[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.

Enroll in [COF-C02] SnowPro Core Certification Exam Guide

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