AWS · From December 1, 2026
DVA-C03 replaces DVA-C02 on December 1, 2026. Here is what changes.
DVA-C03 is the next version of AWS Certified Developer – Associate, the certification for developers who write, test, deploy and debug applications on AWS. The name, length, passing score and price stay the same; the content adds AI-assisted development, the security of AI services, and containers.
DVA-C03 on CertRidge
On 1 December 2026, CertRidge's Developer – Associate practice exam switches to DVA-C03: the new domain weights, multiple-response questions, and 71 new questions written for the new topics, 24 of them on AI-service security. If you buy the Developer – Associate practice exam now, you practice DVA-C02 today and your access moves to DVA-C03 automatically, at no extra cost. Your past attempts stay in your history.
Dates
- Last day to take DVA-C02: November 30, 2026
- DVA-C03 in use from: December 1, 2026
Domains and weights
| DVA-C02 | Weight | DVA-C03 | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development with AWS Services | 32% | Development with AWS Services | 30% |
| Security | 26% | Security | 26% |
| Deployment | 24% | Testing and Deployment | 22% |
| Troubleshooting and Optimization | 18% | Troubleshooting and Optimization | 22% |
What's new in DVA-C03
- A new task in the Security domain: identify and mitigate the security risks of using AI services. It covers access to models, private connectivity and data privacy, filtering model inputs and outputs (sensitive data, denied topics, prompt injection), securing AI agents, and keeping sensitive content out of logs.
- AI-assisted development tools appear across the exam: generating and reviewing code, generating tests, in CI/CD, and to analyze errors and find optimizations. Developers are also expected to call managed AWS AI services from their applications.
- Containers get more weight: building and managing container images in Amazon ECR, and deploying containers to Amazon ECS, Amazon EKS and AWS Fargate.
- Presigned URLs for Amazon S3 and Amazon CloudFront are a skill of their own.
- Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Bedrock AgentCore, Kiro and Amazon Quick join the in-scope service list; AWS AppSync and Amazon Q Developer leave it.
- Choosing foundation models, writing prompts, designing RAG architectures and designing AI safety frameworks are out of scope. The exam tests the developer's side: applying the controls from application code.
What stays the same
- Questions
- 65 (50 scored, 15 unscored), unchanged
- Time
- 130 minutes, unchanged
- Passing score
- 720 on a 100 to 1000 scale, unchanged
- Question types
- Multiple choice and multiple response, unchanged
- Price
- 150 USD, unchanged
Prepare now
Most of DVA-C03 is the DVA-C02 content you can study today. Start there, then add the new topics above.
- Developer – Associate practice examsFull-length, timed, every answer explained. Moves to DVA-C03 on December 1, 2026.
- Free 10-question diagnosticA quick, scored check of where you stand. No account needed.
- 15 free practice questionsEach with the answer and an explanation for every option.
- DVA-C02 cheat sheetThe domains and the facts that come up most, on one page.
DVA-C03: FAQs
When does DVA-C03 start?
AWS says DVA-C03 is in use from December 1, 2026. The last day to take DVA-C02 is November 30, 2026.
Should I take DVA-C02 or wait for DVA-C03?
If you can sit the exam by November 30, 2026 and have been studying for DVA-C02, take DVA-C02: the certification is the same and is valid for three years either way. If your exam date is in December or later, you will sit DVA-C03; most of what you study for DVA-C02 still applies, plus the new topics listed on this page.
What is the difference between DVA-C02 and DVA-C03?
The format stays the same. The four domains are reweighted, and DVA-C03 adds the security of AI services, AI-assisted development tools, and container images and deployment. A new task in the Security domain: identify and mitigate the security risks of using AI services. It covers access to models, private connectivity and data privacy, filtering model inputs and outputs (sensitive data, denied topics, prompt injection), securing AI agents, and keeping sensitive content out of logs.
Will CertRidge have DVA-C03 practice questions?
On 1 December 2026, CertRidge's Developer – Associate practice exam switches to DVA-C03: the new domain weights, multiple-response questions, and 71 new questions written for the new topics, 24 of them on AI-service security. If you buy the Developer – Associate practice exam now, you practice DVA-C02 today and your access moves to DVA-C03 automatically, at no extra cost. Your past attempts stay in your history.
Sources: AWS: DVA-C03 exam guide; AWS: comparison of DVA-C02 and DVA-C03; AWS Certified Developer – Associate. Not affiliated with AWS.