Glossary
The program's terms, defined once. Official definitions live in the exam guides and policy documents; this page keeps them at hand.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Blueprint | The exam content outline in each exam guide: the domains measured, their weights, and the objectives items are written against. The authoritative scope of the exam |
| Domain weight | The approximate share of scored items drawn from a domain, for example 33.1% for the Developer exam's Applications and integration domain |
| Task statement | A numbered capability within a domain, used in the Architect Foundations guide, that items are written against |
| MQC | Minimally qualified candidate: the profile of the weakest examinee who should still pass, which the passing standard is calibrated to |
| Criterion-referenced | Scored against a fixed standard rather than against other candidates. There is no curve |
| Scaled score | The reported score on a 100 to 1,000 range, equated so results are comparable across exam forms of slightly different difficulty |
| Cut score | The passing threshold: 720 scaled, for all four exams |
| Item | An exam question. Multiple-choice items have one best answer; multiple-response items state how many responses to select |
| Scenario-based exam | The Architect Foundations format: 4 scenarios drawn from a published bank of 6, each framing a set of items |
| Exam form | A specific assembled version of an exam; forms vary slightly, which scaled scoring corrects for |
| NDA | The non-disclosure agreement accepted before the exam starts: exam content may not be shared, reproduced, or discussed, including in study groups and forums |
| Pearson VUE | The company that delivers the exams, online and at test centers, since June 30, 2026 |
| OnVUE | Pearson's online proctoring application, run on your own computer under remote supervision |
| Test center | A physical Pearson location with provided equipment, the alternative to online proctoring |
| Credly | The digital badging platform that issues the shareable credential after a pass |
| CPN | The Claude Partner Network, whose member organizations are eligible for certification |
| Partner tier | An organization's CPN level: Registered pays list price; Select, Preferred, and Global Premier receive 50% off exams |
| Prep path | The curated course sequence on Partner Academy for a specific certification |
| Exam guide | The official PDF for each certification: blueprint, sample questions, policies, and scoring. The single most important study document |
| Renewal assessment | The free, open-book, non-proctored assessment on Partner Academy that extends a credential 12 months when passed before expiry |
| Lapse | Letting a credential expire without renewing; regaining it requires the full exam at full fee |
| Appeal | A formal challenge to a certification decision or result, filed with Pearson within 14 days |
| Question report | Flagging a possibly faulty item to Pearson; separate from an appeal and never counted against you |
| Accommodations | Testing adjustments for documented needs, requested through Pearson and approved before scheduling |
Facts last verified against the official sources on 2026-08-01. Repository index