Top 10 DevOps Certifications to pursue in 2025

DevOps is no longer just a methodology — it is now a fundamental part of modern software development and operations. As organizations continue to adopt agile practices, automate workflows, and move to cloud-native infrastructure, the demand for skilled DevOps Certifications has grown rapidly. In 2025, DevOps remains one of the most sought-after skill sets across industries ranging from technology and finance to healthcare and manufacturing.

Whether you are a developer looking to transition into DevOps, a system administrator aiming to upskill, or a cloud engineer expanding your capabilities, a DevOps certification can help you validate your knowledge and advance your career. Certifications provide a structured path to learning, practical experience with key tools, and recognition from top employers.

This guide will walk you through the top 10 DevOps certifications that are most valuable in 2025. You will also find a step-by-step preparation guide for each certification to help you prepare effectively and with confidence.

Why DevOps Certifications Matter in 2025

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses must deliver software faster, more reliably, and with minimal downtime. This is exactly where DevOps comes in — by blending development and operations into a seamless pipeline of continuous integration, testing, deployment, and monitoring. As this approach becomes the standard, companies are actively seeking professionals who can demonstrate real expertise in DevOps tools and practices.

1. Industry Shift Toward Automation and Cloud-Native Infrastructure
DevOps is at the heart of automation, containerization, and scalable cloud deployments. Whether it is deploying microservices with Kubernetes, managing infrastructure with Terraform, or automating pipelines with Jenkins or GitLab CI/CD, the modern IT environment depends heavily on DevOps principles.

2. Certifications Build Trust and Credibility
DevOps is a hands-on discipline, but certifications provide a way to showcase structured learning and recognized competency. Employers often look for certified professionals when hiring for DevOps, SRE, and cloud infrastructure roles, especially when evaluating candidates with diverse backgrounds.

3. Higher Salaries and Better Job Prospects
Certified DevOps professionals are among the highest-paid in the IT industry. According to global salary surveys, DevOps Engineers, Site Reliability Engineers, and Platform Engineers with certifications often earn salaries 20 to 30 percent higher than their uncertified counterparts.

4. A Strong Foundation for Career Growth
DevOps certifications not only teach you tools, but also help you develop a mindset of automation, efficiency, and continuous improvement. They are a smart investment for long-term career success in cloud computing, agile delivery, and platform engineering.

How to Choose the Right DevOps Certification

The DevOps landscape is broad and includes a variety of tools, platforms, and roles. Selecting the right certification depends on your background, goals, and the type of work you enjoy. Below are some practical ways to make an informed choice.

1. Based on Your Job Role
DevOps is not a one-size-fits-all field. Choose a certification that aligns with the role you are pursuing:

• Developer transitioning to DevOps: Start with certifications that include CI/CD and container basics, such as Docker Certified Associate or GitLab DevOps Professional.
• System Administrator or Network Engineer: Consider platform-focused certifications like AWS Certified DevOps Engineer or Azure DevOps Engineer.
• Site Reliability Engineer (SRE): Certifications such as Google Cloud DevOps Engineer or Kubernetes CKA are highly relevant.
• Automation or Infrastructure Engineer: Focus on HashiCorp Terraform Associate or Red Hat Ansible certifications.

2. Based on Tools You Want to Specialize In
Some certifications are designed around specific tools or platforms:

• Terraform: HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate
• Kubernetes: Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
• Docker: Docker Certified Associate (DCA)
• Jenkins: Certified Jenkins Engineer (CJE)
• GitLab CI/CD: GitLab DevOps Professional

3. Based on Cloud Platform Preference
Choose certifications that match your organization’s infrastructure:

• AWS: AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
• Azure: Microsoft Certified DevOps Engineer Expert
• Google Cloud: Google Cloud DevOps Engineer

4. Based on Experience Level

• Beginner: DevOps Foundation, Docker Certified Associate, GitLab DevOps Professional
• Intermediate: CKA, Terraform Associate, Azure DevOps
• Advanced: AWS DevOps Professional, OSCP (for DevSecOps), Google Cloud DevOps

Choosing the right certification means finding the balance between your current skills, future goals, and the tools or platforms you plan to work with.

Top 10 DevOps Certifications in 2025 (with Step-by-Step Preparation Guide)

DevOps certifications not only help you validate your skills but also provide a structured learning path to master essential tools and practices. Whether you are aiming for roles in cloud infrastructure, automation, CI/CD pipelines, or container orchestration, there is a certification tailored to your needs.

1. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

This certification is ideal for professionals with hands-on experience on AWS who are responsible for implementing and managing DevOps practices. It is best suited for DevOps Engineers, Cloud Engineers, Release Engineers, and Automation Specialists. You should have at least two years of experience managing AWS environments and familiarity with core services like EC2, CloudFormation, and CodePipeline.

Skills Covered

• Designing and automating CI/CD pipelines using AWS services
• Infrastructure as Code with AWS CloudFormation and CDK
• Monitoring and logging using CloudWatch and X-Ray
• Security automation, IAM roles, and compliance
• High availability and scalability in deployment environments
• Incident response and rollback strategies

Step-by-Step Preparation Guide

1. Review the official exam guide and sample questions from AWS
2. Study the AWS Well-Architected Framework and DevOps whitepapers
3. Gain hands-on experience with services such as CodePipeline, CodeDeploy, ECS, Lambda, and CloudWatch
4. Use AWS Skill Builder or trusted course providers to follow a structured learning path
5. Take practice exams from skilr to assess your knowledge and readiness
6. Join AWS communities or discussion groups for tips and peer support

Exam Format and Cost

• Format: Multiple choice and multiple response questions
• Duration: 180 minutes
• Cost: $300 USD
• Delivery: Online proctored or at a testing center
• Prerequisites: Recommended to have AWS Certified Developer or SysOps Associate first (not mandatory)

Career Outcomes
This certification opens doors to roles such as Senior DevOps Engineer, AWS DevOps Consultant, and Site Reliability Engineer. It is highly valued across cloud-first companies and enterprise DevOps teams.
Average salary: ₹18–30 LPA in India and $130,000–$160,000 globally.

2. Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert

This certification is intended for professionals who combine people, processes, and technologies to deliver continuous value on Microsoft Azure. It is best suited for Azure DevOps Engineers, Cloud Architects, Release Managers, and IT professionals with experience using Azure development and operations tools. To earn this certification, candidates must first pass one of the prerequisite associate-level exams: either AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) or AZ-204 (Azure Developer).

Skills Covered

• Designing and implementing DevOps strategies
• Automating infrastructure with ARM templates and Bicep
• Managing version control with Git and Azure Repos
• Implementing CI/CD pipelines with Azure Pipelines
• Managing secrets, security, and compliance in Azure
• Monitoring and logging using Azure Monitor and Application Insights

Step-by-Step Preparation Guide

1. Choose and pass a prerequisite exam (AZ-104 or AZ-204)
2. Review the official SC-400 (DevOps Expert) exam guide from Microsoft
3. Study using Microsoft Learn’s free online modules
4. Get hands-on practice with Azure DevOps, Azure CLI, and PowerShell
5. Build CI/CD pipelines using Azure Pipelines and GitHub Actions
6. Take mock tests to identify gaps and reinforce your understanding

Exam Format and Cost

• Format: Multiple choice and case study-based questions
• Duration: 120 minutes
• Cost: $165 USD
• Delivery: Online or at a Pearson VUE test center
• Prerequisites: AZ-104 or AZ-204 certification

Career Outcomes
This certification is recognized by enterprises that run Microsoft cloud environments. It prepares you for roles such as Azure DevOps Engineer, Cloud Automation Specialist, and Site Reliability Engineer.
Average salary: ₹15–28 LPA in India and $120,000–$150,000 globally.

3. Google Cloud Professional DevOps Engineer

This certification is designed for professionals who deploy, operate, and manage applications on the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) using DevOps principles. It is suitable for Cloud Engineers, Site Reliability Engineers (SREs), DevOps Engineers, and System Administrators who already have hands-on experience with GCP services and infrastructure automation.

Skills Covered

• Implementing CI/CD pipelines using Cloud Build and Cloud Deploy
• Monitoring, logging, and incident response with Stackdriver (now part of Google Cloud Operations Suite)
• Infrastructure automation using Terraform and Deployment Manager
• Managing security, access control, and compliance
• Applying SRE principles for reliability and service-level objectives (SLOs)
• Performance tuning and failure recovery strategies

Step-by-Step Preparation Guide

1. Review the exam guide from Google Cloud’s official certification page
2. Complete the Google Cloud DevOps learning path on Cloud Skills Boost (free or subscription-based)
3. Practice with hands-on labs involving CI/CD, Cloud Monitoring, GKE, and IAM
4. Study case studies and real-world scenarios provided in the exam curriculum
5. Understand core SRE concepts such as SLAs, SLOs, SLIs, and error budgets
6. Attempt full-length practice exams and work on real projects in the GCP Free Tier

Exam Format and Cost

• Format: Multiple choice and multiple select
• Duration: 2 hours
• Cost: $200 USD
• Delivery: Online or in-person at a test center
• Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites, but 1+ year GCP experience is recommended

Career Outcomes
Holders of this certification are qualified for roles such as GCP DevOps Engineer, SRE, Cloud Reliability Engineer, and Platform Engineer. It is highly valued in organizations using Google Cloud for modern application delivery.
Average salary: ₹16–30 LPA in India and $130,000–$160,000 globally.

4. Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

The CKA certification is designed for DevOps Engineers, Platform Engineers, and System Administrators who manage containerized applications and Kubernetes clusters. It is ideal for those working in cloud-native environments and responsible for deploying, maintaining, and troubleshooting Kubernetes-based infrastructure. A strong foundation in Linux, containers (especially Docker), and networking is recommended before attempting this exam.

Skills Covered

• Cluster architecture, installation, and configuration
• Workloads and scheduling using Deployments, DaemonSets, and Jobs
• Networking and service discovery with DNS, Ingress, and LoadBalancers
• Persistent storage and volume configuration
• Role-based access control (RBAC) and secrets management
• Logging, monitoring, and troubleshooting Kubernetes environments

Step-by-Step Preparation Guide

1. Review the official CKA exam curriculum from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)
2. Enroll in a structured course such as the Kubernetes Fundamentals by the Linux Foundation
3. Set up a practice lab using Minikube, Kind, or Kubernetes on cloud platforms (GKE, EKS, AKS)
4. Practice solving real-world tasks like node scaling, pod networking, and log debugging
5. Create and revise a personal command reference — the exam is open-book
6. Attempt mock CKA simulators such as Killer.sh to simulate exam pressure and workflows

Exam Format and Cost

• Format: Performance-based lab exam
• Questions: Around 15–20 tasks
• Duration: 2 hours
• Cost: $395 USD (includes one free retake)
• Delivery: Online proctored
• Prerequisites: None, but hands-on Kubernetes experience is essential

Career Outcomes
CKA is one of the most respected certifications in DevOps and cloud-native operations. It is a strong credential for roles like Kubernetes Administrator, Site Reliability Engineer, Platform Engineer, and Cloud Infrastructure Specialist.
Average salary: ₹14–28 LPA in India and $120,000–$150,000 globally.

5. HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate

This certification is intended for DevOps Engineers, Infrastructure Engineers, Cloud Engineers, and SREs who use Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to automate provisioning across multiple cloud platforms. It is especially valuable for professionals working in hybrid or multi-cloud environments. You should have at least six months of hands-on experience with Terraform and cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.

Skills Covered

• Terraform basics: providers, resources, variables, outputs
• Writing and managing Terraform configurations
• Using modules for reusable infrastructure
• Managing state and locking with remote backends
• Working with workspaces and CLI commands
• Understanding Terraform Cloud and Enterprise features

Step-by-Step Preparation Guide

1. Review the official exam objectives from HashiCorp’s certification site
2. Study the Terraform documentation, especially commands like init, apply, destroy, and state
3. Enroll in the free tutorials on HashiCorp Learn (official and hands-on)
4. Set up real infrastructure on AWS or GCP using Terraform
5. Practice tasks such as creating VPCs, provisioning compute resources, and using outputs and modules
6. Take sample practice exams and revise concepts like lifecycle rules and dependency management

Exam Format and Cost

• Format: Multiple choice and multiple select
• Questions: Approximately 57
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Cost: $70 USD
• Delivery: Online proctored
• Prerequisites: None (experience with Terraform is strongly recommended)

Career Outcomes
This certification is ideal for roles such as DevOps Engineer, Cloud Automation Engineer, Infrastructure as Code Specialist, and Platform Engineer. It enhances your credibility when working with teams adopting scalable and automated cloud infrastructure.
Average salary: ₹10–22 LPA in India and $110,000–$140,000 globally.

6. Docker Certified Associate (DCA)

The Docker Certified Associate certification is designed for professionals who use Docker to build, package, and deploy containerized applications. It is ideal for DevOps Engineers, Developers, Release Engineers, and System Administrators working in CI/CD environments. A basic understanding of Linux, containers, and networking is recommended.

Skills Covered

• Docker architecture and installation
• Creating and managing containers and images
• Docker CLI commands and Dockerfiles
• Managing storage and networking in Docker
• Docker Compose for multi-container apps
• Container orchestration with Docker Swarm (and basic Kubernetes)
• Security best practices and image vulnerability scanning

Step-by-Step Preparation Guide

1. Review the official DCA exam blueprint from Docker’s certification portal
2. Take a structured course or go through Docker’s official documentation
3. Practice Docker CLI extensively: run, exec, commit, logs, inspect
4. Build multi-container applications using Docker Compose
5. Set up Docker Swarm and try out simple service deployments
6. Take sample practice exams and refine weak areas based on feedback

Exam Format and Cost

• Format: Multiple choice and multiple response
• Questions: 55
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Cost: $195 USD
• Delivery: Online proctored
• Prerequisites: None (basic hands-on experience recommended)

Career Outcomes
This certification is valuable for roles such as DevOps Engineer, Build and Release Engineer, Container Specialist, and Cloud-native Developer. It demonstrates your ability to work with modern containerization workflows and integrate Docker into production pipelines.
Average salary: ₹10–20 LPA in India and $100,000–$130,000 globally.

7. Certified Jenkins Engineer (CJE)

The Certified Jenkins Engineer certification is tailored for DevOps Engineers, Build and Release Engineers, and Automation Specialists who use Jenkins for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD). It is ideal for professionals who want to validate their skills in configuring Jenkins pipelines, managing plugins, and automating software delivery workflows.

Skills Covered

• Installing and configuring Jenkins
• Managing plugins and system settings
• Creating and maintaining build pipelines using declarative and scripted pipelines
• Integrating Jenkins with Git, Maven, Docker, and other tools
• Managing credentials and securing Jenkins environments
• Monitoring builds and managing logs
• Scaling Jenkins for distributed build environments

Step-by-Step Preparation Guide

1. Study the exam outline and topics published on the official Jenkins certification site
2. Install Jenkins locally or on a cloud VM for hands-on experience
3. Practice creating freestyle jobs, pipeline scripts, and multi-branch pipelines
4. Learn to troubleshoot common build failures and manage workspace directories
5. Explore key plugins such as Git, Blue Ocean, Pipeline, and Credentials Binding
6. Take community practice exams and review Jenkins documentation for advanced features

Exam Format and Cost

• Format: Multiple choice
• Questions: 60
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Cost: $150 USD
• Delivery: Online proctored via PSI
• Prerequisites: Familiarity with Jenkins fundamentals and pipeline scripting

Career Outcomes
This certification is valuable for roles such as Jenkins Administrator, DevOps Engineer, CI/CD Pipeline Specialist, and Automation Engineer. It is widely recognized in organizations that rely on Jenkins for continuous delivery.
Average salary: ₹10–18 LPA in India and $95,000–$125,000 globally.

8. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation

This certification is ideal for System Administrators, DevOps Engineers, and Automation Engineers who want to validate their skills in automating infrastructure using Ansible. It is especially useful for professionals working in enterprise environments that use Red Hat or Linux-based systems. Basic experience with command-line tools and YAML scripting is recommended.

Skills Covered

• Installing and configuring Ansible and Ansible Tower
• Writing and organizing Ansible playbooks and roles
• Managing inventories and variables
• Automating tasks across large server fleets
• Using Ansible modules for system configuration and software deployment
• Troubleshooting Ansible executions and playbook logic
• Integrating Ansible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems

Step-by-Step Preparation Guide

1. Review the objectives for the EX407 exam on Red Hat’s official website
2. Take the DO407 (Automation with Ansible) course offered by Red Hat (optional but recommended)
3. Practice writing YAML-based playbooks, handlers, loops, and conditionals
4. Set up a lab environment using VMs or cloud instances for multi-node automation
5. Learn how to use Ansible Vault, roles, and dynamic inventories
6. Review Red Hat documentation and run through mock exercises simulating EX407 tasks

Exam Format and Cost

• Format: Performance-based (hands-on exam)
• Duration: 4 hours
• Cost: $400–$500 USD (varies by location and currency)
• Delivery: Individual exam stations or remote exam (Red Hat testing environment)
• Prerequisites: Experience with Linux system administration is highly recommended

Career Outcomes
This certification qualifies professionals for roles such as Automation Engineer, Linux Administrator, Infrastructure Engineer, and DevOps Specialist. It is highly respected in enterprise IT, especially in environments using Red Hat solutions.
Average salary: ₹12–24 LPA in India and $110,000–$140,000 globally.

9. GitLab Certified DevOps Professional

Who Should Take It
This certification is ideal for DevOps Engineers, CI/CD Specialists, and Cloud-native Developers who use GitLab to manage source code, automate pipelines, and deploy applications. It is a great fit for those working in modern development environments where GitLab is used end-to-end for DevOps workflows. Familiarity with Git, YAML, and CI/CD pipelines is recommended.

Skills Covered

• Core GitLab concepts: repositories, branches, merge requests
• Building CI/CD pipelines using .gitlab-ci.yml
• Managing runners and job artifacts
• Integrating GitLab with Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform
• Automating testing, builds, and deployments
• Managing secrets, permissions, and GitLab environments
• Using GitLab for infrastructure-as-code and DevSecOps

Step-by-Step Preparation Guide

1. Review the GitLab certification objectives on GitLab’s official learning portal
2. Take GitLab’s free DevOps Fundamentals and CI/CD courses
3. Set up a GitLab instance or use GitLab.com for hands-on practice
4. Build and test CI/CD pipelines using YAML configuration
5. Explore integration with Docker, Helm, Kubernetes, and cloud platforms
6. Review GitLab documentation and join GitLab community channels for peer support

Exam Format and Cost

• Format: Multiple choice and practical labs
• Questions: Varies (includes hands-on tasks)
• Duration: Approximately 2 hours
• Cost: Around $300 USD (may vary with training bundles)
• Delivery: Online proctored
• Prerequisites: None (but hands-on GitLab and DevOps knowledge is essential)

Career Outcomes
This certification supports roles such as DevOps Engineer, GitLab CI/CD Engineer, Cloud Automation Developer, and Full-Stack DevOps Specialist. It is increasingly in demand among teams standardizing DevOps workflows on GitLab.
Average salary: ₹10–22 LPA in India and $100,000–$135,000 globally.

10. DevOps Foundation (by DevOps Institute)

Who Should Take It
This entry-level certification is perfect for professionals who are new to DevOps and want to understand its principles, culture, and practices. It is suitable for IT Managers, Developers, QA professionals, System Administrators, and business stakeholders who want to gain foundational knowledge of DevOps before pursuing more technical certifications.

Skills Covered

• Core DevOps concepts: culture, collaboration, and automation
• Key practices: CI/CD, version control, infrastructure as code
• DevOps roles and responsibilities across teams
• Introduction to Agile, Lean, and ITIL integration with DevOps
• Understanding DevOps metrics and KPIs
• Overview of popular tools (Jenkins, Git, Docker, etc.)

Step-by-Step Preparation Guide

1. Review the official exam outline and learning objectives from the DevOps Institute website
2. Enroll in the accredited DevOps Foundation course (required to take the exam)
3. Study the key DevOps concepts and real-world case studies included in the course material
4. Participate in interactive discussions and exercises if taking instructor-led training
5. Practice with sample questions provided by the DevOps Institute or course provider
6. Take the exam online after completing the course

Exam Format and Cost

• Format: Multiple choice
• Questions: 40
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Cost: $249 USD (includes training and exam access)
• Delivery: Online proctored through PeopleCert
• Prerequisites: None (course completion is mandatory)

Career Outcomes
This certification helps professionals build a solid understanding of DevOps and prepares them for higher-level technical certifications. It is especially helpful for professionals working in cross-functional teams or transitioning into DevOps roles.
Average salary: ₹6–12 LPA in India and $80,000–$105,000 globally.

Here is a comparison table for your better understanding –

Certification	Level	Cost (USD)	Experience Required	Platform Focus	Key Roles
AWS DevOps Engineer – Professional	Advanced	$300	2+ yrs AWS DevOps	AWS	DevOps Engineer, SRE
Azure DevOps Engineer Expert	Advanced	$165	AZ-104 or AZ-204 required	Azure	Azure DevOps Engineer
Google Cloud DevOps Engineer	Advanced	$200	1+ yr GCP	Google Cloud	GCP SRE, DevOps Engineer
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)	Intermediate	$395	6+ mo Kubernetes	Cloud Native	Kubernetes Admin, Platform Engineer
Terraform Associate	Intermediate	$70	6+ mo Terraform	Multi-cloud	Cloud Automation Engineer
Docker Certified Associate (DCA)	Intermediate	$195	Basic Docker and CLI	Containerization	Container Specialist, DevOps Engineer
Certified Jenkins Engineer (CJE)	Intermediate	$150	Hands-on Jenkins	CI/CD	CI/CD Engineer, Automation Lead
Red Hat Ansible Specialist	Intermediate	$400	Linux & YAML knowledge	Red Hat	Ansible Automation Engineer
GitLab DevOps Professional	Intermediate	$300	Hands-on GitLab CI/CD	GitLab	GitLab DevOps Engineer
DevOps Foundation	Beginner	$249	None (course required)	Vendor-Neutral	DevOps Analyst, Project Manager

Platform-Based and Role-Based Recommendations

Choosing a DevOps certification becomes much easier when you align it with the platform you work with and the role you aim to grow into. This section helps you map certifications to cloud providers, DevOps tools, and real-world job roles.

1. Platform-Based Guidance

• AWS
  • Certification: AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
  • Best for: Engineers working in AWS-heavy environments and building CI/CD with CodePipeline, CloudFormation, and ECS.
• Azure
  • Certification: Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
  • Best for: Professionals managing releases with Azure DevOps and automating infrastructure with Bicep and ARM templates.
• Google Cloud
  • Certification: Google Cloud DevOps Engineer
  • Best for: Teams implementing SRE principles and managing deployments with GKE, Cloud Build, and Operations Suite.
• Multi-Cloud
  • Certifications: Terraform Associate, Docker Certified Associate, Kubernetes CKA
  • Best for: Engineers working in hybrid/multi-cloud or vendor-agnostic environments.
• Red Hat
  • Certification: Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation
  • Best for: Linux administrators automating enterprise IT with Red Hat tools.

2. Tool-Specific Guidance

• Containers and Orchestration:
  • Docker Certified Associate (DCA), Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC):
  • Terraform Associate, Red Hat Ansible Specialist
• CI/CD Pipeline Automation:
  • Certified Jenkins Engineer (CJE), GitLab DevOps Professional

3. Role-Based Certification Tracks

Role	Recommended Certifications
DevOps Engineer	AWS DevOps, Azure DevOps, Google DevOps, Docker, GitLab
Cloud Platform Engineer	Terraform Associate, Kubernetes CKA, AWS/Azure/Google Cloud Certifications
SRE / Reliability Engineer	Google Cloud DevOps, Kubernetes CKA, Jenkins Engineer, GitLab CI/CD
Automation / IaC Engineer	Terraform Associate, Red Hat Ansible Specialist, Jenkins
DevOps Beginner	DevOps Foundation, Docker Certified Associate, GitLab DevOps Professional (basic level)

Matching the right certification with your platform and role will ensure long-term career growth and hands-on relevance.

6. Resources for Preparation

To pass a DevOps certification, you must go beyond theory and focus on real, hands-on learning. Whether you are preparing for AWS, Kubernetes, Terraform, or Jenkins, using the right resources will make a huge difference in your success. Below are the most effective tools and strategies for exam preparation.

Official Training Portals
Start your learning journey with official training materials provided by the certifying body. These courses are aligned with exam objectives and often include labs, case studies, and practice questions.

• AWS Skill Builder for AWS DevOps
• Microsoft Learn for Azure DevOps
• Google Cloud Skills Boost for GCP DevOps Engineer
• Linux Foundation / CNCF for Kubernetes CKA
• HashiCorp Learn for Terraform
• Docker Academy, GitLab Learn, and Red Hat Training are also useful platforms

Hands-On Labs and Sandbox Environments
DevOps is a practice-first discipline. You must get your hands dirty with real tools.

• Use AWS Free Tier, Azure Free Account, or GCP Free Credits for infrastructure practice
• Set up Minikube, Kind, or Play with Kubernetes for local Kubernetes training
• Explore platforms like Katacoda, KodeKloud, and Instruqt for guided DevOps labs
• Build real CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and GitLab runners

Mock Exams and Community Discussion Groups
Simulating the real test helps build confidence and identify weak areas.

• Attempt timed practice exams from official or verified sources
• Join LinkedIn groups, Discord channels, or Reddit communities like r/devops or r/kubernetes
• Follow GitHub repositories and blogs where professionals share study notes and project demos

Documentation, Project-Based Learning, and Real Scenarios
There is no substitute for doing real work. Use official documentation for in-depth understanding and build your own portfolio:

• Automate multi-cloud deployments using Terraform
• Set up monitoring dashboards using Prometheus and Grafana
• Use Ansible to manage and patch Linux server fleets
• Create your own CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, Docker, and Git

Real scenarios prepare you for exam tasks and also impress hiring managers.

Conclusion

In 2025, DevOps continues to be one of the most in-demand career paths in technology. Whether you are just starting out or aiming to advance into specialized roles like SRE, Cloud Engineer, or Automation Lead, certifications can help you demonstrate your skills and accelerate your career.

Each certification covered in this guide serves a specific purpose—some focus on platforms like AWS or Azure, while others target skills like container orchestration, infrastructure as code, or pipeline automation. Choosing the right certification depends on your background, role, and long-term career goals.

Combine certifications with real-world project experience, hands-on labs, and continuous learning. That is the formula for becoming not only certified—but truly job-ready. Let your certification journey be a strategic step in mastering DevOps the right way.