The 4 Claude certifications, explained.
Claude certification covers four official Anthropic credentials: Architect Foundations, Architect Professional, Developer Foundations and Associate Foundations. This Claude certification guide compares the portfolio by role, exam format and cost so you can choose the right Anthropic certification.
Exam fee is paid to Anthropic. CCA-F is also written CCAR-F.
All four exams are delivered by Pearson VUE.
All 4 certifications, side by side
Every cert is delivered as a proctored, closed-book exam through Pearson VUE, scored out of 1000 with a 720 pass mark, valid for 12 months, and badged on Credly. What differs is audience, item count, and domain weighting.
Claude Certified Architect
FoundationsSolution architects building production Claude apps (6+ months practical experience).
Claude Certified Architect
ProfessionalMid-senior solution architects / AI-ML engineers (3+ years systems arch, 6+ months Claude in prod).
Claude Certified Developer
FoundationsAI/ML engineers & senior SWEs shipping production Claude apps, agents, and workflows.
Claude Certified Associate
FoundationsClient-facing / delivery practitioners (consultants, sellers, delivery, ops, PM). Non-technical.
All 4 certs, one table
Every figure below is pulled straight from each cert's exam blueprint - item count, domain count, and list price all differ by cert even though the pass mechanics are identical.
| Cert | Who it's for | Questions | Domains | Exam fee | Time | Passing score | Validity | Question style |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCA-F Claude Certified Architect - Foundations | Solution architects building production Claude apps (6+ months practical experience). | 60 | 5 | $125 | 120 min | 720 / 1000 | 12 months | Scenario-based |
| CCA-P Claude Certified Architect - Professional | Mid-senior solution architects / AI-ML engineers (3+ years systems arch, 6+ months Claude in prod). | 63 | 7 | $175 | 120 min | 720 / 1000 | 12 months | Item pool |
| CCD-F Claude Certified Developer - Foundations | AI/ML engineers & senior SWEs shipping production Claude apps, agents, and workflows. | 53 | 8 | $125 | 120 min | 720 / 1000 | 12 months | Item pool |
| CCA-A Claude Certified Associate - Foundations | Client-facing / delivery practitioners (consultants, sellers, delivery, ops, PM). Non-technical. | 60 | 7 | $99 | 120 min | 720 / 1000 | 12 months | Item pool |
Exam fees are Anthropic's list prices, paid to Anthropic when you book.
What's the same across all four
Audience, item count, domain weighting, and question style differ by cert (CCA-F is scenario-based; the other three are flat item pools) - but the pass mechanics are identical across the whole portfolio: every exam is a proctored, closed-book test scored out of 1000 with the same 720 cut score, stays valid for 12 months, is delivered through Pearson VUE, and issues a digital badge on Credly once you pass. Diagnostics and quick checks need no account. Full mocks require a paid plan; warm-ups and study tools are included with Pro and All-Access.
Which cert is right for you?
If your role doesn't obviously map to one cert, the decision page walks through each cert's audience and a simple role-to-cert recommendation - start from your role, not from the certification name.
Do you write code as part of your work with AI?
Prefer one question? Pick the line that sounds like you.
Certification portfolio FAQ
Answers to common questions about the four Claude certifications.
Claude Certified Architect – Foundations (CCA-F, officially CCAR-F), Architect – Professional (CCA-P, CCAR-P), Developer – Foundations (CCD-F, CCDV-F), and Associate – Foundations (CCA-A, CCAO-F). Each targets a different role and technical depth.
Architect – Foundations if you build production Claude apps with 6+ months hands-on: it is the original, highest-traffic credential with the deepest prep, the largest question bank and the adaptive study plan. Non-technical and client-facing? Associate – Foundations fits better.
The exam list fees are $125 for CCA-F, $175 for CCA-P, $125 for CCD-F and $99 for CCA-A, per attempt. Eligible partner cohorts may receive a covered attempt. CAC preparation plans are separate from Anthropic's exam fees.
Both refer to the same credential. CCAR-F is Anthropic's official exam code; CCA-F is the shorthand the community has used since launch. Nothing about the certification changed.
Architect tiers test solution design and orchestration for people who design Claude systems end to end. Developer – Foundations tests hands-on build skills for engineers shipping Claude apps and agents daily. Associate is the non-technical track.