Terraform Associate 004 Exam Guide: Everything You Need to Know

The HashiCorp Terraform Associate 004 certification validates your foundational knowledge of Terraform Community Edition and HCP Terraform.

Whether you’re a cloud engineer, DevOps professional, or infrastructure specialist, this certification proves you can use Terraform to manage infrastructure efficiently and securely.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the exam -  format, objectives, study timeline, and exam day tips.

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Exam Overview

• Exam Code Terraform Associate 004
• Launch Date January 8, 2026
• Duration 60 minutes
• Format Online proctored via Certiverse
• Question Types True/False, Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer
• Terraform Version 1.12
• Validity 2 years from pass date
• Cost $70.50 USD
• Results: You’ll receive an immediate pass/fail result after completing the exam. Detailed objective-level feedback typically arrives within 48 hours. HashiCorp does not publish a passing score or item count.

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Who Should Take This Exam?

The Terraform Associate certification is ideal for:

• Cloud Engineers working with infrastructure automation
• DevOps Engineers managing multi-cloud environments
• System Administrators transitioning to Infrastructure as Code
• Developers who provision their own infrastructure
• Anyone seeking to validate foundational Terraform skills

Prerequisites:

• Basic terminal/command-line skills
• Basic understanding of on-premises and cloud architecture
• Professional experience with Terraform in production is helpful but not required - practicing exam objectives in a demo environment can be sufficient

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Exam Objectives (8 Domains)

The exam covers 8 key domains. Here’s what you need to know for each:

1. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Terraform

• Explain what IaC is and its advantages
• Describe how Terraform manages multi-cloud, hybrid cloud, and service-agnostic workflows

2. Terraform Fundamentals

• Install and version Terraform providers
• Understand how Terraform uses providers and plugins
• Write configuration using multiple providers
• Explain how Terraform manages state

3. Core Terraform Workflow

• Describe the Terraform workflow (Write → Plan → Apply)
• Initialize a working directory (terraform init)
• Validate configuration (terraform validate)
• Generate and review execution plans (terraform plan)
• Apply changes (terraform apply)
• Destroy infrastructure (terraform destroy)
• Format configuration (terraform fmt)

4. Terraform Configuration

• Use and differentiate resource and data blocks
• Create cross-resource references and dependencies
• Use variables and outputs effectively
• Work with complex types (lists, maps, objects)
• Write dynamic configuration using expressions and functions
• Define resource dependencies with depends_on
• Validate configuration using custom conditions (New in 004)
• Manage sensitive data and secrets with Vault

5. Terraform Modules

• Understand how Terraform sources modules
• Describe variable scope within modules
• Use modules in configuration
• Manage module versions

6. Terraform State Management

• Describe local and remote backends
• Understand state locking
• Configure remote state using backend blocks
• Manage resource drift and state

7. Maintain Infrastructure with Terraform

• Import existing infrastructure into Terraform
• Use CLI to inspect state (terraform state list, terraform show)
• Use verbose logging for debugging

8. HCP Terraform

• Create infrastructure using HCP Terraform
• Describe collaboration and governance features
• Organize workspaces and projects (Enhanced in 004)
• Configure HCP Terraform integration with CLI

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Question Format Examples

True/False:

Usernames and passwords referenced in the Terraform code, even as variables, will end up in plain text in the state file.

• ☐ True ☐ False

Multiple Choice:

Which command initializes a Terraform working directory?

• ☐ terraform start
• ☐ terraform init
• ☐ terraform begin
• ☐ terraform setup

Multiple Answer:

Which of the following Terraform commands will automatically refresh the state unless supplied with additional flags? (Select 2)

• ☐ terraform plan
• ☐ terraform state
• ☐ terraform apply
• ☐ terraform validate

The exam questions are straightforward and test your practical knowledge - they’re not designed to trick you.

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Exam Day Checklist

Before the Exam

• [ ] Run the Certiverse system check on your actual exam device and network (do this at least 1 week before)
• [ ] Ensure stable internet connection
• [ ] Prepare a valid government-issued ID
• [ ] Clear your desk and exam area (no papers, phones, or secondary monitors)
• [ ] Close all unnecessary applications

During the Exam

• Plan to log in 15 minutes early for check-in and room scan
• Read each question carefully -  don’t rush
• For multiple answer questions, note how many responses are required
• Flag difficult questions and return to them
• Use all 60 minutes if needed

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Tips for Success

1. Hands-on practice is essential :  Don’t just read; actually run Terraform commands in a demo environment
   
2. Focus on HCP Terraform : The 004 exam has enhanced coverage of HCP Terraform features, especially workspaces and projects
   
3. Understand state deeply :  Know how state works, state locking, remote backends, and drift detection
   
4. Know the new 004 topics :  Custom conditions, lifecycle rules (depends_on, create_before_destroy), and ephemeral values
   
5. Practice with multiple providers : Understand how to configure and use multiple providers in a single configuration
   
6. Don’t memorize, understand :  The exam tests practical knowledge, not memorization of obscure syntax

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Resources

• Official Learning Path — Terraform Associate 004
• Exam Content List
• Sample Questions
• Register for the Exam

Ready to Start?

Check out our complete Terraform Associate 004 preparation package on CloudFluently:

• Free Comprehensive Study Notes
• Free Practice Exams
• 003 vs 004 Comparison Guide

Good luck with your certification journey!