Free prep for the Claude Certified Associate (Foundations) exam
20 plain-language lessons on prompting, checking Claude's work, choosing the right feature and model, setting up Projects, and using Claude responsibly. Written for people who use Claude at work, not people who code with it. Plus 100 practice questions, a diagnostic that tells you where to start, and a full 60-item mock exam. No sign-up, no paywall.
Building with the API instead? CCDV-F and CCAR-F prep is free here too · see all four certifications
Where the marks actually are
Most people assume this exam is about writing good prompts. Prompting is only 14% of the paper. The heaviest domain is Output Evaluation and Validation at 21%: checking what Claude gives you, catching what it got wrong, and knowing when a person has to review it before it goes anywhere.
- Output Evaluation and Validation 21%
- Workflow Integration and Solution Design 16%
- Governance, Risk, and Responsible Use 15%
- Prompting and Task Execution 14%
- Product and Model Selection 12%
- Configuration and Knowledge Management 12%
- Troubleshooting and Optimization 10%
All seven domain names and weights are from Anthropic's CCAO-F exam guide v1.0, effective July 2026.
The exam, in numbers
| Questions | 60 · multiple-choice and multiple-response |
|---|---|
| Time | 120 minutes |
| Pass mark | 720 / 1000 scaled |
| Fee | US$99 per attempt |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE, online proctored or test center |
| Validity | 12 months |
| Prerequisites | None. No coding or API experience needed |
| Blueprint | 7 domains, 30 objectives |
Common questions
How many questions is the CCAO-F exam?
60 questions in 120 minutes, multiple-choice and multiple-response, across 7 domains.
What score do you need to pass CCAO-F?
720 out of 1000 on a scaled score, the same pass mark used across all four Claude certifications.
What does the CCAO-F exam cost?
US$99 per attempt, the lowest of the four Claude certifications. Partner-tier discounts are applied at checkout. It is delivered online proctored or at a test center through Pearson VUE.
Who is CCAO-F for?
Professionals who use Claude as an everyday productivity tool: operations, marketing, project management, education, HR, communications, and consulting. No coding or API experience is needed. Technical builds are escalated to Claude Developers and Architects, which is what the CCDV-F and CCAR-F tracks cover.
Which domain matters most?
Output Evaluation and Validation at 21%, more than prompting (14%). The exam rewards checking Claude’s work before you rely on it at least as much as getting good output in the first place.
Is this site official?
No. It is an independent study resource, not affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic. Domain names and weights come from Anthropic’s CCAO-F exam guide v1.0 (July 2026).