certification validates your technical ability to deploy, manage, and operate workloads on AWS. It is intended for CloudOps engineers who support and maintain AWS workloads according to the AWS Well-Architected Framework, perform operations using the AWS Management Console and CLI, implement security controls, monitor and troubleshoot systems, and apply networking concepts.
Earning this certification demonstrates that you can implement architectural requirements such as high availability and performance, perform business continuity and disaster recovery procedures, and identify, classify, and remediate incidents. It is a practical credential for professionals in operations roles who want to prove their cloud operational expertise and advance their careers.
Who it’s for
This certification is for individuals in cloud operations roles such as Cloud Operations Specialist, Cloud Support Engineer, Cloud Consultant, Migration Specialist, Cloud Systems Integration Engineer, CloudOps Engineer, and Cloud Operator. It is ideal for those with about one year of experience deploying, managing, and operating workloads on AWS. Candidates should have experience with deployment, management, troubleshooting, networking, and security on AWS, and at least one year in a related operations role such as system administrator. It is also a suitable starting point for IT or cloud operations professionals beginning their AWS Certification journey.
Recommended experience
About one year of experience deploying, managing, and operating workloads on AWS, plus at least one year in a related operations role. Techniques for monitoring, logging, and troubleshooting; Networking concepts such as DNS, TCP, IP, and firewalls; Implementation of architectural requirements like high availability, performance, and capacity; Familiarity with at least one scripting language and one major operating system; Understanding of cloud computing, containerization, and orchestration basics; Knowledge of CI/CD and Git; Familiarity with the AWS Well-Architected Framework, AWS monitoring tools, and the AWS Management Console and CLI
The syllabus
What you’ll learn
Every domain and objective AWS measures, with the weight they carry on the exam.
The official AWS exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
Content Domain 1: Monitoring, Logging, Analysis, Remediation, and Performance Optimization
- Task 1.1: Implement metrics, alarms, and filters by using AWS monitoring and logging services.
- Task 1.2: Identify and remediate issues by using monitoring and availability metrics.
- Task 1.3: Implement performance optimization strategies for compute, storage, and database resources.
Content Domain 2: Reliability and Business Continuity
- Task 2.1: Implement scalability and elasticity.
- Task 2.2: Implement highly available and resilient environments.
- Task 2.3: Implement backup and restore strategies.
Content Domain 3: Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation
- Task 3.1: Provision and maintain cloud resources.
- Task 3.2: Automate the management of existing resources.
Content Domain 4: Security and Compliance
- Task 4.1: Implement and manage security and compliance tools and policies.
- Task 4.2: Implement strategies to protect data and infrastructure.
Content Domain 5: Networking and Content Delivery
- Task 5.1: Implement and optimize networking features and connectivity.
- Task 5.2: Configure domains, DNS services, and content delivery.
- Task 5.3: Troubleshoot network connectivity issues.
On the day
The exam itself
Everything AWS publishes about sitting it, and nothing we inferred.
Prerequisites
No mandatory prerequisites — this certification has no required predecessor exam or credential.
Exam codeSOA-C03
CertificationAWS Certified CloudOps Engineer - Associate
Exam formatMultiple choice and multiple response
Duration130 minutes
Questions50–65 questions
Passing score720 out of 1000
DeliveryPearson VUE
LanguagesEnglish, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese
PricingUS $150
Certification levelAssociate
After you pass
Where this credential goes next
The path AWS lays out, how the credential is kept, and where to book.
Step-by-step path to AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer - Associate
Credential earnedAWS Certified CloudOps Engineer - Associate Associate level certification Renewal and maintenance
This certification is valid for 3 years. Before expiration, you can recertify by passing the latest version of this exam, or by earning the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional, which automatically recertifies this Associate-level certification. Stay current with the latest technologies and maintain your certification.
Learn more about renewal requirements Lifecycle status
This certification is currently active and available. AWS maintains this certification to validate current skills and industry relevance.
Exam status: ActiveMaintained by AWS
Exam registration
Register for the exam through Pearson VUE, AWS’s authorized testing partner.
Schedule your examVisit the official AWS certification page for exam policies and requirements.
View the official pageYour coach
And when you are serious, your coach Pip takes over
Your coach in the app reads what you have answered with the book closed and tells you one thing to do tonight. It will not count an answer you gave with the page open, and it will tell you when you are not ready.
See how the coach worksBefore you book
Questions people ask
How is the AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer - Associate different from the retired AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate?
The certification was renamed to reflect the evolving nature of cloud operations and a shift in industry terminology. The name change applies only to those who pass the latest exam version (SOA-C03); it is not retroactively applied to holders of the SysOps Administrator - Associate. Individuals who already hold the SysOps Administrator - Associate are not required to take the CloudOps Engineer - Associate exam, and their existing certification remains valid for 3 years from the date it was earned.
Do I need to earn the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner before taking this exam?
No, the Cloud Practitioner certification is not a prerequisite. However, candidates without any IT work experience would benefit from first earning the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner to gain foundational knowledge of AWS Cloud and services before pursuing the CloudOps Engineer - Associate exam.
Is there a hands-on or lab component in the SOA-C03 exam?
No, the SOA-C03 exam consists of 65 questions, either multiple choice or multiple response. There is no hands-on lab component in this exam.
What is the retake policy if I fail the SOA-C03 exam?
AWS Certification exams can be rescheduled twice. If you cancel more than 24 hours before your appointment, you will be refunded the exam fee. For retakes, you must wait 14 days after a failed attempt before retaking the exam, and you can retake it as many times as needed, subject to the waiting period.
What job roles does the AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer - Associate credential map to?
The credential is designed for individuals in cloud operations roles such as Cloud Operations Specialist, Cloud Support Engineer, Cloud Consultant, Migration Specialist, Cloud Systems Integration Engineer, CloudOps Engineer, and Cloud Operator.
Can I recertify by passing a different AWS Certification exam?
Yes. Earning the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional automatically recertifies this Associate-level certification. You can also recertify by passing the latest version of the SOA-C03 exam.
Are there any discounts available for the exam?
Once you earn one AWS Certification, you get a 50% discount on your next AWS Certification exam. You can access this discount in your AWS Certification Account.
What are the testing accommodations available for candidates with disabilities?
AWS provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities in coordination with the test delivery provider. Accommodations must be requested prior to scheduling each exam. Additionally, a 30-minute exam extension is available for non-native English speakers taking the exam in English (ESL +30 accommodation).
How soon will I receive my exam results?
All AWS Certification exam results, including beta exams, are available within 5 business days after you complete your exam. You can access the results in your AWS Certification Account under Exam History.
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2026-07-30 Up to date
Practice free questions 338 questions, free, no account needed.
The curriculum
The whole exam, mapped and written
Every domain, every objective, and every concept AWS measures — each one written out.
5domains
13objectives
124concepts
74free pages
The domains, and what sits inside them
Every objective below is a page you can open and practise now, without an account.
The official AWS exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
1Content Domain 1: Monitoring, Logging, Analysis, Remediation, and Performance Optimization81 questions
Task 1.1: Implement metrics, alarms, and filters by using AWS monitoring and logging services.11 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Task 1.2: Identify and remediate issues by using monitoring and availability metrics.12 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →Task 1.3: Implement performance optimization strategies for compute, storage, and database resources.13 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →
2Content Domain 2: Reliability and Business Continuity83 questions
3Content Domain 3: Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation47 questions
4Content Domain 4: Security and Compliance59 questions
5Content Domain 5: Networking and Content Delivery68 questions
Not a table of contents
Every line on this map already opens
In front of every objective the practice pages are already there, free and without an account. This is one objective, opened.
Task 1.1: Implement metrics, alarms, and filters by using AWS monitoring and logging services.6 pagesOpen →
Free in front of it
29 questions on this objective, five to a page. Every range above is a real page, open now, with no account.
Reading the map is not the same as knowing the ground
The curriculum tells you what is on the exam. Proving you know it is a different job — and it is the one the closed-book run does.
Free questions
338 questions. No account, no card.
The whole bank is open. 5 questions to a page, every answer explained, and a discussion thread on each one.
338questions
74pages
13objectives
Freealways
Start anywhereTask 1.1: Implement metrics, alarms, and filters by using AWS monitoring and logging services. 29 questions · 6 pages
Browse by domain
Every objective, and every page range, is a link — so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
1Content Domain 1: Monitoring, Logging, Analysis, Remediation, and Performance Optimization81 questions
2Content Domain 2: Reliability and Business Continuity83 questions
3Content Domain 3: Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation47 questions
4Content Domain 4: Security and Compliance59 questions
5Content Domain 5: Networking and Content Delivery68 questions
What a practice page gives you
1Five to a page
Short enough to finish, long enough to matter.
2Every answer explained
Not only which one is right — why the others are wrong.
3A discussion on each
Ask, answer, and vote. Every question has its own thread.
A question, and the idea behind it
Every question comes from a concept
These are not trivia. Each one is written against a concept in the book, so when you get one wrong there is somewhere to go and find out why.
The visual book
See it once. Carry it into the exam.
The pages shown here come from our AI-900 book — an example of how each concept is written in plain language and, where the idea needs one, drawn as a full page you can take in at a glance.
124concepts
338free questions
Why a picture, and not another paragraph
Three reasons, and each one is a real finding rather than a slogan.
You can see it againThe whole idea at onceWhere it starts, what happens in the middle, what comes out, and the mistake to avoid.
Multimedia principle · MayerThe look-alikes sit togetherThe pairs the exam tests are drawn side by side, so the difference is seen, not told.
Dual coding · PaivioWhat one page is made of
You are never asked to read a poster here — only to see how one is built. After that, every other page is legible at a glance.
1A numbered strip on top
The idea as a sequence, followed with a finger before a word is read.
2Panels for the parts
What it is, how the machine learns it, when it is the right tool.
3The trap, framed
The distinction the exam tests, given its own box instead of buried in prose.
4One line at the bottom
The sentence to carry into the exam room.
Open book, on purpose
Answer it with the picture beside you
This is the part that teaches. The illustration and the written explanation stay where they are while you work, so a scenario stops being a memory test and becomes something you can simply look at.
It teaches · it does not count
A smartphone uses AI to unlock when the owner looks at the camera. Which AI capability is being used?
AImage classification
BFacial recognition
COptical character recognition
DObject detection
Look at the five steps. Detect finds a face, align straightens it, encode turns it into numbers, search compares it with a stored face, and decide answers one question: is this the same person? Classification would only say “a face”. Detection would only draw a box. Neither decides whose.
Then the page shuts, and it starts counting
The same questions come back with the book closed — that run is the one that counts. After it, your coach picks one thing for tonight, sized to the time you have, and brings pages back before you lose them.
Testing effect · Roediger & Karpicke 2006 · spacing effect · Cepeda et al. 2006
Official resources
Straight from AWS
Where the exam is defined, scheduled and scored.
5official links
124concepts mapped
The source
AWS’s own pages
We link to them rather than repeat them, so nothing here goes stale behind them.
Checked against the source
Every objective on the official AWS outline already has questions here
We build from the official skills outline, not from a summary of it — 13 objectives, 124 concepts written under them, and free questions against every one. When AWS changes the outline, this page changes with it.
13objectives on the outline→124concepts written→338free questions
An official page tells you what will be asked. It cannot tell you what you will get right.
That is the only question worth answering the night before, and no link answers it. You answer it by taking the questions with the book closed, and seeing what comes back.