Version 1.0 · Effective July 2026 · Exam code: CCAO-F
Claude Certified Associate (Foundations)
The Associate certification is the programme's non-developer credential. No API, no code: it tests whether you can put Claude itself to work — structured prompting, judging output quality, choosing the right product feature and model, configuring Claude Projects, and using AI responsibly inside an organisation.
Who the exam is for
Anthropic aims this exam at professionals who use Claude as a day-to-day productivity tool: operations, marketing, project management, education, communications, and general knowledge work. Candidates sit between casual prompt users and technical AI practitioners — no software-development or API experience is needed, and the credential is awarded on exam performance alone.
Exam facts at a glance
All figures from Anthropic's Exam Guide v1.0 (July 2026). The exam fee is Anthropic's charge for the official exam, not a price of this site; nothing here requires payment today.
Exam blueprint
Domain weights are the guide's own figures. They set how much of the exam each area carries, and how we size lessons and practice questions.
Domain 1: Prompting and Task Execution
14%- Create effective prompts for business and technical tasks
- Apply task decomposition techniques to structure complex requests
- Iterate prompts to improve output quality
- Adapt prompting strategies based on task type (analysis, research, drafting, brainstorming)
Domain 2: Output Evaluation and Validation
21%- Evaluate Claude-generated outputs for accuracy and completeness
- Identify hallucinations, inconsistencies, and biases in responses
- Apply fact-checking and validation techniques
- Determine when human review or additional verification is required
- Edit, adapt, refine, and compare outputs for the intended audience
- Organise and curate information and select appropriate output formats (artifacts, inline, structured data)
Domain 3: Product and Model Selection
12%- Select appropriate Claude product features (Projects, research mode, chat, artifacts)
- Differentiate between Claude model types (Haiku, Sonnet, Opus)
- Align model selection with task requirements (cost, speed, quality)
- Understand and manage context limitations and memory considerations (when to restart, summarise, or persist)
Domain 4: Workflow Integration and Solution Design
16%- Apply Claude to analyse requirements and use cases
- Leverage Claude for research, planning, and process optimisation
- Use Claude to support solution design, development, and iteration
- Integrate Claude into existing workflows to augment or redesign them
- Communicate Claude's value and limitations to stakeholders
Domain 5: Configuration and Knowledge Management
12%- Configure Claude Projects with instructions and knowledge sources
- Manage uploaded knowledge and connectors (e.g., Google Drive, Gmail)
- Create effective system-level instructions
- Inform, maintain, and update Claude configurations, knowledge sources, and instructions
Domain 6: Governance, Risk, and Responsible Use
15%- Identify appropriate and inappropriate use cases
- Apply data sensitivity, regulatory, and privacy considerations
- Follow organisational AI policies and governance standards
- Understand the ethical implications of AI usage
Domain 7: Troubleshooting and Optimisation
10%- Identify, diagnose, and resolve issues with underperforming prompts or poor outputs
- Adjust approach based on feedback and results
- Optimise workflows for efficiency and effectiveness
Study free while this track is built
The existing Architect (Foundations) track is developer-aimed, so it isn't a substitute for this exam. But if you want to see how this site teaches — lesson structure, practice questions, a full mock exam — it's free and open today.
Start Claude Certified Architect (Foundations) freeFrequently asked questions
When does the Claude Certified Associate (Foundations) prep track launch?
It's on the build plan now — the site's free Architect (Foundations) track shipped first, and each new track follows the same recipe: a lesson for every point in the blueprint, a weight-proportional practice bank in the real exam's multiple-choice and multiple-response format, and a full mock exam. This page becomes the track's hub when it ships, so the URL you're on is the one to bookmark.
Who is the CCAO-F exam for?
Business professionals who use Claude and Claude Projects as a day-to-day productivity tool — operations, marketing, project management, education, communications, and knowledge work. That's Anthropic's target audience for the exam; the full profile is in section 3 of the official exam guide.
What does the CCAO-F exam cover?
60 items in 120 minutes across 7 domains: Prompting and Task Execution (14%), Output Evaluation and Validation (21%), Product and Model Selection (12%), Workflow Integration and Solution Design (16%), Configuration and Knowledge Management (12%), Governance, Risk, and Responsible Use (15%), Troubleshooting and Optimisation (10%). Scoring is scaled from 100 to 1,000, with 720 needed to pass.
How do I register for the official exam?
Registration runs through Anthropic's Partner Academy, which is currently open to Anthropic partner organisations. That gap is exactly why this site exists: complete preparation for people without partner access.
Is this site affiliated with Anthropic?
No. This is an independent community resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Anthropic. Exam facts on this page come from Anthropic's published exam guide.