Neel VithlaniStaying relevant is crucial for success for DevOps engineers as the landscape is constantly evolving with new technologies, tools, and approaches. Career experts at Talent 500 find that staying up-to-date with the latest certifications is crucial to staying ahead of the curve as a DevOps engineer. To help you stay ahead of the curve, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the top 10 DevOps certifications in 2023. Let’s get started:
Understanding the Value of DevOps Certifications
Pursuing DevOps certifications not only validates your expertise but also provides an opportunity to learn new skills like using ChatGPT for DevOps which is incredibly important in today’s scenario. In addition to demonstrating your commitment to professional development, certifications often help you bag higher salaries and enhance your employability. This is because it reflects upon your willingness to learn outside your current profile and hence provides an immense boost to your candidature.
Benefits Of DevOps Certifications
Let’s have a glance at the advantages that you can expect by enrolling in DevOps certification courses:
- Validates your skills and expertise
- Enhances your professional credibility
- Increases your earning potential
- Provides access to a global network of DevOps professionals
- Keeps you current with industry trends and best practices
Now, let’s dive into the top 10 DevOps certifications of 2023.
Foundational Certifications
In this section, we will cover the certifications that are a must-have even if you are a seasoned DevOps engineer with a demonstrated career path. This is because such certifications are required as basic criteria by many organizations.
Target Audience
These courses are specifically designed for experienced DevOps engineers who:
- Have at least two years of hands-on experience working with the respective platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)
- Possess a strong foundation in operating systems, networking, and programming languages
- Have experience in designing and implementing solutions for version control, compliance, infrastructure as code, configuration management, release, and build.
Prerequisites
To fully benefit from these foundational courses, you must have:
- A solid understanding of DevOps principles and practices
- Experience with cloud-based infrastructure and application management
- Familiarity with scripting languages, such as Python or Bash
- Basic knowledge of containerization and orchestration technologies, like Docker and Kubernetes
Let’s begin:
#1 AWS Certified DevOps Engineer — Professional
This comprehensive course is designed to help experienced DevOps engineers expand their knowledge and skills in the AWS environment. It costs USD 300 and its primary objective is to help you learn how to:
- Implement and manage continuous delivery systems and methodologies on AWS
- Deploy, monitor, and automate infrastructure, applications, and security on AWS
- Optimize and maintain AWS systems for optimal performance, reliability, and cost-efficiency
- Develop your expertise in AWS services and tools including CodeStar, CodeCommit, CodeBuild, CodeDeploy, CodePipeline, CloudFormation, and Elastic Beanstalk
#2 Microsoft Certified DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400)
The AZ-400 certification course is designed for DevOps engineers looking to validate their skills and expertise in designing, implementing, and managing DevOps practices in the Microsoft Azure environment.
The candidates must pay USD 165 for the exam and its curriculum covers a wide range of topics, and it is crucial to be well-prepared to achieve success. The exam format includes multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and case-study questions. The duration of the exam is 180 minutes, and the passing score is 700 out of 1000.
The certification covers various aspects, such as:
- Developing an instrumentation strategy
- Site reliability engineering
- Developing a security and compliance plan
- Managing source control
- Facilitating communication and collaboration
- Defining and implementing continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD)
- Managing application infrastructure
- Implementing continuous feedback
#3 Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer -GCP
This foundational DevOps course is based on Google Cloud Platform and it is designed to equip DevOps engineers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage GCP-based applications and infrastructure.
It costs USD 200 and the course contents include:
- Introduction to Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and DevOps
- Building and Deploying Applications on GCP
- Infrastructure and Configuration Management
- Monitoring, Logging, and Performance Optimization
- Security and Compliance in GCP
Tools and Technology-Specific Certifications
Let us know about certifications focused on honing DevOps tool-specific skills:
#4 Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
The Linux Foundation and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) co-developed the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) program which is in high demand across the globe.
The CKA exam is an online, supervised, performance-based evaluation that requires candidates to complete a variety of activities using a command line interface within a Kubernetes environment. It costs $395 and comes with one free retake.
You will be able to demonstrate command over competencies like Kubernetes networking, storage, security, maintenance, logging and monitoring, application lifecycle, troubleshooting, API object primitives, and the ability to provide essential use cases for end-users by studying:
- Understanding Cloud DevOps Engineering
- Kubernetes Fundamentals
- Containerization and Docker
- Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and Configuration Management
- Monitoring and Logging
- Security and Compliance
Target Audience: This course is designed for expert-level DevOps engineers who wish to advance their skills in cloud engineering and Kubernetes administration.
#5 Docker Certified Associate (DCA)
Docker Certified Associate (DCA) is a high-demand certification for DevOps engineers who want to demonstrate their expertise in utilizing Docker’s container technology. Priced at USD 195, it aims to prepare you for the DCA certification exam and enhance your skills to efficiently deploy, manage, and operate containerized applications by covering topics such as:
- Orchestration
- Image Creation, Management, and Registry
- Installation and Configuration
- Networking
- Security
- Storage and Volumes
In my understanding, the course is an excellent opportunity for DevOps engineers to validate their expertise in containerization and get better visibility on platforms like LinkedIn.
Target Audience: The Docker Certified Associate (DCA) course is ideal for DevOps engineers having experience with Docker and has a fair understanding of containerization, orchestration, and application deployment using Docker.
#6 GitLab Certified DevOps Professional
This certification aims to prove your competence in various stages, functions, and the DevOps lifecycle. The certification consists of four exams, and you’ll need to pass all four exams to earn your certificate with each priced at USD 150 per exam attempt.
GitLab Certified DevOps Professional is an intermediate technical certification designed for experienced DevOps engineers. It’s an excellent option for individuals looking to validate their skills and knowledge of GitLab’s various functions and capabilities. If you’re willing to invest the time and money required to obtain this certification, it could be a valuable addition to your professional portfolio.
The final exams cover a broad range of DevOps objectives, including:
- Performing basic Git commands
- Testing performance
- Inspecting logs
- Understanding GitLab’s CI/CD capabilities
- Managing projects using GitLab
- Maintaining GitLab’s security features
Mandatory Prerequisites
Here’s the big deal: to be eligible for the certification, you’ll need to have the following GitLab certifications:
- GitLab Certified Associate
- GitLab CI/CD Specialist
- GitLab Project Management Specialist
- GitLab Security Specialist
Note that obtaining these certifications requires a financial investment and time commitment. Each certification costs at least $650, and it takes a lot of time to complete each of these courses.
Target Audience: GitLab Certified DevOps Professional is an intermediate technical certification designed for experienced DevOps engineers. From what people have to say, this certification is perfect for DevOps engineers who are looking for job opportunities in organizations that use GitLab for their development processes.
It is an excellent option for team leaders who want to ensure their team members are competent in using GitLab.
#7 Puppet Certified Professional
This is a valuable credential for expert-level DevOps engineers but it requires considerable practical experience and a solid understanding of Puppet, particularly in troubleshooting Puppet servers. It also helps you learn how to administer system infrastructure using Puppet IT automation software, develop basic modules, and maintain relevant OS components. It costs USD 200 and you need to complete it within 90 minutes with Open source Puppet 6.16.0 or later and Puppet Enterprise 2019.8 or newer being the versions.
Prerequisites
It is recommended that you:
- Understand how to administer system infrastructure using Puppet IT automation software and develop basic modules, including data separation and external data sources.
- Understand the relevant Puppet documentation, accepted practices as documented in the Puppet Language Style Guide, and maintenance of relevant OS components.
- Complete the Getting Started With Puppet and Puppet Practitioner courses or have the equivalent experience.
- Before you can move ahead, you must take Questionmark’s online technical certification exam as a prerequisite.
This course covers the following topics in depth:
- Classifications
- Troubleshooting
- Module Authoring, including Puppet Forge
- Key Concepts, such as abstraction and idempotence
- Puppet language
- Bolt and Orchestrator actions, Puppet Tasks
- Puppet environments
- Administration of the Puppet infrastructure architecture
Additional tool-specific certification courses to consider:
- HashiCorp Certified Terraform Associate
- Jenkins Certified Engineer (JCE)
- Ansible Certified Content Specialist
- Kubernetes Certified Application Developer (CKAD)
- Certified OpenShift Administrator (COA)
- Certified OpenShift Application Developer (COAD)
- SaltStack Certified Engineer (SSCE)
- Atlassian Certified Jira Administrator
- Cloud Foundry Certified Developer (CFCD)
- Red Hat Certified Engineer in DevOps (RHCE)
- CloudBees Certified Jenkins Engineer (CCJE)
Career-Advancement Focused Certifications
Lastly, let us explore DevOps certifications that can boost your career both vertically and horizontally:
#8 DevOps Institute DevOps Leader
This is an expert-level course designed for DevOps engineers who want to take their skills to the next level and lead their organization’s DevOps transformation. It has comprehensive content, and real-world examples, and gives
Throughout the course, you will:
- Gain an in-depth understanding of the key DevOps principles and practices.
- Learn how to identify and address common organizational and cultural challenges.
- Understand the role of a DevOps Leader in facilitating collaboration and communication.
- Develop strategies to create a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
- Acquire essential skills to lead and manage a high-performing DevOps team.
The DevOps Leader Course covers a wide range of topics, including:
- DevOps Foundations
- Organizational Culture
- DevOps Leadership
- Team Building and Management
- Metrics and Measurement
US-based candidates must pay $245 in fees for this certification. All in all, you must treat it as a vertical career advancement course that will help you qualify and negotiate for interviews.
#9 CloudBees CD/RO Admin Associate Certification
The CloudBees CD/RO Admin Associate Certification is focused on expert-level DevOps engineers with the knowledge and skills required to manage and administer CloudBees CD/RO environments effectively. With a strong focus on real-world application, this $149 course will equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully implement and manage CloudBees CD/RO solutions in their organization. It covers:
- Understand the fundamentals of CloudBees CD/RO solutions.
- Implement and manage pipelines.
- Troubleshoot and resolve issues in CloudBees CD/RO environments.
- Configure and maintain CloudBees CD/RO infrastructure.
- Optimize CloudBees CD/RO performance for your organization’s specific needs.
#10 DevOps Post Graduate Program
The DevOps Post Graduate Program is a top-notch nine-month-long course offered by Caltech CTME in collaboration with Simplilearn. Priced at $4849, this rigorous program is designed to provide expert-level DevOps engineers with the essential skills and knowledge needed to enhance their team’s development and operational activities.
Caltech CTME is globally renowned for its exceptional science and engineering programs, with a total of 47 Nobel Prizes under its belt apart from the subject matter experts. This course offers a unique blended learning experience with over 20 real-life projects that equip students with the latest knowledge of DevOps technologies and critical soft skills, making them valuable assets to employers.
The DevOps Post Graduate Program features a well-structured learning path that includes:
- Orientation section for Caltech PGP DevOps program
- PG DO – DevOps Certification Training
- PG DO – Configuration Management with Ansible and Terraform
- PG DO – Docker Certified Association Certification Training
- PG DO – Certified Kubernetes Administrator Training
Tips for Preparing for DevOps Certifications
Now that we’ve gone through some of the most beneficial DevOps certification courses, let us understand how you can choose the right one for your career growth as AI technologies like ChatGPT continue to disrupt the DevOps job market:
#1 Choose The Right Certification
I recommend selecting the certification that aligns with your current skill set, expertise, and career goals. Always remember that going for the technologies and tools you are most familiar with puts you at better odds to grow.
#2 Leverage Official Resources
Each certification provider offers official resources, such as documentation, study guides, and sample exams which a majority of students simply ignore. Make sure to go through them and get any valuable insights regarding what you must learn in the future to get an edge over the rest of the competition.
#3 Gain Practical Experience
At the end of the day, hands-on experience is the most crucial thing in DevOps. You must apply the concepts you learn during your certification preparation to real-world projects, either at work or through personal projects unless you want to get into trouble due to limited ability to demonstrate your skills in real-world scenarios.
#4 Join DevOps Communities
Make it a point to engage with other DevOps professionals through communities to stay up-to-date on industry trends, share knowledge, and seek guidance. Participating in online forums, attending meetups, and connecting with industry experts can provide valuable insights and support since it is the enthusiasts that drive these discussions.
Additional Niche DevOps Certifications You May Explore
The above certifications will give a significant boost to your visibility as a candidate but if you want to get into a specific role or organization, getting niche certifications can be a great idea.
However, don’t confuse niche certifications with low-authority courses or curriculums that cover very specialized tools, strategies, and use cases. Instead, you may look for high-level overviews on specific subdomains within DevOps:
- CompTIA Linux+
- Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) Foundation Certification
- Certified Agile Scrum Master (CASM)
- Certified DevSecOps Expert (CDSOE)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Wrap Up
Remember, choosing the right DevOps certification depends on your current skills, goals, and the technologies you work with. Apart from the benefits discussed above, investing in a DevOps certification is an excellent way to get feedback regarding your prowess and learn about new trends and tools which might not be possible for busy professionals.
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