Amazon Web Services
AWS Data Engineer Associate
AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate (DEA-C01)
Validates the ability to build and operate data pipelines on AWS: ingestion and transformation, data store selection and modeling, pipeline operations, and data security and governance. A common ask for data engineering roles in AWS-centric shops.
What's on the exam
AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate (DEA-C01) Exam Guide
Data Ingestion and Transformation
34%Batch and streaming ingestion (Kinesis, MSK, DMS, AWS Glue) · Transforming and processing data (Glue, EMR, Lambda, Spark) · Orchestrating data pipelines (Step Functions, MWAA/Airflow, EventBridge) · Applying programming concepts (SQL, Python, infrastructure as code) · Optimizing throughput, partitioning, and file formats · Handling data formats and schema evolution
Data Store Management
26%Choosing a data store (S3, Redshift, DynamoDB, RDS, Aurora) · Designing data models and schemas · Cataloging data with the AWS Glue Data Catalog and Lake Formation · Managing data lifecycle and storage tiering · Designing data lakes and lakehouse layouts · Indexing, partitioning, and performance tuning
Data Operations and Support
22%Automating data processing with AWS services · Analyzing data with Athena, Redshift, and QuickSight · Maintaining and monitoring pipelines (CloudWatch, CloudTrail) · Ensuring data quality and validation · Troubleshooting pipeline failures and performance · Logging and alerting
Data Security and Governance
18%Applying authentication and authorization (IAM, Lake Formation) · Encrypting data at rest and in transit (KMS) · Ensuring data privacy and governance · Auditing and logging access · Masking and anonymizing sensitive data · Compliance and data retention controls
Frequently asked questions
How much does the AWS Data Engineer Associate cost?
The AWS Data Engineer Associate costs $150. Plus applicable taxes.
How long is the AWS Data Engineer Associate and how many questions does it have?
65 questions (50 scored, 15 unscored) — 130 minutes.
What do you need to pass the AWS Data Engineer Associate?
Scaled score of 720 on a 100–1000 scale.
Can you retake the AWS Data Engineer Associate?
14-day waiting period between attempts.
What is the best way to study for the AWS Data Engineer Associate?
Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Data Ingestion and Transformation 34%, Data Store Management 26%, Data Operations and Support 22%, Data Security and Governance 18%). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.
Program in development
We're building a blueprint-complete program for this exam. Meanwhile, explore live programs across 11 exam.
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