How to move from Select to Preferred in the Claude Partner Network

What are the Preferred tier requirements?

Only Developer and Architect certifications count. An active certified individual holds a current Anthropic certification and has used Claude in the past 90 days.

How do Select partners reach Preferred?

1. Plan your certified bench growth to 100 active people, by role and by quarter.
2. Grow customers running Claude in production to 15.
3. Publish 3 public customer stories.
4. Keep counted people active: renew certifications before they lapse and keep them working with Claude.
5. Link every subsidiary and regional email domain to your partner record; certifications on unlinked domains do not credit.
6. Check your standing in the Claude Partner Hub.

How many more certified people does a Select partner need?

Illustrative example: a Select firm with 18 active certified people needs 82 more to meet the Preferred headcount. People who hold several certifications count once, Associate certifications do not count, and certifications earned on unlinked domains do not credit.

When does Anthropic promote firms to Preferred?

Anthropic's published promotion dates are 1 January and 1 July. The monthly promotions announced for November 2026 cover Certified and Select only. For an ordinary failure to maintain tier requirements, Anthropic describes a 31 December review with 90 days' notice and an opportunity to close the gap. Programme exceptions can apply.

Grow your bench toward Preferred with Timo

Timo runs preparation for your existing team, recruits candidates who will prepare for eligible exams, and introduces certified consultants for potential client work. Your firm agrees the engagement and checks the applicable certification and customer-deployment requirements with Anthropic. Confirm in writing with Anthropic how consultants count toward your standing.

Preferred tier questions