Model Context Protocol Associate (MCPA) exam price, length, validity and renewal
CNCF · Foundational · MCPA · $250 · 90 min · 60 questions · valid 2 yearsNew
Exam facts
Checked Sep 25, 2026 on CNCF's page| Price | $250 per attempt, US list priceUSD, exam only; includes one retake and 12 months to take the exam; THRIVE-ONE subscription bundles cost more |
|---|---|
| Length | 90 min |
| Questions | 60 |
| Format | Multiple choice, online proctored |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Valid for | 2 years |
| Renewal | Retake and pass the exam before the certification expires; the renewed certification stays current for 2 more years from the date you pass. |
| Prerequisites | None required; JSON-RPC, LLM API, agentic AI and basic security (OAuth 2.1, tokens) experience recommended |
| Level | Foundational (CNCF calls it Beginner) |
| Delivery | Online proctored (PSI Bridge secure browser) |
| Languages | English |
| Status | NewLaunched 2026-09-14 by the Agentic AI Foundation (AAIF) and Linux Foundation Education; exam follows MCP specification release 2026-07-28 |
| Last changed | Sep 14, 2026MCPA certification launched |
| Source | training.linuxfoundation.org/certification/model-context-protocol-associate-mcpa/Last checked Sep 25, 2026 |
Changes
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About this exam
For practitioners proving foundational knowledge of Model Context Protocol concepts, use cases and implementation considerations for agentic AI systems.
What the official page says
- Price: "$250 Exam only"
- Duration: "Duration of Exam 90 minutes"
- Questions: "The multiple-choice exam is delivered online and consists of 60* multiple-choice questions."
- Validity: "Certification Valid for 2 Years"
Certifications are valid for 2 years and are renewed by retaking and passing the exam before the expiration date, which extends them 2 years from the new pass date.
Each exam purchase includes one free retake, which must be taken within 12 months of the original purchase; SINGLE-attempt purchases and no-shows get no retake.
CNCF policyAlso read: docs.linuxfoundation.org/tc-docs/certification/important-instructions-mc, docs.linuxfoundation.org/tc-docs/certification/faq-mc, docs.linuxfoundation.org/tc-docs/certification/lf-handbook2/language, training.linuxfoundation.org/blog/just-launched-model-context-protocol-associate-mcpa-certification/