Name clarification
CCA-F vs CCAR-F
The short answer
CCA-F and CCAR-F are the same exam — the Claude Certified Architect – Foundations. CCA-F is the common shorthand; CCAR-F is the formal exam code you'll see at registration. There's no separate exam to study for — they're two labels for one 120-minute, 720/1000, $125 credential.
Every Claude cert: shorthand vs. code
| Certification | Shorthand | Formal code |
|---|---|---|
| Architect – Foundations | CCA-F | CCAR-F |
| Architect – Professional | CCA-P | CCAR-P |
| Developer – Foundations | CCD-F | CCDV-F |
| Associate – Foundations | CCA-A | CCAO-F |
Looking for the difference between the Foundations and Professional levels (not the naming)? See CCAR-P vs CCA-F.
Frequently asked
Is CCA-F the same as CCAR-F?
Yes. CCA-F and CCAR-F refer to the same exam — the Claude Certified Architect – Foundations. CCA-F is the widely-used shorthand; CCAR-F is the formal exam code you'll see at registration. There is no separate 'CCAR-F' exam to prepare for.
Why are there two names?
Anthropic's Claude certifications each have a friendly shorthand and a formal code. Architect – Foundations is CCA-F / CCAR-F, Architect – Professional is CCAR-P (sometimes written CCA-P), Developer – Foundations is CCDV-F (CCD-F), and Associate – Foundations is CCAO-F (CCA-A). Same exams, two labels.
What is the CCA-F / CCAR-F exam?
It's the foundational Claude architect credential: 120 minutes, scored 720/1000 to pass, $125, across five domains — agentic architecture, tool design & MCP, Claude Code configuration, prompt engineering & structured output, and context management.
Claude Cert Prep is independent and unofficial — not affiliated with Anthropic. Confirm exam codes and specifics on the official page.