AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate 2026 – Hands On!

Course Overview & Key Highlights (DEA-C01)

Course introduction

AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate 2026 – Hands On! is a comprehensive, practical certification prep course designed to help professionals pass the AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate (DEA-C01) exam and build real-world data engineering skills on AWS.

Created by Frank Kane and Stéphane Maarek, this course focuses on hands-on data pipelines, modern AWS analytics services, and exam-ready architecture patterns used by data engineers in production environments.

Quick course facts

• Instructors: Frank Kane, Stéphane Maarek
• Last updated: 2026
• Duration: ~22 hours (21h 54m)
• Rating: ⭐ 4.6 / 5
• Students: 96,000+
• Language: English
• Access: Lifetime (mobile + TV)
• Certificate: Certificate of completion included
• Typical sale price: ~US$6–10 (varies by promotion)
• Coupon Code: JAN_26_GET_STARTED

Key highlights

• Fully aligned with AWS DEA-C01 exam blueprint
• Hands-on exercises using real AWS services
• Full-length practice exam included
• Covers both batch and streaming data pipelines
• Strong focus on data lakes, analytics, and orchestration
• Practical guidance on security, governance, and cost control
• Ideal for professionals aiming to prove real data engineering expertise on AWS

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What you will learn

Data ingestion & processing

• Design and implement AWS data pipelines

• Handle batch and streaming data using Kinesis, EMR, Lambda, and containers

• Transform data efficiently at scale

Storage & analytics

• Build data lakes with Amazon S3

• Use AWS Glue, Athena, and Redshift for analytics

• Choose the right data store, schema, and lifecycle strategy

Orchestration & operations

• Orchestrate pipelines using EventBridge, Step Functions, and Airflow

• Monitor, maintain, and operationalize production pipelines

• Apply reliability and scalability best practices

Security & governance

• Implement data security, privacy, and compliance controls

• Apply governance best practices across AWS data services

• Manage permissions and access correctly

Certification readiness

• Understand how AWS tests data engineering concepts

• Practice with a realistic full-length exam

• Build confidence to pass DEA-C01 on the first attempt

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q — Is this course beginner-friendly?
A — It’s best suited for learners with some AWS experience. AWS recommends 1–2 years of AWS hands-on usage and data engineering fundamentals.

Q — Does this course include hands-on labs?
A — Yes. You’ll work directly with AWS services. Some labs may incur small AWS usage costs.

Q — Is a practice exam included?
A — Yes. A full-length practice exam is included to assess exam readiness.

Q — Do I get a certificate?
A — Yes. You receive a course completion certificate after finishing the course.

Why this course is worth it

The AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate exam is one of AWS’s most demanding associate-level certifications. This course stands out by combining deep conceptual coverage with hands-on implementation, taught by two of the most trusted AWS instructors on Udemy.

It doesn’t just prepare you to pass an exam — it prepares you to design, build, and operate real AWS data pipelines.

Final verdict

If your goal is to become a serious AWS data engineer and validate your skills with the DEA-C01 certification, this course delivers exactly what’s needed: practical depth, exam focus, and real-world architecture thinking. It’s challenging, thorough, and well worth the effort.