Snowflake
SnowPro Core
SnowPro Core Certification (COF-C02)
Snowflake's foundational certification covering its architecture, security, performance, and data movement. The prerequisite for all SnowPro Advanced tracks and a common ask for analytics and data engineering roles on Snowflake.
What's on the exam
SnowPro Core (COF-C02) Exam Study Guide
Snowflake AI Data Cloud Features and Architecture
25%Three-layer architecture (storage, compute, cloud services) · Editions and key features · Objects: databases, schemas, tables, and views · Interfaces and tools (Snowsight, SnowSQL, connectors) · Credit consumption and billing model
Account Access and Security
20%Network policies and security · MFA and federated authentication · Role-based access control (RBAC) · Column- and row-level security · Governance features (object tagging, masking policies)
Performance Concepts
15%Query Profile and performance analysis · Virtual warehouse sizing and multi-cluster scaling · Caching layers (result, local disk, metadata) · Micro-partitions and clustering keys · Materialized views and search optimization
Data Loading and Unloading
10%Stages and COPY INTO · Snowpipe continuous ingestion · File formats and load transformations · Unloading data from Snowflake
Data Transformations
20%Standard and advanced SQL functions · Semi-structured data (VARIANT, FLATTEN) · Estimation and sampling functions · UDFs and stored procedures · Unstructured data handling
Data Protection and Data Sharing
10%Time Travel and Fail-safe · Zero-copy cloning · Replication · Secure Data Sharing (shares, listings)
Frequently asked questions
How much does the SnowPro Core cost?
The SnowPro Core costs $175. Plus applicable taxes.
How long is the SnowPro Core and how many questions does it have?
100 questions — 115 minutes.
What do you need to pass the SnowPro Core?
Scaled score of 750 on a 0–1000 scale.
Can you retake the SnowPro Core?
Waiting period between attempts; see Snowflake certification retake policy.
What is the best way to study for the SnowPro Core?
Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Snowflake AI Data Cloud Features and Architecture 25%, Account Access and Security 20%, Performance Concepts 15%, Data Loading and Unloading 10%, Data Transformations 20%, Data Protection and Data Sharing 10%). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.
Program in development
We're building a blueprint-complete program for this exam. Meanwhile, explore live programs across 7 exam.
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