Have you been considering the AWS SysOps Administrator certification and are still unsure which exam to take? There is an honest debate between SOA-C02 and SOA-C03, and the difference really matters. The outgoing SOA-C02 remains quite traditional, while the new SOA-C03 introduces changes to current AWS Services, new questions, and formats that simulate an individual’s skills.
In 2026, AWS certifications are taking new heights, and with the latest update of the AWS SysOps Administrator certification, the career path may be promising. Whether you choose SysOps Engineer or CloudOps Engineer, you will land numerous career-advancing opportunities. To help you decide which one to choose, let’s compare these two versions and determine the best way to obtain the AWS badge.
➤ Rise Of AWS SysOps Certification Over The Years
One notable trend emerging from research on the job market in the IT field is that professionals with the AWS SysOps certification are in the best position, with demand for such professionals continuing to increase. According to a Flexera survey, 94% of companies are using the cloud, with the percentage of companies planning to transfer more of their workloads into the cloud rising from 44% in 2023 to 58% by 2026.
The analysis also reveals that Amazon Web Services’ position at the top of the global cloud market remains unchanged, with a market share of approximately 31%. Having an AWS Certified SysOps Administrator certification will be a significant step towards securing a role in one of the most popular cloud ecosystems.
Delve into the details to know about a career in AWS: A Complete Breakdown Of AWS Certification Salary In The Current Year
➤ What Is AWS SysOps Certification❓
The AWS SysOps Certification indicates an individual’s capability to run, manage, and operate the workloads within AWS. In general, it showcases the skills required for managing and maintaining AWS systems, implementing security, responding to incidents, ensuring business continuity, and optimizing cloud environment costs and performance for AWS. This credential will undoubtedly serve as a stepping stone for cloud professionals seeking to secure positions such as AWS SysOps Administrator, Cloud Support Engineer, or DevOps Engineer.
Get Insights on how to ace the SysOps exam: Mastering the AWS SysOps Administrator Certification: Tips and Insights
➤ What Is AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer - Associate?
The AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer (SOA-C03) is the new version of the AWS SysOps Certification (SOA-C02). This certification will assess an individual’s expertise in implementing, handling, and managing work or tasks within AWS. Among other things, this certification demonstrates proficiency in current cloud operations, including automation, container services, multi-account management, and infrastructure-as-code.
The new version signifies the ability of an individual to monitor, maintain, and optimize business continuity for AWS infrastructure.
To know more about AWS Certifications, explore: AWS Certifications Roadmap- Accelerate Your Cloud Career
➤ How Does SOA-C02 Differ From SOA-C03?
While there are no certain changes between SOA-C02 and SOA-C03, except for the exam name and exam format. The AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate marks a lineup of technological advances that require more comprehensive solutions covering various areas of modern cloud practices, such as containerization (Amazon ECS/EKS) and advanced infrastructure as code (IaC), when compared to the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate. The domains of the new SOA-C03 exam have been combined, and some areas have been consolidated, with more emphasis on combined areas such as monitoring, logging, analysis, and remediation.
➯SOA-C02 vs SOA-C03: Exam Details
When it comes to exam details for both exams, there are no significant changes. The exam format of the SOA-C03 is similar to the SOA-C02 exam. However, the details are explained below;
➡️ SOA-C02
- The SOA-C02 exam consists of 65 questions that are either multiple-choice or multiple-response, and an exam lab which consists of various tasks.
- Among the 65 questions, 50 are scored, while the remaining 15 are unscored.
- The exam should be completed within 130 minutes.
- The passing score is 720 on a scale of 1000.
- The SOA-C02 exam is offered in English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese.
- The testing provider for this exam is Pearson VUE testing center or an online proctored exam.
- The cost of the SOA-C02 exam is USD 150.
➡️ SOA-C03
- The SOA-C03 exam consists of 65 questions, of which 50 are scored, while the remaining 15 are unscored. These are either multiple-choice or multiple-response.
- The exam should be completed within 130 minutes.
- The passing score is 720 on a scale of 1000.
- The SOA-C03 exam is offered in English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese.
- The testing provider for this exam is Pearson VUE testing center or an online proctored exam.
- The cost of the SOA-C03 exam is USD 150.
➯SOA-C02 vs SOA-C03: Exam Domains
➡️ SOA-C02
The SOA-C02 exam is based on six domains that are as follows;
- Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation (20% of scored content)
- Reliability and Business Continuity (16% of scored content)
- Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation (18% of scored content)
- Security and Compliance (16% of scored content)
- Networking and Content Delivery (18% of scored content)
- Cost and Performance Optimization (12% of scored content)
➡️ SOA-C03
The SOA-C03 exam comprises five domains that are listed below;
- Monitoring, Logging, Analysis, Remediation, and Performance Optimization (22% of scored content)
- Reliability and Business Continuity (22% of scored content)
- Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation (22% of scored content)
- Security and Compliance (16% of scored content)
- Networking and Content Delivery (18% of scored content)
Get insights on acing the AWS exam: Is AWS Certificate Hard to Pass? Get Deep Insights
➤ What's New In The AWS SysOps Exam?
The AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate (SOA-C03) has replaced the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate exam (SOA-C02), effective September 30, 2025. The updated exam expands its coverage to encompass contemporary cloud functions, including containers (ECS, EKS, ECR), infrastructure as code (IaC), and architectures. The exam format consists of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. However, the exam lab component, which was previously included, has been removed.
➤ SOA-C02 vs SOA C03: One-On-One Comparison
Exam Name | AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate | AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate |
Exam Code | SOA-C02 | SOA-C03 |
Focus Point | Validation of the ability to manage and operate workflow in the AWS ecosystem by performing various tasks that may include: automation, implementation, securing, and monitoring the systems | Validation of expertise in deploying, monitoring, and automating workloads in a secure and scalable manner. |
No. of Domains | SOA-C02 consists of six domains. | SOA-C03 consists of five domains. |
Cost Of Exam | USD 150 | USD 150 |
Exam Format | Multiple Choice, Multiple Response, and Exam Labs | Multiple Choice and Multiple Response |
Target Audience Requirements | One year of experience in deployment, management, networking, and security on AWS. | One year of experience in deployment, management, troubleshooting, networking, and security on AWS. One year of experience in operations roles, such as a system administrator. |
➤ Conclusion
Both exams are similar in terms of their primary focus and exam format, except for some slight changes. Since the latest version is SOA-C03, candidates are preferred to certify themselves within the AWS CloudOps Associate. While no content was removed from SOA-C02, the SOA-C03 exam is more detailed in terms of advanced topics, with updated exam objectives, and is focused on automation and has complex architecture.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) 💭
Is the AWS SysOps Certification expired?
The AWS SysOps certification is retired and has now been replaced by the new AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer.
What is the cost of the AWS CloudOps Engineer Exam?
The cost of the AWS CloudOps Engineer certification exam is USD 150. The cost may vary depending on the country and the currencies.
What is the main difference between SOA-C02 and SOA-C03?
There are no significant changes within the SOA-C02 and SOA-C03 exams, except that the SOA-C03 exam does not have ExamLab, and they are more focused.
What is the exam format for the SOA-C03 exam?
The SOA-C03 exam consists of 65 questions that can be either multiple-choice or multiple-response.
Article Sources
- Info.flexera. “Flexera 2025 State of the Cloud Report, https://info.flexera.com/CM-REPORT-State-of-the-Cloud.” Accessed in September 2025.
