The AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate certification exam, DEA-C01, is designed to test your knowledge and skills in designing, building, and maintaining data processing systems on the AWS platform.
This blog will cover everything you need to know about the AWS DEA-C01 Exam:
- What is the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate Certification Exam?
- AWS DEA-C01 Exam Domains
- Exam Format For AWS DEA-C01 Exam
- AWS DEA-C01 Exam Certification Path
- Target Audience For the DEA-C01 Exam
- How Much Do You Make If You Pass the AWS DEA-C01 Exam Certification?
- Conclusion
What is the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate Certification Exam?
The AWS Certified Data Engineer-Associate Certification Exam was introduced by AWS in April 2024. Obtaining this certification validates your proficiency with core AWS data services. Additionally, it evaluates your ability to configure data pipelines, manage monitoring and troubleshooting efficiently, and maximize performance while following industry best practices.
Enrolling in the AWS Certified Data Engineer course is a great option if you are new to the profession of data engineering. The AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate Certification Exam (DEA-C01) is now a fully recognized certification, following the Associate-level exams for Solutions Architect, Developer, and SysOps Administrator, and it represents AWS’s fourth Associate-level certification.
Read More: AWS Certification Exam
Exam Overview:
Category |
Associate |
|---|---|
| Exam duration | 130 minutes |
| Exam format | 65 questions, either multiple-choice or multiple-response |
| Cost | 150 USD |
| Test in-person or online | Pearson VUE testing center or online proctored exam |
| Languages Offered | English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese |
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AWS DEA-C01 Exam Domains
The domains of the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate Certification Exam are divided into four groups:
1. Domain 1 of DEA-C01: Ingestion and Transformation of Data (34%).
This domain, which makes up more than one-third of the entire test, is all about ingesting, manipulating, and processing data. It also focuses on organizing ETL pipelines for your data. Understanding how to read data from AWS streaming services like Kinesis, Redshift, and DynamoDB streams and then modify it to meet your needs, utilizing Lambda, EventBridge, and AWS Glue workflows, is all part of this.
2. Domain 2 of DEA-C01: Management of Data Stores (26%).
The main focus of this sector is efficiently organizing and cataloging data. It includes a range of activities, such as creating schemas for different kinds of data, such as structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data, as well as data modeling. Applicants should be able to choose the best data store based on availability and throughput needs and possess a thorough understanding of AWS storage solutions. Furthermore, it’s critical to manage the data lifecycle in a way that is safe, fault-tolerant, and economical.
To ensure metadata consistency, candidates should also know how to integrate AWS technologies like Lake Formation and Glue Crawlers. Designing storage plans that complement regulatory guidelines and company access patterns is also crucial.
3. Domain 3 of DEA-C01: Data Support and Operations (22%).
Candidates in this sector are assessed based on how well they can use AWS services for data analysis and how well they can automate data processing to preserve data quality. To help solve any operational issues, this entails installing monitoring and logging for data pipelines and using services like CloudTrail and CloudWatch.
Being familiar with AWS Glue DataBrew is also necessary because it is crucial for data transformation, verification, and cleansing in addition to data preparation and transformation. Additionally, it’s critical to comprehend how to use Amazon Athena for data validation and ad hoc querying. In order to guarantee consistent workflow execution, candidates should also be able to manage pipeline orchestration utilizing tools like Amazon MWAA and AWS Step Functions.
4. Domain 4 of DEA-C01: Data Governance and Security (18%)
The last domain focuses heavily on permission, compliance, and data security. It is necessary for candidates to understand the importance of security in an AWS architecture and to put strong security mechanisms in place for user access management through AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) as well as the VPC network infrastructure.
This entails being aware of the least privilege principle and, when appropriate, implementing role-based, attribute-based, and policy-based security controls. It’s also crucial to be proficient in encryption and to use the AWS Key Management Service (KMS) for both data encryption and decryption.
Exam Format For AWS DEA-C01 Exam
The new AWS Certified Data Engineer-Associate (DEA-C01) exam features only multiple-choice and multiple-response questions, adding to existing Associate-level AWS certifications.
Passing Score: A minimum score of 720 is required to pass.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Type | Multiple-choice and multiple-response questions |
| Hands-on Labs | None |
| Final Version Questions | 65 questions (50 scored, 15 unscored) |
| Scoring | Scale of 100-1,000 |
| Passing Score | A minimum score of 720 is required to pass |
| Guessing Penalty | There’s no penalty for guessing, so it’s recommended to answer every question |
You can visit the Coming Soon to AWS Certification website to learn the most recent details regarding this exam. You may then use that link to get the exam guide for the recently released DEA-C01 exam.
AWS DEA-C01 Exam Certification Path
For those who wish to study advanced Specialty themes but may not have any prior experience with data, the AWS Certified Data Engineer-Associate (DEA-C01) Exam is a good place to start. Conversely, this certification presents a fantastic opportunity for individuals already employed in data-related positions to further their understanding of AWS through the use of specialized services they are most likely already familiar with.
Although it was always feasible to acquire these skills without a formal certification, the introduction of a structured certification pathway encourages learners to work towards certification. It also motivates suppliers of training to close the skill gap by providing specialized instruction and resources. To become acquainted with the AWS certification and its offerings, you can also utilize the AWS Certification path.
Topics included in this exam
The DEA-C01 test guide provides a comprehensive overview of key tools, technologies, and exam domains. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of AWS services and features to focus on for the exam, though subject to change.
| Category | In-scope AWS Services and Features |
|---|---|
| Analytics | Amazon Athena, Amazon EMR, AWS Glue, AWS Glue DataBrew, AWS Lake Formation, Amazon Kinesis Data Analytics, Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose, Amazon Kinesis Data Streams, Amazon MSK, Amazon OpenSearch Service, Amazon QuickSight |
| Application Integration | Amazon AppFlow, Amazon EventBridge, Amazon MWAA, Amazon SNS, Amazon SQS, AWS Step Functions |
| Cloud Financial Management | AWS Budgets, AWS Cost Explorer |
| Compute | AWS Batch, Amazon EC2, AWS Lambda, AWS SAM |
| Containers | Amazon ECR, Amazon ECS, Amazon EKS |
| Database | Amazon DocumentDB, Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon Keyspaces, Amazon MemoryDB for Redis, Amazon Neptune, Amazon RDS, Amazon Redshift |
| Developer Tools | AWS CLI, AWS Cloud9, AWS CDK, AWS CodeBuild, AWS CodeCommit, AWS CodeDeploy, AWS CodePipeline |
| Frontend Web and Mobile | Amazon API Gateway |
| Machine Learning | Amazon SageMaker |
| Management and Governance | AWS CloudFormation, AWS CloudTrail, Amazon CloudWatch, Amazon CloudWatch Logs, AWS Config, Amazon Managed Grafana, AWS Systems Manager, AWS Well-Architected Tool |
| Migration and Transfer | AWS Application Discovery Service, AWS Application Migration Service, AWS DMS, AWS DataSync, AWS SCT, AWS Snow Family, AWS Transfer Family |
| Networking and Content Delivery | Amazon CloudFront, AWS PrivateLink, Amazon Route 53, Amazon VPC |
| Security, Identity, and Compliance | IAM, AWS KMS, Amazon Macie, AWS Secrets Manager, AWS Shield, AWS WAF |
| Storage | AWS Backup, Amazon EBS, Amazon EFS, Amazon S3, Amazon S3 Glacier |
Essential Resources for AWS DEA-C01 Exam
The following is a list of study materials you can refer to be ready for the AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate BETA exam:
Target Audience For the DEA-C01 Exam
At its core, this certification is meant for AWS Data Engineers. The name contains a hint.
- The global Big Data as a Service (BDaaS) market was valued at USD 36.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.2% from 2024 to 2032, reaching approximately USD 141.3 billion by 2032, according to Market Research Future. Another estimate projects the market to reach USD 186.1 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 30.9% from 2023, per Fortune Business Insights.
-
It is recommended that candidates have at least 1-2 years of hands-on experience (not mandatory) with AWS services, such as AWS Glue, Amazon Redshift, Amazon Athena, and AWS Lake Formation, and 2-3 years of experience in data engineering, including proficiency in data ingestion, transformation, modeling, security, and governance.
How Much Will You Make If You Pass the AWS DEA-C01 Exam Certification?
In the USA, the typical compensation for an AWS data engineer is approximately $141,900 per year, or $68.22 per hour. Salary variations may occur based on geography, experience, and skills.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate (DEA-C01) exam is designed to test your skills in designing, building, and maintaining data processing systems on the AWS platform. It covers domains such as data ingestion, management, support, operations, governance, and security. Preparation is key, and there are plenty of resources available to help you succeed. With the right study materials and hands-on practice, you can enhance your career opportunities in the field of data engineering. Passing the exam opens up possibilities for lucrative career paths in the growing field of big data services. Earning this certification demonstrates your expertise in the AWS ecosystem, making you a valuable asset to organizations adopting cloud-based data solutions. It also provides you with a competitive edge in the job market, especially in industries driven by data-driven decision-making.
Related Links/References
- AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate
- Registration is open for the AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate beta exam
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate SAA-C03 Exam
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional DOP-C02 Exam
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most credible AWS certifications for Data Engineering?
For data engineering on AWS, the most credible certifications are: AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty: Focuses on data lakes and analytics services like AWS Glue, Athena, and Redshift. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate: Provides foundational knowledge of AWS architecture, critical for designing scalable data systems. AWS Certified Database – Specialty: Specializes in AWS database services, including RDS, Redshift, and DynamoDB, for data engineers working with databases. These certifications help validate expertise in both data services and AWS architecture.
How can one become a certified AWS Data Engineer?
To become a certified AWS Data Engineer, start by mastering AWS products and services, including deployment, application, and foundation tools. Gain hands-on experience with small projects such as serverless web applications, real-time data processing, and customizable virtual assistants. Pursue relevant AWS certifications, from foundational to specialty levels, to validate your skills. Finally, prepare for interviews by demonstrating your collaboration, coding, and AWS knowledge. Following this path will position you for a successful career as an AWS Data Engineer.
What AWS positions are most in demand today?
The demand for AWS professionals is growing, with key roles including AWS Cloud Engineers, Data Engineers, Data Scientists, DevOps Engineers, Full-Stack Developers, Java Developers, and Front-End Developers. These positions require expertise in AWS tools and services, with a focus on cloud infrastructure, data analysis, automation, and application development. As cloud technologies evolve, staying adaptable is essential for success in these high-demand roles.
How should one prepare for an AWS Data Engineer interview?
To prepare for an AWS Data Engineer interview, research the company, understand its products, and align your goals with theirs. Highlight relevant achievements, focusing on how you used AWS technologies to solve problems. Be ready for technical questions on AWS services, instance types, and Lambda limitations, and practice problem-solving skills. Communicate your thought process clearly, even when addressing unfamiliar problems. Use mock interviews for practice, and stay confident and relaxed during the interview to showcase both your technical and interpersonal skills.
Next Task For You
Begin your journey toward becoming an AWS Data Engineer by clicking on the image below and joining the waitlist.
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