WK 1 · CCAR-F
Architect Foundations
hardest — do it first
Independent study program
The Claude Certification roadmap — all four exams, four weeks.
Anthropic offers four Claude certifications through Pearson VUE. This is our independent roadmap through all of them: a suggested order that makes each exam easier than the last, the logistics you need to book with confidence, and a study kit for each exam — with a free preview so you can judge the quality before paying a cent.
4 EXAMS
120 MIN EACH
PASS 720/1000
ONLINE PROCTORED (OnVUE)
Independence. This is an independent, unofficial study resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or approved by Anthropic, PBC or Pearson Education, Inc. “Claude,” the certification names, and the exam codes are trademarks of Anthropic, PBC, used here solely to identify the exams these materials cover. “Pearson VUE” is a trademark of Pearson Education, Inc.
Accuracy. Exam logistics (question counts, formats, pricing, retake policy) reflect the official Anthropic and Pearson VUE program pages as of August 2026 and can change — always verify against the official pages before booking. The suggested order and difficulty notes are our editorial opinion.
Original questions. Every practice question in our guides is original and written to the publicly published exam objectives. Nothing is an actual exam question, and nothing is derived from any exam sitting.
01 — The roadmap
One order that makes each exam easier than the last
WK 2 · CCDV-F
Developer Foundations
natural follow-on
WK 3 · CCAR-P
Architect Professional
rewards accumulated judgement
WK 4 · CCAO-F
Associate
the victory lap
CCAR-F content echoes through both technical exams — front-load it. Two shortcuts: with real generative-AI architecture experience you can go straight to CCAR-P, and if you're non-technical, CCAO-F is the only exam aimed at you and works as a standalone goal.
Program-wide facts
120 min
Every exam, closed book
720 / 1000
Passing score, all four
12 mo
Credly badge validity
14 · 30 · 90
Retake waits (days); max 4/yr
OnVUE
Online proctored, Pearson
Partner-only
Via Anthropic Partner Academy
02 — The study guides
Pick your exam, try the preview, then decide
CCAR-F
Week 1 · the hardest — do it first
Claude Certified Architect — Foundations
The technical anchor of the whole track. Its content echoes through both other technical exams.
CCAR-F tests technical specifics — API parameters, file paths, CLI flags — and rewards muscle memory over theory. Our 51-page study guide pairs every domain with a hands-on exercise, so the facts the exam probes are things you've actually typed.
Read the full CCAR-F exam guide →
CCDV-F
Week 2 · the natural follow-on
Claude Certified Developer — Foundations
Implementation focus: models, configuration, and the API surface, across 8 domains.
CCDV-F sits closest to day-to-day development work. If you've just finished CCAR-F, most of the hard material is already in your head — our 47-page guide turns it toward implementation details: models, configuration, and the API surface.
Read the full CCDV-F exam guide →
CCAR-P
Week 3 · rewards accumulated judgement
Claude Certified Architect — Professional
The senior exam: architectural judgement, patterns, trade-offs, and governance.
CCAR-P asks you to defend design decisions, not recall flags. Our 68-page guide is built around a running claims-assistant scenario that threads through every day's hands-on work, plus a decision journal that doubles as your revision sheet by Day 7.
Read the full CCAR-P exam guide →
CCAO-F
Week 4 · the victory lap
Claude Certified Associate — Foundations
The only exam written for non-technical professionals: business workflows and AI judgement, no code.
CCAO-F tests business-workflow judgement through non-technical personas. If you work alongside AI rather than building with it, this is your exam — and our 56-page guide assumes no technical background at all. It stands entirely on its own, with no prerequisite.
Read the full CCAO-F exam guide →03 — Side by side
The four exams compared
| CCAR-F | CCDV-F | CCAR-P | CCAO-F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Claude Certified Architect — Foundations | Claude Certified Developer — Foundations | Claude Certified Architect — Professional | Claude Certified Associate — Foundations |
| Questions | 60 | 53 across 8 domains | 63 across 7 domains | 60 across 7 domains |
| Question types | Multiple choice | Multiple choice | MC + select-2-of-5 + dropdown matching | Multiple choice |
| Exam list price (Aug 2026) | $125 | $125 | $175 | $99 |
| Focus | Technical specifics — API params, file paths, CLI flags | Implementation: models, config, API surface | Architectural judgement: patterns, trade-offs, governance | Business-workflow judgement, non-technical personas |
| Zehon study kit | $29 · preview free | $29 · preview free | $39 · preview free | $29 · preview free |
Exam logistics per the official program pages as of August 2026 — verify before booking. Partner discounts have applied at times (a 100% discount for Global Premier partners was listed through 31 August 2026, retakes included); confirm current terms at registration.
04 — How to use the kit
The rhythm that works
Read, then do
Read the domain section, then do that day's hands-on exercise. These exams reward muscle memory and defended decisions, not re-reading.
Checkpoint daily
Close each day with that domain's slice of the quiz bank. Don't burn the questions early — they're your daily gauge, then your final mock.
Mock before you book
On day 6–7, take the full quiz in exam mode at ~2 minutes per question. Target 85%+ before booking — the real bar is 720/1000, roughly 72%.
05 — FAQ
Claude certification, frequently asked
Is there an official Claude certification?
Yes. Anthropic offers four Claude certifications through Pearson VUE: Claude Certified Architect — Foundations (CCAR-F), Claude Certified Developer — Foundations (CCDV-F), Claude Certified Architect — Professional (CCAR-P), and Claude Certified Associate — Foundations (CCAO-F). Registration currently runs through the Anthropic Partner Academy, and exams are delivered online via Pearson OnVUE.
How much does Claude certification cost?
As of August 2026, list prices are $125 for CCAR-F and CCDV-F, $175 for CCAR-P, and $99 for CCAO-F. Partner discounts have applied at times — verify current pricing on the official program pages before booking.
Which Claude certification should I take first?
For technical candidates we suggest CCAR-F first — it's the hardest exam and its content echoes through both other technical exams — then CCDV-F, then CCAR-P, then CCAO-F. Non-technical professionals should go straight to CCAO-F, the only exam written for them.
What score do I need to pass a Claude certification exam?
All four exams are scored on a 100–1000 scale with a passing score of 720 — roughly 72%. Every exam is 120 minutes, closed book, and online proctored. There is no penalty for guessing.
How long does it take to prepare for a Claude certification exam?
With relevant working experience, about one week per exam: our study plans run 7 days at roughly 2 hours a day, ending with a full timed mock. We recommend booking only once you score 85%+ on the practice quiz bank.
Do I need to be a developer to get Claude certified?
Not for CCAO-F (Claude Certified Associate — Foundations) — it tests business-workflow judgement through non-technical personas and has no coding prerequisite. The other three exams (CCAR-F, CCDV-F, CCAR-P) are technical.
Are Zehon's study guides official Anthropic materials?
No. They are independent, unofficial study resources — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by Anthropic, PBC or Pearson Education, Inc. Every practice question is original and written to the publicly published exam objectives; nothing is derived from any exam sitting. Each guide has a free preview so you can judge the quality before buying.
06 — Questions
Not sure which exam to start with?
Tell us your background and your goal — we'll point you at the right exam and the right week to book it. Team licensing is available for the study kits.
hello@zehon.com
We reply to every serious inquiry within two business days.