Astronomer Certification for Apache Airflow Fundamentals Preparation Details
The Astronomer Certification for Apache Airflow Fundamentals exam tests your grasp of DAGs, scheduling, XComs, sensors, and the Airflow UI. This study guide maps all 15 exam topics to official documentation so you can prepare efficiently. You can also explore more Astronomer certification study guides on the Astronomer category page to keep building your skills.
Astronomer Certification for Apache Airflow Fundamentals Materials
| Coursera | Data Engineering Workflow Orchestration with Airflow |
| Udemy | Apache Airflow Fundamentals Exam: mastering from zero |
Topic 1: Airflow Use Cases
Given a specific scenario, identify if Airflow is an applicable solution.
An introduction to Apache Airflow®
Topic 2: Airflow Concepts
Identify which folder the Airflow Scheduler parses when searching for new DAG files
Identify what an Airflow provider is
Identify what a DAG run is
Identify the role of a worker in Airflow
Identify which programming language Airflow primarily uses.
An introduction to Apache Airflow®
Identify the purpose of an XCom
Identify the purpose of a DAG
An introduction to Apache Airflow®
Identify the purpose of the default_args DAG parameter
Identify the default time zone of an Airflow instance
Identify the role of an executor in Airflow
Identify the core architectural components of Airflow
Identify the typical journey of a task
Identify what happens when two DAGs share the same dag_id
Identify optional and non-optional DAG parameters.
Identify what each of the task lifecycle stages does
Identify valid ways to define a DAG in Airflow.
An introduction to Apache Airflow®
Topic 3: Dependencies
Identify the purpose of task-level dependencies in Airflow
Identify where DAG dependencies are set up in Airflow
Compare and contrast DAG task dependency relationships for equivalency
Match DAG task dependency graphs to their equivalent DAG dependency code.
Topic 4: Airflow CLI
Identify the purpose of specific Airflow CLI commands:
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
Using the Command Line Interface
airflow tasks test
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
Using the Command Line Interface
airflow db init
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
airflow info
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
Using the Command Line Interface
airflow tasks test
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
airflow config list
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
Using the Command Line Interface
airflow cheat-sheet
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
Using the Command Line Interface
airflow variables
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
airflow users
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
Using the Command Line Interface
airflow standalone
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
Using the Command Line Interface
airflow version
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
Using the Command Line Interface
Identify the impact of using the airflow tasks test Airflow CLI command with a DAG that has an XCom.
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
Topic 5: Airflow UI
Identify the most helpful Airflow UI view to use for real-world scenarios.
An introduction to the Airflow UI
Grid view
An introduction to the Airflow UI
Graph view
An introduction to the Airflow UI
Gantt view
An introduction to the Airflow UI
DAGs view
An introduction to the Airflow UI
Landing times view
An introduction to the Airflow UI
Tree view
An introduction to the Airflow UI
Calendar view
An introduction to the Airflow UI
Identify the default time for DAGs to appear in the Airflow UI
Identify the result of deleting a DAG using the Airflow UI
Identify the purpose of core Airflow UI components (e.g., The Last Run Column)
An introduction to the Airflow UI
Given a specific Airflow UI, identify solutions to common issues.
Topic 6: DAG Scheduling
Identify the purpose of each DAG scheduling parameter:
catchup
start_date
end_date
schedule_interval
Identify which tools/commands make it possible to backfill DAGs when the catchup parameter is set to false
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
Using the Command Line Interface
Identify the default value for the start_date parameter
Identify the valid values a DAG can accept for its schedule_interval parameter
Given a specific DAG scheduling goal (e.g., Schedule a DAG every day at 2 PM), identify the correct DAG scheduling parameter values to accomplish the goal
Given specific DAG scheduling parameter values, identify if a specific scheduling goal will be accomplished
Topic 7: DAG Runs
Given a specific DAG scheduling scenario or DAG code, identify the number of DAG runs that will occur.
Topic 8: Debugging
Given a specific Airflow issue or completed DAG code, identify the cause of it.
Topic 9: XComs
Identify the purpose of each XCom method:
xcom push
xcom pull
Identify the limitations of using XComs
Topic 10: Operators
Identify what a Transfer Operator does
Identify what a Sensor Operator does
Identify the purpose of the Airflow PythonOperator
Topic 11: Best Practices
Given specific DAG code, identify ways to improve the code using Airflow best practices.
Topic 12: Connections
Identify the different ways to create an Airflow connection
Identify the correct way to create an Airflow connection in a .env file
Given a specific Airflow connection string, identify the connection ID
Topic 13: Tasks
Given DAG code, identify the number of tasks that will run when the DAG is scheduled.
Topic 14: Sensors
Identify the default timeout value of a sensor
Deferrable Operators & Triggers
Identify the mode to use in a DAG when the DAG’s poke_interval parameter value is set to specific durations
Deferrable Operators & Triggers
Given the code for a sensor in a DAG, identify if the sensor is properly configured to accomplish a specific goal.
Deferrable Operators & Triggers
Topic 15: Variables
Identify the purpose of an Airflow variable
Identify the types of data that can be stored in a variable
Identify the correct way to define a variable with a specific value in Airflow
Command Line Interface and Environment Variables Reference
Identify how to fetch the value of an Airflow variable in specific formats (e.g., JSON)
Given a specific variable name, Identify if a variable will be visible in the Airflow UI
Wrapping Up Astronomer Certification for Apache Airflow Fundamentals
This Astronomer Certification for Apache Airflow Fundamentals study guide covered all 15 exam topics, from use cases and architecture to scheduling, XComs, sensors, and variables, each linked to official documentation. Work through every topic and practise in a local Airflow environment to be ready for exam day. You can also explore more Astronomer certification study guides on the Astronomer category page to keep building your skills. Have a question or tip? Leave a comment below.
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