The first official exam in Stage Two, and the cheapest of the four. It tests capabilities, limitations, use cases, and adoption patterns rather than implementation — above all, whether you can evaluate and validate what Claude produces. Sit it after entering the FDE Internship Program, before CCAR-F.
Who it is for: Everyone on the pathway, plus consultants, pre-sales engineers, project managers, and adoption leads.
Duration
120 minutes
Questions
60 scored items
Passing score
720 out of 1,000
Paid to Anthropic
Before applicable partner discounts, which are applied at checkout. Paid directly to Anthropic — not included in Panaversity tuition. Note that CCAO-F does not count toward Claude Partner Network tier eligibility; the three technical credentials do.
Proctored through Pearson VUE by the maker of Claude
Format
60 items, proctored
Duration
120 minutes
Passing score
720 out of 1,000
Credential
12 months, free renewal
You need eligible access before you can register
Registration runs through the Anthropic Partner Academy and requires a work email from an organisation in the Claude Partner Network. Personal email addresses are not accepted. Complete Stage One and enter the FDE Internship Program to get that access through Panaversity.
Allocate study time by weight, not evenly.
There are seven published domains; the three shown here make up more than half the exam. The largest domain is not prompt writing — it is evaluating output, spotting problems, and validating the result before passing it on.
Anthropic's official exam guide is the authority on what is tested. Download the current guide before you book.
Anthropic Partner AcademyCredential earned
Claude Certified Associate — Foundations (Credly digital credential, valid 12 months)
Prepared for by
PCAO-FPanaversity Certified Associate — FoundationsFree sample tests with explanations cost nothing and do not count against you. Use them to find your weak domains before a real sitting does.