The short version
If you fail SAP-C03, AWS makes you wait 14 calendar days and pay the full fee again, with no cap on attempts. A passed Professional credential is valid for three years, and you renew by passing the latest version or by maintaining it through AWS Skill Builder. AWS does not publish what happens after a credential lapses on the pages we checked, so we do not guess.
Retake rules
These come from AWS’s testing policies, checked on October 22, 2026.
- Waiting period: 14 calendar days after a failed attempt. Count calendar days, not business days.
- Attempt limit: none. You pay the full registration fee every time.
- After a pass: you cannot take the same exam again for two years. If the exam gets a new exam guide and a new series code, you can take the new version.
- Missed appointment: you forfeit the fee and must wait 24 hours after the missed time before you register again.
- Results: posted to your AWS Certification Account, typically within five business days after the exam closes. Your score report sits under Exam History.
AWS reports scaled scores, not raw question counts. The SAP-C03 exam guide, published October 27, 2026, states a minimum passing score of 720. AWS’s general policy page still lists 750 for Professional exams; the exam guide is specific to SAP-C03, so we use 720.
Using the 14 days well
Two weeks is enough to fix a few weak domains, not to start over. A sensible way to spend it:
- Download your score report and note which domains came out weak.
- Spend the first week on those domains only. Re-read the vendor documentation for the services you mixed up.
- Use the second week for full-length timed practice, then book the new date.
Do not book the retake for day 14 out of impatience. Book it for the day your practice scores are steady, even if that is a few days later. For a general method, see how to study for IT certification exams.
How long the credential lasts
AWS lists the Solutions Architect Professional credential as valid for 3 years. The recertification page says renewal adds 3 more years, and that time is counted from the date you complete the action. Your certification must still be active when you renew.
Two ways to renew a Professional credential
For Solutions Architect Professional, AWS lists two options:
- Pass the latest version of the exam. This also adds three years from the exam date. Many exams can be taken with a 50% discount voucher from your AWS Certification Account. Check your account to see whether you have one.
- Maintain through AWS Skill Builder. This adds 1 year, not 3. You need an active Skill Builder subscription, and your certification must be within 90 days of expiring.
The two paths are not equal. Maintenance buys you a year of time, while a pass buys you three and proves you know the current version.
SAP-C02 and SAP-C03: what changes
AWS is replacing SAP-C02 with SAP-C03. The dates published by AWS:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 27, 2026 | Registration opens for SAP-C03, and AWS publishes the exam guide |
| November 16, 2026 | Last day to take SAP-C02 |
| November 17, 2026 | SAP-C03 delivery begins |
AWS says that if you already hold SAP-C02 or take it by November 16, your credential stays active through its original expiration date. AWS does not say that you must switch. Whether you renew later with SAP-C03 is your choice at that time.
A short timeline example
Imagine you pass on December 10, 2026. Your credential would run to December 2029 (three years). You cannot sit the same exam again until December 2028. In the last 90 days before expiry you could choose maintenance through Skill Builder for one more year, or pass whatever the latest version is then. This is an illustration of the published rules, not a promise about your own account, so confirm dates in your AWS Certification Account.
What AWS does not publish
- What happens to your credential and badge after it lapses. The pages we checked do not say.
- Whether a lapsed holder can still renew. Ask AWS Training and Certification support.
- Any SAP-C03 beta. AWS does not mention one.
FAQ
Can I retake SAP-C03 the next day?
No. AWS requires 14 calendar days after a failed attempt.
Is there a limit on retakes?
AWS lists no limit, but each attempt costs the full fee.
Does SAP-C02 expire when SAP-C03 launches?
AWS says a SAP-C02 credential stays active through its original expiration date.
More guides for SAP-C03
- SAP-C03 Study Plan: 4 and 8 Week Schedules
- SAP-C03 Domains Explained With Examples
- SAP-C03 Sample Questions With Answers
- Is the SAP-C03 Exam Hard? An Honest Look
- SAP-C03 Prerequisites and Skills Check
- Is SAP-C03 Worth It? An Honest Look
- SAP-C03 Cheat Sheet: Key Facts to Review
- DVA-C03 vs SAP-C03: Which AWS Exam First?
Next step
For the numbers on the exam itself, see SAP-C03 exam format and the SAP-C03 overview. When you want timed practice before a retake, the SAP-C03 practice exams are ready.