AD0-E117 · ● Active · Expert · Adobe
The Adobe Experience Manager Sites Architect Master certification validates deep expertise in designing enterprise-scale AEM solutions. Targeted at architects, technical leads, and solutions consultants with 3+ years of hands-on AEM Sites experience who design and implement complex digital experiences at scale.
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $225 USD; $150 USD (India) |
| Duration | 100 minutes |
| Questions | 50 (multiple choice and multiple select) |
| Passing | 58% (29/50 correct) |
| Format | Multiple choice, multiple select |
| Delivery | Online proctored or test center proctored |
| Languages | English |
| Valid | Lifetime (Adobe Certified Master credentials do not expire) |
| Renewal | N/A — Master-level credentials are lifetime |
| Prerequisites | 3+ years architecting AEM Sites (recommended to hold AEM Sites Developer Professional AD0-E128 first) |
| Released | Established credential (ongoing active status) |
| Retiring | N/A — active |
Vendor source — Adobe Digital Experience Certification Program ↗ Official exam page — Architect Master: AEM Sites ↗ Exam objectives — AEM Architect Master Prep Guide ↗
About
The AD0-E117 Adobe Certified Master – AEM Sites Architect credential recognizes expert-level proficiency in designing, architecting, and delivering enterprise content management solutions on Adobe Experience Manager. It assumes deep knowledge of AEM 6.4, 6.5, and AEM as a Cloud Service. Candidates must demonstrate ability to translate business requirements into scalable, secure, performant AEM architectures; design content models and component hierarchies; plan integrations with third-party and Adobe systems; and define governance and operational strategies. This is a lifetime credential — no renewal required.
Domain context — Architecture/CMS
Enterprise content management platform architecture, covering AEM platform design, multi-site management, replication, caching, security, workflows, and integration with the Adobe Experience Cloud ecosystem.
Read full deep dive — Adobe Experience Cloud →
Topics covered
Per the Adobe Architect Master exam blueprint:
-
Discovery & Assessment (25%)
- Conduct stakeholder interviews and assess current infrastructure
- Document functional and non-functional requirements
- Identify integration touchpoints and define content taxonomy
- Establish success metrics and baseline performance benchmarks
-
Solution Design (35%)
- Design high-level and detailed architectural blueprints
- Design component hierarchies and content governance models
- Plan AEM Sites instance topology (single vs. multi-site)
- Design caching strategies (Dispatcher, CDN, browser cache)
- Design security models (authentication, authorization, encryption)
- Specify third-party integrations (APIs, DAM, CRM, Commerce)
- Design replication and distribution strategies
-
Implementation (25%)
- Execute architecture through AEM configuration and development
- Configure OSGi, context-aware configs, and Cloud Manager pipelines
- Design and develop custom components and templates
- Manage code deployments and CI/CD workflows
- Ensure quality assurance across dev, stage, and production
-
Maintenance & Operations (15%)
- Plan ongoing support, monitoring, and optimization
- Design troubleshooting strategies
- Plan for scalability and evolution of the solution
Source: Adobe Experience League — AEM Architect Master ↗
Common skills at Architecture/CMS · Expert
Shared content for the Architecture/CMS domain at Expert level — not specific to this cert.
- Enterprise content management platform design and scaling
- Multi-site, multi-tenant, multi-region architecture patterns
- Content governance, taxonomy, and metadata strategy
- High-availability and disaster recovery design
- Security architecture (authentication, authorization, data protection)
- Integration patterns (APIs, webhooks, data synchronization)
- Performance tuning, caching, and CDN strategy
- Cost optimization and license management across platforms
- Migration strategy from legacy to modern CMS platforms
- Team capability assessment and knowledge transfer planning
Recommended courses at Architecture/CMS · Expert
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Experience League | AEM Sites Architect Learning Path | Free | ↗ |
| Adobe (Official) | Configure and Maintain Adobe Experience Manager (3-day instructor-led) | Contact for pricing | ↗ |
| Adobe (Official) | Develop Websites and Components in AEM (4-day instructor-led / 32-hour on-demand) | Contact for pricing | ↗ |
| Adobe Certification Portal | AEM Architect Master Prep Guide (official study guide) | Included with exam | ↗ |
| Udemy | AD0-E117 Adobe Experience Manager Sites Architect Master | $15–50 | ↗ |
| Pluralsight | AEM Architecture and Design Patterns | $29–39/mo | ↗ |
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Certification Portal | AD0-E117 Official Practice Assessment | Free (with enrollment) | ↗ |
| Udemy | Adobe AEM Architect Practice Exams | $15–50 | ↗ |
| EDUSUM | Adobe AD0-E117 Practice Questions | $29–49 | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe AEM Cookbook | Multiple Authors | Adobe Press / Packt | 2019 | 978-1789344653 | ↗ |
| Introduction to Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) as a Cloud Service | Adobe Learning Services | Adobe | 2023 | N/A | ↗ |
Book note: Dedicated AEM Architect Master study guides are limited; the official Adobe Experience League documentation and certification prep guide serve as the primary reference. Community contributions on Medium and Adobe forums supplement these official resources.
Typical job titles at Architecture/CMS · Expert
AEM Architect · AEM Solutions Architect · Senior AEM Developer · Technical Architect (AEM) · AEM Platform Architect · Lead Developer (AEM) · Enterprise Architect (Adobe)
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings listing AD0-E117 or equivalent AEM architecture expertise as preferred/required.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $107,100 – $140,700 (mid-to-senior roles); $133,167 avg (Technical Architect) | ZipRecruiter ↗ · Salary.com ↗ · VelvetJobs ↗ |
| ZAR | No region-specific data available — consult South African specialist recruiters (Pnet, CareerJunction) for local AEM architect benchmarks | |
| GBP | No region-specific data available — research UK enterprise architect benchmarks (IT Jobs Watch, Hays) | |
| EUR | No region-specific data available — consult German/Dutch/French enterprise CMS architect benchmarks | |
| AUD | No region-specific data available — consult SEEK, CareerOne for local AEM architect roles |
Salary note: AEM architect roles cluster at senior/lead level with premium compensation due to AEM scarcity and expertise required. Actual compensation includes bonus, stock, and benefits; figures above show base salary only. Remote AEM roles command $48–$113 per hour depending on seniority.
Skills validated
Exam-specific technologies and competencies tested by AD0-E117.
- AEM architecture, topology, and scaling patterns
- AEM Sites content modeling and component design
- AEM Dispatcher, CDN, and caching strategies
- Authentication and authorization (LDAP, SAML, SSO integration)
- OSGi configuration and context-aware configurations
- AEM replication and content distribution
- Content workflows and approval processes
- Integration with third-party systems (APIs, webhooks, Adobe Analytics, Adobe Target)
- Cloud Manager pipelines and CI/CD orchestration
- AEM as a Cloud Service (AEMaaCS) architecture
- Performance monitoring and troubleshooting
- Security best practices and compliance (encryption, data protection)
- Multi-site and multi-tenant design patterns
- Code deployment and version control strategies
Related certifications
- Stacks with: AD0-E128 AEM Sites Developer Professional ↗ · AD0-E129 AEM Assets Developer Professional ↗
- Recommended prerequisite: AD0-E128 (AEM Sites Developer Professional) — no formal requirement, but architect roles typically progress from developer certification
- Equivalents at Expert level: Microsoft AZ-305 Azure Solutions Architect Expert ↗ · AWS SAP-C02 Solutions Architect Professional ↗
- Vendor overview: Adobe Vendor Overview ↗
Sources
- Adobe Digital Experience Certification Program
- Adobe Experience League — AEM Architect Master
- Adobe AEM Architect Master Prep Guide
- AEM Community — Architect Certification Prep (AD0-E117)
- AEM Architect Salary Data — ZipRecruiter
- AEM Technical Architect Salary — Salary.com
- AEM Architect Jobs — ZipRecruiter
- AEM Learning Path — Adobe Learning
- Adobe Experience League — AEM as a Cloud Service Architecture
Last verified: 2026-08-08 Parent ecosystem: Adobe Experience Cloud Parent domain: Architecture/CMS Vendor overview: Adobe Vendor Overview