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Top 5 DevOps Certifications in 2023

Most companies rely on certifications to determine if an individual has the skills necessary to undertake specific responsibilities. Most IT industry professionals rely on certifications to attest to their expertise in using specific tools or platforms.

In this article, I'll share the top 5 most marketable DevOps certifications you can get in 2023.

Why are IT certifications necessary for IT professionals?

The IT Industry is evolving quickly. And there is always something new around the corner, like new technologies, concepts, and practices. As an IT professional, keeping up with the latest trends in these areas is a discipline that can get you ahead of the competition.

Getting certified in technology means that your skills have been validated through tests or exams curated by industry-recognized organizations. The exams are challenging enough that only those who are well-prepared can pass them. And passing these exams gives a sense of pride and accomplishment.

According to The 10th Annual Jobs Report published in June 2022, hiring managers will most likely consider someone for the job if they have the IT certifications for the technologies the organization is looking for. It gives hiring managers an idea of how skillful and competent you are by quickly glancing at your CV or resume. From a candidate's perspective, it increases their possibility of being shortlisted for the role.

So now that we have gained a better understanding of why certifications are important, the next question is, which IT certification should you go for? There are thousands of great IT technologies out there that have certifications.

We will focus primarily on the best certifications for the field of DevOps.

Best DevOps Certification in 2023

Here are the top 5 certifications in 2023:

# 5. Python Certifications

Python is one of the best programming languages out there. And It is quite popular in the DevOps community. However, DevOps engineers don’t focus on building applications for end-users. They use Python to automate certain tasks.

The Python Institute offers three levels of Python certifications:

Entry-level - Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer (PCEP)
Associate - Certified Associate in Python Programming (PCAP)
Professional - Certified Professional in Python Programming (PCPP)

As a DevOps engineer, you should aim for PCEP and PCAP to build applications that will help you in your day-to-day tasks.

To help you prepare for the PCEP or PCAP exam, KodeKloud has two amazing courses:

To fully prepare you for the exams, the courses come with comprehensive demos and mock exams.

# 4. Docker Certifications

Knowledge of container technologies is a must-have for DevOps engineers, and one of the popular container technologies out there is Docker. Docker has paved the way in making software in a container the most popular way of deploying applications, whether on-premise or in the cloud.

It offers a Docker Certified Associate (DCA) certification exam that is proctored by Examity.

KodeKloud has an amazing course that helps you prepare for the DCA exam: DCA exam preparation course.

The course comes with a comprehensive demo and mock exam to fully prepare you for the exam.

# 3: Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It provides a highly scalable and reliable way to manage containerized workloads and services, making deploying and managing applications in production environments easier.

Kubernetes helps in maximizing the benefits of microservice architecture, a practice that involves breaking an application down into smaller, more modular components (Containers) that can be deployed independently.

The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) offers multiple Kubernetes certifications:

Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD): Validates technical skills in building and deploying applications
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA): Validates technical skills in general maintenance and management of entire Kubernetes clusters
Certified Kubernetes Security (CKS): Validates technical skills in securing containers and the cluster.

To help you prepare for the CKAD, CKA, and CKS exams, KodeKloud has these amazing courses:

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To be allowed to take the CKS exam, you must have an active CKA certificate.

The courses come with comprehensive demos and mock exams to fully prepare you for the exams.

Try the Kubernetes Familiarize Environment for free

Try the Kubernetes Pods Lab for free

# 2. Terraform

Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) is a concept where we manage and deploy the infrastructure through code instead of manual configurations. IaC makes the infrastructure more flexible and agile.

That’s because when we want to make changes to it, we simply update the code, and the infrastructure will update itself. And what's more amazing about IaC is that servers that are created from the same code will certainly be configured the same way and behave the same way.

Since the infrastructure is configured by files, these files can easily be uploaded to a git repository to keep track of any changes. You will also be able to bring up the entire infrastructure in minutes and even spawn different copies of it with a simple command should you need it.

One of the most popular IaC tools is Terraform, and Hashicorp (the team behind Terraform) offers The HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate exam. This exam tests your understanding of basic concepts and technical skills in Terraform.

KodeKloud has an amazing course that helps you prepare for the Terraform Associate exam.

The course comes with a comprehensive demo and mock exam to fully prepare you for the exam.

# 1. Linux

And finally, our number 1, The Linux Operating System.

Linux is the king of server operating systems, with over 90% of servers running on one of its distributions. Since DevOps engineers spend most of their time working on these servers, it is only fitting that they should have strong Linux-related skills.

There are many kinds of Linux certifications suited for different environments and levels of proficiency. Below are some of the popular certifications:

Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS): For those just starting with Linux.
Linux Professional Institute LPIC-1 Exam 101: For those who want to validate their ability to perform maintenance tasks.
Red Hat Certified System Administrator(RHCSA): For those who wish to get their skills validated as administrators in Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments.

To help you prepare for these three exams, KodeKloud has these amazing courses:

And there you have it. The top 5 best DevOps certifications you can get for 2023.

Conclusion

In today's highly competitive job market, certification can make all the difference in landing your dream job or getting a promotion. It shows potential employers that you are dedicated to your craft and have the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in your field. Certifications also provide a competitive edge over other candidates who may not have the same credentials.

Carefully consider the field you want to work in before choosing the certifications to pursue.

Paul Andrew Arboleda

Jan 10, 2023 • 6 min read