The CCA-F Exam — Everything You Need to Know

Zero technical background? Start here. Complex AI architecture concepts broken down into simple sketches anyone can follow. 5 domains. 60 questions. We cover every one.

Take the Free Assessment →Start Learning →

No signup required · 125 free lessons · All 5 exam domains

Crosshatch illustration: pencil character studying at desk with exam papers
60
Questions
120
Minutes
720
To Pass
$99
Exam Fee
5
Domains

How the Exam Works

The CCA-F is scenario-based. The exam has 6 built-in scenarios (real-world production situations). When you sit the exam, 4 of the 6 are randomly selected. Every question is anchored to one of those scenarios.

You're not memorizing definitions. You're dropped into a situation — a customer service bot, a medical triage system, a code review pipeline — and asked to make the right architectural call.

The exam is proctored. You cannot have Claude open during the exam. Scored on a 100–1,000 scale. 720 to pass. No penalty for guessing.

#1 Tested Concept

Programmatic enforcement vs prompt guidance. When the stakes are high (money, safety, access), the answer is code, not prompts. This single pattern covers 27% of your score.

Crosshatch illustration: exam paper with pencil marks

The 5 CCA Exam Domains

Know what you are up against.

D1: Agentic Architecture & Orchestration27%
D2: Tool Design & MCP Integration18%
D3: Prompt Engineering & Structured Output20%
D4: Claude Code Configuration & Workflows20%
D5: Context Management & Reliability15%

The PencilPrep Path

4 levels. 125 lessons. Zero to exam-ready. Every other study guide starts at Level 2 and assumes you already know what an API is. PencilPrep starts at Level 0.

Level 0Live

Absolute Zero

Computing fundamentals. What is a computer, what is data, what is JSON. You start here if you have zero technical background.

33 lessons · 7 weeks

Start Level 0 →
Absolute Zero
Level 1Live

Foundation Concepts

APIs, HTTP, tokens, models, and the basics of how Claude works under the hood. The bridge from general computing to AI-specific knowledge.

30 lessons · 6 weeks

Start Level 1 →
Foundation Concepts
Level 2Live

Architecture Patterns

Prompt engineering, tool design, MCP integration, and agent orchestration. The core of the CCA-F exam. Every domain is covered here.

35 lessons · 7 weeks

Start Level 2 →
Architecture Patterns
Level 3Live

Exam Ready

Scenario-based practice, exam patterns, trap answers, and timed drills. You finish here ready to sit the exam with confidence.

27 lessons · 5 weeks

Start Level 3 →
Exam Ready

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to start?

125 free lessons. 5 exam domains. From zero to CCA-F certified.

Take the Free Assessment →

No signup required · 5 minutes · See where you stand