> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cognite.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Becoming a certified Flows custom apps builder

> Complete the certification process to develop and deploy Flows custom apps in customer environments.

**Flows custom apps builder certification** qualifies a developer (internal, partner, or customer) to build production-ready Flows custom apps in any customer environment, not just production. It confirms you've met security, data, and UX standards before working on customer projects.

<Info>
  Flows custom apps is a **pro-code** product. Builder certification expects proficiency with an agentic coding tool ([Cursor](https://cursor.com/) or [Claude Code](https://www.anthropic.com/claude-code) strongly preferred) and working familiarity with **Cognite Data Fusion (CDF)**. Confirm your tooling and access before starting.
</Info>

## Certification scope and validity

* **Who it covers**: Individual builders (internal, partner, or customer) who complete the Flows custom apps training path.
* **What it covers**: Authorization to build Flows custom apps in customer environments. Production deployments additionally require [Application certification](/cdf/flows/guides/application-certification) per app.
* **Validity**: Six months from the date you complete the certification path.

## How to get certified

To get certified, follow the certification path: **[Attend the Cognite Academy course](https://hub.cognite.com/p/flows) → attend the hands-on enablement session → get certified**.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Confirm prerequisites">
    Before you start, make sure you have:

    * An enterprise license to **Cursor**, **Claude Code**, or another agentic coding tool.
    * Access to a CDF project where you can build (a dev or test project is fine).
    * Familiarity with the Cognite SDK and CDF data modeling concepts.

    <Note>
      Customer builders reach certification through the **Flows Enablement Session**. Contact your Cognite representative to schedule.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete the pre-work">
    Before the enablement session, finish:

    * The [**Flows Foundations Academy**](https://hub.cognite.com/p/flows) course.
    * The persona-matched upskilling material your Cognite representative sends you (depends on whether you're a solution architect, app developer, dashboard creator, platform owner, or operational subject matter expert (SME)).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Attend the hands-on enablement session">
    Join the on-site Flows enablement session. The session facilitator re-covers the theory at the start, then you spend the rest of the time building on real use cases using the certification skills (`/flows-app-brief`, `/flows-code-review`, `/flows-design-review`) end-to-end.

    <Tip>
      Run `/flows-app-brief` as your first action after `npx @cognite/cli@latest apps create`. The skill coaches you through persona, problem, and success criteria up front so you build the right thing. It also produces `App-Brief.md`, which [Application certification](/cdf/flows/guides/application-certification) requires later.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete the learning path">
    The session facilitator completes the learning path at the end of the session. You receive a **badge and certificate** valid for six months.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Check>
  Once the session facilitator completes your learning path, you're a certified Flows custom apps builder for six months. You can build Flows custom apps across customer projects. Every production deployment still requires a separate [Application certification](/cdf/flows/guides/application-certification) per app, even when you're an active certified builder.
</Check>

<Warning>
  Production deployments require a separate [Application certification](/cdf/flows/guides/application-certification) for each app, even if you are an active certified builder.
</Warning>

## Recertification

To maintain active status, recertify before your six-month certification expires. Recertification is self-serve: re-take the latest Academy course and refresh your hands-on work against the current Flows custom apps template and skills.

## Troubleshooting common issues

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Do I get certified just by attending a session?">
    No, attendance alone isn't enough. Certification is granted when the session facilitator completes your learning path at the end of the enablement session, after you've finished the Academy pre-work and the hands-on building.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is there a self-serve path to Builder certification today?">
    For initial certification, no. Customer builders go through the Flows Enablement Session as the single supported path. **Recertification** is self-serve once your initial certification is in place.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use demo or mock data during the session?">
    No. The app you build during the enablement session must operate against live CDF data so the certification skills produce meaningful reports and the session facilitator can assess your work properly.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is Builder certification enough to deploy to production?">
    No. Builder certification authorizes you to build Flows custom apps in customer environments. Each app you deploy to a customer **production** project still requires its own [Application certification](/cdf/flows/guides/application-certification).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if I miss the certification deadline?">
    Recertify by re-taking the latest Academy course and refreshing your hands-on work. Contact your Cognite representative if you've been out of practice for an extended period and want a refresher session.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Further reading

* [Application certification](/cdf/flows/guides/application-certification) — Required for every Flows custom app deployed to a customer production project.
* [Flows custom apps quality guidelines](/cdf/flows/guides/quality-guidelines) — The 10 design quality questions the design review skill scores against.
* [Builder skills](/cdf/flows/concepts/skills) — How the certification skills are delivered and refreshed.
* [Building Flows custom applications](/cdf/flows/index) — Template capabilities and tooling overview.