Datadog APM & Distributed Tracing Fundamentals

Every Datadog certification exam, including this one, consists of multiple choice questions, and test takers have 120 minutes to complete it. Plan your pacing so you can read each scenario carefully rather than rushing. There is no published question count, so budget time per question rather than assuming a fixed total.

The cost to take a Datadog certification exam is US $100. Each retake requires a separate payment and is not covered by the original exam fee, so a failed attempt means paying again. Budget accordingly if you think you may need more than one sitting.

You may retake the exam as needed, but you are limited to three attempts within a 180-day period starting from your first attempt. If you do not pass after three attempts, a 180-day waiting period is required before retesting. You must wait 24-48 hours after completing an exam before scheduling your next attempt.

Datadog does not publicly disclose the passing score; it says the passing mark is determined by the percentage of correct answers. Difficulty depends on your hands-on exposure. Candidates with a few months of real Datadog APM experience on live systems are best positioned, so treat the exam as applied knowledge rather than memorization.

The APM & Distributed Tracing Fundamentals exam is available in English, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, and French. Note that not every Datadog exam offers the same language set, so confirm the language when you register through Webassessor rather than assuming your preferred language carries across exams.

Start with the official exam guide to map the five published topic areas, then work through the Datadog Learning Center's APM & Distributed Tracing Fundamentals Certification Learning Path, which lists 14 courses. Take the 25-question practice exam after the coursework to expose gaps, and revisit weak areas before booking.

Candidates often study product terminology without practicing instrumentation, so they cannot reason about tracing behavior, service setup, or troubleshooting scenarios. Others skip the practice exam and discover timing problems on test day. Because results are immediate and no per-question score report is provided, you cannot diagnose mistakes afterward, so close gaps before you sit.

Results are available immediately after completing the exam, and you should expect an email from Kryterion with your overall score and result; check your spam folder. Datadog certifications are valid for three years from the date of certification, after which you may renew by retaking the exam.

Onsite proctored exams must be canceled or rescheduled at least 72 hours before the scheduled time, and online proctored exams at least 24 hours before. Missing those windows forfeits your fee or voucher. Only absences marked as a no call no show count as an attempt.

There are no formal prerequisites; the exam is open to everyone, though the recommended Datadog experience varies by exam and is detailed in the exam guide. To request reasonable accommodation, submit the accommodation form at least 30 days prior to your scheduled exam date, so plan well ahead.