5 Popular DevOps Certifications in 2026

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Key takeaways

• A DevOps certification verifies your expertise and may help you fill gaps in your experience, obtain an entry-level role or advance to the next stage of your career

• Popular DevOps certifications include the Azure DevOps certification and the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer certification

• DevOps certification requirements vary from exam to exam, with some requiring years of experience with the vendor’s products or services, a foundational understanding, or no prerequisites at all

You can determine which DevOps certification is best for you by defining your target goal, browsingDevOps job postingsto see which credentials are mentioned, and comparing your options to find out which exams you’re eligible for. Learn more about five popular options and how to get a DevOps certification in the following article

If you’re ready to start earning one from an industry leader now,consider enrolling to earn the IBM Applied DevOps Engineering Professional Certificate. Designed for those who are already proficient in a programming language, this intermediate-level program takes your DevOps expertise to the next level with skill-building in areas like cloud computing, CI/CD, and sprint planning

5 In-demand DevOps certifications

DevOps engineers earn total median salaries ranging from $114,000 to $178,000 [1], and certification could increase your earning power. You’ll find numerous DevOps certifications on the market, and the best for you will depend on your industry, current market trends, and experience level. Here are five respected and commonly requested DevOps certifications from employers:

1. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional 

This certification from Amazon Web Services shows employers that you can test and deploy AWS applications and infrastructure. It also validates your expertise in cloud platforms in general, including implementing and automating compliance validation, governance processes, and security controls. 

AWS is considered the leading cloud computing platform. AWS certification is one of the most in-demand credentials, with Indeed advertising over 2,000 AWS DevOps engineer jobs in the United States in October 2025

Who it’s for:DevOps engineers who work with cloud technology, especially in an Amazon Web Services (AWS) environment

DevOps certification requirements: Two or more years working in AWS environments and the ability to code in a high-level programming language

2. Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

Kubernetes is a popular container-based open-source platform used to manage workloads and services. Earning CKA certification demonstrates you can manage and configure production-grade Kubernetes clusters and perform a basic installation. You’ll be tested on your skills in Kubernetes troubleshooting; cluster architecture, installation, and configuration; services and networking; workloads and scheduling; and storage.

Who it’s for:IT professionals who manage Kubernetes instances, including Kubernetes administrators and cloud administrators

DevOps certification requirements:Foundational understanding of Kubernetes 

Need to build foundational Kubernetes knowledge?Consider setting aside 12 hours to complete this Kubernetes crash course for beginners:

3. Docker Certified Associate (DCA)

Docker is a tool that simplifies the development and deployment of software and programming projects using containers. It’s considered one of the leading container runtime platforms, so having Docker certification is advantageous. 

It will validate your skills with Docker and containers in general, including orchestration, image creation, management, and registry; installation and configuration; networking; security; and storage and volumes

Who it’s for:DevOps engineers, software engineers, and others who work with Docker

DevOps certification requirements:Six to 12 months using Docker

4. Puppet Certified Professional

DevOps professionals use Puppet to automate processes to deliver infrastructure changes more quickly and create better software. Puppet software is a system management tool that helps automate and manage server configuration. 

Passing the Puppet Certified Professional exam validates that you can use Puppet IT automation software as it tests both your technical skills and real-world experience. You’ll be expected to understand and use concepts related to classification strategies, troubleshooting Puppet code, module authoring, orchestration and tasks, environments, administration, language, and concepts

Who it’s for:DevOps engineers and IT professionals

DevOps certification requirements:Foundational understanding and use of Puppet

5. Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert

Formerly called Azure DevOps Engineer Expert, this certification demonstrates your expertise in DevOps processes, specifically “working with people, processes, and technologies to continuously deliver business value” [2]. 

Some of your skills that will be assessed include developing instrumentation strategies, site reliability engineering strategies, and security and compliance plans. You’ll also show your skill level for managing mplementing continuous integration and management strategies

Who it’s for:DevOps engineers

DevOps certification requirements:Expert in Azure administration or development, and familiarity with both. Either Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate or Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate Certification required as a prerequisite

How to get a DevOps certification

To get a DevOps certification, first choose one that matches your background and goals. If you’re a beginner, start with something practical like a cloud fundamentals certification (AWS Cloud Practitioner, Azure Fundamentals). If you already have experience in cloud, sysadmin, or development, aim for role-based certs like AWS DevOps Engineer or Azure DevOps Engineer Expert

Once you choose, review the official exam topics, take an online course, and practice hands-on with tools like Git, Linux, CI/CD pipelines, Docker, and Kubernetes. Then book the exam through the provider’s website and take practice tests until you’re consistently scoring well

Which DevOps certification is best for you

Choosing a DevOps certification depends on your career goals, background knowledge, and personal interests. DevOps certifications come from several x, Jenkins, and more

Automation is a huge part of DevOps, and many of these certifications deal with the knowledge of cloud concepts, configuration management, and networking. Deciding which certification to explore all depends on where in the development cycle you prefer and what systems you are familiar with. 

Benefits of getting DevOps certified

As a current or aspiring DevOps professional, you might choose to pursue certification for many reasons. Here are a few to consider:

• Potential salary increase: With DevOps skills and expertise increasingly in demand over the past few years, getting certified in many DevOps architectures is a valuable way to supplement your resume. 

• Recognition: When you achieve your DevOps certification, you demonstrate expert knowledge in DevOps and understand the processes of producing code, managing versions, testing, integration, and deployment. Your certification could lead to opportunities for you to stand out and take on more advanced leadership roles within your company. 

• Develop skills: If you’re a developer, engineer, or working with the deployment team, strong DevOps skills can give you a better understanding of all stages of deployment and working to deploy software as a cohesive unit rather than siloed teams. 

• New career path: DevOps is widely considered the future of software development. Make yourself more marketable and valuable in the market and adjust to current trends in development with a certification in DevOps. 

Job outlook and salary range for DevOps career pathway 

The median total pay for a DevOps engineer in the United States is $141,000, and salaries range from $114,000 to $178,000 [1]. Demand is high for DevOps engineers. Given the rise of AIOps (artificial intelligence operations) and MLOps (machine learning operations), the demand for DevOps professionals is expected to continue growing over time

Read more:DevOps Engineer Salary: How Much Can You Make?

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Article sources

1. 

Glassdoor. “Salary: Devops Engineer, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/devops-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,15.htm.” Accessed August 12, 2026

Updated on Aug 12, 2026
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