Today, any organization—whether it’s a tech giant, a software development firm, an e-commerce platform, or a financial institution—looking to speed up software development to bring better products to market quicker and with fewer headaches needs DevOps specialists.
DevOps specialists ensure smooth operations between the teams that create software (developers) and the teams that manage it (IT operations). They do this to facilitate faster releases of new features and updates, ensure the software works well, and maintain reliable operations.
If you want to enter this field or enhance your existing DevOps skills, earning a DevOps certification is the way to go. A DevOps certification will help you stand out to employers, earn higher salaries, and open doors to better positions in the field.
There are various DevOps courses and certifications available that you might want to pursue. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of the top six DevOps certifications and courses in 2024, along with the key skills, requirements, and exam costs.
Key Takeaways
- Companies across various sectors need DevOps specialists to speed up software development and enhance product delivery.
- Structured DevOps engineer training programs are crucial for developing top DevOps skills like automation, continuous delivery, security, and infrastructure management.
- Obtaining a DevOps certification can enhance career prospects, lead to higher salaries, and provide access to advanced job opportunities.
- Certification requirements and costs differ, with some needing prior experience or credentials and fees ranging from $165 to $395.
- Top DevOps certifications include AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert, and Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer.
Top 6 DevOps Certifications to Pursue in 2024
The following are six of the best DevOps certifications you want to consider getting in 2024.
Certification | Skills | Prerequisites | Cost |
---|---|---|---|
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional | Continuous delivery, process automation, security controls, governance, monitoring, and logging practices Tools: AWS |
Two years of experience with AWS environments | $300 |
Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert |
Infrastructure as code, configuration management, continuous integration, and delivery. Tools: Azure DevOps |
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate or Azure Developer Associate certification |
$165 |
Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer | Service reliability, delivery speed, incident response, service monitoring, and software delivery automation. Tools: Google Cloud Platform |
None | $200 |
Certified Kubernetes Administrator | Cluster installation, configuration, management, networking, storage, security, and troubleshooting. Tools: Kubernetes |
None | $395 |
Docker Certified Associate | Setup, application development, containerization, deployment, management Tools: Kubernetes, Docker |
Six months to one year of Docker experience | $195 |
Puppet Certified Professional | Architecture, module development and deployment, orchestration, troubleshooting, infrastructure automation Tools: Puppet |
No formal prerequisites, but a foundation in Puppet is recommended |
$200 |
6. Puppet Certified Professional
DevOps teams use Puppet to automate server setup and management, accelerating software releases and ensuring consistency. Earning the Puppet Certified Professional certification demonstrates your expertise in using Puppet IT automation software and validates your technical knowledge and hands-on experience with it.
The exam covers a range of topics, including troubleshooting Puppet code, developing reusable code, orchestration, classification strategies, administration, environments, and Puppet language and concepts.
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites. However, according to the information on the website, before you take the exam, you need to:
- Understand how to use Puppet IT automation software to administer system infrastructure 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 how to maintain the relevant operating system components.
- Complete the foundational and advanced courses or have equivalent experience.
Cost: $200
5. Docker Certified Associate
Docker is essential for DevOps. The Docker Certified Associate (DCA) certification demonstrates your skills in developing, deploying, and managing applications using Docker containers. By earning your DCA certification, you’ll show potential employers that you can handle real-world development and deployment challenges with Docker.
The DCA certification covers everything from Docker’s initial setup to advanced techniques, such as orchestrating containers with Kubernetes and utilizing the features of Docker Enterprise Edition. If you’re aiming to boost your career in DevOps, cloud computing, or containerization, the DCA certification is a valuable credential to have.
Prerequisites: A minimum of six months to a year of Docker experience.
Cost: $195
4. Certified Kubernetes Administrator
Earning the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification demonstrates your ability to handle the day-to-day tasks of running a Kubernetes cluster, including setup, configuration, and maintenance. This certification also highlights your understanding of Kubernetes basics, such as networking, storage, security, maintenance, troubleshooting, and application lifecycle management.
The CKA exam tests your skills with real-world scenarios, proving to employers that you can manage complex Kubernetes environments. This certification is essential for DevOps engineers who want to manage Kubernetes clusters and streamline software delivery more efficiently.
Prerequisites: None
Cost: $395
3: Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer
The Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer certification proves that you can balance service reliability and speed on the Google Cloud Platform. It demonstrates your ability to apply DevOps best practices to simplify software development and operations, including deploying, monitoring, and managing services in cloud environments.
To get certified, you need to be proficient in handling incidents, implementing service monitoring techniques, and optimizing performance for the best results. You should also be able to automate software delivery, secure cloud environments, and use Google Cloud tools such as Kubernetes Engine, Cloud Build, and Stackdriver. If you’re looking to enhance your skills in managing and operating cloud services, this certification is a valuable asset.
Prerequisites: None
Cost: $200
2. Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
The Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert certification is designed for individuals who can collaborate effectively with both development and operations teams. If you’re looking to enhance your skills in implementing DevOps practices, earning this certification can significantly boost your career. It demonstrates your ability to streamline workflows, automate testing and deployment, and utilize a variety of tools, such as Azure DevOps, to improve teamwork and productivity.
To earn this certification, you need to show that you can design and build efficient systems for code, infrastructure, security, and continuous delivery. You’ll also need to demonstrate proficiency in monitoring, logging, and using automation tools to reduce manual work and enhance system reliability. This certification is ideal for those aiming to elevate their DevOps skills to the next level.
Prerequisites: To become a Microsoft Certified DevOps Engineer Expert, you must earn at least one of the following certifications: Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate or Microsoft Certified Azure Developer Associate.
Cost: $165
1. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
The AWS Certified DevOps Engineer—Professional certification demonstrates advanced AWS DevOps skills, making it ideal for professionals ready to advance their careers. This certification proves your ability to use automation to build and deploy software faster and more reliably on AWS.
The exam covers several topics, including continuous delivery and process automation, security controls and governance, and monitoring and logging practices. To earn this certification, you need a strong foundation in AWS, particularly in DevOps-related services such as AWS CodePipeline, AWS CodeBuild, and AWS CodeDeploy.
Prerequisites: At least two years of experience provisioning, operating, and managing AWS environments.
Cost: $300
The Bottom Line
Pursuing a DevOps certification can boost your career in several ways. By getting certified, you demonstrate not only your skills but also your commitment to staying current with DevOps practices. This can lead to better job opportunities, higher pay, and the chance to work on exciting DevOps projects.
FAQs
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References
- Puppet Certified Professional Exam Details | Puppet by Perforce (Puppet)
- Puppet Education (Training.puppet)
- Docker Certified Associate (DCA) Exam – Mirantis Training (Training.mirantis)
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) | Linux Foundation (Training.linuxfoundation)
- Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer Certification ?|? Learn (Cloud.google)
- Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert – Certifications (Learn.microsoft)
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional Certification | AWS Certification (Aws.amazon)