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5 Exam Domains You Must Master

The Claude Certified Architect – Foundations exam tests your knowledge across five core domains. Each domain page provides detailed topic breakdowns, key concepts, anti-patterns, and exam tips.

Domain 1: Agentic Architecture & Orchestration

Design and implement agentic systems using Claude's Agent SDK. Covers agentic loops, multi-agent orchestration, hooks, workflows, session management, and task decomposition patterns for production-grade AI applications.

Topics Covered

Agentic Loops & Core APIMulti-Agent OrchestrationHooks & Programmatic EnforcementSession Management & Workflows
Study Domain 1

Domain 2: Tool Design & MCP Integration

Design effective tools and integrate with Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers. Covers tool description best practices, structured error responses, tool distribution, MCP configuration, and Claude's built-in tools.

Topics Covered

Tool Description Best PracticesStructured Error ResponsesTool Distribution & SelectionMCP Server ConfigurationBuilt-in Tools
Study Domain 2

Domain 3: Claude Code Configuration & Workflows

Configure Claude Code for development workflows. Covers CLAUDE.md hierarchy, custom commands and skills, plan mode, iterative refinement, CI/CD integration, and batch processing.

Topics Covered

CLAUDE.md Hierarchy & ConfigurationCustom Commands & SkillsPlan Mode & Iterative RefinementCI/CD Integration & Batch Processing
Study Domain 3

Domain 4: Prompt Engineering & Structured Output

Master prompt engineering techniques for production systems. Covers explicit criteria, few-shot prompting, tool_use for structured output, JSON schema design, validation-retry loops, and multi-pass review strategies.

Topics Covered

Explicit Criteria & Instruction DesignFew-Shot PromptingTool Use for Structured OutputValidation-Retry Loops & Multi-Pass Review
Study Domain 4

Domain 5: Context Management & Reliability

Manage context effectively in production systems. Covers progressive summarization risks, context positioning, escalation patterns, error propagation, context degradation, human review, and information provenance.

Topics Covered

Context Optimization & PositioningEscalation & Error PropagationContext Degradation & Extended SessionsHuman Review & Information Provenance
Study Domain 5

Need a Structured Study Plan?

Our 12-week plan covers all domains in the optimal order with daily tasks and practice tests.

View 12-Week Study Plan