CCAR-F Exam Format, Fees & Registration
Complete technical specification for the Anthropic Claude Certified Architect - Foundations (CCAR-F) certification. Detailed fee structures, scoring thresholds, Pearson VUE delivery requirements, and partner eligibility rules.
Verified Blueprint Specifications
Criterion-referenced data sourced directly from Anthropic Exam Guide v1.0 (July 2026).
$125 USD
Standard registration fee per attempt via Pearson VUE portal.
60 Questions
Multiple-choice and multiple-response (select count indicated).
120 Minutes
Two full hours. No scheduled breaks during timed session.
720 / 1000
Criterion-referenced scaled score standard across all forms.
Pearson VUE
Online proctored (OnVUE) or physical authorized testing center.
Partner Network
Corporate email required; organization enrollment is free.
14 / 30 / 90 Days
Cooling-off windows between failures. Max 4 attempts per year.
12 Months
Free annual non-proctored delta assessment to renew on time.
Who Can Register for CCAR-F?
Unlike generic consumer technology certifications, the Claude Certified Architect track is gated to individuals affiliated with organizations registered in the Claude Partner Network. If your company, consulting practice, or startup builds on or deploys Claude for enterprise clients, organizational enrollment is completely free.
Registration requires authenticating through the Anthropic Partner Academy using an active corporate email address matching your partner record. Personal email domains (gmail.com, hotmail.com, etc.) cannot book certification exams.
- Age 18 or older
- Corporate email address
- Org in Partner Network
- Valid government photo ID
Blueprint Domain Distribution
All 60 questions map to these 5 official domains and their 30 architectural task statements.
| Domain Number & Title | Exam Weight | Questions | Primary Blueprint Competency |
|---|---|---|---|
01Agentic Architecture & Orchestration | 27% | ~16 Qs | 7 official task statements (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7) |
02Tool Design & MCP Integration | 18% | ~11 Qs | 5 official task statements (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5) |
03Claude Code Configuration & Workflows | 20% | ~12 Qs | 6 official task statements (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6) |
04Prompt Engineering & Structured Output | 20% | ~12 Qs | 6 official task statements (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6) |
05Context Management & Reliability | 15% | ~9 Qs | 6 official task statements (5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6) |
Step-by-Step Registration Procedure
Examinations are booked through Pearson VUE via the Anthropic Partner Academy single-sign-on portal.
Access Anthropic Partner Academy
Navigate to anthropic.skilljar.com and sign in using your corporate partner credentials. If your organization is already registered, single-sign-on will grant immediate access to the certifications catalog.
Select Exam & Delivery Modality
Select the CCAR-F track and click "Schedule with Pearson VUE". You will choose between OnVUE Online Proctoring (at home or office with webcam and mic) or an Authorized Test Center.
Verify Identity & System Compatibility
Run Pearson VUE's system check utility to verify your workstation's microphone, webcam, and internet bandwidth. Ensure your legal government photo ID exactly matches the first and last name on your registration profile.
Payment & Reschedule Policy
Pay the $125 USD fee or enter an enterprise voucher code. You may cancel or reschedule at no penalty up to 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment time directly on Pearson VUE.
Retake Schedule & Credential Maintenance
Anthropic strictly enforces mandatory cooling-off periods to protect exam integrity and provide candidates sufficient time to master identified deficiency domains:
- Attempt 2:14 calendar days after 1st attempt
- Attempt 3:30 calendar days after 2nd attempt
- Attempt 4:90 calendar days after 3rd attempt
Your CCAR-F certification remains active for 12 months. Anthropic provides a streamlined maintenance path to keep certified architects aligned with evolving platform capabilities:
- Free Annual Delta: Complete a free, unproctored assessment on Partner Academy covering new models and SDK updates before expiration.
- Lapsed Credentials: If your credential expires before renewal, you must retake the full proctored Pearson VUE exam at full cost ($125).
Frequently Asked Questions About CCAR-F
Everything you need to know about exam fees, eligibility gates, scoring thresholds, and retake policies.
How much does the CCAR-F exam cost?
The CCAR-F exam fee is $125 USD per attempt. Partner organizations may have discount vouchers available through the Claude Partner Network, but the standard public registration fee through Pearson VUE is $125.
Who is eligible to take the CCAR-F certification?
Candidates must belong to an organization enrolled in the Claude Partner Network. Joining the partner network is free for businesses and consulting firms. Registration requires an active corporate work email associated with your organization's partner account.
What is the passing score and how is it calculated?
The passing standard is a scaled score of 720 on a criterion-referenced scale from 100 to 1,000. It is not a flat 72% percentage. Because different question forms may vary slightly in difficulty, scaled scoring ensures an equitable passing standard across all exam sessions.
What happens if I do not pass on my first attempt?
Anthropic enforces a structured cooling-off retake policy: you must wait 14 calendar days after your 1st failure, 30 days after your 2nd failure, and 90 days after your 3rd failure. A maximum of 4 attempts is permitted in any rolling 12-month period, and the full $125 USD registration fee applies to each attempt.
How long is the certification valid and how is it renewed?
Your CCAR-F credential is valid for 12 months from your test date. Before your expiration date, you can maintain active status by completing a free, unproctored delta assessment on Anthropic Partner Academy. If your credential lapses, you must retake and pass the full proctored Pearson VUE exam at full fee.