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[COF-C02] SnowPro Core Certification Exam Guide

The SnowPro ™ Core Certification demonstrates an individual's knowledge to apply specific core expertise implementing and migrating to Snowflake. A SnowPro ™ Core Certified individual has a thorough understanding of Snowflake's Data Cloud, and has the knowledge necessary to design, develop and manage secure, scalable Snowflake solutions to drive business objectives.

This exam covers Snowflake principles and best practices including: Data Loading and Transformation in Snowflake, Virtual Warehouse Performance and Concurrency, DDL and DML Queries, Using Semi-Structured and Unstructured Data, Cloning and Time Travel, Data Sharing, and Snowflake Account Structure and Management.

  • Course Number

    CERT-SPC-GUIDE

SnowPro™ Core Certification Candidate

The SnowPro ™ Core Certification is designed for individuals who would like to demonstrate their knowledge of the Snowflake Data Cloud. The candidate has a thorough knowledge of:

  • Data Loading and Transformation in Snowflake
  • Virtual Warehouse Performance and Concurrency
  • DDL and DML Queries
  • Using Semi-Structured and Unstructured Data
  • Cloning and Time Travel
  • Data Sharing
  • Snowflake Account Structure and Management

Exam Format

Exam Version: COF-C02
Total Number of Questions: 100
Question Types: Multiple Select, Multiple Choice
Time Limit: 115 minutes
Languages: English
Registration Fee: $175 USD
Passing Score: 750 + Scaled Scoring from 0 - 1000
Unscored Content: Exams may include unscored items to gather statistical information. These items are not identified on the form and do not affect your score, and additional time is factored in to account for this content.
No Prerequisites
Delivery Options:

  • Online Proctoring
  • Onsite Testing Centers

Click here for information on scheduling your exam.

Exam Domain Breakdown

This exam guide includes test domains, weightings, and objectives. It is not a comprehensive listing of all the content that will be presented on this examination. The table below lists the main content domains and their weighting ranges.

Domain 1.0: Snowflake Data Cloud Features and Architecture

1.1 Outline key features of the Snowflake Data Cloud.

  • Elastic Storage
  • Elastic Compute
  • Snowflake’s three distinct layers
  • Data Cloud/ Data Exchange/ Partner Network
  • Cloud partner categories

1.2 Outline key Snowflake tools and user interfaces.

  • Snowflake User Interfaces (UI)
  • Snowsight
  • Snowflake connectors
  • Snowflake drivers
  • SQL scripting
  • Snowpark

1.3 Outline Snowflake’s catalog and objects.

  • Databases
  • Schemas
  • Tables Types
  • View Types
  • Data types
  • User-Defined Functions (UDFs) and User Defined Table Functions (UDTFs)
  • Stored Procedures
  • Streams
  • Tasks
  • Pipes
  • Shares
  • Sequences

1.4 Outline Snowflake storage concepts.

  • Micro partitions
  • Types of column metadata clustering
  • Data storage monitoring
  • Search optimization service

Domain 2.0: Account Access and Security

2.1 Outline compute principles.

  • Network security and policies
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Federated authentication
  • Single Sign-On (SSO)

2.2 Define the entities and roles that are used in Snowflake.

  • Outline how privileges can be granted and revoked
  • Explain role hierarchy and privilege inheritance

2.3 Outline data governance capabilities in Snowflake.

  • Accounts
  • Organizations
  • Databases
  • Secure views
  • Information schemas
  • Access history and read support

Domain 3.0: Performance Concepts

3.1 Explain the use of the Query Profile.

  • Explain plans
  • Data spilling
  • Use of the data cache
  • Micro-partition pruning
  • Query history

3.2. Explain virtual warehouse configurations.

  • Multi-clustering
  • Warehouse sizing
  • Warehouse settings and access

3.3 Outline virtual warehouse performance tools.

  • Monitoring warehouse loads
  • Query performance
  • Scaling up compared to scaling out
  • Resource monitors

3.4 Optimize query performance.

  • Describe the use of materialized views
  • Use of specific SELECT commands

Domain 4.0: Data Loading and Unloading

4.1 Define concepts and best practices that should be considered when loading data.

  • Stages and stage types
  • File size
  • File formats
  • Folder structures
  • Adhoc/bulk loading using the Snowflake UI

4.2 Outline different commands used to load data and when they should be used.

  • CREATE PIPE
  • COPY INTO
  • GET
  • INSERT/INSERT OVERWRITE
  • PUT
  • STREAM
  • TASK
  • VALIDATE

4.3 Define concepts and best practices that should be considered when unloading data.

  • File formats
  • Empty strings and NULL values
  • Unloading to a single file
  • Unloading relational tables

4.4 Outline the different commands used to unload data and when they should be used.

  • LIST
  • COPY INTO
  • CREATE FILE FORMAT
  • CREATE FILE FORMAT … CLONE
  • ALTER FILE FORMAT
  • DROP FILE FORMAT
  • DESCRIBE FILE FORMAT
  • SHOW FILE FORMAT

Domain 5.0: Data Transformation

5.1 Explain how to work with standard data.

  • Estimating functions
  • Sampling
  • Supported function types
  • User-Defined Functions (UDFs) and stored procedures

5.2 Explain how to work with semi-structured data.

  • Supported file formats, data types, and sizes
  • VARIANT column
  • Flattening the nested structure

5.3 Explain how to work with unstructured data.

  • Define and use directory tables
  • SQL file functions
  • Outline the purpose of User-Defined Functions (UDFs) for data analysis

Domain 6.0: Data Protection and Data Sharing

6.1 Outline Continuous Data Protection with Snowflake.

  • Time Travel
  • Fail-safe
  • Data Encryption
  • Cloning
  • Replication

6.2 Outline Snowflake data sharing capabilities.

  • Account types
  • Snowflake Marketplace and Data Exchange
  • Private data exchange
  • Access control options
  • Shares

Recommended Training

As preparation for this exam, we recommend a combination of hands-on experience, instructor-led training, on demand training courses and the utilization of self-study assets.

Instructor-Led Course recommended for this exam:
Snowflake Fundamentals

Paid Self Study recommended for this exam:
SnowPro Core Certification Preparation Course

Free Self Study recommended for this exam:
SnowPro Core Study Guide
Snowflake Hands on Essentials & Level Up Series
Snowflake in 20 Minutes

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