The Pega Certified System Architect (PCSA) 87V1 exam, identified by code PEGAPCSA87V1, validates your ability to design, build, and deploy enterprise applications using Pegasystems technology. This certification is intended for system architects and senior developers who demonstrate proficiency across the full Pegasystems platform. This landing page provides a clear roadmap of exam topics, question formats, and practical preparation strategies to help you succeed on your first attempt.
Use this topic map to guide your study for Pegasystems PEGAPCSA87V1 (Pega Certified System Architect (PCSA) 87V1) within the Pega Certified System Architect path.
The PEGAPCSA87V1 exam uses multiple question formats to assess both theoretical knowledge and practical problem-solving ability. Questions progress in difficulty and require you to apply concepts to realistic scenarios.
Questions become more complex as you progress, requiring you to connect concepts across case management, data integration, and deployment workflows to mirror actual project work.
Build a structured study plan that allocates time to each topic proportionally and includes hands-on practice. A typical preparation timeline spans 6-8 weeks of consistent effort, combining self-study with practical lab work.
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Case Management and Application Development typically account for a larger portion of exam questions, as they form the foundation of Pegasystems architecture. However, all seven domains are tested, and weak performance in Security or DevOps can significantly impact your overall score. Balance your study time proportionally, but allocate extra hours to Case Management and Application Development if you have limited preparation time.
In production environments, these three domains work together constantly. Data Integration rules must respect Security policies to prevent unauthorized data access; DevOps practices ensure that security controls and integration logic are properly deployed and monitored across environments. Understanding these connections helps you design systems that are both secure and maintainable, which the exam tests through scenario-based questions.
Ideally, you should have completed at least one full application development cycle, including case configuration, rule creation, data modeling, and basic deployment. If you lack production experience, prioritize labs that cover Case Management workflow design, data transform configuration, and security rule implementation. The exam assumes you can apply concepts immediately, so hands-on practice is essential.
Many candidates underestimate the importance of understanding how rules interact across domains; they memorize definitions but struggle with scenario questions that require connecting Case Management to Data Integration or Security. Others rush through questions without carefully reading all options, leading to careless errors. Additionally, weak DevOps knowledge often surprises candidates who focused only on application design. Read each question carefully, consider how domains interact, and review your reasoning before submitting your answer.
Review high-difficulty scenario questions and focus on topics where you scored lowest in practice tests. Spend time on cross-domain connections, such as how User Experience design affects security configuration or how Data Integration impacts case performance. Complete one final timed practice test to confirm your pacing, then do a light review of key definitions and best practices the day before your exam. Avoid heavy study the night before; rest is more valuable than last-minute cramming.
For which use case do you create a new rule in a Pega Platform application?
Which two statements are true about minimum lovable product (MLP) sizing when using the Estimator tool? (Choose two.)
A customer refund case type requires that an auditor receives an email notification if the refund is greater than twice the price of the item. Which participant role do you select to configure this requirement?
In processing a parent case P-l, two child cases C-l and C-2 are created. Which of the following statements is correct about the processing of P-l, C-l, and C-2?
You are developing a case type that processes scholarship applications. Scholarship
applications advance based on the standardized test scores of the applicants. A decision shape directs the process flow. You want to test whether the process flows correctly, but you have not fully configured the user interface so that applicants can enter their standardized test scores.
How do you test that the process flows correctly based on the decision?
