Earn AWS Solutions Architect Certification

Proof required

Submit: (1) a self-assessment table mapping your current experience to the five SAA-C03 exam domains (Secure Architectures, Resilient Architectures, High-Performing Architectures, Cost-Optimised Architectures, Miscellaneous), (2) your planned exam date, and (3) a 8–12 week study schedule showing which services and scenario types you will cover each week.

What gets checked

• Self-assessment identifies specific services or scenarios where you have real hands-on experience versus those you have only read about — 'I know S3' and 'I have used S3 lifecycle policies in production to reduce storage costs' are very different experience levels
• Study plan focuses on scenario-based decision-making, not just service definitions — questions like 'when would you choose Aurora over RDS?' reveal the exam's actual challenge
• Planned exam date is 8–16 weeks away for a candidate with some AWS experience, or 14–20 weeks for a candidate starting from scratch

Common mistakes

• Assuming hands-on experience substitutes for structured study — the exam tests architecture judgment in specific scenario formats that require practice in that format
• Building a study plan that is too broad — trying to learn every AWS service in depth; SAA-C03 tests how to choose between services, not every feature of each one
• Setting an exam date before completing one full practice test — take a diagnostic first to calibrate how much preparation is actually needed

Resources

What a verifier looks for

• Ask the submitter to explain one architecture decision from their self-assessment — for example, 'when would you use an Application Load Balancer vs. a Network Load Balancer?' — this reveals whether the assessment reflects real judgment or surface familiarity
• Study plan should emphasise scenario types, not service lists — if every week says 'learn S3, learn EC2, learn RDS' without scenario practice, the plan is not exam-ready
• Planned exam date should allow at least 8 weeks of study — candidates who set exam dates under 4 weeks out rarely pass on the first attempt

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Proof required

Submit: screenshots or exports from two separate full-length, timed practice exams (65 questions each) showing your total score and the date taken. Include a brief note on which domain category had the most wrong answers and what you reviewed to address it.

What gets checked

• Two separate practice exams completed on two different dates — the same exam retaken immediately does not demonstrate learning
• Both scores are 80% or above — below 80% on a practice exam is a genuine signal to delay the real exam
• Domain breakdown is reviewed: the submitter can identify which domain was weakest and names a specific resource they used to address it

Common mistakes

• Memorising practice test answers rather than understanding the architectural reasoning — the real exam uses different scenarios with the same decision patterns
• Taking only untimed practice tests — the real exam is time-pressured; 2 minutes per question with complex scenarios requires practice under time constraints
• Treating 65% on a practice test as 'close enough' — pass mark on the real exam is approximately 72%; 65% practice performance does not give adequate margin

Resources

What a verifier looks for

• Ask to see the domain breakdown from at least one practice exam — a single total score without domain detail does not show where the candidate is weak
• Confirm the practice exams were timed at 2 minutes per question — untimed practice is not comparable to exam conditions
• Ask the submitter to explain the most commonly missed question type — a candidate genuinely prepared should have a clear answer about their specific weak pattern

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Proof required

Share your official AWS SAA credential: a Credly badge link or AWS certification transcript accessible via the AWS Certification Portal. The badge should show 'AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate' and an active status.

What gets checked

• Credential is AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate specifically — AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner or AWS Certified Developer are different certifications
• Credly badge link or AWS transcript is publicly accessible or a verification URL is provided — screenshots alone are acceptable if a Credly profile URL is included
• Credential status is Active, not Expired — check the issue date; an old credential that has lapsed is not a current certification

Common mistakes

• Submitting a Cloud Practitioner badge — it is a different and less advanced certification; confirm the badge specifically shows 'Solutions Architect — Associate'
• Badge link requires a login to view — Credly badges should be publicly viewable; check the sharing settings before submitting
• Credential shows Professional tier (not Associate) — the Professional tier is a different, higher exam; confirm the level matches this outcome

Resources

What a verifier looks for

• Verify the credential independently at aws.amazon.com/verification using the submitter's certificate ID — do not rely solely on screenshots
• Confirm the certification is SAA-C03 (Solutions Architect — Associate), not Cloud Practitioner, Developer, or Professional tier
• Check the credential status is Active and the expiry date is in the future — AWS certifications expire after 3 years

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