Training guide
AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate: SOA-C03 Guide
A guide to the AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam, which replaced the SysOps Administrator exam.
EU Job Hub Editorial Team · Updated 1 October 2026 · Based on AWS Certification information and exam guides
Introduction
The AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate exam is the new name for the SysOps Administrator Associate exam. The page you are reading was written for the old name, which no new candidate can take.
This guide explains the change and gives the facts for the current exam, SOA-C03.
Quick Information
| Provider |
Amazon Web Services |
| Level |
Associate |
| Exam code |
SOA-C03 |
| Format |
65 questions: multiple choice or multiple response |
| Time |
130 minutes |
| Fee |
150 USD |
| Old exam |
SOA-C02, retired on 29 September 2025 |
Key Points at a Glance
- The SysOps Administrator Associate exam was renamed in September 2025.
- The current exam is SOA-C03.
- The exam has 65 questions, lasts 130 minutes and costs 150 USD.
- Containers are now in scope.
- Existing SysOps certificates stay valid until they expire.
What Changed
AWS renamed the certification to reflect the broader role of cloud operations. The old SOA-C02 exam retired on 29 September 2025.
Registration for the new exam opened on 9 September 2025.
New Content
AWS says containers are now in scope. The exam also has more modern services and a stronger focus on multi-account and multi-Region designs.
There is more on automation and infrastructure as code. AWS says no task statements were removed.
Exam Format and Cost
The exam has 65 questions and lasts 130 minutes. AWS lists the fee at 150 US dollars.
Third-party guides say the new exam has five domains, where the old one had six.
Who Should Take It
It suits operations engineers, system administrators and DevOps staff who run workloads on AWS.
It focuses on monitoring, fixing, automating and improving live systems.
If You Hold the Old Certificate
If you hold the SysOps Administrator Associate certificate, it stays valid until its expiry date.
You only get the new title by passing SOA-C03.
Skills to Practise
Practise reading logs and metrics to find a fault. Practise setting alarms and automatic fixes.
Practise deploying the same setup in more than one account and Region.
A Study Plan
Plan six to eight weeks. Study monitoring first, then deployment, then networking and security.
Use the official practice questions and build a small lab each week.
Mistakes to Avoid
Do not use old SysOps guides without checking the exam code.
Do not ignore containers. They are new in this version.
Do not use leaked questions.
A Sample Operations Exercise
Run a small web app with two servers. Create alarms for high load and failed health checks, and an automatic action that restarts a server.
Then deploy the same setup in a second Region from a template. This covers monitoring, automation and multi-Region design.
Reading Operations Questions
Operations questions often describe a failure. Find the symptom, the likely cause and the least risky fix.
Prefer fixes that can be repeated by automation over manual steps.
Booking and Exam Day
Book through your AWS Certification account. Choose a testing centre or online delivery.
Confirm the exam code is SOA-C03 before you pay.
Key Terms Explained
Observability: Seeing what your system is doing through logs and metrics.
Alarm: A rule that warns you when a metric crosses a limit.
Infrastructure as code: Describing servers and networks in files that can be reused.
Multi-account: Using several AWS accounts to keep teams or systems apart.
Remediation: Fixing a problem, often by automation.
Container: A package that holds an app and what it needs to run.
Questions to Ask Before You Pay
Check the current price on the official page. Check that the exam code or course name matches the guide you study from.
Ask whether your employer or school will pay. Ask how long the result stays valid.
Write down your goal first. Choose a course or exam only if it moves you towards that goal.
Using It in Europe
Roles include cloud operations engineer, site reliability engineer and system administrator. Add the certificate and the year to your Europass CV.
Name the exam version you passed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SysOps Administrator still available?
No. The exam is now AWS CloudOps Engineer Associate.
What is the exam code?
SOA-C03.
How much does it cost?
AWS lists 150 USD.
Is my old certificate still valid?
Yes, until its expiry date.
Find Jobs
Job titles to search for include cloud operations engineer, site reliability engineer and system administrator. Search current vacancies on the EURES portal.
Official Course Page
Read the current details on the AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer Associate page.
Disclaimer
This guide is independent and is not affiliated with Amazon Web Services. Prices, course lists and exam rules change, so check the official AWS page before you pay or enrol. A certificate does not give you the right to work in any country.
