AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate Exam DEA-C01

Summary

In this video, Neil Davis and Brook Seahorn from Digital Cloud Training discuss the new AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate certification, set for release in spring 2024. They share their experiences with the beta exam, emphasizing its difficulty and the deep understanding of AWS services like Glue, Athena, and Redshift required. Viewers are advised to have a strong grasp of SQL and data engineering concepts, and cautioned about the potential disparity between early training materials and the actual exam content.

Takeaways

• 📅 The AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate exam is in beta and is set to be officially released in spring 2024.
• 🎓 The exam is challenging and requires a solid understanding of data engineering principles and AWS services.
• 🕵️‍♂️ It is recommended to have practical experience as a data engineer or at least some familiarity with the role.
• ⏱ The beta exam consists of 85 questions and lasts for 170 minutes, which many found to be a tight schedule.
• 🔒 The beta exam results will be released 90 days after its closure on January 12th, 2024, with the earliest possible date being April 11th, 2024.
• 📝 There is a significant focus on AWS core services, especially around data pipelines, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
• 🛠️ Practical knowledge of services like Glue, Athena, and Redshift is crucial, including how to build catalogs and set up schemas.
• 🔄 The exam tests knowledge of ETL operations and various AWS data-related services, emphasizing their integration and application.
• 📚 It is suggested to complete the Solutions Architect Associate exam first due to overlapping content and foundational requirements.
• 📉 The retirement of the AWS Data Analytics Specialty certification indicates a shift towards a more specialized focus on data engineering.
• ⚠️ Be cautious with early training courses as they may not align perfectly with the final exam requirements once officially released.

Q & A

What is the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate certification?

The AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate is an associate-level certification by AWS that focuses on data engineering skills and knowledge. It is currently in beta and is due to be released in the spring of 2024.

What is the difficulty level of the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate beta exam according to the speakers?

Both speakers found the beta exam to be more challenging than anticipated, emphasizing that it is not an easy certification and requires a solid understanding of data engineering concepts and AWS services.

How much time is allotted for the beta exam of AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate?

The beta exam consists of 85 questions and candidates are given 170 minutes to complete it.

When did the beta exam for AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate start and when will it officially close?

The beta exam started on November 27th, 2023, and it will officially close on the 12th of January 2024.

What is the expected format of the final AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate exam?

The final exam is expected to have 65 questions and will likely be a more streamlined version of the beta exam, with a release date planned for April 2024.

How long does it take to receive the results after taking the beta exam?

Results for the beta exam will be available 90 days after the exam closes, which means candidates can expect to find out their results around April 11th, 2024.

What is the background of Neil Davis and how did he find the exam?

Neil Davis comes from a Solutions Architect background and found the exam to be very challenging, particularly due to the data engineering-specific questions and the need for practical knowledge of services like Glue, Athena, and Redshift.

What is one of the key services that the exam focuses on, according to the speakers?

The speakers highlight that AWS Glue is one of the key services that the exam focuses on, along with Athena and Redshift, indicating the importance of having in-depth knowledge of these services.

What advice do the speakers give for individuals looking to prepare for the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate exam?

The speakers suggest taking the Solutions Architect Associate exam first as a minimum, due to the overlap in content, and possibly the Developer and SysOps exams for additional context. They also caution against relying solely on early training courses that may not align with the final exam requirements.

What is the significance of the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate exam in relation to the retired AWS Data Analytics Specialty certification?

The AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate exam is seen as a replacement for the retired AWS Data Analytics Specialty certification, indicating a shift in focus towards data engineering and a more specialized skill set.

What is the general consensus between the speakers regarding the difficulty of the exam compared to other AWS associate-level certifications?

Both speakers agree that the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate exam is notably more difficult than other associate-level certifications, suggesting it may require a level of knowledge more akin to a specialty certification.