SnowPro Core is Snowflake's foundation certification and the gateway to the SnowPro Advanced track. Version COF-C03, launched in 2026, replaces COF-C02 and spans architecture, account and warehouse management, data loading, performance, collaboration and connectivity. You spend four days on hands-on labs in a Snowflake account, with practice questions along the way.
The essentials
Publisher : Snowflake
Certification : SnowPro Core Certification
Exam code : COF-C03
Duration : 4 days (28 h)
Level : Intermediate
Formats : Live virtual class · In-person in Casablanca · On-site (intra-company)
Languages : French or English
Exam facts : Passing scaled score 750/1000 · Pearson VUE, test centre or online · English, Japanese, Korean
Exam voucher: included or optional depending on the package — contact us.
Explain the Snowflake architecture: storage, compute and cloud services layers
Size and manage virtual warehouses, including multi-cluster setups
Load, unload and transform data with stages, COPY INTO and Snowpipe
Query semi-structured and unstructured data
Tune performance with the Query Profile, caching and clustering
Share and protect data: secure sharing, Time Travel, cloning and masking
Connect clients and tools: Snowsight, drivers and connectors
Program
Snowflake AI Data Cloud architecture
Storage, compute and services layers
Micro-partitions and editions
Objects: databases, schemas, tables, views
Accounts and virtual warehouses
Roles and access control
Sizing, auto-suspend and multi-cluster warehouses
Resource monitors and credit usage
Data loading, unloading and transformation
Internal and external stages, file formats
COPY INTO and Snowpipe
Streams, tasks and unloading
Structured, semi-structured and unstructured data
VARIANT and FLATTEN
Directory tables and unstructured files
Performance monitoring and optimization
Query Profile and query history
Result and warehouse caches
Clustering keys
Data collaboration and protection
Secure data sharing and the Marketplace
Time Travel, Fail-safe and zero-copy cloning
Masking policies
Snowflake connectivity
Snowsight and command-line tools
Drivers and connectors
Prerequisites
Good command of SQL
Grounding in data warehousing and public cloud concepts
Snowflake recommends six months or more of hands-on experience before the exam
Target audience
Data engineers and analysts working in Snowflake
Database administrators and data architects
BI and ETL developers moving to Snowflake
Candidates heading for a SnowPro Advanced certification next
The exam
COF-C03 took over from COF-C02 on 16 February 2026 for English, with the Korean and Japanese versions following on 30 March 2026. You sit the exam through Pearson VUE, either at a test centre or online with OnVUE. Snowflake reports a scaled score from 0 to 1,000 and requires 750 to pass. After a failed attempt you wait seven days, with a cap of four attempts in any twelve months. The credential expires after two years; you renew it through the recertification exam, a higher-level certification or Snowflake's continuing education programme.
Preparation tips
Open a Snowflake trial account and redo every lab on your own
Be clear on how Time Travel, Fail-safe and cloning differ: a recurring question theme
Read each question closely: similar options often differ by a single word
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How does COF-C03 differ from COF-C02?
COF-C03, launched on 16 February 2026, replaces COF-C02 with seven reorganized domains covering architecture, performance, collaboration and connectivity. A COF-C02 credential you already hold stays valid until it expires.
What score do I need to pass?
750 on a 0 to 1,000 scale. Scores are scaled so results stay comparable across exam forms.
How long does the certification last?
Two years. You renew it with a shorter recertification exam, a SnowPro Advanced certification or an eligible course under the continuing education programme.
Do I need Snowflake experience?
Snowflake recommends six months of hands-on use. Our labs speed this up, but real-world practice after the course is still wise.
Which course formats and languages?
Live online, in person in Casablanca or on-site at your organization, in French or English.
Securevalley training — online and in-person sessions. Contact us for pricing and registration terms.
Securevalley is not a Snowflake training partner. Snowflake, SnowPro and related product names are trademarks of Snowflake.