CCAR-F·Available now
Claude Certified Architect - Foundations
The Claude Certified Architect - Foundations (CCAR-F) validates that you can design, build, and operate production agent systems on the Claude API, Claude Code, and the Model Context Protocol. It spans 5 weighted domains across 60 scenario-based questions, scored 100 to 1000 with 720 to pass. This is the exam our adaptive engine is built around.
- $125
- exam fee
- 60
- questions
- 120 min
- time limit
- 720
- to pass (of 1000)
- 12 mo
- valid for
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The exam blueprint
The official guide splits the exam into 5 domains, each weighted by its contribution to your score. We drill every task statement beneath every domain, in prerequisite order.
Domain 1
27%Agentic Architecture & Orchestration
- 1.1Design and implement agentic loops for autonomous task execution
- 1.2Orchestrate multi-agent systems with coordinator-subagent patterns
- 1.3Configure subagent invocation, context passing, and spawning
- 1.4Implement multi-step workflows with enforcement and handoff patterns
- 1.5Apply Agent SDK hooks for tool call interception and data normalisation
- 1.6Design task decomposition strategies for complex workflows
- 1.7Manage session state, resumption, and forking
Domain 2
18%Tool Design & MCP Integration
- 2.1Design effective tool interfaces with clear descriptions and boundaries
- 2.2Implement structured error responses for MCP tools
- 2.3Distribute tools appropriately across agents and configure tool choice
- 2.4Integrate MCP servers into Claude Code and agent workflows
- 2.5Select and apply built-in tools (Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Grep, Glob) effectively
Domain 3
20%Claude Code Configuration & Workflows
- 3.1Configure CLAUDE.md files with appropriate hierarchy, scoping, and modular organisation
- 3.2Create and configure custom slash commands and skills
- 3.3Apply path-specific rules for conditional convention loading
- 3.4Determine when to use plan mode vs direct execution
- 3.5Apply iterative refinement techniques for progressive improvement
- 3.6Integrate Claude Code into CI/CD pipelines
Domain 4
20%Prompt Engineering & Structured Output
- 4.1Design prompts with explicit criteria to improve precision and reduce false positives
- 4.2Apply few-shot prompting to improve output consistency and quality
- 4.3Enforce structured output using tool use and JSON schemas
- 4.4Implement validation, retry, and feedback loops for extraction quality
- 4.5Design efficient batch processing strategies
- 4.6Design multi-instance and multi-pass review architectures
Domain 5
15%Context Management & Reliability
- 5.1Manage conversation context to preserve critical information across long interactions
- 5.2Design effective escalation and ambiguity resolution patterns
- 5.3Implement error propagation strategies across multi-agent systems
- 5.4Manage context effectively in large codebase exploration
- 5.5Design human review workflows and confidence calibration
- 5.6Preserve information provenance and handle uncertainty in multi-source synthesis
Frequently asked
- How much does the Claude Certified Architect - Foundations exam cost?
- The CCAR-F exam costs $125, booked through Pearson VUE. AI Skill Certs is prep only; you book the official sitting yourself.
- What is on the exam?
- 60 scenario-based questions across 5 domains: Agentic Architecture & Orchestration, Tool Design & MCP Integration, Claude Code Configuration & Workflows, Prompt Engineering & Structured Output, Context Management & Reliability. You have 120 minutes, and the scaled score runs 100 to 1000 with 720 to pass.
- How long is the credential valid?
- The credential is valid for 12 months from the date you pass.
- Does my progress carry to the other Claude certifications?
- Because we track mastery per concept rather than per course, the progress you build on shared concepts carries across every certification we prep. Time spent now is not wasted when you move between tracks.