AE-C (NBRC) study guide
AE-C · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Apple Certified Associate – Mac Integration (AE-C) credential is designed for IT generalists who need to bring Macs into an environment that is already built around Windows servers, Active Directory, and corporate network services. It is aimed at help-desk technicians, systems administrators, and support engineers who are comfortable with enterprise IT concepts but need to make macOS and iOS devices coexist with existing infrastructure. The AE-C study guide has 7 sections and about 2,445 words.
01Directory Services and Account Management
This domain tests how macOS resolves identities, authenticates users, and stores account data across local and directory-backed scopes. Expect questions on local accounts, network accounts, mobile accounts, UID/GID conflicts, and the token model that controls FileVault and management rights.
380 words, about 2 min02Network Configuration and Services
This domain covers how macOS selects interfaces, obtains addresses, resolves names, and applies per-network settings. Questions often test service order, DHCP behavior, DNS resolution, 802.1X, VPN, and proxy configuration rather than obscure commands.
344 words, about 2 min03File Sharing and Permissions
This domain tests how macOS shares files over SMB, NFS, and legacy protocols, and how POSIX permissions and ACLs combine. Expect practical questions about share points, access control entries, inheritance, and why an authorized user still cannot open a file.
370 words, about 2 min04Printing and Peripheral Integration
This domain covers adding and managing printers, print queues, driverless printing, and common peripheral connections. Questions test AirPrint, IPP Everywhere, CUPS behavior, queue troubleshooting, and when a vendor driver is actually needed.
346 words, about 2 min05Security, Certificates, and Keychain
This domain tests macOS security controls and credential storage: FileVault, Gatekeeper, System Integrity Protection, XProtect, keychains, certificates, and trust settings. Expect scenarios where an app is blocked, a certificate is not trusted, or a saved password is missing.
349 words, about 2 min06Deployment, Imaging, and Management
This domain covers how Macs are provisioned and managed at scale. Modern questions focus on Automated Device Enrollment, MDM, configuration profiles, volume ownership, and the end of monolithic imaging, especially for Apple silicon.
349 words, about 2 min07Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
This domain tests a structured approach to macOS faults: define the symptom, isolate the layer, gather evidence, change one variable, and verify the fix. Expect questions on startup modes, logs, disk checks, crashes, and when to preserve data before repair.
307 words, about 2 min