The registration path
- Eligibility. The exam is open only to people at Claude Partner Network organisations. You need a company-domain email (personal addresses are rejected), you must be 18 or older, and you need a government photo ID. Network membership has no fee. The Associate exam does not count toward partner-tier eligibility.
- Account. Sign in to the Anthropic Partner Academy and open the certifications page: https://anthropic-partners.skilljar.com/page/partner-certifications
- Fee. Pay the exam fee: $99 USD before partner discounts (50% off for Select, Preferred and Global Premier partners; Global Premier partners pay nothing through 2026-12-31). The certification is valid for 12 months from the date it is awarded.
- Booking. Pearson VUE emails a scheduling link. Choose a date and a sitting, online (OnVUE) or at a test center. Reschedule or cancel at least 48 hours ahead per the FAQ and Pearson VUE; the exam guide says 24 hours.
- Exam day. Sit 60 questions in 120 minutes. You need 720 on a 100 to 1000 scale to pass.
Before you book
Pick the date first. A date with enough weeks behind it makes the rest easier. The Plan my exam date planner turns a date and your weekly hours into a split across the seven domains.
Know these rules before you pay, all from the official exam guide, the Partner Academy FAQ and the Pearson VUE page:
- Retakes: waits of 14, 30 and 90 days, at most 4 attempts per rolling 12 months, full fee each time.
- Renewal: an on-time renewal is an unproctored assessment at no charge; a lapse means retaking the full exam.
- Identification: a valid, unexpired government photo ID; minimum age 18.
- Group pricing: no bulk purchase or vouchers yet; partner-tier discounts only.
- Your registration stays valid for 5 years from purchase.
What the exam day looks like
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 60 |
| Time | 120 minutes |
| Pass score | 720 on a 100 to 1000 scale |
| Delivery | Proctored via Pearson VUE, online (OnVUE) or test center; closed book |
| Exam guide | v1.0, effective July 2026 |
Which exam, which registration
CCAO-F is the Associate exam, written for limited to moderate technical expertise. If you build Claude apps, the Developer exam is the other route. Compare them on CCAO-F versus CCDV-F .
Who registers
Individuals register for themselves, and each person needs a company-domain email at a Claude Partner Network organisation. There is no bulk purchase yet, so a manager planning for a group should multiply the $99 price by the number of people and apply the partner-tier discount if it applies. Keep a note of the exam date, the booking confirmation and the date your 12 month validity starts.
Official links
- Register in the Anthropic Partner Academy: https://anthropic-partners.skilljar.com/page/partner-certifications
- Official exam guide PDF: Associate Foundations guide
- Pearson VUE Anthropic page: https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/anthropic.html
Related: Cost, Exam guide.