Introduction
If you are planning to sit the Claude Certified Associate – Foundations (CCAO-F), the logistics are simple once you know them. This post covers what the exam costs, how it is structured, how to book it through Pearson VUE, the retake rules, and how long the credential lasts. All figures are current for 2026.
CCA Prep is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with, authorised by, or endorsed by Anthropic. Claude and Anthropic are trademarks of Anthropic PBC. Always confirm current fees and policies with the official sources before booking.
What the CCAO-F Costs
The exam is $99 USD per attempt. That fee applies each time you sit it, so a retake is another $99. There are no prerequisites to buy or courses you are required to purchase first, which keeps the total cost of certifying low compared with many professional exams.
The Exam Format
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 60 (multiple-choice and multiple-response) |
| Time limit | 120 minutes |
| Pace | About two minutes per question |
| Passing score | 720 / 1000 (scaled) |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE (online proctored or test centre) |
The exam is 100% multiple-choice and multiple-response, with no coding tasks. Multiple-response items ask you to select more than one correct option and are generally scored all-or-nothing, so read them carefully.
The passing score is scaled, which means it is not a simple percentage of questions right. Scaling accounts for small differences in difficulty between versions of the exam, so treat 720/1000 as the target and aim comfortably above it in practice.
How Registration and Booking Work
Registration is handled through Anthropic's Partner Academy, with scheduling through Pearson VUE. In broad terms:
- Register for the CCAO-F through the official channel.
- Schedule your sitting through Pearson VUE, choosing either online proctoring from home or a physical test centre.
- Check your setup if you are testing online: a working webcam, a stable internet connection, a quiet private room, and valid ID. Online proctoring has rules about your environment, so read the requirements in advance.
- Sit the exam and receive your result.
Booking online proctored is the most convenient option for most professionals, but a test centre can be worth it if your home setup is unreliable.
Retake Policy
If you do not pass, there are mandatory waiting periods between attempts:
- After a first fail: wait 14 days.
- After a second fail: wait 30 days.
- After a third fail: wait 90 days.
- Maximum of four attempts in any rolling 12-month period.
Each attempt costs the full $99, so the sensible approach is to be confident before your first sitting rather than treating it as a free diagnostic. Consistent practice beforehand is far cheaper than a retake.
Credential Validity and Renewal
The CCAO-F is valid for 12 months. There is a free non-proctored renewal available if you complete it in time, which keeps the credential current without another full paid sitting. Because AI tools change quickly, a 12-month cycle is reasonable, and the free renewal path means staying certified does not have to mean paying $99 again every year, provided you renew before your credential lapses.
How to Prepare Cost-Effectively
Given the $99 per-attempt fee and the waiting periods, preparation pays for itself by helping you pass first time. The exam is judgement-led, so the most effective preparation is working through realistic scenario questions and reading the reasoning behind each answer.
Our platform lets you start for free: the Prompting and Task Execution domain is fully free with no card required, so you can gauge your readiness before spending anything. When you are ready to cover all seven domains, the CCAO-F practice hub has the full question bank.
For a complete plan, read How to Pass the Claude Certified Associate (CCAO-F), and to gauge the challenge, see How Hard Is the CCAO-F?.