The CCA exam is a proctored, 60-question, 120-minute architecture credential that covers API design, MCP, Claude Code, agentic systems, and enterprise governance. We've passed it. We train teams to pass it. No fluff, no guesswork.
The Claude Certified Architect exam launched on March 12, 2026. This is not a prompt-engineering badge or a marketing certificate. It is a rigorous technical credential modelled on the AWS Solutions Architect exam — proctored, timed, scenario-based, and graded against Anthropic's own technical standards.
Candidates are tested on their ability to design production-grade Claude systems: selecting the right model for a given task, architecting tool-use pipelines, designing MCP server infrastructure, managing context windows in agentic workflows, and applying enterprise security controls. Passing signals to engineering leadership and procurement teams that you can build Claude systems that work in production — not just in a sandbox.
For Claude consulting firms and enterprise teams embedding Anthropic's technology, the CCA is quickly becoming the qualification procurement teams ask for. Our team passed the exam in its first cohort. We understand what the questions test and what depth of knowledge the examiners expect.
A structured 6-week preparation programme built around the actual exam domains — not generic AI knowledge.
We map your preparation to the five official CCA domains with weighted focus based on question distribution. No time wasted on topics that don't appear on the exam.
Over 200 scenario-based practice questions modelled on the actual exam format. We cover architecture trade-offs, security edge cases, and MCP integration patterns that regularly appear in the exam.
Weekly one-to-one or small-group sessions with a CCA-certified architect. We work through gaps in your knowledge, drill difficult domains, and simulate timed exam conditions.
Technical understanding without practical application doesn't pass the exam. We run hands-on labs covering Claude API tool use, MCP server construction, and agentic workflow design — the domains where candidates most often fail.
Bi-weekly mock exams track your domain-by-domain progress. You know exactly where you stand and where to focus effort before sitting the real exam.
Preparing a team of 3 or more for the CCA? We run cohort programmes with shared labs, team mock exams, and volume pricing. Enterprises certifying 5+ architects should speak to us about a custom programme.
Our preparation programme maps directly to the five official exam domains. Understand exactly what you're tested on and why it matters.
Model selection logic (Opus vs Sonnet vs Haiku), prompt construction patterns, context window management, streaming and batch API design, prompt caching for cost optimisation, and system prompt architecture for enterprise deployments.
~25% of exam weightMCP server and client architecture, tool registration and schema design, authentication and transport mechanisms (stdio vs SSE vs HTTP), building MCP integrations for internal systems, and enterprise MCP governance controls.
~20% of exam weightCLAUDE.md configuration, Skills architecture and deployment, Hooks for event-driven automation, sub-agent orchestration, Git integration patterns, and enterprise Claude Code deployment via the Claude Partner Network.
~20% of exam weightAgent design patterns, orchestrator-subagent architectures, tool use and function calling, interrupt/approval workflows, context handoff between agents, and using the Claude Agent SDK for production-grade autonomous systems.
~20% of exam weightClaude Enterprise admin controls, data residency and privacy configuration, SSO and directory sync, usage policies, audit logging, operator vs user permissions, system prompt security, and regulatory compliance considerations (GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2). This domain is where under-prepared candidates most often lose marks.
~15% of exam weightWe start with a 45-minute diagnostic covering all five domains. This identifies your strongest areas and — more importantly — where you're losing marks. No point spending 40% of prep time on domains you already know well.
Based on your diagnostic, we build a week-by-week preparation plan. Typically 6 weeks for candidates with existing Claude development experience, 8-10 weeks for those coming from a broader AI background.
One 90-minute session per week with a CCA-certified architect. We cover that week's domain focus, work through practice questions, and address specific technical gaps. Sessions are recorded for review.
Theory doesn't pass the CCA — practical understanding does. We assign lab exercises in the Claude API, MCP server construction, and Claude Code configuration. You build real systems, not just read about them.
In weeks 5-6, you sit two full-length timed mock exams. We grade them by domain, identify remaining gaps, and give you a clear exam-ready or not-ready verdict. We will tell you honestly if you need more time — we'd rather delay your sitting than see you fail.
Designing Claude integrations for enterprise clients and need the credential that validates your architecture decisions to procurement and CISOs.
Building Claude-powered systems in production and want the certification that demonstrates depth beyond prompt engineering.
Internal teams building Claude infrastructure at scale who need certified architects to satisfy governance and security audit requirements.
Partners who need CCA-certified staff to achieve or maintain Partner Network status and bid on enterprise engagements.
Build on your CCA certification with our implementation and training services.
Group training programmes for enterprise teams — from Claude basics to advanced agentic development.
Put your CCA knowledge to work. We deploy Claude across enterprise organisations at scale.
Production-grade Claude agent architecture — the systems you learn to design in the CCA exam.
Most candidates who fail the CCA do so because they underestimate its technical depth. Our preparation programme is built by architects who passed it — to make sure you don't have to sit it twice.
Candidates with active Claude development experience typically need 6-8 weeks of structured preparation. Those coming from a broader software engineering or AI background without specific Claude experience should plan for 10-12 weeks. The exam tests architecture depth — not just familiarity — so rushed preparation is the most common cause of failure.
Not strictly required, but strongly recommended. The CCA is a scenario-based exam that tests architectural decision-making. Candidates who have only read documentation and never built real Claude integrations struggle with the nuance of the scenario questions. Our preparation programme includes hands-on labs specifically to address this — but prior hands-on experience is an advantage.
Anthropic has not published an official passing percentage. Based on feedback from our candidates and the Claude Partner Network community, passing requires strong performance across all five domains rather than compensating for weakness in one domain with strength in another. Domain-balanced preparation is essential.
Yes. We run cohort-based preparation programmes for teams of 3 or more. These include shared lab environments, group coaching sessions, team-based practice exams, and volume pricing. Enterprises with 10+ architects to certify should contact us for a custom programme with dedicated coaching resources and a defined certification timeline.
The Claude Partner Network — which Anthropic invested $100 million into in 2026 — expects partner firms to maintain CCA-certified architects on staff. For consulting firms and systems integrators bidding on enterprise Claude engagements, CCA certification is increasingly a prerequisite. Having certified architects also gives procurement teams confidence that your firm understands Claude's security and governance controls. See our enterprise implementation service for context on how CCA-certified architects operate in client engagements.
We cannot guarantee exam outcomes — that would be dishonest. What we can tell you is that every candidate who completed our full preparation programme and received our exam-readiness sign-off has passed on their first attempt. If, after completing our programme, we don't believe you're ready to sit the exam, we'll tell you directly and recommend additional preparation rather than let you go in underprepared.