Spark Developer Associate exam format
Here is what Databricks publishes about the Associate Developer for Apache Spark exam.
| Certification | Databricks Certified Associate Developer for Apache Spark |
| Scored questions | 45 |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Question format | Multiple choice |
| Registration fee | $200 |
| Programming language | Python |
| Validity | 2 years, then recertification on the current version |
| Prerequisites | None (training recommended) |
| Recommended experience | 6+ months hands-on practice |
| Delivery | Online proctored or test centre |
| Languages | English only |
| Test aids | None permitted |
| Passing score | Not published by Databricks |
Unscored items may be included for statistical purposes without affecting your score.
Section weighting
| Section | Weight | Approx. scored questions |
|---|---|---|
| Developing DataFrame/DataSet API Applications | 30% | ~14 |
| Apache Spark Architecture and Components | 20% | ~9 |
| Using Spark SQL | 20% | ~9 |
| Troubleshooting and Tuning DataFrame API Applications | 10% | ~5 |
| Structured Streaming | 10% | ~5 |
| Using Spark Connect to deploy applications | 5% | ~2 |
| Using Pandas API on Apache Spark | 5% | ~2 |
Counts derived from Databricks’ percentages against 45 scored questions.
Writing transformations is half the exam. The DataFrame API (30%) plus Spark SQL (20%) is 50% of the scored content. If you can read and reason about Spark code fluently, you are halfway there.
Architecture at 20% is the differentiator. Most associate certifications keep architecture to a brief overview. Here it is nine questions, and it is the section that makes the tuning and troubleshooting content comprehensible. You cannot reason about a slow job without understanding stages, partitions and shuffles.
The two 5% sections are two questions each. Spark Connect and the Pandas API deserve an hour apiece — enough to know what problem each solves.
Python only
All code on this exam is Python. There is no Scala variant to worry about. You read PySpark and answer questions about what it does, what is wrong with it, or which of four versions is correct.
Two minutes per question
45 questions in 90 minutes, multiple choice only. Comfortable — though code-reading questions consume more time than definition questions, so do not linger.
English only
Unlike several other Databricks certifications, this one is offered in English only.
The passing score is not published
Databricks does not publish one. Aim for consistent 80%+ on realistic practice material.
What makes this exam different
Every other Databricks certification tests the platform. This one tests Spark.
That has a useful consequence: the knowledge transfers. Spark runs in many places, and understanding partitions, shuffles, lazy evaluation and the DataFrame API is portable in a way that Unity Catalog knowledge is not.
Booking
Book through Databricks. Nothing gates registration.