DevOps breaks down walls between developers and operations, building secure, fast, and efficient software. Get certified, boost your resume, and unlock higher-paying career opportunities.
Here, in this article, we’re providing you with a list of the 6 best DevOps Certifications (Free and Paid) for beginners and experienced including project managers etc. that you can consider earning in the year 2024 to start or accelerate your DevOps career journey in the tech world.
What is DevOps?
For those who haven’t heard about DevOps earlier – it is basically concerned with the practice of combining development and IT operations processes in the development life cycle for various reasons such as faster production, continuous delivery, better customer satisfaction, etc.
If we look at the reports’ data, the demand for DevOps Professionals has grown by around 42-45% in the last few years. Also, more than 40% of global enterprises are applying DevOps at the project level.
Best DevOps Certifications in 2024
Here are the list of best devops certification for 2024:
1. Docker Certified Associate (DCA) Certification
- Docker is crucial in DevOps, and Docker Certified Associate (DCA) Certification is beneficial for freshers entering the DevOps field.
- Prior experience of 6-12 months with Docker and understanding of Linux Kernel are recommended for the certification.
- DCA exam is multiple-choice, comprising 55 questions, to be completed in 90 minutes.
- The certification fee is around $195, and results are provided instantly upon completing the exam.
- DCA certification adds value by validating Docker skills, opening doors to enriching career opportunities in DevOps.
Price: Free of cost
Course duration: 6-12 months
2. Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
- CKA certification validates Kubernetes administrators’ skills and knowledge, demonstrating competency.
- Originated by The Linux Foundation and Cloud Native Computing Foundation to foster Kubernetes ecosystem growth.
- Recommended for Kubernetes administrators, cloud administrators, and IT professionals managing Kubernetes instances.
- Exam topics include Storage, Troubleshooting, Workloads & Scheduling, Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration, and Services & Networking.
- Each domain has its weightage (e.g., Troubleshooting – 30%, Services & Networking – 20%), detailed on the official website.
- Enhances job market credibility by showcasing expertise and competency in Kubernetes administration.
Price: $300
Course duration: 2 hours
It will be an online, proctored, performance-based examination where you need to solve multiple tasks within a duration of 2 hours. The cost for the Certified Kubernetes Administrator exam is $300 and the results will be sent to you via email after 36 hours of the exam completion.
3. Certified Jenkins Engineer (CJE)
- CJE certification signals proficiency in using and implementing Jenkins, valued by recruiters worldwide.
- Exam covers Jenkins Fundamentals, Jenkins Pipeline Fundamentals, and Jenkins Administration Fundamentals.
- Accessible at Kryterion test centers, chosen during the registration process.
- Certification cost is approximately USD 150.
- Note: Kryterion testing centers may be temporarily closed due to the global coronavirus outbreak.
Price: $99
Course duration: 2 hour
In addition, apart from Certified Jenkins Engineer, you can also opt to go with the related Certified CloudBees Jenkins Engineer for proficiency with Jenkins and CloudBees Core.
4. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer is ideal for IT professionals with 2+ years of experience in AWS environments.
- Validates skills in continuous delivery, monitoring, metrics, logging, security controls, and governance on AWS.
- Prerequisites include AWS Certified Developer – Associate or AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate.
- Focuses on implementing and managing various AWS-related tasks for a robust DevOps skill set.
- Requires a minimum of 2 years of industry experience in provisioning and managing AWS environments.
Price: $300
Course duration: few weeks
The exam will be consisting of around 75 questions in either multiple choice or multiple response format. You need to complete the exam within a given duration of 180 minutes.
5. Microsoft Certified DevOps Engineer Expert
- Microsoft Certified DevOps Engineer Expert certification is crucial for DevOps roles.
- Prerequisites include Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate or Microsoft Certified Azure Developer Associate.
- Expert-level certification, showcasing advanced proficiency in DevOps and Azure.
- Skills requirement involves familiarity with Azure administration and development, as well as expertise in designing and implementing DevOps strategies, infrastructure, source control, continuous integration & delivery, security, and compliance.
- Focuses on a broad understanding of various DevOps aspects, making it suitable for professionals aiming for expert-level roles.
- Strong foundation in Azure administration and development is a prerequisite for this certification.
Price: INR 4800
Course duration: couple of weeks
There will be around 40-60 questions in this exam that you need to solve within a specified time duration. Talking about the cost of the exam, it is around INR 4800 in India. Let us tell you that you can do your entire preparation for this exam with the help of learning resources provided by Microsoft on their official website.
6. Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer
- Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer certification focuses on skills like implementing site reliability engineering principles and building CI/CD pipelines.
- No rigid prerequisites, but around 3 years of industry experience, with at least 1 year on Google Cloud Platform, is strongly recommended.
- Experience requirement ensures a foundational understanding of tasks covered in the certification.
- Google provides valuable learning resources for convenient exam preparation.
- Exam validates a broad range of skills related to DevOps engineering.
- Industry-recognized certification for demonstrating proficiency in Google Cloud DevOps practices.
Price: USD 200
Course duration: few weeks
The exam will consist of multiple-choice and multiple-select questions that you need to solve within a specified duration of 2 hours. The registration fee for the certification exam is around USD 200 with applicable tax. Moreover, you can opt to take the exam either from a remote location or from the testing center.
Summary
So, these are several best and most-recommended DevOps certifications that you can consider earning in 2024 as per your requirements and convenience. Though, before opting out for any particular certification, do some extensive research about it such as if your targeted companies are accepting this particular certification or not, the validity of the certification, etc. for better outcomes!!
In short, the future of DevOps professionals seems bright in the tech world in the upcoming times. And those, who want to get into the DevOps domain are required to possess significant technical and non-technical skills including programming knowledge, familiarity with operating systems like Linux, etc., understanding of CI/CD pipelines, cloud services, and much more. In addition, these are various standard certifications that you can opt to earn to make your career in DevOps conveniently.
Top DevOps Certifications – FAQs
Is DevOps a good career in 2030?
The DevOps market is expected to reach a valuation of USD 52.01 Billion by the year 2030.
Is there a future in DevOps?
DevOps is likely to continue growing in importance. Automation, collaboration, and efficiency are key factors driving its adoption
Can I learn DevOps in 3 months?
Yes, it’s possible to acquire foundational DevOps skills in three months with focused learning.