Snowflake Certifications Guide: All 11 SnowPro Exams, Difficulty & Cost

All 11 SnowPro Certifications at a Glance

Here is the full list of SnowPro certifications. Fees range from $100 to $375 depending on the tier, and passing scores vary by exam (roughly 70-80%). Every exam is delivered online via Examity or Kryterion.

Every exam is currently English-only — Japanese is not yet supported. That said, the questions lean heavily on technical terminology, so as long as you know Snowflake's vocabulary, you can absolutely manage.

The 4 SnowPro Tiers

SnowPro certifications are split into 4 tiers based on depth of expertise. Some lower-tier certifications are prerequisites (or strongly recommended) for higher tiers, so a step-by-step progression is the safest path.

Associate (Entry-Level)

SnowPro Platform Associate (SOL-C01) is the only Associate-tier exam. It covers the basic concepts of the Snowflake platform, its architecture, and an overview of core features — all at an introductory level. At 40 questions in 65 minutes for $100, it's the most compact and lowest-cost exam in the entire program. It's a great fit for people just getting started with Snowflake, as well as those in sales or marketing roles.

Core (Foundational)

SnowPro Core (COF-C03) is the central exam that broadly covers Snowflake fundamentals. With 100 questions in 115 minutes, it goes deep on the foundational knowledge you need to actually use Snowflake at work — account management, data ingestion, performance optimization, data sharing, security, and more. Because it's the foundation for every Specialty and Advanced exam, it is the single most important certification to earn first.

Specialty (Focused)

Three focused exams, each centered on a specific technical area. All three are standardized at 65 questions, 115 minutes, and $225.

• Snowpark (SPS-C01): focused on Snowpark — running data processing and ML inference on Snowflake with Python/Scala
• Native Apps (NAS-C01): focused on the Snowflake Native App Framework, Marketplace, and application sharing
• Gen AI (GES-C01): focused on Snowflake Cortex, LLM functions, RAG, Document AI, and vector search

Pick the exam that matches your area of expertise. The most efficient path is to pass Core first, then tackle the Specialty that aligns with your strengths.

Advanced (Expert-Level)

Expert-level exams aimed at seasoned professionals. There are 6 specializations, each at 65 questions, 115 minutes, and $375.

• Architect (ARA-C01): multi-cloud architecture, Data Mesh, and performance design
• Security Engineer: network security, RBAC, encryption, auditing, and compliance
• Data Engineer (DEA-C02): large-scale ETL/ELT, stream processing, task management, and pipeline optimization
• Data Scientist (DSA-C03): Snowpark ML, feature engineering, model deployment, and advanced analytics
• Administrator: account management, resource monitoring, cost optimization, and user management
• Data Analyst: advanced SQL analytics, data modeling, visualization, and reporting

Passing Core is the recommended prerequisite for any Advanced exam, and Snowflake suggests at least 2 years of hands-on experience in the relevant domain. Architect is the toughest exam in the entire program — it tests your ability to design Snowflake solutions across multi-cloud environments.

Exam Fee Comparison

SnowPro exam fees vary by tier. Unlike Databricks (a flat $200 across all exams), Snowflake uses tiered pricing that scales with difficulty.

If you fail, a retake costs the same as the original attempt, and you must wait 14 days before retaking. Prepare thoroughly so you can pass on the first try. Note that Snowflake partner companies and event attendees sometimes get vouchers (discount codes) — worth keeping an eye out for.

Recommended Exam Sequence

The SnowPro program is designed to be tackled in stages. Following the sequences below lets the knowledge from each exam carry over to the next.

Baseline Route (For Everyone)

Platform Associate → Core is the baseline path. Newcomers to Snowflake should grasp the big picture with Platform Associate before moving on to Core. If you already have hands-on Snowflake experience, going straight to Core is perfectly fine.

Aspiring Data Engineer

Core → Advanced: Data Engineer → Specialty: Snowpark

After locking down the fundamentals with Core, Advanced Data Engineer teaches large-scale pipeline design. Snowpark adds Python/Scala-based data pipelines and ML inference — a great way to broaden your data engineering toolkit.

Aspiring Architect

Core → Advanced: Architect → Advanced: Security Engineer

Architect is the toughest exam in the program — it tests your ability to design Snowflake solutions across multi-cloud environments. Adding Security Engineer rounds out your profile, proving you can architect comprehensive solutions with security built in.

Aspiring Data Scientist

Core → Advanced: Data Scientist → Specialty: Gen AI

Data Scientist covers advanced analytics and Snowpark ML, while Gen AI certifies your knowledge of Cortex, LLMs, and RAG. Together they cover the full skill set of an AI engineer.

Difficulty Ranking

Here are all 11 exams ranked by difficulty (Advanced: Data Analyst sits at difficulty 3, making it the most approachable of the Advanced tier):

Beginners should start with SnowPro Core — it's the canonical entry point. Platform Associate is the easiest exam overall, but it isn't a prerequisite for Core, so people with existing Snowflake experience can jump straight to Core without issue.

Frequently Asked Questions