Certification on Vadzim Belski — AI Research & Engineering

Claude Certified Architect – Foundations: My Certification Journey and Preparation Path

Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

On May 20, 2026 I passed the Claude Certified Architect – Foundations exam. The certificate landed in my inbox shortly after, with a verification URL on Skilljar and a six-month validity window. The credential itself is just a PNG. The journey behind it is what I want to talk about, because the exam is not what most people expect when they hear "AI certification." It is not a quiz about prompt templates and parameter names. It is a brutally practical test of whether you can architect systems with Claude — and most of the questions are designed in a way that will not reward you for memorizing documentation.

Claude Certified Architect — Foundations

Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Issued by: Anthropic, PBC Credential: Claude Certified Architect – Foundations Certificate No.: v9axz9t5re5n Valid: May 20, 2026 – Nov. 20, 2026 Verify: verify.skilljar.com/c/v9axz9t5re5n

The Claude Certified Architect – Foundations is Anthropic’s official credential for solution architects who design and ship production applications with Claude. The exam validates practical judgment — not just conceptual knowledge — across the four core technologies that build production-grade Claude systems:

Claude Agent SDK — agentic loops, subagent orchestration via the Task tool, hooks (PostToolUse), stop_reason handling, and session management with fork_session / --resume.
Claude Code — CLAUDE.md configuration hierarchy, .claude/rules/ with YAML path-scoped glob patterns, project-scoped slash commands and skills (context: fork, allowed-tools), plan mode, and CI integration with -p / --output-format json.
Model Context Protocol (MCP) — tool interface design, structured error responses (isError, errorCategory, isRetryable), tool distribution and tool_choice configuration, and server scoping (.mcp.json vs ~/.claude.json).
Claude API — tool_use with JSON schemas for guaranteed structured output, tool_choice options (auto / any / forced), the Message Batches API, and context window management strategies.

Exam Domains and Weightings

Domain 1: Agentic Architecture & Orchestration (27%)
Domain 2: Tool Design & MCP Integration (18%)
Domain 3: Claude Code Configuration & Workflows (20%)
Domain 4: Prompt Engineering & Structured Output (20%)
Domain 5: Context Management & Reliability (15%)

Scored 100–1,000 (passing 720), the exam draws from six production scenarios — customer support agents, Claude Code in development, multi-agent research pipelines, developer productivity tooling, CI/CD review automation, and structured data extraction — and tests architectural tradeoffs in each.

How I Passed the TOGAF Architect Certification – Part 1

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The TOGAF Architect Certification is a globally recognized credential for enterprise architects. It validates your skills and knowledge in the TOGAF standard, a widely adopted framework for enterprise architecture.

Preparing for the TOGAF Certification

Obtaining the TOGAF certification involves demonstrating proficiency in various aspects of enterprise architecture, including the TOGAF Architecture Development Method (ADM), architecture content, enterprise continuum, and more. To prepare effectively, consider the following strategies:

Gain hands-on experience by applying TOGAF principles and the ADM in real-world projects or case studies.
Attend instructor-led training courses offered by accredited providers to learn from experienced professionals.
Study the TOGAF Standard documentation thoroughly, focusing on the core concepts, terminology, and best practices.
Utilize practice exams and study guides to assess your knowledge and identify areas for improvement.
Join online communities and forums to connect with other TOGAF practitioners and exchange insights.

By combining theoretical knowledge with practical application, you can enhance your understanding of TOGAF and increase your chances of success in the certification exam.