Here’s my study plan for the AWS Certified Developer – Associate (DVA-C02) certification.
Here's a detailed 12-week (3-month) week-by-week study guide for the AWS Certified Developer – Associate (DVA-C02) certification. This guide is structured to progressively build your knowledge across the exam’s core domains, with clear weekly goals and end-of-week expectations.
🗓️ Week 1: Introduction to AWS & Exam Overview
Topics:
- Understand AWS global infrastructure
- Explore the DVA-C02 exam guide and domains
- Overview of IAM, EC2, S3, and CLI tools
Activities:
- Create an AWS Free Tier account
- Familiarize with AWS Console and documentation
- Watch official AWS exam overview video
Expected by Week’s End:
- Understand the exam structure and key services
- Successfully use the AWS CLI to create and list S3 buckets
- Read IAM basics and create a user with permissions
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | Read the DVA-C02 Exam Guide; understand exam domains |
| Tue | Create AWS Free Tier account; explore AWS Console & Services (EC2, S3, Lambda) |
| Wed | Install & configure AWS CLI; list S3 buckets and use basic CLI commands |
| Thu | Read IAM Overview: users, roles, policies, groups |
| Fri | Create IAM users and roles; attach custom and managed policies |
| Sat/Sun | Rest or review: Skim FAQs for EC2, S3, IAM |
🗓️ Week 2: IAM, Authentication, and Authorization
Topics:
- IAM Users, Roles, Policies, and Groups
- Resource-based vs identity-based policies
- Temporary credentials (STS)
Activities:
- Create IAM roles and policies in practice
- Write custom JSON policies
- Learn about Cognito (basic overview)
Expected by Week’s End:
- Confidently write and apply IAM policies
- Understand authentication/authorization flow in AWS
- Complete IAM-focused labs or quizzes
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | Identity-based vs resource-based policies; test inline and managed |
| Tue | Practice writing JSON policies with conditions and actions |
| Wed | Learn AWS STS, temporary credentials, IAM role chaining |
| Thu | Introduction to Cognito: identity pools vs user pools |
| Fri | Quiz yourself: IAM scenario questions (e.g., ACG, Tutorials Dojo) |
| Sat/Sun | Rest or rewatch IAM-specific AWS re:Invent sessions |
🗓️ Week 3: Compute: Lambda, EC2, and Elastic Beanstalk
Topics:
- AWS Lambda core concepts
- EC2 instance roles and setup
- Overview of Elastic Beanstalk (deployment options)
Activities:
- Write and deploy a simple Lambda function
- Launch EC2, SSH into it, and install a simple app
- Deploy a sample app with Elastic Beanstalk
Expected by Week’s End:
- Understand when to use Lambda vs EC2
- Know how to configure execution roles and policies
- Complete a hands-on lab for Lambda or Beanstalk
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | Read Lambda docs, create a basic function in the Console |
| Tue | Set environment variables and IAM roles for Lambda |
| Wed | Launch an EC2 instance, SSH into it, install a Node.js or Python app |
| Thu | Deploy app with Elastic Beanstalk, explore deployment types |
| Fri | Compare compute services: when to use Lambda vs EC2 vs Beanstalk |
| Sat/Sun | Rest or complete AWS Skill Builder Lambda module |
🗓️ Week 4: API Gateway & Application Integration
Topics:
- REST APIs and WebSocket APIs in API Gateway
- Integration with Lambda and VPC links
- Error handling, throttling, and usage plans
Activities:
- Create an API Gateway endpoint triggering a Lambda
- Add input validation and throttling
- Read about Cognito integration with API Gateway
Expected by Week’s End:
- Build a RESTful API with API Gateway + Lambda
- Understand stages, deployments, and throttling
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | Create a REST API with API Gateway linked to Lambda |
| Tue | Add query parameters, validation, and response mapping |
| Wed | Secure API with API Keys or IAM; read about usage plans |
| Thu | Study WebSocket APIs and when to use them |
| Fri | Practice: Build a mini CRUD API using Lambda + API Gateway |
| Sat/Sun | Rest or review API Gateway FAQs and pricing page |
🗓️ Week 5: Storage: S3, DynamoDB, and EFS
Topics:
- S3: lifecycle policies, versioning, encryption
- DynamoDB: partition keys, indexes, capacity modes
- Brief: EFS and when to use it
Activities:
- Upload/download S3 files via CLI
- Create a DynamoDB table and perform CRUD via SDK
- Explore DynamoDB Streams and TTL
Expected by Week’s End:
- Understand S3 vs EFS vs DynamoDB use cases
- Write basic DynamoDB queries using the AWS SDK
- Know how to secure S3 buckets (ACLs, bucket policies)
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | Explore S3 lifecycle, versioning, and bucket policies |
| Tue | Practice S3 CLI commands: upload, download, permissions |
| Wed | Intro to DynamoDB: create table, insert and query items |
| Thu | DynamoDB indexes, capacity modes, and TTL; scan vs query |
| Fri | Compare S3 vs DynamoDB vs EFS use cases and limitations |
| Sat/Sun | Rest or test yourself with DynamoDB quizzes |
🗓️ Week 6: Asynchronous Patterns (SNS, SQS, EventBridge)
Topics:
- Message queues vs pub/sub
- SQS Standard vs FIFO
- SNS topics and fanout architecture
- EventBridge for event-driven architecture
Activities:
- Create SQS queues, send/receive messages
- Configure SNS + Lambda fanout
- Setup EventBridge rule triggering a Lambda
Expected by Week’s End:
- Be confident in choosing SNS vs SQS vs EventBridge
- Build a basic event-driven pipeline
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | SQS: create queues, send/receive messages using SDK |
| Tue | FIFO queues, deduplication, visibility timeout settings |
| Wed | SNS: create a topic, subscribe Lambda, explore fanout pattern |
| Thu | Use EventBridge to trigger Lambda based on service events |
| Fri | Build a mini pipeline with S3 → EventBridge → Lambda |
| Sat/Sun | Rest or review EventBridge and messaging FAQs |
🗓️ Week 7: CI/CD on AWS
Topics:
- AWS CodeCommit, CodeBuild, CodePipeline
- Deploy with Elastic Beanstalk and Lambda
- Integration with GitHub and Bitbucket
Activities:
- Create a sample CodePipeline from GitHub to Lambda
- Use CodeBuild to run tests and package your app
Expected by Week’s End:
- Understand CI/CD workflows in AWS
- Deploy a simple app using automated pipeline
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | CodeCommit: Create a repo, push sample app |
| Tue | CodeBuild: Buildspec.yml, environment variables |
| Wed | CodePipeline: automate deployment of Lambda or Beanstalk |
| Thu | Integrate CodePipeline with GitHub |
| Fri | Review CI/CD best practices, permissions, and rollback |
| Sat/Sun | Rest or watch CodePipeline deep dive (AWS YouTube) |
🗓️ Week 8: Monitoring & Debugging
Topics:
- CloudWatch Logs, Metrics, Dashboards
- X-Ray for tracing
- Alarms and custom metrics
Activities:
- Create alarms for Lambda and EC2
- Enable X-Ray for a sample Lambda function
- Set retention policies for logs
Expected by Week’s End:
- Use logs and metrics to troubleshoot effectively
- Understand how to instrument an app for X-Ray
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | CloudWatch Logs: create log groups, use filters |
| Tue | Metrics: create dashboards, custom metrics |
| Wed | CloudWatch Alarms and notifications with SNS |
| Thu | X-Ray: enable tracing for Lambda and analyze segments |
| Fri | Monitor EC2, Lambda, API Gateway performance data |
| Sat/Sun | Rest or complete CloudWatch labs on SkillBuilder |
🗓️ Week 9: Security & Encryption
Topics:
- KMS (Key Management Service)
- Secrets Manager vs Parameter Store
- Encryption at rest and in transit
Activities:
- Encrypt an S3 bucket using KMS
- Store a secret in Secrets Manager and access it from Lambda
- Review compliance-related services like AWS Shield, WAF, and GuardDuty
Expected by Week’s End:
- Apply encryption and secret management best practices
- Understand the difference between symmetric/asymmetric keys in KMS
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | KMS: create CMKs, encrypt/decrypt files with CLI |
| Tue | Parameter Store and Secrets Manager: differences and usage |
| Wed | Use Secrets Manager with Lambda securely |
| Thu | Learn about Shield, GuardDuty, and WAF |
| Fri | Practice encryption in S3 and DynamoDB |
| Sat/Sun | Rest or review KMS/Secrets whitepapers |
🗓️ Week 10: Application Troubleshooting & Resiliency
Topics:
- Retry mechanisms, exponential backoff
- Circuit breaker, bulkhead patterns
- Dead Letter Queues (DLQ)
Activities:
- Set up DLQ for a Lambda function
- Build a retry mechanism into your app
- Review logs from failed invocations
Expected by Week’s End:
- Design and implement fault-tolerant apps
- Know how to debug and recover from failures
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | Learn retry logic and exponential backoff patterns |
| Tue | Understand DLQs and Lambda error handling config |
| Wed | Implement DLQ for a Lambda using SQS |
| Thu | Study circuit breaker and bulkhead patterns |
| Fri | Review best practices for handling timeouts and retries |
| Sat/Sun | Rest or simulate failure scenarios in test apps |
🗓️ Week 11: Practice Exams + Weak Area Review
Topics:
- Full exam simulation
- Review questions by domain (Dev, CI/CD, Security, Monitoring)
Activities:
- Take 1–2 full practice exams (e.g., Tutorials Dojo, Whizlabs)
- Analyze incorrect answers and reinforce weak topics
Expected by Week’s End:
- Score 80%+ consistently on practice exams
- Refine time management and question reading strategy
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | Take a full-length practice exam (e.g., Tutorials Dojo) |
| Tue | Review all missed questions, identify weak topics |
| Wed | Focused review on weak topics with hands-on refreshers |
| Thu | Take domain-specific mini quizzes |
| Fri | Second full-length exam and compare improvement |
| Sat/Sun | Rest or light review via flashcards or app |
🗓️ Week 12: Final Review + Exam Prep
Topics:
- Whitepapers and FAQs for S3, Lambda, DynamoDB, and API Gateway
- Mental review and flashcards
Activities:
- Review AWS documentation of core services
- Final mock exam (timed)
- Prepare logistics for exam day (Pearson VUE setup or testing center)
Expected by Week’s End:
- Be fully confident and prepared
- Rest well, and take the exam!
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | Read S3, Lambda, DynamoDB, and API Gateway FAQs |
| Tue | Revisit exam guide, understand each task area |
| Wed | Take a final timed mock exam |
| Thu | Create a study sheet of key CLI commands & limits |
| Fri | Prepare test environment/logistics for exam day |
| Sat/Sun | Rest, hydrate, and test day! 🎯 |
📌 Study Resources
- 📘 AWS Skill Builder – Developer Associate Learning Plan
- 🧪 Practice Exams: Whizlabs, Tutorials Dojo
- 🔧 Hands-on Labs: AWS Free Tier, qwiklabs, Cloud Academy
- 📝 Notes: Markdown or Obsidian for revision