How to Pass AWS Certified Developer Associate Exam: Complete Guide
By Braincuber Team
Published on April 10, 2026
AWS certifications validate your knowledge and skills in cloud computing. The AWS Certified Developer Associate certification demonstrates your ability to develop and maintain AWS-based applications. This complete tutorial shares real experience and proven strategies to help you pass the AWS Developer Associate exam on your first attempt.
What You'll Learn:
- How to establish an effective learning routine for AWS certification
- Step by step study guide covering course, whitepapers, and practice exams
- Beginner guide to AWS Developer Associate exam topics
- Tips for handling online proctored exams
- Complete tutorial on what to do when technical issues occur
- How to schedule and reschedule your AWS certification exam
About the AWS Certified Developer Associate
The AWS Certified Developer Associate certification validates your ability to develop and maintain AWS-based applications. According to industry experts, it can take up to 2 months of dedicated study to pass this exam. Unlike the Cloud Practitioner certification, the Developer Associate requires hands-on experience and deeper understanding of AWS services.
This exam is designed for developers who have one or more years of hands-on experience designing and maintaining an AWS-based application. You need to get your hands dirty to understand all the concepts discussed in the course.
Good News
AWS gives you a 50% discount for booking your next exam when you pass one! This is a great incentive to prepare well and pass on your first attempt.
How to Establish a Learning Routine
We are all busy in our daily lives with always something to do and never enough time. Preparing for the AWS Certified Developer Associate takes time and commitment. What matters is your commitment to learning every day, not how quickly you complete the course.
Progress by baby steps. Dedicate 4 or 5 hours daily from Monday to Saturday. You can spend less time if needed, but the most important thing is to find what works best for you and work regularly.
Follow the 4-Step Study Method
Step by step guide to exam preparation:
- Watch 2 or 3 sections of the course while taking detailed notes
- Deep dive into concepts you do not fully understand
- Read recommended AWS whitepapers for deeper knowledge
- Take practice exams to test your knowledge
Recommended Study Resources
The free ExamPro AWS Certification course developed by Andrew Brown is highly recommended. It is a 16-hour course posted on YouTube that helps you understand AWS and practice with Follow Along sections. The explanations are very clear and go straight to the point.
ExamPro Video Course
16-hour comprehensive video course with Follow Along sections for hands-on practice with AWS services.
AWS Whitepapers
Official AWS documentation and whitepapers provide deep technical knowledge for exam success.
Practice Exams
Timed practice exams with 65 questions help you prepare for the real exam environment.
Discord Community
Join the #AWSCertified Discord channel to ask questions and connect with other learners.
AWS Whitepapers to Read
After completing the video course, reading AWS whitepapers is highly recommended. These official documents provide deeper insights into AWS best practices and architecture patterns.
| Whitepaper | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Practicing CI/CD on AWS | DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, continuous delivery |
| Microservices on AWS | Microservices architecture, containerization |
| Architecting for the Cloud | AWS best practices, cloud architecture patterns |
Pro Tip
Reading AWS whitepapers may seem daunting but many find them surprisingly helpful. They fill knowledge gaps and give you confidence to book your exam.
Key Topics to Master
The video course alone is not enough to pass the exam. Many important topics are covered in other AWS courses. Here are the key areas you need to understand thoroughly:
Amazon Machine Images (AMI)
Understand how to create, customize, and manage AMIs for EC2 instances.
Elastic File System (EFS)
Network file system for EC2 instances with scalable storage capacity.
Elastic Block Store (EBS)
Block storage volumes for EC2 instances with different volume types.
Aurora
AWS managed relational database compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL.
CloudWatch
Monitoring and observability service for AWS resources and applications.
Kinesis
Real-time streaming data processing for analytics and dashboards.
CI/CD and Containers
Understanding containers and Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) is essential for this exam. These are fundamental concepts that every AWS Developer should master.
Practice Hands-On with Docker
Work through the Docker Follow Along sections in the course. Even if you get stuck, debugging and solving issues will help you deep dive into concepts you do not understand.
Practice Exam Tips
A few days before your exam, training with practice exams is strongly recommended. Practice exams are challenging but close to the real exam format. You have 2 hours to answer 65 questions with the clock ticking.
| Practice Exam Feature | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Timed Environment | Practice answering questions quickly and efficiently |
| Wrong Answers | Review explanations to understand why you made mistakes |
| Failed Practice Exam | Review questions and answers before retaking the same exam |
Online Exam Experience
All AWS certifications can be taken online from home using proctored exams. To avoid unpleasant surprises on exam day, follow these recommendations:
Prepare for Online Exam Day
Step by step guide to exam preparation:
- Run the System Test before your exam using the same computer
- Reboot your laptop on exam day
- Log into your account 30 minutes early to start check-in process
- Close all applications except your exam app after check-in
- Ensure you are in a quiet, private space with no interruptions
Rescheduling Tip
Did you know you can reschedule your exam appointment up to two times if you are not happy with it? Use this if your original appointment time does not work for you.
Handling Technical Issues
Sometimes technical problems occur during online proctored exams. If your screen turns black or you cannot see the questions, stay calm and contact customer service immediately.
Handle Technical Problems During Exam
Step by step guide if technical issues occur:
- Stay calm and do not panic
- Contact customer service as soon as possible
- Email directly to: home.pearsonvue.com/aws/contact
- Your issue will be solved in 3-5 business days
- It takes about a week to schedule your exam again
- Be patient - your exam will be rescheduled
Beginners Can Pass the Exam
AWS designed a Developer Learning Path with recommended certifications. The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is not mandatory - you are good to go if you have some basics in programming.
Of course, exam preparation will require more work. Establish your learning routine to prepare enough. Do not be afraid to deep dive on your own. You need to understand the course material and not just memorize it.
AWS Developer Certification Path:
1. Cloud Practitioner (optional but recommended)
2. Developer Associate (primary goal)
3. SysOps Administrator Associate
4. Solutions Architect Associate
5. Professional certifications
Join the AWS Certified Community
The #AWSCertified challenge brings together people from around the world preparing for AWS certifications. Do not be shy - feel free to join the Discord channel to ask questions or contact people directly on Twitter.
You will be amazed at the support and encouragement from the community. Many who started reluctant to share their progress became advocates helping others succeed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to prepare for the AWS Developer Associate exam?
According to experts, it can take up to 2 months of dedicated study to pass. However, with 4-5 hours daily commitment, some have passed in as little as 20 days.
Do I need the Cloud Practitioner certification first?
No, Cloud Practitioner is not mandatory. If you have some programming basics, you can go directly for the Developer Associate. However, beginners may benefit from starting with Cloud Practitioner.
Is the video course enough to pass the exam?
No, the 16-hour video course alone is not enough. You need to supplement with AWS whitepapers, practice exams, and hands-on labs to cover all exam topics thoroughly.
What should I do if I fail a practice exam?
Review your wrong answers and read the explanations to understand why you made mistakes before retaking the same practice exam. This will improve your confidence for the real exam.
What happens if I have technical issues during the online exam?
Contact Pearson VUE customer service immediately at home.pearsonvue.com/aws/contact. Your issue will be resolved within 3-5 business days, and you can reschedule your exam.
Need Help Preparing for AWS Certification?
AWS certifications validate your cloud development skills and open doors to new career opportunities. We help businesses and individuals prepare for AWS certifications with training, consulting, and cloud architecture services. From Developer Associate to Professional certifications, we have the expertise to help you succeed.