In this guide, I ranked and reviewed the 23 best DevOps certifications, along with my top choices, so you can pick the best one for you.
Choosing the right DevOps certification is crucial in your DevOps career. For fresh graduates to experienced DevOps professionals, the right certification will help you gain DevOps skills to grow in your IT career.
This guide is based on the latest trends in DevOps & DevOps tools around Linux, cloud computing, Containerization, Infrastructure automation, Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, Continuous deployment, DevSecOps, observability, and configuration management.
Based on my 10+ years of working as a DevOps engineer with multiple certifications, I can say that there is no single certification that fits all the required DevOps skills. However, based on your career path and goals I will help you pick the right certification. I have spoken more about the importance of certification in my becoming a DevOps engineer guide.
Best DevOps Certifications By Category
I have organized the DevOps Certification in categories. Here are my top picks for the DevOps certification in different categories.
| Category | Certifications |
|---|---|
| Container Orchestration | CKA, CKAD & CKS |
| Infrastructure as Code | Terraform Certification |
| Cloud Computing | AWS Certifications |
| DevSecOps | Hashicorp Vault Certification |
| Service Mesh | Istio Certified Associate (ICA) |
| Linux | LFCS |
| CI/CD | Jenkins Certification |
| Monitoring & Observability | Prometheus Certification (PCA) |
| GitOps | GitOps With Argo |
| Version Control | Git Skillcred |
| Programming | PCEP™ – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer |
DevOps Certifications List
Now, let’s look at all the DevOps certifications in detail.
1. Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
CKA is my #1 pick when it comes to DevOps certification due to the fact that it is a sought-after hands-on certification from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)
As per the cncf annual report, in 2023 CKA exam hit 176,000 enrolments.
Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration tool for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It has become the de facto standard for container orchestration and microservices deployment and it is one of the sought-after DevOps skills in the current IT market.
The CKA program offers a robust curriculum that covers all aspects of Kubernetes administration, from installation and configuration to networking and security. Candidates who successfully complete the CKA exam will earn a globally recognized credential that demonstrates their skills and knowledge in Kubernetes.
If you’re looking to start a career in DevOps, or simply want to deepen your understanding of Kubernetes, the CKA certification is a great place to start. Also, it is one of the most in-demand devops certifications.
The following table has the important CKA certification details.
| Exam Registration | CKA Exam Registration |
| Assessment Type | Hands-on practical labs ( 17 questions.) |
|---|---|
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 2 hrs |
| Price | USD $395 with |
| Retake | One Free retake |
| CKA Voucher Code | Use code DCUBE20 to get a 20% discount |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 2 years |
| CKA Exam Guide | Detailed CKA Study Guide |
| Other Resources | killer.sh/cka for CKA practice tests & exam simulator. You will get two free sessions as part of exam registration. |
2. Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)
CKAD is a Kubernetes certification that focuses on designing, building, and deploying cloud-native applications for Kubernetes. If you have CKA certification, passing CKAD is comparatively easier. It is a two-hour performance-based exam and the following are the CKAD certification details.
| Exam Registration | CKAD Exam Registration |
| Assessment Type | Hands-on practical labs ( 19 questions.) |
|---|---|
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 2 hrs |
| Price | USD $395 |
| CKAD Voucher Code | Use code DCUBE20 to get a 20% discount |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 2 years |
| CKA Exam Guide | Detailed CKA Study Guide |
| Other Resources | killer.sh/ckad for CKA practice tests & exam simulator |
3. Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)
CKS certification focuses on security best practices of Kubernetes application deployments. The certification topics are organized in a way that you learn all the concepts and tools around container security on Kubernetes.
Also, you must have a valid CKA certification to appear for CKS. It is also a two-hour performance-based exam like CKA & CKAD. CKS is comparatively a tougher exam than CKA and CKAD. You need to practice well before appearing for the exam.
| Exam Registration | CKS Exam Registration |
| Voucher Code | Use code DCUBE20 to get a 20% discount |
| Exam Guide | Detailed CKAD Study Guide |
| Other CKA Resources | killer.sh/cks for CKA practice tests & exam simulator |
Note: You can also start with KCSA certification. It is a introductory kubernetes security certification.
4. HashiCorp Certified Terraform Associate
When it comes to Infrastructure as Code, HashiCorp Certified Terraform Associate is my choice.
HashiCorp Certified Terraform Associate is a modern infrastructure automation certification for professionals that validates your skills in using Hashicorp Terraform to provision, manage, and maintain any cloud or on-prem infrastructure. The certification exam covers the core set of skills required to effectively use Terraform to provision infrastructure.
The Terraform Associate Exam is administered by Webassessor, an independent third-party proctoring service. The exam consists of 70 multiple-choice questions and has a 2-hour time limit. Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher to earn the certification.
The Terraform Associate certification is valid for two years from the date of passing. To maintain active status, Terraform Associates are required to retake the exam prior to expiration. There are no prerequisites for taking the Terraform Associate Exam.
When it comes to Devops, infrastructure automation plays a key role. Terraform is particularly popular in infrastructure provisioning. So from a cloud automation perspective, Terraform Associate is the best certification you can have.
Here are the Terraform certification details.
| Exam Registration | HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate |
| Assessment Type | Multiple choice |
|---|---|
| Exam Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 1 hour |
| Price | $70.50 USD plus locally applicable taxes and fees Free retake not included |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 2 years |
5. Kubernetes and Cloud-Native Associate (KCNA)
If you think CKA or CKAD is overkill for you, KCNA is the best Kubernetes certification to get started with.
This is an introductory Kubernetes and Cloud-Native Associate (KCNA) exam. The exam is designed for those who are new to Kubernetes and cloud-native technologies and covers the basics of these technologies.
Following are the high-level topics covered in the KCNA exam.
- Kubernetes Fundamentals – 46%
- Container Orchestration – 22%
- Cloud-Native Architecture – 16%
- Cloud-Native Observability – 8%
- Cloud-Native Application Delivery – 8%
Here are the KCNA certification details.
| Exam Registration | KCNA Exam Registration |
| Assessment Type | Multiple choice |
|---|---|
| Exam Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Price | $250 with a free retake |
| KCNA Voucher code | Use code DCUBE20 to get a 20% discount |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 3 years |
6. Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS)
Linux administration is an essential skill for a DevOps engineer. If you are starting your DevOps journey, getting certified in LFCS is the start of the devops certification roadmap.
The Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) exam is ideal for candidates looking to validate their Linux system administration skill set.
training.linuxfoundation.org
| Exam Registration | LFCS Exam Registration |
| Assessment Type | Multiple choice |
|---|---|
| Exam Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Price | $395 with a free retake |
| LFCS Voucher code | Use code DCUBE20 to get a 20% discount |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 3 years |
The LFCS credential is valid for three years. To maintain the credential, holders must recertify every three years by passing the LFCS exam or another approved exam. The Linux Foundation also offers a Certified Engineer (LFCE) credential for candidates who wish to validate their skills in designing and implementing Linux systems.
7. AWS Cloud & DevOps Certifications
AWS certification is my #1 pick for cloud certifications for DevOps engineers.
When it comes to DevOps cloud computing plays a key role. Amazon web services dominate the cloud space by having a significant market share. If you are getting started with your cloud journey, AWS cloud certifications are the best. Follow are the AWS certifications related to DevOps.
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
- AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty
- AWS Certified Security – Specialty
8. Azure Cloud & DevOps Certifications
Microsoft Azure is also a significant player in cloud computing. If you are specifically looking for Azure-based roles or actively working on the Azure cloud, you can opt for the following Azure certification certifications related to DevOps.
- Exam AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
- Exam AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator
- Exam AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
- Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
9. Google Cloud & DevOps Certifications
Next on our list is Google Cloud certifications. Google Cloud is known for container, ML, and data workloads. If you want to get certified on Google Cloud, the following DevOps-related certifications will help.
- Associate Cloud Engineer
- Professional Cloud Architect
- Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer
- Professional Cloud Security Engineer
- Professional Cloud Network Engineer
10. Istio Certified Associate (ICA)
Istio Certified Associate is the only service mesh-based certification offered by the Linux foundation. So if you want to demonstrate your understanding of Istio principles, terminology, and best practices, this certification is for you.
Following are the certification details.
| Exam Registration | ICA Exam Registration |
| Assessment Type | Performance-based & Multiple Choice Exam |
|---|---|
| Exam Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Price | $250 with a free retake |
| ICA Voucher code | Use code DCUBE20 to get a 20% discount |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 3 years |
11. Certified Jenkins Engineer (CJE)
In the DevOps world, when we talk about CI/CD, the first tool that comes to mind is Jenkins. It is a widely used open-source CI/CD tool for applications as well as infrastructure management. If you are looking for CI/CD tool-based certification, this certification is for you.
Following are the important Jenkins certification details.
12. Docker Certified Associate (DCA)
If you are getting started with your container journey, DCA is the best certification to start with. Over the years Docker has become the de-facto standard for container deployments. Even though it is not the only available container engine, developers and devops engineers prefer using Docker for containerizing applications.
| Exam Registration | Docker Certified Associate (DCA) |
| Assessment Type | 3 multiple choice and 42 discrete-option multiple-choice (DOMC) questions |
|---|---|
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 90-minutes |
| Price | USD $195 or Euro €175 |
| Voucher Code | N/A |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 2 years |
Here is what you should know about the Docker Certified Associate exam.
- You should have a minimum of 6 -12 months of Docker experience to take this exam. It is not a mandate.
- You will get the exam result as soon as you complete the exam.
13.HashiCorp Certified: Vault Associate
As a DevOps engineer, you need to take care of security automation along with infrastructure automation and application deployments. And without any doubt, Hashicorp vault is the best open-source secret management solution out there. So if you are into DevSecOps or responsible for managing security aspects of a project, this is one of the best security certifications in DevOps.
Here are the exam details.
| Exam Registration | HashiCorp Certified: Vault Associate |
| Assessment Type | Multiple choice |
|---|---|
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 1 hour |
| Price | $70.50 USD plus locally applicable taxes and fees Free retake not included |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 2 years |
14.HashiCorp Certified: Vault Operations Professional
Vault Operations Professional is an advanced certification. So Vault Associate Certification is recommended before appearing for the operations professional certification. To appear for this exam, you need to have knowledge of the following topics.
- Linux command line
- IP networking
- Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), including PGP and TLS
- Network security and RBAC fundamentals.
- Concepts and functionality of infrastructure running in containers.
Here are the exam details.
| Exam Registration | HashiCorp Certified: Vault Operations Professional |
| Assessment Type | Lab-based and multiple choice |
|---|---|
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Price | $295 USD plus locally applicable taxes and fees Includes free retake |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 2 years |
15. HashiCorp Certified: Consul Associate
Consul is one of the open-source service discovery tools. If you want to showcase your skills in service discovery, this certification is for you. To prepare for this certification, you should have a foundational knowledge of the following.
- Knowledge about containers.
- Basic Linux terminal skills
- Understanding of Networking, load balancing, and distributed systems
- Basic knowledge of ACLs
- Knowledge of TLS certificate lifecycle
Here are the exam details.
| Exam Registration | HashiCorp Certified: Consul Associate |
| Assessment Type | Multiple choice |
|---|---|
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 1 hour |
| Price | $70.50 USD plus locally applicable taxes and fees Free retake not included |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 2 years |
16. Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) exam (Ansible Certification)
If you are someone who works with RedHat Enterprise Linux or wants to get your hands dirty with Redhat administration and automation, using Ansible, this certification is you. The exam covers the following.
- Red Hat Certified System Administrator tasks
- Ansible Components.
- Ansible control node setup
- Shell Scripting tasks
- Ansible playbook creation
- Using Ansible modules for system administration tasks.
- Working with Ansible Roles
- Advanced Ansible Features like templating, Ansible vault, etc.
| Exam Registration | Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) exam |
| Assessment Type | Hands-on, practical exam |
|---|---|
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 3.5 hrs |
| Price | $400 Plus Tax |
| Free Retake | Within 90 days |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 3 years |
17. Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration (EX280)
Openshift is one of the enterprise’s Kubernetes platforms. If you are someone who is interested in enterprise Kubernetes implementation, this certification is for you. This certification Primarily tests your ability to perform ‘Day 2’ operations on the OpenShift Container Platform.
Here is what is covered in this certification.
- Manage OpenShift Container Platform
- Manage users and policies
- Control access to resources
- Configure networking components
- Configure pod scheduling
| Exam Registration | Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration exam (EX280) |
| Assessment Type | Hands-on, practical exam |
|---|---|
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 3 hrs |
| Price | $400 Plus Tax |
| Free Retake | Within 90 days |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 3 years |
18. FinOps Certified Practitioner (FOCP)
FinOps stands for Cloud Financial Operations. FOCP certification is offered by The Linux Foundation. If you are a senior DevOps professional and interested in cloud spending, cloud migration, and cloud cost savings, this certification is for you.
| Exam Registration | FinOps Certified Practitioner (FOCP) |
| Assessment Type | Multiple Choice Exam |
|---|---|
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 1 hr. |
| Price | $300 |
| Free Retake | One |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 3 years |
19. Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA)
Prometheus is one of the best open-source and cloud-native monitoring tools. Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA) certification is focused on Prometheus monitoring and observability. This certification will help you gain knowledge on the fundamentals of data monitoring, metrics, alerts, and dashboards using Prometheus.
| Exam Registration | Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA) |
| Assessment Type | Multiple Choice Exam |
|---|---|
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 1.5 hrs. |
| Price | $250 |
| Free Retake | One |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 3 years |
20. Become a Cloud DevOps Engineer: Udacity nano-degree certification
If you are looking for a DevOps certification to start your career as an engineer, you can check out the Udacity cloud DevOps nano degree program. It is a four-month program that covers the following
- Cloud Foundations
- Deploy Infrastructure as Code (IAC)
- Build CI/CD Pipelines, Monitoring & Logging
- Microservices at Scale using Kubernetes
If you are interested in the nano-degree program, check out the Udacity coupon page to get a 75% discount.
Free DevOps Certifications
All the main DevOps certifications are not free. If you are someone who cannot afford to pay for a certification exam, you can start with free DevOps certifications offered by organizations.
21. GitOps Certification with Argo
Codefresh is offering free training and certification on GitOps with ArgoCD. GitOps is a sought-after skillset for organizations adopting microservices and container orchestration frameworks like Kubernetes.
Signup Here: Get Certified for GitOps with Argo
22. Certified Calico Operator: Level 1
Calico is the CNI plugin for Kubernetes and is one of the commonly used CNIs for setting up Kubernetes clusters. Tigera, the company that developed Calico, offers a free certification specifically for Calico operators. You can make use of the certification to gain good knowledge about the Kubernetes network plugins.
Signup Here: Certified Calico Operator
23. Intermediate for Istio
This free Istio certification by Solo.io covers all the Istio service mesh fundamentals. As per the website
This credential, by Solo.io, certifies that recipients possess the essential skills to deploy Istio, configure it, debug it, secure it, and operationalize it for their organization
Signup Here: Intermediate for Istio by Solo.io
Benefits of DevOps Certification
Following are the benefits of getting certified in any DevOps tools or cloud.
- Better job opportunities
- Opportunity to get hands-on experience to understand a tool’s features.
- Increased chances of a higher salary.
DevOps is a growing field, and the following are some statistics showing DevOps growth.
- According to the Upskilling IT 2023 survey report by the DevOps Institute, 65% of the survey respondents reported that DevOps certifications are very valuable.
- As per the Annual Open Source Jobs Report, 90% of employers are interested in getting their employers certified in DevOps tools.
- As per the Global DevOps Market Research Report, the DevOps market is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.04% to reach USD 14,554.23 million by 2027.
Certification can also plays a key role in increased salary potential. For example, Glassdoor suggests that a CKA certification can potentially increase the salary by over $23,000 as compare to a non-certified professional.
These reports clearly show the importance of DevOps adoption. So if you are certified in DevOps-related tooling, it’s an added advantage for your career.
DevOps Certifications Roadmap
So, when we talk about DevOps certifications, it is more certifications that are related to DevOps practice. It could be a certification based on the tool, cloud platform, SCRUM, etc.
My first certification as a Devops engineer was AWS-certified solution architect because I was primarily working on AWS cloud-related projects. It makes more sense to start with a certification on the technologies you are working with.
For example, if you are a Linux admin and want to become a DevOps engineer, you can get certified in Kubernetes as it is more relevant to the domain you are already in. That is “System Administration”.
Here is my advice on devops certification.
Start with one Certification that is closely related to your existing domain. If you are completely new to DevOps, the following DevOps certification roadmap would help.
The Linux Foundation has announced the Skillcred certifications wherein you can get certified for certain skills like Git, Helm, bash, etc.
Most In-Demand DevOps Certification
Even though there are many DevOps certifications, there are in-demand DevOps certifications in terms of job opportunities and salaries.
As per the current DevOps trends, following the DevOps certifications are in demand.
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer (AWS)
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
- Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)
- Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert (Azure)
- Google Cloud Certified – Professional DevOps Engineer
- HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate
Conclusion
In this blog, we have looked at the best DevOps certifications that you can take to showcase your knowledge in DevOps.
Also, if you are specifically learning Kubernetes, check out our guide on the best Kubernetes certifications.
8 comments
Great Explanation! This shows the path to entry level enthusiasts in Devops.
Hi this is awesome, thanks for sharing this useful information.
I have one question about LFCE, is it still available?
Hi Siphephelo,
You are welcome. LFCE is an inactive certification now
Good Post on DevOps Certification.
I am into Agile consultancy and keen to enhance my knowledge on DevOps, looking for Overall DevOps (not very technical) Certifications. Any pointers would be helpful. thank you
Excellent Guidance. !!!!
Very detailed and appropriate.
Glad it helped Devendra
I think it was helpful Bibin…Keep posting…
Glad it helped Virendar.