DVA-C02 Is Retiring November 30, 2026 — Should You Take It Now or Wait for DVA-C03?
AWS just announced DVA-C03, the updated AWS Developer Associate exam launching December 1, 2026. DVA-C02 retires November 30. Here's exactly what's changing, what's staying the same, and the decision rule for which version to take.
AWS Training and Certification announced this week that the AWS Certified Developer – Associate exam is being updated from DVA-C02 to DVA-C03. If you are currently studying for the Developer Associate — or deciding whether to pursue it — here is everything you need to know right now.
The short version: DVA-C02 retires November 30, 2026. DVA-C03 launches December 1, 2026. If you are already deep into DVA-C02 prep, you have nearly three months to sit the current exam. If you are just starting, the new version will be ready before the holiday break.
The Timeline, Clearly
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 7, 2026 | AWS announces DVA-C03 (today) |
| October 27, 2026 | DVA-C03 registration opens; official exam guide published |
| November 30, 2026 | DVA-C02 retires — last day to sit current version |
| December 1, 2026 | DVA-C03 general availability |
You have 84 days from today to take DVA-C02 if that's your plan.
What Is Actually Changing in DVA-C03
AWS's official statement: "Today's developers don't just write application code. They use AI-assisted development tools to generate, review, and optimize code; integrate managed AI services into applications; and secure AI agent interactions."
In practice, DVA-C03 adds AI-assisted development as a core tested competency. This means:
- Using Amazon Q Developer (AWS's AI coding assistant) to generate, explain, and refactor code
- Integrating Amazon Bedrock managed models into developer applications — API calls, prompt construction, streaming responses
- Building and securing AI agent workflows using Bedrock Agents and related services
- Understanding how AI tools fit into CI/CD pipelines alongside existing automation
What is not changing: the core service coverage that defines the Developer Associate. Lambda, DynamoDB, SQS, SNS, API Gateway, S3, IAM, CloudFormation, CodePipeline, CodeDeploy, CodeBuild, X-Ray, Cognito, ECS — all of these remain fully covered in DVA-C03. AWS is expanding the blueprint, not replacing it.
If you passed DVA-C02 six months ago, you already know 85–90% of the DVA-C03 content. The AI addition is new material on top of the same foundation.
Does This Affect Your Existing DVA-C02 Certification?
No. If you already hold the AWS Certified Developer – Associate credential earned on DVA-C02, your certification is valid for three years from your exam date. AWS does not invalidate credentials when a new exam version launches. When your three-year recertification window opens, you would renew by taking the then-current version — which will be DVA-C03 — but that is standard recertification, not an invalidation.
Your LinkedIn badge, your AWS certification account, and your resume line all read "AWS Certified Developer – Associate." That does not change.
The Decision: DVA-C02 Now, or Wait for DVA-C03?
Apply this rule:
Take DVA-C02 before November 30 if:
- You are already 60% or more prepared — you have completed a course, reviewed the exam guide, and are starting practice tests
- You can schedule a date within the next 8–10 weeks
- You have studied Lambda, DynamoDB, SQS/SNS, API Gateway, and CI/CD deeply and do not want to add a new AI domain to an already-full preparation plan
Wait for DVA-C03 if:
- You are starting fresh and have not yet begun systematic study
- You plan to take the exam in December 2026 or later
- You are already using Amazon Q Developer or Bedrock in your work and the new content plays to your strengths
The market value of the credential is the same either way. "AWS Certified Developer – Associate" on a résumé reads identically whether you took DVA-C02 or DVA-C03. No employer checks which version number you sat.
The Practical Checklist
- Decide: can you be ready for DVA-C02 by mid-to-late November? If yes, book the exam now — slots fill quickly as a retirement deadline approaches.
- If waiting for DVA-C03: bookmark the AWS Training and Certification Blog and check back on October 27, 2026 for the official DVA-C03 exam guide.
- Work through the free DVA-C02 practice questions, then take the 10-minute diagnostic to see which domains need the most work before you schedule either version.
What About CertCoach?
CertCoach's Developer Associate practice set is fully aligned to the current DVA-C02 blueprint. If you are targeting the November 30 deadline, the material is ready now — start with the free 10-question diagnostic to see where you stand.
We will update the practice content to cover DVA-C03's AI domain ahead of the December 1 GA date. Watch this space.
The Bigger Picture: AI Is Entering Every AWS Exam
DVA-C03 is part of a broader 2026 pattern. AWS is also updating:
- MLA-C02 (Machine Learning Engineer – Associate) — MLA-C01 retires September 28, 2026 (just three weeks from today). The update adds generative AI, agentic AI, and foundation model operationalization. If you are an MLA-C01 candidate, you have three weeks. Schedule immediately.
- SAP-C03 (Solutions Architect – Professional) — Launches November 17, 2026. Adds generative AI architectures, post-quantum cryptography, and resilience-as-a-service patterns.
The pattern: AWS is inserting AI content into every existing certification path rather than siloing it in AIF-C01 alone. If you are planning a multi-cert roadmap, expect AI topics to appear across all future exam versions.
For the Developer Associate specifically, the addition is practical and well-scoped: the exam will test whether you can use AI tools as a developer (Q Developer, Bedrock API, agent orchestration) — not whether you can train models or design neural architectures. That distinction keeps it squarely in the Developer Associate's existing "how do I build applications on AWS" framing.
Check the AWS certification path guide if you are mapping out what to pursue after the Developer Associate, or see the DVA-C02 launch post for a full breakdown of the current exam blueprint.