AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate (DEA-C01) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate (DEA-C01), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$150
Provider
Amazon Web Services
Validity
3 years
Available
Global
Education
No formal education requirement
Experience
Recommended but not required, varies by level
Specific Requirements
- No mandatory prerequisite certification, degree, or exam. Anyone can register for DEA-C01.
- AWS recommends the equivalent of 2 to 3 years of experience in data engineering.
- AWS recommends at least 1 to 2 years of hands-on experience with AWS services.
- You should be able to structure SQL queries and run them on AWS services.
- You should understand the effects of volume, variety, and velocity on ingestion, transformation, modelling, security, governance, privacy, schema design, and data store design.
- You should be able to compare AWS services on cost, performance, and functional differences.
- Valid government-issued identification establishing residence in a non-sanctioned country, plus a secondary form of ID.
- An AWS Certification Account, used for scheduling through Pearson VUE and for retrieving results and benefits.
Number of Questions
65 questions, of which 50 are scored and 15 are unscored
Duration
130 minutes
Question Format
Multiple choice, with one correct response and three distractors, Multiple response, with two or more correct responses out of five or more options
Passing Requirement
720
How It Is Delivered
Pearson VUE test centre or online proctored exam
Languages Offered
English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified)
Rules specific to this exam
- The 15 unscored questions are not identified on the exam and are indistinguishable from scored ones, so answer every item.
- Unanswered questions are scored as incorrect and AWS applies no penalty for guessing, so never leave a question blank.
- AWS uses a compensatory scoring model. Section-level classifications may appear on your score report, but you only need to pass the overall exam.
- Non-native English speakers taking the exam in English can request the ESL +30 MINUTES accommodation, which adds 30 minutes and only needs to be requested once for all future registrations.
- AWS states that exam guide revisions are published at least one month before the changes appear on the live exam.
Create an AWS Certification account at aws.amazon.com/certification
Select your exam and choose Pearson VUE as testing provider
Choose test center or online proctored option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
100 to 1,000
Score You Need
720
How It Is Calculated
Fifty of the 65 questions are scored. AWS converts your raw performance on those items into a scaled score so that results are comparable across exam forms that differ slightly in difficulty. The model is compensatory, so strength in one domain offsets weakness in another and no per-domain threshold applies. Unanswered questions count as incorrect and no points are deducted for a wrong answer.
When You Get Results
Within five business days, in your AWS Certification Account under Exam History
In raw terms: Not published. AWS does not state how many of the 50 scored questions correspond to 720, and the number varies by form because scaled scoring equates forms of different difficulty.
- Most AWS certification exams do not display a pass or fail result on screen when you finish.
- The score report may include a table of classifications of performance at each section level, which AWS says highlights strengths and weaknesses in general terms only.
- Because sections carry different numbers of questions, section-level feedback cannot be converted into a count of correct answers.
- A Credly digital badge notification may reach you before results post to your AWS Certification Account.
- Beta exam results follow the same five-business-day window.
- Two forms of valid ID (one with photo)
- Confirmation email with appointment details
- For online: clear desk, webcam, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate (DEA-C01)?
No mandatory prerequisite certification, degree, or exam. Anyone can register for DEA-C01.. AWS recommends the equivalent of 2 to 3 years of experience in data engineering.. AWS recommends at least 1 to 2 years of hands-on experience with AWS services.. You should be able to structure SQL queries and run them on AWS services.. You should understand the effects of volume, variety, and velocity on ingestion, transformation, modelling, security, governance, privacy, schema design, and data store design.. You should be able to compare AWS services on cost, performance, and functional differences.. Valid government-issued identification establishing residence in a non-sanctioned country, plus a secondary form of ID.. An AWS Certification Account, used for scheduling through Pearson VUE and for retrieving results and benefits..
How much does the AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate (DEA-C01) cost?
The AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate (DEA-C01) exam costs $150. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate (DEA-C01)?
Create an AWS Certification account at aws.amazon.com/certification → Select your exam and choose Pearson VUE as testing provider → Choose test center or online proctored option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate (DEA-C01)?
Two forms of valid ID (one with photo). Confirmation email with appointment details. For online: clear desk, webcam, stable internet.
Ready to prepare for AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate (DEA-C01)?
Get the complete exam guide with study plan, tips, and practice questions.
View AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate (DEA-C01) Guide