My Journey to AWS Developer Associate Certification (DVA-C02)

Introduction

Passing the AWS Developer Associate certification (DVA-C02) was an enriching milestone in my professional journey. Here’s a detailed account of how I prepared, the resources I used, and some unique insights to help you achieve the same.

Quick Summary

Here’s a snapshot of the approach that worked for me:

Learning Path: Completed Stephane Mareek’s Course on Udemy.
Practice Tests:
- Stephane Mareek’s Practice Tests.
- Jon Bonso’s TutorialsDojo Exams.
Additional Prep: Revisited curated questions on ExamTopics.
Quick Revision: Followed the DigitalCloud Training Cheatsheet.

My Background

AWS Journey: Began during college through freelance projects.
Key AWS Services: Gained hands-on experience with AWS EC2, S3, RDS, and Elastic Beanstalk.
AWS Cloud Practitioner: Cleared the exam, providing a strong foundation and understanding of AWS services.
HashiCorp Developer Associate Certification: Expanded knowledge of Infrastructure as Code (IaC).

These experiences, combined with hands-on learning, provided the perfect launchpad for tackling the DVA-C02 exam.

Exam Structure and Key Insights

The DVA-C02 exam spans 2 hours and 10 minutes and consists of scenario-driven multiple-choice questions. An additional 30-minute extension is available for non-native English speakers upon request.

Domains and Focus Areas

The exam heavily emphasizes serverless solutions and application development in the AWS ecosystem. Key focus areas include:

Core Services: Lambda, DynamoDB, S3, EC2, API Gateway, Step Functions.
Databases: Partition keys, hot partitions, RCUs/WCUs, GSIs/LSIs.
CI/CD Pipelines: CodeCommit, CodeBuild, CodeDeploy, CodePipeline.
Security: KMS, Secrets Manager, Parameter Store, encryption strategies.
Monitoring Tools: CloudWatch, X-Ray, CloudTrail.

Tips:

Hands-on practice: Build and deploy projects using Lambda, S3, DynamoDB, and API Gateway.
Master IAM: Know how to create and manage roles, policies, and permissions.
Understand serverless: Focus on serverless architecture and integrating AWS services like Lambda and API Gateway.
Monitor with CloudWatch: Be proficient in setting up logs and metrics for your apps.
Take practice exams: Get familiar with the question format and time management.

My Preparation Strategy

Step 1: Foundational Learning

The Stephane Mareek Udemy Course was the cornerstone of my preparation. Its combination of hands-on labs and theoretical depth bridged the gap between concept and practice.

Step 2: Practice Makes Perfect

Rigorous Testing:

Stephane Mareek’s Tests: Slightly harder than the real exam, these prepared me for nuanced scenarios.
Jon Bonso’s TutorialsDojo Tests: Perfect for simulating real exam conditions.

Step 3: Revisiting Community Knowledge

Platforms like ExamTopics provide community-voted questions. While answers here may vary, the discussions help clarify tricky concepts.

Step 4: Quick Revisions

The concise, structured nature of the DigitalCloud Cheatsheet helped reinforce key points.

Step 5: Hands-On Practice

Setting up an AWS free-tier account enabled me to:

Experiment with services like S3, Lambda, and API Gateway.
Test deployment strategies using CodePipeline and SAM templates.

Exam-Day Tips

Before the Exam

Revise using community-discussed questions.
Rest well to ensure mental clarity.

During the Exam

Thorough Reading: Misinterpreting questions is easy; read each word carefully.
Elimination Strategy: Narrow down to two likely options, then decide.
Mark for Review: If uncertain, flag questions and revisit later.

Reflections

Clearing the AWS Developer Associate exam solidified my confidence in leveraging AWS for real-world applications. Beyond the technical skills, this journey instilled discipline and strategic thinking—qualities valuable in any professional endeavor.

Acknowledgments

A heartfelt thanks to:

Stephane Mareek and Jon Bonso for their exceptional content.
The active contributors at ExamTopics for their detailed discussions.

Resources to Explore

Are you preparing for the DVA-C02 exam? Share your progress in the comments—I’d love to hear your experiences. Good luck, future AWS Developer Associates! 🎉