SAP-C03 Practice ExamSAP-C03 exam guide: dates, cost, format and domains
Everything the official sources say about the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C03) exam, on one page. Checked against the AWS exam guide, certification page and announcement on November 6, 2026.
| Questions | 75: 65 scored and 10 unscored, multiple choice and multiple response |
|---|---|
| Time | 180 minutes, 2.4 minutes a question |
| Passing score | 720 on a scaled score of 100–1,000 |
| Cost | $300; 50% off for holders of an earlier AWS certification |
Key dates
| September 1, 2026 | AWS announces SAP-C03 |
| October 27, 2026 | Registration opens in all languages; full exam guide published |
| November 16, 2026 | Last day to take SAP-C02 |
| November 17, 2026 | SAP-C03 delivery begins (general availability, no beta period) |
A certification earned on SAP-C02 stays active until its original expiry date. The certification is valid for three years, and you recertify by passing the current version of the exam.
Format and scoring
- Question types. Multiple choice (one correct answer, three distractors) and multiple response (two or more correct answers out of five or more options). A multiple-response question earns credit only when every correct option is chosen.
- Unscored questions. 10 of the 75 are unscored and are not marked, so treat every question as scored.
- Scoring. Pass or fail on a scaled score from 100 to 1,000; 720 passes. Scoring is compensatory: you pass the exam as a whole, not each domain. Unanswered questions count as wrong and there is no penalty for guessing, so answer everything.
- Time. 180 minutes, which is 2.4 minutes per question. Long scenarios are the norm, so budget around two minutes and flag the rest for review.
- Delivery and languages. Pearson VUE test center or online proctored. English, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Simplified Chinese and Spanish (Latin America). Non-native English speakers can request 30 extra minutes as an exam accommodation before booking.
- Cost. $300 USD. Holders of an active AWS certification get 50% off their next exam through their AWS Certification account.
- Recommended experience. Two or more years designing and implementing solutions on AWS.
Out of scope for the candidate
The guide lists tasks the target candidate is not expected to perform: in-depth operating system knowledge, AI/ML model training and data science workflows, security incident forensics, and application code development and debugging. AI questions are about architecture (where Bedrock, AgentCore or a SageMaker AI endpoint fits, how it is secured and what it costs), not about training models.
Domains and tasks
Each domain page lists every skill with its wording from the guide, marks the 37 new ones, and gives the facts that decide the questions.
Domain 1: Architecture Design and Implementation Built for the Cloud 25%, ≈16 scored questions
- Task 1.1: Design architectures built for the cloud (13 skills)
- Task 1.2: Integrate AI and ML services into architectures (4 skills)
- Task 1.3: Design hybrid cloud integration patterns (5 skills)
- Task 1.4: Design network architectures (5 skills)
- Task 1.5: Design data, storage, and database architectures (7 skills)
Domain 2: Security, Compliance, and Governance 25%, ≈16 scored questions
- Task 2.1: Design identity security architectures (5 skills)
- Task 2.2: Design solutions to implement encryption and key management strategies (4 skills)
- Task 2.3: Design multi-account governance and compliance solutions (6 skills)
- Task 2.4: Design architectures to meet compliance requirements (6 skills)
- Task 2.5: Design security and responsible AI controls (3 skills)
Domain 3: Cost-Optimized Architecture Design 15%, ≈10 scored questions
- Task 3.1: Design architectures based on AWS pricing models (4 skills)
- Task 3.2: Optimize data transfer and network costs (5 skills)
- Task 3.3: Design cost allocation and visibility solutions (5 skills)
- Task 3.4: Optimize storage and database costs (5 skills)
Domain 4: Resilience, Migration, and Business Continuity 15%, ≈10 scored questions
- Task 4.1: Design migration strategies by using AWS frameworks (6 skills)
- Task 4.2: Design disaster recovery architectures (6 skills)
- Task 4.3: Design solutions to meet business continuity and resiliency requirements (5 skills)
Domain 5: Operational Excellence and Automation 20%, ≈13 scored questions
- Task 5.1: Design infrastructure as code (4 skills)
- Task 5.2: Design CI/CD and DevSecOps pipelines (5 skills)
- Task 5.3: Design observability and monitoring solutions (7 skills)
- Task 5.4: Design operational automation and resilient systems (5 skills)
How to register
- Sign in to your AWS Certification account at aws.training/certification.
- Choose AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional. From November 17, 2026 the version is SAP-C03.
- Pick Pearson VUE online proctoring or a test center, then a date. Apply the 50% voucher or the extra-time accommodation before paying.
Sources: SAP-C03 exam guide, AWS certification page, AWS Training and Certification blog, September 2026.