How to Get SnowPro Core Certification? A Complete Guide for Beginners

In today’s data-driven world, Snowflake has transformed how organizations manage and analyze data. Known for its scalability, flexibility, and performance, it’s become a top platform for businesses globally. The SnowPro Core Certification is more than just a credential—it’s a benchmark that employers actively seek when hiring for Snowflake-related roles.

With over 350 students trained and an 85% success rate, I’ve refined a teaching approach that has helped professionals from various backgrounds advance their careers, secure better compensation, and meet the growing demand for Snowflake expertise.

While the certification is theory-intensive, with the right approach and consistent effort, you can succeed—regardless of your experience level. This guide provides a clear, actionable roadmap to help you avoid common pitfalls and successfully earn your SnowPro Core Certification, whether you’re making a career pivot or leveling up in your current role.

What You Need to Know Before Starting

Before diving into the certification material, ensure that you have a solid understanding of the following topics:

• Database Basics: Tables, data types, and SQL

• Database Operations: Views, stored procedures, and functions

• Cloud Computing: Types, benefits, and architecture (storage and compute)

If you're unfamiliar with any of these, I recommend reviewing some basic resources before beginning your certification journey.

Exam Details

• Exam Code: COF-C02

• Number of Questions: 100

• Question Types: Multiple choice and multiple select

• Time Limit: 115 minutes

• Languages Available: English and Japanese

• Passing Score: 750 (on a scale of 0-1000)

• Certification Validity: 2 years

Note: This guide is tailored to help beginners get their initial certification. For recertification details, please refer to the official SnowPro Core Certification exam guide here

Domain Breakdown

The SnowPro Core exam assesses your knowledge across six core areas. Here’s a breakdown of what each domain covers and its relative importance:

• Snowflake Data Cloud Features and Architecture – 25%

• Account Access and Security – 20%

• Performance Concepts – 15%

• Data Loading and Unloading – 10%

• Data Transformations – 20%

• Data Protection and Data Sharing – 10%

Understanding these domains and their weight will help you focus your study time effectively.

Study Priority Guidelines

Based on the domain breakdown, here’s how to prioritize your study time:

1. Snowflake Architecture: Focus heavily here as it covers fundamental concepts, including Snowflake’s unique architecture and cloud features.

2. Data Transformations: This is a significant section, so invest time mastering data processing, including semi-structured data handling.

3. Account Access and Security: A solid understanding of security and access management is crucial, as this section is highly weighted.

4. Performance Concepts: Study query optimization, warehouse management, and Snowflake's caching mechanisms.

5. Data Loading & Unloading and Data Protection & Sharing: Though these sections are smaller, don't overlook them. They cover important operational aspects of Snowflake.

Detailed Study Plan

1. Snowflake Data Cloud Features and Architecture

• Learn about the basics of Shared Disk and Shared Nothing architectures in Snowflake.

• Master Snowflake's multicluster shared data architecture and understand the key advantages over traditional architectures.

• Study how Snowflake organizes data using micropartitions and how this impacts performance.

• Understand Snowflake’s compressed columnar storage format and the benefits of data compression and metadata.

• Explore virtual warehouse sizes and scaling options. Learn when to scale up and scale down and understand multicluster warehouse scaling policies.

• Identify the functions of Cloud Services Layer and distinguish between account-level and schema-level objects.

• Compare different Snowflake editions (Standard, Enterprise, etc.) and their pricing models.

• Study Snowflake’s credit-based billing system, including how virtual warehouse usage, cloud services costs, and serverless features billing work.

• Learn about storage pricing factors, data transfer costs, and connection options (web UI, connectors, and drivers).

• Familiarize yourself with Snowsight interface components, knowing where to find key information in the UI.

Don’t skip any topic here. Each part is essential to understanding how Snowflake works. This section covers about 25 questions on the exam, most of which are straightforward and easy to grasp.

2. Data Loading & Unloading

• Understand the process for loading and unloading data in Snowflake.

• Compare internal vs. external stages and understand the available internal stages.

• Learn how to use the COPY INTO command for data loading and study supported file formats.

• Study the transformation options available through the COPY INTO command.

• Compare permanent, temporary, and transient tables and understand the implications of Time Travel for each.

• Learn how to unload data from tables into a stage and understand the file formatting options for unloaded data.

• Familiarize yourself with Snowpipe's serverless model and compare batch vs. continuous data processing.

• Understand stream concepts and the different types of streams

• Learn how to create and use tasks to automate data workflows, and understand task dependencies and DAGs.

While this section makes up just 10% of the exam, it covers the practical aspects of data movement in Snowflake. Focus on understanding when and why to use each feature, rather than memorizing specific commands or syntax.

3. Performance Concepts

• Compare standard, secure, and materialized views in Snowflake.

• Focus on materialized views: understand their cost implications and performance benefits.

• Study the caching mechanisms available in Snowflake. Learn when each cache is used and its impact on performance.

• Master the query history interface in Snowsight UI and understand how to use query profiles to diagnose performance issues.

• Learn to read query plans and understand partition pruning indicators.

• Understand resource monitors and how they help manage credits used by warehouses.

• Compare information schema vs. account usage schema and know which views to query for specific performance data.

• Understand the clustering benefits and carefully read the rules for defining clustering keys.

• Learn about the process of reclustering and its cost implications.

Maximum questions from this domain will be around the concepts of materialized views &  clustering

4. Data Transformations

• Learn how Snowflake processes semi-structured data.

• Understand supported formats, data types (VARIANT) for semi-structured data and how to use dot notation and bracket notation for querying this data.

• Study user-defined functions (UDFs) and stored procedures in Snowflake, and understand their purpose and benefits.

• Master file functions for accessing unstructured data in Snowflake.

• Explore sampling methods in Snowflake and understand how to use directory tables for better performance.

• Learn about the purpose and benefits of directory tables.

Pay special attention to semi-structured data concepts and file functions, as these two topics will account for approximately 10 questions on the exam. 

5. Account Access and Security

• Understand Snowflake’s access control frameworks.

• Be thoroughly familiar with built-in roles such as ACCOUNTADMIN, SECURITYADMIN, and others.

• Understand how the object hierarchy affects privilege inheritance and how to assign roles and privileges.

• Study how encryption works in Snowflake, including the Tri Secret Secure feature.

• Review various authentication options available in Snowflake, such as SSO, MFA, and OAuth.

• Familiarize yourself with column-level and row-level security features.

• Study how network policies help maintain security in your Snowflake account.

Focus especially on the access control frameworks and system-defined roles, as this topic typically accounts for about 8 questions in the exam. Knowing how Snowflake handles security is crucial for both exam success and practical use.

6. Data Protection and Data Sharing

• Understand the Time Travel periods for different table types and the implications for data retention and storage costs.

• Learn about fail-safe as Snowflake’s disaster recovery mechanism and how it complements Time Travel.

• Master the concept of zero copy cloning and its storage implications.

• Understand Snowflake’s secure data sharing architecture and the difference between Data Marketplace and Data Exchange.

• Learn the provider and consumer concepts in data sharing, and explore how to share data securely with external stakeholders.

• Understand how to navigate the Snowsight UI for data sharing tasks.

Focus on Time Travel, fail-safe, and data sharing, as these topics are frequently tested. While this section only covers about 10% of the exam, understanding these features is key for real-world Snowflake use.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid While Preparing for SnowPro Core Certification

• Many students find the Data Transformations and Account Access & Security sections challenging. Spend extra time mastering these areas to build a solid foundation.

• Once you understand a concept, always attempt related practice questions. This will help you connect theory with exam-style questions and reinforce your understanding.

• It’s essential to take the exam within two weeks of completing your syllabus to keep the material fresh and avoid forgetting key information.

• Never attempt the certification exam without sufficient practice. Going through mock exams and practice questions is crucial to familiarize yourself with the exam format.

• Hands-on practice isn’t essential for passing the SnowPro Core Certification. Focus on theoretical knowledge and practicing exam-style questions to succeed.

Exam Day Preparation Tips

• The exam must be taken through Pearson—either by installing their software or by visiting an authorized Pearson location.

• Ensure a stable internet connection and a quiet, disturbance-free environment if you’re taking the exam remotely. Any movement around you will flag the test, and your exam may be terminated.

• Carry a government-issued ID as identification proof.

• No documentation or notes are allowed during the exam.

• For multiple-select questions, the number of options you need to select will be clearly specified.

• Start with the questions you're confident about, and flag any you’re unsure of for later review.

• Relate concepts—sometimes thinking about one question can help you find the answer to another or provide insight based on how the question is framed.

Earning the SnowPro Core Certification can significantly boost your career, especially with Snowflake’s growing prominence in the cloud data space. By following the structured study plan in this guide and avoiding common pitfalls, you’ll be well on your way to success. Consistency, practice, and a strong grasp of the core concepts are key.

For a guided learning experience, the Enqurious platform offers expert-vetted content designed to help you succeed. Built from my experience with over 350 students and an 85% success rate, this is the same content that’s helped many professionals pass the certification.

If you're ready to deepen your Snowflake knowledge or earn your SnowPro Core Certification, visit Enqurious to get started.