What’s Changed on the AWS Certified Developer - Associate Exam

For developers who are ready to take their skills and knowledge to the next level, Amazon Web Services (AWS) expertise is the way to go. With the AWS Certified Developer – Associate Exam, also known as DVA-C02, you can demonstrate you have the essential skills and knowledge to work with, release, and maintain AWS applications. 

For those who pass the AWS Certified Developer – Associate Exam, better job opportunities, and more sophisticated digital tools await. Developers with the AWS Developer Associate certification will be well-equipped to keep up with the shifting technology in the cloud computing field. So, it’s a smart one to focus on now.

However, before you start preparing for the exam, make sure you are focused on the right version. To keep up with the rapid pace of developments in the field, the AWS Certified Developer – Associate Exam has undergone many changes in recent years. This article will examine why learning AWS is so valuable and what has changed in the latest version.

Building AWS Skills is Essential in Today’s Marketplace

Learning how to work with AWS platforms is a vital part of career development for any software developer or IT expert looking to move forward in their career and stay on top of the latest developments in digital technology and cloud computing. 

Why is Learning AWS So Important? 

• Organizations from small businesses to sprawling global enterprises are pursuing digital transformations, and shifting existing IT structures and platforms to services hosted on public cloud servers. 

• Public cloud spending is forecast to hit $600 billion in 2023.

• Most businesses need specialists who can help facilitate these digital transformations, and there is a growing need for AWS professionals who can transfer traditional IT infrastructures to new platforms hosted on the cloud. 

• Amazon Web Services, which launched in 2006, is the number one leading public cloud computing platform on the market. As of a year ago, AWS had 34% of the total market share of cloud computing services. This is as much as both Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure combined.

Businesses are seeking out AWS professionals at every level of expertise, from entry-level to senior-level positions. With so much demand for AWS professionals to help businesses complete their digital transformations, IT experts and software developers need to maintain up-to-date skills and expertise in AWS platform integration, development, deployment, and maintenance services. Attaining AWS official certification is a great way to exhibit and prove your valuable skills and knowledge as an AWS professional. 

Changes to the AWS Certified Developer – Associate Exam

It is normal for certification exams to be updated to reflect contemporary standards and recent technological developments. 

If you have never taken the exam before, this section will help you ensure you are focused on the most recent version. (It’s worth noting that if you were certified according to the previous exam, you might want to consider retaking the current exam to receive an updated certification.) 

The initial version of the AWS Certified Developer – Associate Exam was called DVA-C01. That version of the exam was valid through February 27, 2023. Since February 28, 2023, the newest version of the exam, DVA-C02, has been available. 

The previous version of the AWS Certified Developer-Associate Exam contained five distinct domains: 

• Domain 1: Deployment

• Domain 2: Security

• Domain 3: Development with AWS Services

• Domain 4: Refactoring

• Domain 5: Monitoring and Troubleshooting

Analysts reassessing the efficiency and effectiveness of the exam determined that Domain 4, “Refactoring,” frequently overlapped with the other four domains in the exam. For this latest version of the exam, DVA-C02, the subjects contained within Domain 4 (“Refactoring”) have been redistributed into each of the other four domains within the exam. Analysts also decided to change the order of the domains to reflect a more logical and accurate depiction of current work practices in the AWS field. 

The new simplified and streamlined version of DVA-C02 reflects up-to-date practices. This version contains the following four domains: 

• Domain 1: Development with AWS Services

• Domain 2: Security

• Domain 3: Deployment

• Domain 4: Troubleshooting and Optimization

While the previous version of the exam positioned deployment as the initial section of the exam, both versions maintain development as the most prevalent section. In DVA-C01, the previous version of the exam, Development made up 30% of the exam. In today’s version of the exam, DVA-C02, development makes up 32% of the total exam and is first in the exam order. 

Updated Additions to Tasks

In addition to consolidating the domains contained within the exam, analysts and developers have updated the exam by adding to specific tasks and deleting tasks that have since become irrelevant. Those updates are as follows:

• For Domain 1, Task 1.3 now utilizes data stores in the development of applications. 

• For Domain 2, Task 2.3 now manages sensitive data in the code of the applications.

• For Domain 3, Task 3.2 now tests applications within development environments.

• For Domain 3, Task 3.3 now automates deployment testing. 

Updated Removal of Irrelevant Tasks

One task in the original DVA-C01 exam blueprint was removed as it is no longer common practice. This task was to use AWS Elastic Beanstalk to deploy applications. The task was removed since Elastic Beanstalk is no longer used as widely for deploying applications, making it less relevant to contemporary exam takers. 

Final Thoughts

For developers who want to succeed, becoming certified as an AWS developer is a vital way to participate in today’s widespread digital transformations. 

The need for expert AWS professionals is on track to continue to grow over the coming years, so today is a great time to hone and prove your AWS skills by taking the new and updated version of the AWS Certified Developer Associate Exam- DVA-C02. 

CBT can help with that! We’ve just released the AWS Certified Developer – Associate (DVA-C02) online training course, which covers developing, testing, deploying, and debugging AWS cloud-based applications.

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