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AWS · Cloud · Professional

AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional exam guide

Exam SAP-C03 (from Nov 17, 2026; SAP-C02 last test date Nov 16, 2026)

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional validates advanced design of multi-account, secure, cost-optimized and resilient architectures. The new SAP-C03 version (generally available November 17, 2026) adds AI/ML-integrated architectures and reweights toward security and operational excellence.

Questions75 (65 scored, 10 unscored)
Time limit180 minutes
Passing score720 (100-1000 scale)
Exam fee$300 USD
Valid for3 years
DeliveryPearson VUE test center or online proctored

Format: Multiple choice and multiple response; long multi-paragraph scenarios. Fee note: Plus applicable taxes/FX; 50% off with a voucher from a previously passed AWS exam.

Who it's for

Senior architects with 2+ years designing and implementing AWS solutions across multiple applications and accounts in complex organizations.

What the exam covers

Architecture Design and Implementation Built for the Cloud25%
Security, Compliance, and Governance25%
Cost-Optimized Architecture Design15%
Resilience, Migration, and Business Continuity15%
Operational Excellence and Automation20%

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None (no associate certification required)

Recommended: 2 or more years of experience using AWS services to design and implement cloud solutions, including multi-account, serverless and AI-integrated architectures.

Keeping it active

Valid 3 years. Recertify by passing the latest version of this exam before your certification expires. After passing any AWS exam you receive a 50% discount voucher for your next exam.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Multi-account strategy with AWS Organizations, Control Tower and SCPs
  • Hybrid and multi-VPC networking with Transit Gateway, Direct Connect and PrivateLink
  • Designing AI/ML-integrated and serverless architectures
  • Cost optimization across accounts (Savings Plans, Compute Optimizer, CUR)
  • Migration planning with the 7 Rs, Application Migration Service and DMS
  • DR strategy selection (backup/restore, pilot light, warm standby, multi-site)
  • Governance and compliance automation

Job roles

Senior Solutions ArchitectCloud ArchitectEnterprise ArchitectPrincipal Cloud EngineerCloud Migration ArchitectTechnical Account Manager

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1: Read the SAP-C03 exam guide and the SAP-C02 vs C03 comparison; list weak services
  2. Week 2-3: Organizations, Control Tower, IAM Identity Center, SCPs, cross-account access and governance (25% domain)
  3. Week 4-5: Networking at scale - Transit Gateway, Direct Connect, VPN, PrivateLink, Route 53 Resolver; AI-integrated design patterns with Bedrock and SageMaker endpoints
  4. Week 6: Resilience and migration - DR patterns, Aurora Global, DynamoDB global tables, Migration Hub, MGN, DMS
  5. Week 7: Operational excellence and cost - Systems Manager, CloudFormation StackSets, Compute Optimizer, Savings Plans
  6. Week 8-10: Full 180-minute timed practice exams; practice eliminating answers in long scenarios

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Confirm your version: tests through Nov 16, 2026 are SAP-C02 (passing 750); from Nov 17 it is SAP-C03 (passing 720) with different domain weights
  • Stamina matters - 75 long scenarios in 180 minutes is about 2.4 minutes each; do not burn time on one question
  • Eliminate answers that violate a stated constraint (RPO/RTO, budget, compliance) first, then compare the remaining two
  • Security, Compliance, and Governance is now 25% - multi-account guardrails are core
  • AI/ML model training is out of scope; focus on integrating AI services into architectures
  • Application code debugging and OS internals are out of scope - do not over-study them

Key terms for this exam

All 56 terms Study with thinQcards™

Commonly confused on this exam

Frequently asked questions

How much is the AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam?

$300 USD plus taxes; 75 questions in 180 minutes.

What changed in SAP-C03?

Five reorganized domains, AI/ML-integrated architecture design, Security and Governance at 25%, 65 scored plus 10 unscored questions and a 720 passing score.

Do I need SAA before SAP?

No formal prerequisite, but most successful candidates hold SAA or equivalent experience first.

How hard is the AWS SA Professional?

It is one of the hardest AWS exams because of long scenarios and multi-service trade-offs. Plan 8-12 weeks if you already hold an associate cert.

Does SAP renew my Solutions Architect Associate?

Yes. Passing the Professional exam renews the associate in the same path; the Professional itself renews by passing its current version every 3 years.

Official page: aws.amazon.com. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.