How to prepare for the CCAR-P exam
CCAR-P, the Claude Certified Architect (Professional) exam, is for mid- to senior-level solution architects, AI/ML engineers, technical leads and senior software engineers who deliver production-grade Claude solutions, ideally with 3+ years in architecture or platform engineering.
CCAR-P exam at a glance
- Questions
- 63
- Time limit
- 120 minutes
- Passing score
- 720 on a scale of 1,000
- Exam fee
- $175 USD
- Certification valid for
- 12 months
Domains and weights
- Domain 1: Solution design & architecture17%
- Domain 2: Claude models, prompting & context engineering13%
- Domain 3: Integration19%
- Domain 4: Evaluation, testing & optimisation16%
- Domain 5: Governance, safety & risk management14%
- Domain 6: Stakeholder communication & lifecycle management14%
- Domain 7: Developer productivity & operational enablement7%
Exam details as published when this guide was written. Anthropic can change them, so check the official exam page before you book.
Where to focus
Study in order of weight. The top two domains alone are worth 36% of the exam.
- Domain 3: Integration (19%, 8 lessons)
- Domain 1: Solution design & architecture (17%, 6 lessons)
- Domain 4: Evaluation, testing & optimisation (16%, 6 lessons)
- Domain 5: Governance, safety & risk management (14%, 5 lessons)
- Domain 6: Stakeholder communication & lifecycle management (14%, 5 lessons)
- Domain 2: Claude models, prompting & context engineering (13%, 5 lessons)
- Domain 7: Developer productivity & operational enablement (7%, 3 lessons)
A study plan
- Read the study guide domain by domain. The free CCAR-P study guide covers every domain in 38 short lessons, each ending with links to Anthropic's own documentation.
- Answer the practice scenario after each lesson. There are 38 scenarios, each with an explanation of why every option is right or wrong (the first domain's are free). Read the explanations even when you get one right.
- Take a timed mock exam. The CCAR-P mock has 63 questions in 120 minutes, drawn from a bank of 126, and you pass at 72%. It shows your score per domain. Mock exams are part of Pro.
- Go back to your weakest domains, reread those lessons and retake the mock until you pass it comfortably. Then book the real exam.
Frequently asked questions
- How many questions are on the CCAR-P exam?
- 63 questions, with a 120-minute time limit.
- What is the passing score for CCAR-P?
- 720 on a scale of 1,000.
- How much does the CCAR-P exam cost?
- $175 USD. The certification is valid for 12 months.
- Which CCAR-P domains carry the most weight?
- Integration (19%) and Solution design & architecture (17%).
- Is Skillmarked official CCAR-P material?
- No. Skillmarked is independent and not affiliated with Anthropic. All lessons and questions are original, written from the public exam outline and Anthropic's documentation.