As enterprises accelerate their shift to the cloud, migrating complex systems like SAP has become a top priority. With AWS emerging as a leading platform for hosting mission-critical SAP workloads, there’s growing demand for professionals who can manage these transitions smoothly. That’s where the AWS Certified: SAP on AWS – Specialty (PAS-C01) exam comes in.
This certification is designed for individuals who have experience with SAP systems and AWS infrastructure, and want to validate their ability to design, migrate, and operate SAP workloads on the AWS platform. Whether you’re a cloud architect, SAP basis engineer, or enterprise consultant, this credential can help you stand out in a highly specialized field.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to prepare for and pass the PAS-C01 exam — from understanding the domains and exam format to identifying the best resources and building real-world hands-on experience. If you’re ready to take your SAP-on-cloud career to the next level, you’re in the right place.
Why This Certification Matters?
Migrating and managing SAP workloads in the cloud is one of the most complex — and valuable — transformations happening in enterprise IT today. These systems power core business functions like finance, supply chain, and manufacturing, and moving them to AWS demands deep expertise in both SAP architecture and cloud infrastructure.
The AWS Certified: SAP on AWS – Specialty certification validates exactly that. It’s not just about knowing AWS services — it’s about demonstrating that you can design secure, scalable, and cost-effective SAP environments on AWS, handle production-level deployments, and ensure high availability and compliance.
For professionals already working with SAP or AWS, this certification:
- Enhances your credibility with enterprise clients.
- Proves your ability to handle large-scale cloud migrations.
- Helps you transition into solution architect, SAP cloud consultant, or technical lead roles.
- Opens doors to niche, high-paying job opportunities.
In short, it’s a certification for those who want to lead SAP transformations, not just support them.
Exam Overview and Format
The AWS Certified: SAP on AWS – Specialty (PAS-C01) exam is built to assess your ability to manage all stages of SAP workload migration and operations on AWS — from initial planning and architecture to deployment, optimization, and monitoring.
It covers a wide range of topics, including SAP-certified infrastructure, data migration strategies, high availability configurations, and the use of AWS services like Launch Wizard, EC2, FSx for SAP, Systems Manager, and CloudWatch within SAP environments.
Key Exam Details
- Exam Code: PAS-C01
- Format: Multiple choice and multiple response questions
- Number of Questions: Around 65
- Time Limit: 170 minutes
- Passing Score: Scaled (minimum passing typically ~750/1000)
- Exam Cost: $300 USD
- Delivery Method: Pearson VUE testing center or online proctoring
This exam is rigorous, and it assumes you’re already familiar with both SAP technologies and AWS core services. But with the right preparation and hands-on experience, it’s a highly achievable and rewarding certification.
Key Domains Covered
The PAS-C01 exam is structured around four primary domains that reflect the end-to-end lifecycle of SAP workloads on AWS — from designing and deploying to optimizing and migrating complex systems. Understanding each domain is crucial to passing the exam, as the questions are deeply rooted in real-world architecture and operations.
1. SAP Workloads on AWS (30%)
This domain focuses on your understanding of how SAP systems operate on AWS infrastructure. You’ll need to know the types of AWS instances certified for SAP, including memory-optimized instances for HANA and other SAP databases. It also covers decisions around high availability, scalability, disaster recovery, and storage options — all tailored for SAP requirements. Understanding shared responsibility, compliance, and the AWS Well-Architected Framework for SAP workloads is critical here.
2. Design of SAP Workloads on AWS (24%)
In this section, your ability to design secure, reliable, and performance-optimized SAP systems on AWS is tested. You’ll be expected to architect solutions using services like Amazon EC2, EBS, FSx, and networking components like VPC and Direct Connect. This domain also covers decisions around SAP sizing, system replication, and integrating AWS native services with SAP workloads to improve agility, manageability, and cost-efficiency.
3. Implementation and Operations (26%)
Here, the focus is on deploying SAP solutions and managing ongoing operations. You’ll be tested on tools such as AWS Launch Wizard for SAP, Systems Manager for automation, and CloudWatch for performance monitoring. Backup strategies, patching, logging, and applying updates are also key areas. The goal is to ensure that you can support business continuity while operating SAP systems efficiently and securely.
4. Migration and Modernization (20%)
This domain evaluates your knowledge of migrating SAP workloads from on-premises or other clouds to AWS. You’ll be expected to know various migration strategies (lift-and-shift, rehost, replatform), planning methodologies, and tools like AWS Migration Hub, Application Discovery Service, and CloudEndure. The domain also emphasizes modernization — including moving from ECC to S/4HANA and aligning with SAP’s cloud-native vision using AWS services.
Together, these four domains ensure you’re tested not only on theory but on practical, real-world problem solving. Mastering them through structured study and hands-on labs is the most effective way to pass the PAS-C01 exam.
Preparation Strategy
Passing the AWS Certified SAP on AWS – Specialty (PAS-C01) exam requires more than just reading documentation — it demands a combination of real-world experience, structured study, and hands-on practice with AWS and SAP systems. Here’s how to approach your preparation strategically:
1. Understand the Prerequisites
Before diving into preparation, it’s important to assess your starting point. AWS recommends this exam for candidates with:
- 5+ years of SAP experience, including hands-on with SAP NetWeaver and SAP HANA.
- 1–2 years of AWS experience, especially with services relevant to enterprise workloads.
You don’t need to be an AWS Certified Solutions Architect beforehand, but familiarity with AWS core services (EC2, EBS, VPC, IAM) is essential.
2. Follow the Official Exam Guide
Start with the AWS PAS-C01 exam guide to understand the structure, domains, and sample questions. Use this as your reference to track progress and identify weak areas.
3. Use AWS Skill Builder Resources
AWS offers a dedicated SAP on AWS Specialty Learning Plan on AWS Skill Builder, which includes:
- Introduction to SAP on AWS
- Deep dives into deployment, migration, and operations
- Interactive learning modules and knowledge checks
These free and paid resources are designed specifically around the exam blueprint.
4. Study SAP on AWS Whitepapers and Blogs
AWS has published high-quality whitepapers and best practices guides tailored for SAP workloads. Prioritize the following:
- SAP on AWS Overview
- High Availability Guide for SAP
- Backup and Restore on AWS for SAP HANA
- SAP on AWS Operations Guide
Also, follow the SAP on AWS blog for recent architecture patterns and case studies.
5. Watch AWS re:Invent Sessions
Search for “SAP on AWS” sessions from past AWS re:Invent events. These sessions provide real-world use cases and advanced design considerations, directly aligned with exam topics.
6. Get Hands-On Practice
The PAS-C01 exam rewards practical experience. Set up a sandbox environment using the AWS Free Tier or a test account to:
- Use Launch Wizard for SAP to deploy test environments
- Practice configuring EC2, FSx, CloudWatch, and Systems Manager
- Simulate backup, restore, monitoring, and security controls
- Explore networking, IAM, and automation workflows tailored for SAP
7. Review with Practice Exams
You can:
- Use the sample questions from Skilr in the official exam guide to test comprehension.
- Use questions as a guide to research topics more deeply in documentation or whitepapers.
8. Suggested Study Timeline
| Experience Level | Suggested Duration |
|---|---|
| SAP + AWS experience | 4–6 weeks (10–12 hrs/week) |
| SAP-only background | 6–8 weeks with AWS training |
| AWS-only background | 8–10 weeks with SAP refreshers |
Consistent progress, hands-on application, and alignment with the exam blueprint are key. Don’t aim to memorize — aim to design, deploy, and troubleshoot just as you would in a real-world SAP-on-AWS environment.
Tips to Tackle the Exam
The PAS-C01 exam is scenario-driven and emphasizes real-world architecture and problem-solving, not rote memorization. To increase your chances of success, keep the following tips in mind:
1. Focus on Real-World Scenarios
The exam questions often present you with business use cases or infrastructure problems. Make sure you can evaluate which AWS services fit specific SAP requirements, such as high availability, disaster recovery, or storage performance for HANA databases.
2. Understand SAP Deployment Models
You must know the differences between deploying SAP HANA, S/4HANA, and NetWeaver on AWS. Be familiar with single-node, scale-out, and multi-AZ architectures, and how they relate to EC2 instance types and EBS performance.
3. Know the Purpose of Key AWS Services
While SAP-specific knowledge is important, many questions also test your ability to use AWS tools to manage SAP systems. Understand how to:
- Automate with AWS Systems Manager
- Monitor with CloudWatch
- Deploy using Launch Wizard
- Store with Amazon FSx for SAP and EBS
4. Prioritize High Availability and Backup Strategies
Expect multiple questions on disaster recovery, backup policies, and business continuity for SAP workloads. Study AWS backup options, snapshots, and regional replication in the context of mission-critical applications.
5. Think Like an Architect
You may be asked to choose the most cost-effective or scalable solution, not just one that “works.” Practice evaluating trade-offs between performance, cost, scalability, and complexity.
6. Read Questions Carefully
Many questions include distractors — answers that are technically correct but not optimal for the scenario. Pay close attention to phrasing like “most reliable,” “least operational overhead,” or “quickest path to migration.”
7. Time Management is Key
With around 65 questions in 170 minutes, you have enough time — but don’t linger. Flag long case-study questions and return to them after answering the quicker ones.
In short, approach the exam as if you’re advising an enterprise client. If you can explain the why behind your architectural choices, you’re on the right path.
Final Thoughts
The AWS Certified: SAP on AWS – Specialty (PAS-C01) exam is not just another cloud certification — it’s a credential that sits at the intersection of enterprise applications and modern cloud infrastructure. It validates your ability to handle large-scale, business-critical SAP workloads on AWS with precision and reliability.
Yes, the exam is challenging. But it’s also targeted and fair — if you’ve spent time working with SAP systems, understand AWS best practices, and apply what you learn through hands-on labs, you’ll be well-prepared. Beyond the credential itself, the knowledge you gain will directly enhance your value in real-world cloud migration projects.
If you’re serious about SAP transformation in the cloud, this certification will help you move from implementation support to technical leadership roles. It’s a mark of trust, expertise, and strategic capability — one that many enterprises are actively looking for.
Start small, study consistently, build labs, and keep your focus on architecture and business outcomes. That’s how you pass — and that’s how you grow.
