diff --git a/adafruit_aws_iot.py b/adafruit_aws_iot.py
index f8ffa62..f8fa392 100644
--- a/adafruit_aws_iot.py
+++ b/adafruit_aws_iot.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def __init__(self, mmqttclient, keep_alive=30):
         # Shadow-interaction topic
         self.shadow_topic = "$aws/things/{}/shadow".format(self.cid)
         # Ensure set_certificate and set_private_key were run from ESP32SPI
-        assert self.client.wifi.esp.set_psk and self.client.wifi.esp.set_cert, "Certificate \
+        assert self.client.wifi.esp.set_psk and self.client.wifi.esp.set_crt, "Certificate \
             and private key must be set to your AWS Device Cert and Private Key."
         # keep_alive timer must be between 30 <= keep alive interval <= 1200 seconds
         # https://docs.aws.amazon.com/general/latest/gr/aws_service_limits.html
diff --git a/certificates.py b/certificates.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 0a65ec0..0000000
--- a/certificates.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,47 +0,0 @@
-# Replace with the Device Certificate (.crt) from AWS IoT
-DEVICE_CERT = "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\n"\
-"MIICljCCAX4CAQAwUTELMAkGA1UEBhMCVVMxETAPBgNVBAgMCE5ldyBZb3JrMREw\n"\
-"DwYDVQQHDAhOZXcgWW9yazEcMBoGA1UECgwTQWRhZnJ1aXQgSW5kdXN0cmllczCC\n"\
-"ASIwDQYJKoZIhvcNAQEBBQADggEPADCCAQoCggEBAKQSbmfDnFDb1Ul+SjkGmX14\n"\
-"WpwNMH2hlkP2tyPTlCyks8mEN9q28Xs7ikT0K8mzhhuvuWkmwNEtEJimRpEq8i2L\n"\
-"foaxOzguCFBH0O+5PLzNpTH0AphIKPhE92xeR3rSO3KSVHESqL7CItXstogZO4br\n"\
-"h74bkL/UzS5EzIUv+vCLoiYV6sNt2PNcrSWHST1ARHLV94Qdkm6NKX2Ag3dndexk\n"\
-"8eZ014kzkfNtZm6S2+DXtc+CZLhZnyien0r1zIM9C1Heu9Fsjs7I20hWWgq9MjgM\n"\
-"NBTQxJQgTNvDzMNWV1uPEH23cht/j84UaVePGH+1NvWvFudVL2UPLeoxGTY9Or8C\n"\
-"AwEAAaAAMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBCwUAA4IBAQB0Oh669kmjdv8D20fQavzzHPZMO/WO\n"\
-"aAB8rXggOcyKSNpHys3kYmTLT3DPoswfYijOL/Owdzy/e38FBJhKq1THHVpOXtD+\n"\
-"3egaBOZxhEFCCuk1gi2+XGYuymE4YmFKYENUOeKX0rwgCMgt8v+PBUsVFFGsAfAl\n"\
-"cXeVI/5oTgCRKVsqEAQzGT2AmakLojpm1uqfoNXq+d70e8xC+gstxYWZAJTygSA7\n"\
-"3N2vqsQsN5H7ZGL+ZzoBeVGMH/5QHSr6emp4AWHe/OwmFiSyVYgCtX1OFxtJ6KC6\n"\
-"2wJhNj1KVGeVRnhXPHiT/+L92eZHi+eiu2SnRjNYxZsuma2Z+h8lK28w\n"\
-"-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n"
-
-# Replace with the RSA Private Key from AWS IoT
-DEVICE_KEY = "-----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----\n"\
-"MIIEvwIBADANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQEFAASCBKkwggSlAgEAAoIBAQCkEm5nw5xQ29VJ\n"\
-"fko5Bpl9eFqcDTB9oZZD9rcj05QspLPJhDfatvF7O4pE9CvJs4Ybr7lpJsDRLRCY\n"\
-"pkaRKvIti36GsTs4LghQR9DvuTy8zaUx9AKYSCj4RPdsXkd60jtyklRxEqi+wiLV\n"\
-"7LaIGTuG64e+G5C/1M0uRMyFL/rwi6ImFerDbdjzXK0lh0k9QERy1feEHZJujSl9\n"\
-"gIN3Z3XsZPHmdNeJM5HzbWZuktvg17XPgmS4WZ8onp9K9cyDPQtR3rvRbI7OyNtI\n"\
-"VloKvTI4DDQU0MSUIEzbw8zDVldbjxB9t3Ibf4/OFGlXjxh/tTb1rxbnVS9lDy3q\n"\
-"MRk2PTq/AgMBAAECggEAIq0OjnmmIOTFSDobv7+oUv9Lzy1ucS7kjkqnXDgMWf8Z\n"\
-"TF7YWy5NDSmBSJ9+XavGjTVvb0zUdaEbn9eMlIPKGVwhCqCMjowUD7uN6gxxTMn9\n"\
-"vvf+UGb32bjhvhKS8t9Z1xYcKKWz6lUnfaUA0vTaQuKmlsRGrHRyRPQfcYq5c3sI\n"\
-"yv3a+KObNaVQphhri7NdCGyE0J0Ob4Pc7coKg8I7M9KbhUagfygkg33HtXd7rNPn\n"\
-"RLcn2UH74KuEX+Edx/2mFnEpdTplo5h0MRBMYG5rMJWiLDJlY5tcZ7k5IlzoN0gc\n"\
-"MjyIkmqF1NQ32KQ4xdN9I2J1w0e9syI9W/6y1uozcQKBgQDSF707g5wJRM2clMeQ\n"\
-"2+zdh28gRHhJwDJzoXPvxZvNR2iqxRyh1QAsR1C6pP7e8zPfwDlvpHrGYX+L1v2V\n"\
-"7G1taSGef6uPt8Mp6ahdkuWxr1+QqKmnqAlmMzWnpOTyKslN8YN9hX7KnRrPKJ3K\n"\
-"6baEy2ujqjb/o6gIlFfrN7uReQKBgQDH7F0e/CBTzts+aahFzjBdQdV0JLgZHYCJ\n"\
-"I3c7vYlc8IIVkAO7GHTB0F57tcekzGEhn3Vg7vIaXB6OwqidoGn2Slb7hropEEr8\n"\
-"xL+9WwzLPWFYcUMMLVZG6c4Yx8J3ikIjRztHKpTYy26CdFx+UruIEIGkCYF0u/Oj\n"\
-"3JWJfUIX9wKBgQDMayrFuJXfcuG45A6VxVdgaUHYHKcJ44dzePnMp/Kjt0KBPo9Q\n"\
-"a2birnU/VgFjvzGPGYMJPPn1ArLOxt4wvT3wAiYjCUhN61hq9J3Mhn0V+XS71VBW\n"\
-"ACs9FMC1IL1fYABE5aSyQm0PCfQm8vctk1/zL9bJBXrEHGIIDwbIqI7JyQKBgQCR\n"\
-"ZE7QktE7wcrmF9a9dVbs60y9m1qbQT5R/Y3fz1ZPVcV0wvhDn2SB8vRTiX54Vf4p\n"\
-"gprNdNhy3R2H+v6/K4MED0o0v+Uwqd2u97LtlYK3Z5scw7nb6Di/d5dfpB7D6rNw\n"\
-"joQInGoFQ+TJULBXWflx2Xc+gX85Etr8BxZlF8fyPwKBgQCkBmi9s0rAqdNLB28Q\n"\
-"31+q39XZMMlT8BPJ225GwekjWiIL6n0Jrm/KkZ6fureBYm3STGLvQbWBao61n4vp\n"\
-"1bSncfADm8rgdkf+/iokP9uZnEIwo050pNNpIFgsJVT2mmu2tHdQFFT6UluQL9q2\n"\
-"733Hks5cHEhAinxLfgLh81+HsQ==\n"
-"-----END PRIVATE KEY-----\n"
diff --git a/examples/aws_iot_shadows.py b/examples/aws_iot_shadows.py
index a26217c..12069ea 100644
--- a/examples/aws_iot_shadows.py
+++ b/examples/aws_iot_shadows.py
@@ -18,12 +18,20 @@
     print("WiFi secrets are kept in secrets.py, please add them there!")
     raise
 
-# Get device certificate and private key from a certificates.py file
+# Get device certificate
 try:
-    from certificates import DEVICE_CERT, DEVICE_KEY
+    with open("aws_cert.pem.crt", "rb") as f:
+        DEVICE_CERT = f.read()
 except ImportError:
-    print("Certificate and private key data is kept in certificates.py, \
-           please add them there!")
+    print("Certificate (aws_cert.pem.crt) not found on CIRCUITPY filesystem.")
+    raise
+
+# Get device private key
+try:
+    with open("private.pem.key", "rb") as f:
+        DEVICE_KEY = f.read()
+except ImportError:
+    print("Certificate (private.pem.key) not found on CIRCUITPY filesystem.")
     raise
 
 # If you are using a board with pre-defined ESP32 Pins:
diff --git a/examples/aws_iot_simpletest.py b/examples/aws_iot_simpletest.py
index 58e9279..09d41a4 100644
--- a/examples/aws_iot_simpletest.py
+++ b/examples/aws_iot_simpletest.py
@@ -18,12 +18,20 @@
     print("WiFi secrets are kept in secrets.py, please add them there!")
     raise
 
-# Get device certificate and private key from a certificates.py file
+# Get device certificate
 try:
-    from certificates import DEVICE_CERT, DEVICE_KEY
+    with open("aws_cert.pem.crt", "rb") as f:
+        DEVICE_CERT = f.read()
 except ImportError:
-    print("Certificate and private key data is kept in certificates.py, \
-           please add them there!")
+    print("Certificate (aws_cert.pem.crt) not found on CIRCUITPY filesystem.")
+    raise
+
+# Get device private key
+try:
+    with open("private.pem.key", "rb") as f:
+        DEVICE_KEY = f.read()
+except ImportError:
+    print("Certificate (private.pem.key) not found on CIRCUITPY filesystem.")
     raise
 
 # If you are using a board with pre-defined ESP32 Pins: