FAIP_002 · ● Active · Professional · Pure Storage (Everpure)
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $300 USD (professional-level exam) |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Questions | 75 total (60 scored, 15 unscored) |
| Passing | Not publicly disclosed; typically 65–70% required |
| Format | Multiple choice (3–4 options per question, 1–2 correct answers) |
| Delivery | Online, proctored (Everpure Certification platform) |
| Languages | English (English-only) |
| Valid | 3 years |
| Renewal | Retake exam before expiration to recertify |
| Prerequisites | None; 3–5 years system administration / data center ops + 6–12 months FlashArray experience recommended |
| Released | Current version FAIP_002; supersedes FAIP_001 |
| Retiring | N/A (actively maintained) |
Vendor source — Everpure Global Enablement Certifications ↗
Official exam guide — FAIP_002 Exam Guide ↗
About
The Pure Storage FlashArray Implementation Professional certification validates hands-on expertise in designing, deploying, and managing Pure Storage FlashArray systems in production enterprise environments. Candidates demonstrate deep proficiency in FlashArray architecture, Purity//FA operating system, data replication, snapshots, volume management, host connectivity protocols (FC, iSCSI, NVMe), Pure1 monitoring, and Evergreen storage lifecycle management. This certification is designed for storage engineers, systems administrators, and technical specialists transitioning to Pure Storage implementations. Successful candidates typically have 3–5 years of storage or data center operations background plus 6–12 months of hands-on FlashArray experience.
Domain context — Storage
Enterprise data storage spanning SAN/NAS appliances, block/file protocols, replication, backup, disaster recovery, and vendor-specific platforms. Pure Storage specializes in all-flash arrays for high-performance, efficiency-optimized data centers.
Read full deep dive — Pure Storage Ecosystem →
Topics covered
Based on the official FAIP_002 exam blueprint, candidates are assessed on:
- FlashArray architecture & Purity//FA OS — array design, controller pairs, NVRAM, persistent cache, deduplication, compression, thin provisioning
- Storage management — volume provisioning, snapshots, protection groups, replication policies (synchronous / asynchronous), ActiveCluster multi-site failover
- Host connectivity & protocols — Fibre Channel (FC), iSCSI, NVMe/TCP configuration, zoning, initiator authentication
- Pure1 monitoring & analytics — dashboard navigation, performance metrics, health alerts, capacity planning
- Evergreen & Purity upgrades — non-disruptive upgrades, subscription management, firmware patching, migration to newer arrays
- ActiveCluster & replication — bidirectional replication, asynchronous long-distance replication, failover scenarios, data consistency
- Disaster recovery & business continuity — RTO/RPO planning, snapshot schedules, replication policies, failover testing
- Performance tuning & optimization — workload characterization, I/O patterns, cache sizing, QoS policies
- Troubleshooting — common error codes, diagnostic logs, performance bottleneck identification, vendor support escalation
Source: Official FAIP_002 Exam Guide ↗
Common skills at Storage · Professional
Shared content for the Storage domain at Professional level — not specific to this cert.
- SAN architecture design (zoning, multipathing, failover)
- RAID & data protection methodologies (RAID-1/6, erasure coding, snapshot retention)
- Replication protocols (synchronous, asynchronous, Metro/Recovery)
- Volume management, LUN mapping, initiator groups
- Fibre Channel (FC) and iSCSI protocol implementation
- Performance monitoring, capacity planning, utilization optimization
- Vendor-specific backup integration (CommVault, Veeam, Cohesity)
- Disaster recovery site deployment and failover testing
Recommended courses at Storage · Professional
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure Academy (Everpure) | FlashArray Implementation Specialist (FAIS) Prep | Free (partner login required) | ↗ |
| Pure Academy (Everpure) | FlashArray Implementation Professional (FAIP) Prep | Free (partner login required) | ↗ |
| Everpure PEAK Training | Instructor-led FlashArray Implementation | Partner-sponsored | ↗ |
| Linux Academy / A Cloud Guru | Storage Fundamentals (general SAN/NAS) | $29–$49/month | ↗ |
| Udemy | FlashArray Storage Administration (3rd-party) | $15–$80 | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: Pure Academy courses are the gold standard (free with partner credentials). Third-party Udemy/ACG content provides foundational SAN knowledge but is not FlashArray-specific. Check for current availability and partner access at Pure Academy.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everpure (Pure Storage) | Official FAIP_002 Practice Exam | Free (partner portal) | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | Pure Storage FlashArray Implementation Professional | $19–$29 | ↗ |
| Exam Collections / Dumps Sites | FAIP_002 Braindumps (use with caution) | Varies | Not recommended; verify authenticity |
Books
No vendor-specific study guide exists for FAIP_002. Recommended preparation instead relies on:
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | Type | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pure Storage FlashArray Architecture Guide | Pure Storage Technical Services | Pure Storage (whitepaper) | 2024–2025 | Technical brief | ↗ |
| Purity//FA Operating System User Guide | Pure Storage Documentation | Pure Storage (online docs) | Current | Reference | ↗ |
| Enterprise Storage Fundamentals | Steve Graves | Apress | 2017 | General SAN/NAS foundation | ↗ |
| Storage Networking Protocol Fundamentals | James Long | Sybex | 2006 | FC/iSCSI protocols | ↗ |
Typical job titles at Storage · Professional
Storage Engineer · Storage Architect (Pure focus) · Enterprise Storage Engineer · Systems Integration Engineer (Storage) · Storage Technical Specialist · FlashArray Solutions Engineer
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings that list this cert as required or preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $148,000 – $245,000 | Glassdoor Storage Engineer ↗ · PayScale Storage Engineer ↗ · 6figr Storage Engineer ↗ |
| ZAR | No verified data available — use Robert Half ZA general IT salary benchmarks | Robert Half ZA ↗ |
| GBP | £70,000 – £110,000 | IT Jobs Watch (Storage role) ↗ · Hays IT Salaries (UK) ↗ |
Salary note: Pure Storage implementation roles (enterprise-focused) typically sit at the upper end of general storage engineer ranges. Senior implementers and architects earn 20–40% above base storage engineer median. ZAR data not publicly available; consult local South African IT recruitment firms (Pnet, CareerJunction, PayScale ZA) for regional benchmarks.
Skills validated
Cert-specific — what this exam actually tests, distinct from shared "Common skills" above.
- Pure Storage FlashArray array architecture (controllers, NVRAM, persistent cache)
- Purity//FA operating system administration and configuration
- Volume provisioning, snapshots, protection groups, and lifecycle management
- Synchronous and asynchronous replication, including ActiveCluster multi-array clusters
- Host connectivity via Fibre Channel (FC), iSCSI, and NVMe/TCP
- Pure1 cloud monitoring platform navigation and alerting
- Evergreen upgrade processes and non-disruptive software updates
- RTO/RPO design for disaster recovery scenarios
- Performance troubleshooting and workload optimization on FlashArray
- Integration with enterprise backup solutions (CommVault, Veeam, Cohesity)
Related certifications
- Stacks with: Pure Storage FlashArray Support Specialist (FASS) ↗ — entry-level support focus
- Prerequisite for: Pure Storage FlashArray Architect Professional ↗ — advanced design & architecture
- Recommended pathway: FlashArray Implementation Specialist (FAIS) → Implementation Professional (FAIP) → Architect Associate (FAAA) → Architect Professional (FAAP)
- Related at same level: NetApp Certified Data Administrator (NCDA) ↗ — competing storage platform
- Vendor overview: Pure Storage Vendor Overview ↗
Sources
- Everpure Global Enablement Certifications
- FAIP_002 Exam Guide PDF
- Pure Academy Learning Platform
- Pure//Accelerate 2025 Training
- Pure PEAK Education
- Glassdoor Storage Engineer Salary 2026
- PayScale Storage Engineer Salary
- IT Jobs Watch UK Storage Roles
- Hays IT Salaries UK
- Robert Half ZA IT Benchmarks
Last verified: 2026-05-01 Parent ecosystem: Pure Storage Ecosystem Parent domain: Storage Domain Vendor overview: Pure Storage Overview