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AWS Certification Study Guides

AWS Certification Study Guides — Written by Architects Who Hold Them

Free study guides for AWS certifications maintained by FactualMinds architects with 50+ certifications across the team. Each guide breaks down exam domains, weights, recommended labs, and the books that actually paid back.

Associate certifications

1–2 years of hands-on AWS experience expected. Most candidates start here.

SAA-C03 · 130 min · $150 USD

AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate

The most popular AWS certification, validating ability to design cost-optimized, resilient, secure, and high-performing architectures on AWS. Updated August 2025 (SAA-C03 v2 with GenAI and Aurora DSQL coverage).

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Specialty certifications

Deep expertise in one domain. Pairs well with an Associate or Professional cert.

SCS-C02 · 170 min · $300 USD

AWS Certified Security — Specialty

The deepest AWS security certification, validating ability to secure AWS workloads end-to-end — identity, detection, infrastructure, data protection, incident response, and governance. The 2025 content refresh added GenAI security and AWS Verified Access.

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