As an official Pega trainer and the first Pega-accredited instructor in Europe, I have been supporting professionals in obtaining their Pega Academy certifications since 2019. Whether you’re aiming for the Pega Certified System Architect (SA) or the Pega Certified Business Architect (BA) certification, here is a complete guide to maximise your chances of success.
Two paths to prepare for Pega certification
1. Self-study on Pega Academy
Pega Academy makes all its courses available free of charge. Simply create an account and start the mission of your choice.
Estimated duration: 2 to 4 weeks full-time to complete the System Architect and Business Architect training (course reading + exercises).
Key points to know:
- All Pega Academy courses are in English
- It is recommended to have the Pega platform open in another tab to visualise the concepts covered
- At the end of each module, MCQs allow you to progressively check your understanding
- Challenges (practical Pega programming exercises) complement the training — it is recommended to complete all of them
- A mission final test (approximately 1h30) concludes the pathway: a score above 80% means you are ready for the exam
2. Training with an official Pega trainer
Taking Pega training with an accredited trainer offers several decisive advantages:
- Training in French (or English/Spanish at IRIZ Consulting)
- Immediate answers to your questions
- Guidance on key exam points — an experienced trainer knows exactly which concepts are priority
- Significant time savings compared to self-study
Pega Certified System Architect (SA) Certification
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum pass score | 65% correct answers |
| Number of questions | 60 MCQ questions |
| Unscored questions | 4 “decoy” questions (anti-cheating) |
| Scored questions | 56 questions |
| Duration (in English) | 2 hours (1h30 + 30 min for non-English speakers) |
| Duration (in French) | 1h30 |
| Cost | USD 175 |
Pega Certified Business Architect (BA) Certification
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum pass score | 70% correct answers |
| Number of questions | 50 MCQ questions |
| Unscored questions | 4 “decoy” questions |
| Scored questions | 46 questions |
| Duration (in English) | 2 hours (1h30 + 30 min for non-English speakers) |
| Duration (in French) | 1h30 |
| Cost | USD 175 |
What to do if you fail?
Failing a Pega certification is not the end — it is valuable information to help you progress.
- After a 1st failure: you can retake the exam after a minimum of 3 days
- After a 2nd failure: minimum delay of 14 days before the 3rd attempt
- After 3 failures: you must wait for a new version of the certification
Strategic tip: on the day of the exam, you receive a detailed score by topic. Identify your weak points and focus on them for your next attempt.
Get certified with IRIZ Consulting
IRIZ Consulting offers training programmes with an accredited Pega trainer, including certification preparation and sitting.
Example pathway for System Architect certification in 3 weeks:
- Week 1: 5 days of courses and exercises with an official trainer
- Week 2: 3 days of courses and exercises + 2 days of certification preparation
- Week 3: 1 day of preparation with the trainer + autonomous revision + certification exam
Would you like to register for a Pega certification training?
Discover our Pega training →