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AWS • Solutions Architect Professional
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional (SAP-C02)
Design complex, large-scale, and enterprise-grade AWS architectures.
Practice setup
Exam info
- Exam ID
- SAP-C02
- Cost of Exam
- $300 USD
- Length of Test
- 180 Minutes
- Number of Questions
- 75
View full exam details
- Exam Level
- Professional
- Launch Date
- November 2022
- Recommended Experience
- 2+ years of hands-on experience designing and operating AWS cloud architectures
- Question Types
- Multiple Choice / Multiple Response
- Passing Score
- Scaled score determined by AWS
Domains and Objectives
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity1.026%
Objectives in this domain
- Design multi-account and multi-team architecture boundaries.
- Implement governance-aligned architecture patterns.
- Address organizational constraints in cloud solution design.
Design for New Solutions2.029%
Objectives in this domain
- Design new workload architectures for security, reliability, and scale.
- Select service combinations for complex business requirements.
- Balance performance and cost goals for production systems.
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions3.025%
Objectives in this domain
- Evaluate existing workloads for architecture improvements.
- Apply operational insights to optimize reliability and efficiency.
- Lead iterative modernization and architecture refinement decisions.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization4.020%
Objectives in this domain
- Plan migration strategies for heterogeneous enterprise environments.
- Choose modernization approaches based on technical and business context.
- Reduce migration risk through phased execution and resilience planning.
Resources
Official Exam Page
The official exam overview from AWS with scheduling, exam details, and a 4-step prep plan.
Open resourceExam Guide (HTML)
Up-to-date AWS Documentation exam guide for SAP-C02 with domains, scoring, and references.
Open resourceIn-Scope AWS Services (SAP-C02)
Official list of AWS services and features that are in scope for the SAP-C02 exam.
Open resourceOut-of-Scope AWS Services (SAP-C02)
Official list of AWS services and features that are out of scope for the SAP-C02 exam.
Open resourceAWS Certification Exam Preparation
How to access Official Practice Question Sets (free) and Official Practice Exams (subscription) on AWS Skill Builder.
Open resourceAWS Skill Builder – Course Catalog
Browse and enroll in Exam Prep: AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02) and the Official Practice Exam (login required; subscription may be required).
Open resourceArchitecting on AWS (Classroom Training)
3-day intermediate course covering Well-Architected best practices; foundational for Solutions Architect roles.
Open resourceAdvanced Architecting on AWS (Classroom Training)
3-day advanced course recommended for professional-level architecting and SAP-C02 preparation.
Open resourceAWS Well-Architected Framework (Documentation)
Core architectural best practices across the Well-Architected pillars; essential study material for SAP-C02.
Open resourceAWS Architecture Center
Reference architectures, patterns, and best practices to deepen real-world architectural knowledge.
Open resourceSolutions Architect Ramp-Up Guide (PDF)
Curated AWS learning path with courses, whitepapers, and hands-on resources for architects.
Open resourceExam Readiness Webinars and Events
Live, free AWS Training and Certification webinars and events, including exam readiness sessions.
Open resourceAWS Certification General Information (Service Name Abbreviations)
AWS Certification policies and the official list of AWS service short names used in exams.
Open resourceExam history
Launched on May 7, 2014 and refreshed in 2019, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional exam transitioned to SAP-C02 on November 15, 2022 and remains active with no announced retirement.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-09
AWS launched its Global Certification Program on April 30, 2013, then introduced the first professional-level Solutions Architect exam on May 7, 2014, establishing the flagship credential for advanced AWS architecture skills. On February 18, 2019, AWS announced updates to its professional-level exams, restructuring the Solutions Architect – Professional blueprint into five domains and changing the associate-level prerequisite from required to recommended; the contemporaneous SAP-C01 exam guide reflects this five-domain structure. ([aws.amazon.com](https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2013/04/30/announcing-amazon-web-services-global-certification-program/?utm_source=openai))
AWS announced an updated content outline in October 2022 with the first date to take the updated exam on November 15, 2022 and the last day to take the then-current version on November 14, 2022; the update aligned the blueprint to the AWS Well-Architected Framework, integrated cost considerations across domains, and removed troubleshooting tasks. The updated exam became available in mid-November 2022 and is identified as SAP-C02; as of April 9, 2026, SAP-C02 is listed by AWS as the active professional-level architect exam with no retirement date announced on the official exam guides page. ([aws.amazon.com](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/training-and-certification/aws-certified-solutions-architect-professional-content-outline-updated-to-align-with-latest-trends-and-innovations/))
Change tracker
SAP-C02 launched
AWS released SAP-C02 as the current professional architecture exam with updated enterprise and modernization emphasis.
SAP-C01 retired
The prior version was replaced to align with evolving AWS architecture and organizational design practices.