Comparisons
CLF-C02 vs SAA-C03: Cloud Practitioner or Solutions Architect first?
Updated · 6 min read
CLF-C02 (AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner) and SAA-C03 (AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate) are the two AWS exams people compare most. One teaches you the language of AWS, the other checks that you can design with it. This guide sets them side by side using AWS's published exam guides, so you can decide where to start.
The short answer
- Start with CLF-C02 if you are new to cloud or AWS, or work in a non-technical role around cloud teams.
- Go straight to SAA-C03 if you already design or run systems and can spend time building on AWS.
- Neither requires the other. CLF-C02 is a stepping stone, not a prerequisite.
CLF-C02 and SAA-C03 side by side
| CLF-C02 | SAA-C03 | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Foundational | Associate |
| Aimed at | Anyone new to AWS, including non-technical roles; up to 6 months of AWS exposure | People who design solutions on AWS; at least 1 year of hands-on experience designing cloud solutions |
| Questions | 65 (50 scored, 15 unscored) | 65 (50 scored, 15 unscored) |
| Time | 90 minutes | 130 minutes |
| Question types | Multiple choice and multiple response | Multiple choice and multiple response |
| Passing score | 700 (scale 100–1,000) | 720 (scale 100–1,000) |
| Exam fee (AWS lists) | 100 USD | 150 USD |
| Certification valid for | See AWS's exam page | 3 years |
Fees vary by country and can change. Check AWS's pages for the Cloud Practitioner exam and the Solutions Architect Associate exam before you book.
What each exam covers
CLF-C02: knowing what AWS offers
The CLF-C02 exam guide has four domains: Cloud Concepts (24%), Security and Compliance (30%), Cloud Technology and Services (34%) and Billing, Pricing, and Support (12%). You explain the value of the cloud, the shared responsibility model, security best practices, pricing and support options, and you match core services to common uses. AWS lists coding, cloud architecture design, troubleshooting and implementation as out of scope. See our CLF-C02 study guide.
SAA-C03: designing on AWS
The SAA-C03 exam guide is built around design, with four domains: Design Secure Architectures (30%), Design Resilient Architectures (26%), Design High-Performing Architectures (24%) and Design Cost-Optimized Architectures (20%). Questions describe a situation with requirements and constraints, and you choose the best architecture. Knowing service names is not enough: you must understand how they trade off against each other.
Where they overlap
Both exams use the same building blocks: IAM, S3, EC2, VPC, databases, load balancing and monitoring, plus the shared responsibility model and the AWS Well-Architected pillars. CLF-C02 asks what each service is for. SAA-C03 asks which one to use, and why, when several would work. Time spent on CLF-C02 is therefore not wasted if you plan to continue: it gives you the vocabulary SAA-C03 assumes.
Which one should you take first?
Choose CLF-C02 first if…
- You are new to AWS or the cloud, or you work in sales, management, finance or support alongside cloud teams.
- You want a lower-stakes first exam and a clear overview before going deeper.
- You expect to study in short sessions over two to four weeks.
Choose SAA-C03 first if…
- You already design or operate systems, on AWS or another cloud, and can learn the AWS equivalents.
- You want a certification that matches an architect or engineer role.
- You can build and break things in an AWS account while you study.
Do both if…
You are starting out but aiming for a technical role. A short CLF-C02 pass gives you the vocabulary and some momentum, and you can then put your longer study time into SAA-C03.
How to prepare for each
For CLF-C02, practice questions and a timed run-through, alongside AWS training material, are usually enough. For SAA-C03, add hands-on work and practise reading a scenario for its requirements: cost, availability, security, performance. Then use practice questions to find the gaps and read every explanation, especially for the answers that looked plausible but were wrong.
ExamCup has free questions with answers and written explanations for both exams, and a timed practice exam with full access:
See what is included and how to use practice questions without memorising.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need CLF-C02 before SAA-C03?
No. AWS does not require it. For SAA-C03, AWS recommends at least a year of hands-on experience designing cloud solutions on AWS, and says candidates with no IT experience should first earn the Cloud Practitioner certification.
Is SAA-C03 harder than CLF-C02?
Yes. CLF-C02 asks you to recognise services and concepts. SAA-C03 gives you scenarios and asks you to choose the design that is secure, resilient, high-performing and cost-optimised, which takes real understanding of how services fit together. It also runs for 130 minutes against 90.
Can I skip CLF-C02 if I work in IT?
Often, yes. If you already design or run systems, SAA-C03 may suit you better, as long as you add hands-on AWS practice. Check the exam guide against what you know today.
Is the passing score the same?
No. CLF-C02 needs 700 and SAA-C03 needs 720, both on a scale of 100 to 1,000. Both use compensatory scoring, so you only need to pass the exam overall, not each section.
Is there a penalty for guessing?
Neither exam penalises guessing. Unanswered questions are scored as incorrect, so answer every question.
ExamCup is not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon Web Services. Exam names and codes are trademarks of their owners. Exam formats, domains, weights, passing scores, fees and validity are taken from AWS's published CLF-C02 and SAA-C03 exam guides and exam pages, checked on November 4, 2026, and may have changed since.
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