Build, deploy, secure and operate AWS applications — Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, ECS, CodePipeline, IAM — mapped to the AWS Certified Developer Associate exam.
⏱Duration: 4 days / 32 hrs
💻Format: Instructor-Led + AWS Sandbox
🌐Delivery: On-site · Virtual · Hybrid
✅Pass rate: 93%
📅Next intake: 19 May 2026
⚡
Serverless mastery
Lambda, API Gateway, Step Functions, EventBridge in real applications
📝
Containerised dev
ECS / Fargate, ECR, App Runner — patterns and trade-offs
🔑
Identity-first dev
IAM least-privilege, STS, Cognito, Secrets Manager in code
DVA-C02 is the AWS certification that proves you can build production-grade applications on AWS. The exam covers development, security, deployment and troubleshooting — the practical engineering of cloud-native software.
At Nexperts, every learner gets an AWS sandbox account with credit. By day 4 you've shipped four working applications: a serverless API, a Step Functions workflow, an ECS Fargate service and a fully gated CodePipeline release.
AWS doesn't test whether you can list services. They test whether you can pick Lambda over ECS, justify it, and ship it secure-by-default with the right IAM scope.
The DVA-C02 (released March 2023, refreshed for 2026) leans heavily into serverless, observability and least-privilege IAM. We cover all three with hands-on builds.
Who should take this course
👨💻
Developers building on AWS
Already shipping but want the formal credential and depth across services.
☁️
Cloud Practitioners (CCP)
Natural progression. CCP gave breadth — DVA gives developer depth.
🌐
Full-stack engineers
Comfortable with web stacks, new to AWS-native services like Lambda and DynamoDB.
⚙️
DevOps engineers
Building or maintaining AWS pipelines. DVA sharpens the build side.
💼
Solutions architects
Already designing on AWS, want to keep current with developer-side patterns.
🌟
Computer-science students
DVA is the most respected entry-level developer cloud cert.
Prerequisites
✓ 1–2 years of professional development experience
✓ Comfortable with REST APIs, JSON and HTTP fundamentals
✓ Working knowledge of one programming language (Python, Node, Java)
✓ Basic familiarity with AWS console (CCP helpful but not required)
→ No AWS experience? Ask about our CCP → DVA bundle.
Course Curriculum
Four domains. One AWS toolkit.
DVA-C02 is structured into Development with AWS Services, Security, Deployment, and Troubleshooting & Optimisation. We deliver in build-first order — you ship Lambda code in module 1.
Hands-On AWS Sandbox
9 builds. On real AWS.
Every learner gets an AWS sandbox account with credit. You don't simulate AWS — you provision, deploy, debug and tear it down on a real account.
01
Serverless URL Shortener
Build a Lambda + API Gateway + DynamoDB URL shortener in under 90 minutes.
Serverless
02
Step Functions Saga
Build a 4-step order saga with compensation actions on partial failure.
Workflows
03
DynamoDB Single-Table Design
Take an OLTP schema and refactor it to a single-table DynamoDB design.
Data
04
Cognito Multi-Tenant API
Build a multi-tenant SaaS API with Cognito user pools and IAM scoped policies.
Auth
05
Secrets Manager Migration
Take an app full of plain-text secrets. Migrate every secret to Secrets Manager. Validate.
Secrets
06
CodePipeline Build
Build a 4-stage CodePipeline — source, build, test, deploy with manual approval gate.
CI/CD
07
ECS Fargate Service
Containerise a Python service. Deploy to Fargate. Wire ALB. Validate health checks.
Containers
08
X-Ray Tracing Hunt
Receive a slow flow across 5 services. Use X-Ray to identify the bottleneck.
Observability
09
Lambda Cold-Start Tuning
Take a 4.2-second cold start. Tune memory, layers, and provisioned concurrency under 800ms.
Performance
+ 13 micro-tasks across the AWS SDK in Python (boto3), Node and Java.
Exam Information
One scenario-heavy exam. Heavy code reading.
DVA-C02 has 65 questions over 130 minutes. The exam is heavy on multi-step scenarios and 8–12 code-completion items. Most candidates fail on time pressure, not knowledge.
AWS DVA-C02 Exam
Questions65 (scenario + code-completion + MCQ)
Duration130 minutes
Passing score720 / 1000
FormatPearson VUE / PSI / Online proctored
Validity3 years (recertification)
Industry avg pass rate~66% first attempt
Nexperts pass rate93% first attempt
Code-Completion Drill
Drill length4-hour structured drill
LanguagesPython (boto3), Node SDK
Common gotchasAsync patterns, retry policies, KMS key id vs ARN
CoachingWalkthrough of 30 SDK calls
StrategyIdentify the service first, parameters second
OutcomeCode-question score uplift averages +21%
WalkthroughPast code-completion archive provided
Our 3-Mock Programme
01
Diagnostic Mock
End of day 1. Maps weak service areas. Average score: 58%.
02
Code-Heavy Mock
Mid-course. 50% scenarios, 50% SDK code review. Average score: 72%.
03
Final Clearance
Full timed simulation. 80%+ before we book. Average score: 84%.
0%
Pass Rate
93% of our DVA candidates pass on first attempt.
The AWS global first-attempt rate for DVA-C02 sits around 66%. We hit 93% by treating it as a developer exam, drilling SDK code under timer, and gating booking on a clearance mock.
Real AWS sandboxCode-completion drill93% first attemptProduction CI/CD track
Why our pass rate is 93%
Industry average: ~66%
Most candidates revise services list-style and walk in unprepared for the code questions. They also lose 20+ minutes on long scenarios because they don't decompose them quickly.
Nexperts: 93%
We treat DVA as an engineering exam. You write SDK code on the whiteboard. You decompose scenarios under timer. You earn the booking by clearing the simulation.
Your AWS Path
DVA unlocks SAP, DevOps and Security.
DVA stacks naturally with the SAP (Solutions Architect Pro), DOP (DevOps Pro) and SCS (Security) tracks. Most graduates pair it with one of these within 9 months.
Before this
CCP (recommended)
CCP builds the conceptual base. Not strictly required — most candidates have it.
Expected salary range after DVA: competitive US market pay for cloud developer roles in US metro markets.
Student Reviews
What our DVA developers say.
4.8
★★★★★
128 reviews
5★
83%
4★
14%
3★
3%
★★★★★
"Best AWS course I've sat through. Step Functions saga lab and DynamoDB single-table design were genuinely the most useful labs of any cert I've taken."
AS
Adi Setiawan
Cloud Engineer · GoTo Group
✓ Passed first attempt · 836/1000
★★★★★
"Came in as a Java dev with no AWS. Walked out having shipped four working serverless apps. Cleared DVA two weeks after finishing the course."
NS
Nurul Shazwani
Backend Engineer · Carsome
✓ Passed first attempt
★★★★
"Cold-start tuning lab is the one I keep referencing at work. Before this course I couldn't tell you why my Lambdas were slow. Now I can."
JM
Jonathan Marcus
Senior Developer · Telecom Carrier
✓ Passed first attempt · 798/1000
★★★★★
"Mock-3 simulation was harder than the real exam, which is exactly what you want. The code-completion drill made the difference for me."
DR
Devikha Ravi
Software Engineer · ASTRO Digital
✓ Passed first attempt · 856/1000
FAQs
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