Are DevOps certifications worth it? We’re here to answer this big question. We’ll cover what DevOps certifications are, what they cost, and how they compare to college degrees.
What Is a DevOps Certification?
DevOps is a culture and method that brings developers and IT operations together to work more closely. It speeds up development, improves products, and boosts efficiency, helping organizations stay competitive. Instead of working in silos like in traditional setups, modern teams collaborate to keep up with fast-changing markets, new tech, and evolving security threats.
Here’s a quick glimpse of DevOps Statistics 2025:
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- 49% reported faster time to market for software and services.
- 99% say DevOps has impacted their organization positively.
- 61% saw a better quality in their deliverables after adopting DevOps.
- 83% of IT leaders use DevOps to create more business value.
- DevOps is now the most widely used process framework in IT, used by 49% of organizations—beating Agile, which comes in at 36%.
Its popularity will keep growing, which means there will be more jobs for those who understand DevOps tools, workflows, and culture. As more companies adopt DevOps to stay competitive, they’ll need skilled engineers, developers, testers, and IT pros who can keep up with fast-paced, automated, and collaborative environments.
Enter DevOps certifications.
Certifications can be broad or specific. Some focus on concepts and workflows, while others dive deep into a particular tool or platform. However, in general, certifications prove that you have the skills and knowledge to work in a DevOps environment. They show employers that you:
- understand how to streamline development and operations
- use automation tools
- foster collaboration across teams
DevOps certification value will depend—your career goals, experience level, and the specific certification you choose. But we’ll dive deeper into that shortly.
There are a bunch of players in the DevOps certification game, but some names pop up more often than others:
- AWS (Amazon Web Services): They offer the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional cert. It’s advanced, so not ideal if you’re brand-new, but great if you’re already dabbling in cloud stuff.
- Microsoft Azure: Check out Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert. Like AWS’s version, it focuses on automation, CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, and monitoring.
- Google Cloud: Their Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer cert is more Google-y (naturally) but covers similar skills. You’ll learn to balance service reliability and delivery speed.
Other Notable Mentions
- Docker Certified Associate
- Kubernetes Certifications (CKA/CKAD) by the CNCF
- HashiCorp Terraform Certification
- Jenkins Certification
- Linux Foundation DevOps Bootcamp
Each has its focus and level of difficulty, so you’ve got options.
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What Are the Benefits of a DevOps Certification?
So, are DevOps certifications worth it? They sure can be! Here are the major benefits of DevOps certification:
Career Boost
In today’s job market, a certification can help you stand out. It shows employers you’re serious about growing and learning. It might be the edge you need to land a better job, get a promotion, or even negotiate a higher salary. Some roles—like DevOps engineer or release manager—often go to people with credentials to back up their experience.
Better pay
According to a study by Global Knowledge, tech professionals with certifications earn about $12,000 more per year than those without. In DevOps specifically, certifications can boost your salary by 25% to 45%, depending on the level you’ve reached.
Entry into tech roles
New to tech? A cert can help you get your foot in the door. It won’t immediately land you a senior job, but it shows commitment and gives you real-world skills—more than a generic computer science class might.
Resume appeal
A DevOps certification on your resume signals that you have practical, up-to-date knowledge. It shows hiring managers you’re not just guessing your way through automation, pipelines, or cloud deployments.
Networking Opportunities
Certification programs often connect you with other learners, instructors, and industry pros. Whether it’s through online communities, Slack groups, or live workshops, you’ll have chances to network, share ideas, and maybe even discover job leads or mentorship.
How Much Do DevOps Certifications Cost?
Time to talk about the DevOps certification cost. There are lots of DevOps certifications to choose from—some are affordable, while others can be pretty expensive.
- Typical Price Range
- Most certifications fall somewhere between $100 and $2,000+. That includes exam fees, prep courses, and maybe a practice test or two.
- What You Get for the Cost
- Access to official study guides or training portals
- Practice tests
- Exam voucher
- Sometimes hands-on labs
- Bootcamps or premium prep courses can add hundreds (or even thousands) to your total. So budget wisely.
- Do You Need to Renew?
- Yes, most of these certs expire in 2–3 years. You’ll either:
- Retake the exam
- Complete continuing education (CE) credits
- Pay a renewal fee (usually cheaper than the original)
- Yes, most of these certs expire in 2–3 years. You’ll either:
Here are a few popular DevOps certifications and their prices.
1. Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
- Certification Provider: Microsoft
- Best For: IT support, cloud beginners, sales, recent grads, business roles
- Description: Basic cloud and Azure knowledge, including services, security, pricing, and compliance.
- Recommended Experience: No formal experience required
- Cost: $99
2. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- Certification Provider: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Best For: Entry-level IT, sales associates, project managers, business analysts
- Description: Foundational AWS cloud knowledge covering core services, security, and pricing.
- Recommended Experience: No prior AWS experience needed
- Cost: $100
3. Certified DevOps Foundation (DOFD)
- Certification Provider: DevOps Institute
- Best For: Developers, IT ops, DevOps engineers, project managers, QA, tech leads
- Description: Entry-level cert teaching DevOps culture, collaboration, automation, and workflow improvements.
- Recommended Experience: Some IT or software knowledge is helpful but not required
- Cost: Varies (course + exam)
4. GitLab Certified Associate
- Certification Provider: GitLab
- Best For: Developers, junior sysadmins, project/product managers, students
- Description: Covers GitLab basics, Git commands, project management, and CI/CD workflows.
- Recommended Experience: Basic DevOps and Git knowledge
- Cost: Varies
5. Docker Certified Associate (DCA)
- Certification Provider: Docker, Inc.
- Best For: DevOps engineers, software engineers, and system admins working with Docker
- Description: Validates your skills in Docker container technology, including orchestration, image management, networking, security, and storage.
- Recommended Experience: 6–12 months using Docker and solid Linux knowledge
- Cost: $195
6. Puppet Certified Professional
- Certification Provider: Puppet
- Best For: DevOps engineers and IT pros automating infrastructure
- Description: Tests your ability to use Puppet for IT automation, including module authoring, troubleshooting, orchestration, and administration.
- Recommended Experience: From foundational to advanced Puppet use
- Cost: $200
7. Linux Professional Institute DevOps Tools Engineer
- Certification Provider: Linux Professional Institute (LPI)
- Best For: DevOps engineers, SREs, sysadmins, developers focusing on automation
- Description: Validates skills in Linux-based DevOps tools: containers, orchestration, config management, CI/CD.
- Recommended Experience: Linux proficiency, container and config management knowledge
- Cost: $200
8. Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
- Certification Provider: Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)
- Best For: IT pros managing Kubernetes clusters, cloud admins
- Description: Demonstrates your skills in installing, configuring, and troubleshooting Kubernetes clusters, including networking, storage, and workloads.
- Recommended Experience: No prerequisites, but Kubernetes experience helps
- Cost: $395
9. Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
- Certification Provider: Microsoft
- Best For: DevOps engineers working in Azure environments
- Description: Focuses on DevOps processes like CI/CD, source control, collaboration, site reliability, and security in Azure.
- Recommended Experience: Expert in Azure administration or development; prior Azure cert required
- Cost: $165
10. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
- Certification Provider: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Best For: DevOps engineers working with cloud tech, especially AWS environments
- Description: Validates your ability to test and deploy AWS applications and infrastructure. Covers cloud automation, compliance, governance, and security controls.
- Recommended Experience: 2+ years in AWS environments and coding skills in a high-level language
- Cost: $300
DevOps Certification vs. College Degree
DevOps certification vs degree: Which is better? There’s no right answer. Each has its own pros and fits different career paths and goals.
Which is Better for Beginners?
- If you’re just starting and want fast, practical skills, go for the cert.
- If you’re still in high school or aiming for broader career options, A degree still matters, especially for some corporate roles.
Can You Do Both?
Absolutely. In fact, many professionals do. A college degree gives you a foundation, while certs keep you relevant and up-to-date. Think of a degree as your big-picture map and certs as GPS updates.
Here’s how to combine DevOps certs with a college degree:
- Start your degree, add entry-level certs early
- Pick certs that match your college topics.
- Manage your time—focus on school, fit certs in small chunks.
- Use cert labs for hands-on practice.
- Show both your degree and certs on your resume to impress employers.
How Employers View Each
- Tech startups and agile companies often value skills and certs over degrees.
- Traditional companies may still prioritize degrees, especially for leadership roles.
Best of both worlds? Get a degree if it’s within reach, but stack on certs to stay competitive. This combination can help you pursue any DevOps career path you’d like.
How to Pay for DevOps Certification
Next Topic: How to pay for DevOps certification.
Not everyone has $300+ to drop on an exam and learning resources, and that’s okay. Here are a few tips on how you can pay for DevOps certification without resorting to any student loans:
Employer Reimbursement
A lot of companies (especially in IT) will pay for your cert if it’s relevant to your job. Check with HR or your manager. Just be ready to stay with the company for a while afterward—that’s often the trade-off.
Scholarships and Grants
Bootcamps and online learning platforms like Springboard, CareerFoundry, and Flatiron School often have:
- Income share agreements
- Scholarships for underrepresented groups
- Deferred payment options
Low-cost or Free Alternatives
If you’re on a budget or testing the waters at this time, start with the following providers of affordable DevOps certifications:
- Coursera or edX: Tons of DevOps courses from top schools like Stanford and IBM
- YouTube: Free tutorials (though quality varies)
- GitHub Repos: Practice labs, projects, and walkthroughs
- Community Programs: Check out organizations like FreeCodeCamp or nonprofit tech groups
Are DevOps Certifications Worth It for You?
Should you get a DevOps cert? Here’s a quick guide to help you figure out if you should pursue online DevOps training programs.
DevOps certification is a good fit if you:
- Are interested in cloud infrastructure, automation, or software delivery
- Want to enter tech or boost your current IT career
- Are ready to study and get hands-on experience
- Can afford the exam or find financial help
- Have employer support for certifications
- Prefer practical skills over a college degree
- Don’t mind recertifying every few years
You might want to wait if you:
- Are still figuring out your career path
- Don’t enjoy working with systems, servers, or code
- Lack time to study right now
- Are only chasing the cert for quick money
Final Thoughts: Making a Smart Investment in Your Education
DevOps certifications aren’t some magic wand, but they can be powerful career tools—especially if you’re strategic about it.
Whether you’re switching careers, aiming for a raise, or just want to future-proof your skills, a well-chosen DevOps cert can open doors. But only if you pair it with actual learning and hands-on practice.
The goal isn’t to collect shiny badges—it’s to build real skills and use them to grow. Certifications are part of the journey, not the whole story.
If you’re looking for more tips on affordable education, breaking into tech, or finding the right path without going broke, check out these related guides:
- Best free DevOps certifications & training courses in 2025
- How to Become a DevOps Engineer in Six Months
- 11 Steps to a Successful DevOps Career
If money is a big issue, you can find scholarships for tech certifications on the following websites: