AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional: experience, the SAP-C03 change and training cost

By Alexander Shick · Updated November 5, 2026

The architect this exam assumes

AWS says SAP-C03 validates "advanced technical skills and experience designing optimized AWS solutions that are based on the AWS Well-Architected Framework." The guide pictures someone who gives design guidance across several applications and projects in a complex organization, including serverless and AI-integrated designs spread over many accounts. Operating system depth, model training, security forensics and application coding are out of scope.

Requirements and the SAP-C03 exam

Eligibility: AWS lists no prerequisite, so you can book without the Associate. Recommended experience: 2 or more years using AWS services to design and implement cloud solutions. Training providers set their own course prerequisites; New Horizons, for example, asks for any one of: the Associate; core-service experience plus its Architecting on AWS course; or a year operating AWS workloads.

Version: the last day for SAP-C02 is November 16, 2026, and SAP-C03 starts on November 17. With AWS's 14-day wait between attempts, a failed SAP-C02 attempt now means retaking on SAP-C03. Format: 75 multiple-choice and multiple-response questions in 180 minutes, 65 of them scored; 720 out of 1,000 passes on the overall score. Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Simplified Chinese and Spanish (Latin America).

AWS's comparison lists what moved. New material covers generative AI integrations and agent designs on Amazon Bedrock, retrieval-augmented generation, lakehouse and analytics pipelines, IPv6 migration and post-quantum key management in AWS KMS. AWS IoT services, Amazon WorkSpaces and AppStream 2.0, and media services leave the in-scope list. Study material built for SAP-C02 misses the additions.

How to prepare for SAP-C03

• AWS Skill Builder, free. The new SAP-C03 Exam Prep Plan runs 16 hours and includes the Official Practice Question Set; the 43-hour AWS Solutions Architect Advanced Learning Plan includes labs, which may need the $29 monthly subscription; AWS's page does not say. AWS's short exam prep link still opens the retiring SAP-C02 plan, so pick the SAP-C03 one.
• Multi-account practice. Set up AWS Organizations, cross-account roles and a Transit Gateway in a sandbox. The exam is long scenario reading, and that comes faster when you have built the pieces.
• Independent practice exams. Tutorials Dojo sells 300 questions in 75-question sets at $14.99 list. Its page announces SAP-C03 but describes SAP-C02 content, so ask about updates before you buy.
• Advanced Architecting on AWS. AWS's official three-day advanced course, run by AWS and its training partners and available with AWS Jam. AWS lists no Professional-level exam prep classroom course. Suited to architects who learn well from scenario discussion, or whose employer funds training.

SA Professional preparation prices

Costs people miss: each retake is another $300, with a 14-day wait. Skill Builder items marked Subscription need the $29 monthly plan. Multi-account practice leaves billable resources running if you forget them, so tear them down after each session.

Questions for an Advanced Architecting provider

• Is the class updated for SAP-C03? No listing in the table names SAP-C03. Ask whether the course covers Bedrock integration and the other additions.
• Is the $300 voucher included? New Horizons sells it as a $300 add-on; Global Knowledge and Learning Tree do not state one.
• What follows the class? Learning Tree lists after-course instructor coaching. Ask the others what support or lab time continues after day three.
• Will the date run? Global Knowledge marks some dates guaranteed to run; ask about the date you want.

Keeping SA Professional current

The certification is valid for 3 years. Renew by passing the latest version of the exam, with the 50% discount voucher from your AWS Certification Account, or through AWS's maintenance route on Skill Builder, which adds 1 year and needs a paid subscription. Passing the Professional exam also renews Solutions Architect Associate.

For architecture teams

A team lead can cover most of the content with the free plan and a shared sandbox organization, then fund the three-day class only for people who want instructor-led scenario work. The Professional exam fee is double the Associate's, so time attempts for when people are ready.

SAP-C03 questions

Can I still take SAP-C02?

Only through November 16, 2026. From November 17 the exam is SAP-C03.

Do I need the Associate first?

AWS does not require it; it recommends 2 or more years of design experience on AWS.

How much does it cost?

$300 in the US as of November 2026, and a retake costs the same.

What score passes?

720 on a scale of 100 to 1,000.

Next step

Send your AWS design experience and exam date, and we will suggest a SAP-C03 plan and any class worth funding.

Ask for help choosing AWS Solutions Architect Professional training