Having a certification is more than just a title. For me, it was a way to validate what I’ve been learning and applying over time. It was also a personal challenge—to prove to myself that I could take on one of the toughest AWS certifications, like passing my AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional in 2025, and come out stronger on the other side. Earning it boosted my confidence and opened new career opportunities, reinforcing the value of my hard work and dedication.

My Preparation Journey

• Study Guide eBook for the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional (DOP-C02)
  •  My preparation started with this study guide. This 390+ page guide gave me a deep dive into AWS services, covering core concepts, cheat sheets, and tips for tricky scenario questions. It was like a map for navigating the vast AWS landscape, helping me understand how services like ECS, CodeBuild, CodePipeline, CloudFormation, and other services fit together.
• I heavily used the Tutorials Dojo AWS Certified DevOps Professional Practice Exams. These were a game-changer. I switched between the different test modes depending on what I needed to focus on. This exam comes with several modes:

  • Review Mode: After answering a question, you’ll immediately see whether you got it right or wrong. Each question includes a brief explanation, a visual guide, and rationales of why the other options are incorrect. It also provides references and a cheat sheet for more information. This way, you can thoroughly understand the question and the related AWS services.

  • Timed Mode: This simulates the real exam environment.

  • Section-Based Mode: helped me focus on specific topics that include SDLC Automation, Configuration Management and IaC, Resilient Cloud Solutions, Monitoring and Logging, Incident and Event Response and Security and Compliance. 

  • Final Test Mode: Final Test Mode gave me a feel for the real exam with a complete 75-question set.
• Tutorials Dojo Cheat Sheet 

  • These summaries organize key AWS concepts, features, and service limits in a clear and simple format. They’re useful for quickly reviewing topics and are an excellent tool for reinforcing knowledge, especially during last-minute prep. This helped me understand the concepts more clearly and connect them to AWS services.

• AWS SkillBuilder

  • They provide an official set of practice questions for the DevOps Engineer Professional exam. It was helpful to see how AWS structures its questions and reinforced what I had studied.

Topics I Encountered During the Exam

Here are some of the topics that came up frequently during my exam:

• AWS CodePipeline – End-to-end CI/CD workflows and integration with other services

• AWS CodeDeploy – Deployment strategies, rollback, and lifecycle event hooks



• AWS CloudFormation – Stack sets, nested stacks, change sets, and drift detection

• Amazon CloudWatch – Alarms, custom metrics, subscription filter, CloudWatch dashboards, and centralized logging

• AWS Systems Manager – Automation documents, Patch Manager, and Session Manager

• Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling – Scaling strategies and how to optimize based on policies

• IAM and Security – Permission boundaries, trust policies, and roles

• Monitoring and Logging – Using X-Ray, CloudWatch Logs, and real-time insights

• Incident Response and Troubleshooting – Real-world scenarios involving error handling, retry logic, and automation recovery

• AWS CodeConnections – Setting up secure and scalable connections between source repositories and CodePipeline

• AWS Fault Injection Service – Performing chaos engineering experiments to test system resilience and recoverability

How I Approached Exam Prep: Tips That Helped Me Succeed

Here are some practical strategies I followed during my preparation:

• Start with Review Mode: This helps you understand the explanations right after answering each question. Take notes on your weak areas.

• Rotate Between Modes: Use Timed Mode to simulate the real exam and build your pace. Use Review Mode to reinforce weak spots.

• Drill Into Specific Topics: Section-based mode lets me hone in on automated deployments, resilience strategies, and security hardening without distractions.

• Use the Cheat Sheets: Seriously, don’t sleep on these. They’re fantastic for last-minute review or connecting dots when a topic feels fuzzy.

• Sleep Smart: I knew I had a late-night exam, so I shifted my sleep schedule the day before. Ate early, napped, and woke up sharp.

• Prep Your Space: I ensured my testing area was clean, quiet, and followed all Pearson VUE rules. No last-minute stress.

• Trust the Process: By exam day, I’d worked through so many questions and explanations that I could spot AWS trick questions from a mile away.

• Manifest and Claim It: Every night before the exam, I visualized passing. I spoke it out loud—“I am an AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Passed 2025.”, “AWS DOP PASSED 2025”. It may sound cheesy, but declaring it helped shift my mindset from “I hope I pass” to “I’ve already got this.” I wasn’t just preparing—I was stepping into the version of me who already succeeded.

What the Exam Day Was Like

I booked my exam at midnight through Pearson VUE online. I checked in at 11:30 PM for identity and environment verification. The proctor asked me to show my ID and scan my surroundings to ensure I was alone. Since midnight is usually my bedtime, I adjusted my schedule the night before—I had dinner early, then slept and woke up just in time for the exam. This helped me stay focused during the 3-hour session.

The DOP-C02 exam was as challenging as expected. It tested real-world DevOps thinking: automating deployments, troubleshooting, and optimizing performance. Some questions felt just like those in the Tutorials Dojo practice exams, which boosted my confidence. Others required deep reading and catching subtle hints. Time pressure was real, but all my Timed Mode practice paid off. I paced myself and finished with a few minutes to spare.

After submitting, the screen didn’t show the result right away. Later that night, I received an email after 16 hours—I passed and met the certification requirements. I felt drained but incredibly relieved and proud. All the sleepless nights paid off.

Final Remarks 

If you’re planning to take the DOP-C02 exam, take your time and focus on understanding how AWS services work together. Use practice exams not just to check your score, but to learn from each question. Make a study routine that fits your day, and don’t be afraid to adjust it. Everyone learns differently. What worked for me may not work for everyone, but staying consistent helped a lot.

The exam is challenging, but manageable with the right tools and mindset. Learn at your own pace, ask questions, and make use of the AWS community. Cheers to more AWS certifications ahead.