Top 10 DevOps Certifications and Courses in 2022

DevOps skills are in high demand, and technical professionals with the right qualifications can gain from this opportunity. This article discusses the top 10 DevOps certifications and courses that can help strengthen your DevOps skills in 2022. It also discusses the key modules a course should include. 

5 Must-Have Modules of DevOps Courses

DevOps skills are considered essential in most technical fields. The CodinGame Developer Survey 2021 found that 64% of companies will hire up to 50 developers in the next 12 months, of which DevOps is the top priority. 43% of respondents in the survey of 15,000 professionals said that they expect to struggle to fill DevOps vacancies. 

As a result, technical professionals conversant in DevOps have a competitive edge in the job market. With the right set of skills, they can command superior salaries and progress in their careers. DevOps courses and certifications can demonstrate skills and help professionals learn new concepts to prepare for future roles. While there are several course options available, the best DevOps courses will cover five key modules. 

1. Understanding of DevOps methodologies 

The course should provide a brief introduction to what DevOps is, its role in the organization, and why one should adopt it over traditional software development and IT practices. The course must also cover DevOps concepts like agile project management, continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD), automation, and version control. It is also helpful to have a course component that looks at DevOps from a high-level, strategic vantage point. 

2. Knowledge of DevOps toolchain

The DevOps toolchain is a set of technologies that aid in software development, delivery, and management in conjunction with infrastructure operations. It encompasses everything from collaboration to version control and automation. The course should explain how the toolchain works and the relationship between its different components. Learners should know about the end-to-end DevOps pipeline in detail and the tools necessary at each step. 

3. Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and infrastructure as code (IaC)

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and infrastructure as code (IaC) are crucial components for the operations aspect of DevOps. They allow infrastructure managers to programmatically configure, provision, optimize, and maintain the production environment where DevOps applications are deployed. That’s why DevOps courses and certifications must explain the benefits of IaaS and IaC, preferably with practical examples in a hands-on environment. 

4. Public cloud architecture 

Almost every DevOps process relies on the public cloud, as it is easier to manage than on-premise resources. Public cloud infrastructure makes DevOps scalable and ensures that the team can accommodate continuous improvements and numerous iterations flexibly. Most courses will cover the fundamentals of Amazon Web Services (AWS), and learners can choose to obtain specialized certifications from a cloud vendor. 

5. Containerization and serverless computing tools 

Containerization allows DevOps teams to deploy applications without a physical production environment, using a virtual container. These can be quickly configured and reconfigured to support new production cycles, and Docker and Kubernetes are the two most important containerization tools in use. Another technology to learn is serverless computing, which allows DevOps professionals to allocate resources for application deployment on demand. 

See More: Why Agile DevOps Is Now the Default Standard for Software Development

Top 10 DevOps Courses and Certifications in 2022

DevOps courses and certifications are available for every level of expertise, whether one is a computer science fresher entering the field or a seasoned developer looking to upskill for the future. Here are the top 10 options – across skill levels – that will help you stand out in 2022. 

1. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

Overview: AWS skills are in high demand among DevOps engineers as the role often involves code and infrastructure deployment in the public cloud. Amazon Web Services (AWS) addresses this need by officially certifying candidates with environment-specific DevOps skills. Professionals choosing this certification will learn to automate the testing and deployment of AWS infrastructure and apps.

Location and duration: The course is entirely online. The duration of the examination is 180 minutes.

Course fees: The certification examination costs $300.

Ideal for: This course is ideal for individuals with more than two years of AWS experience.

Curriculum components: The curriculum for this course includes:

• Modules of high-level programming language
• How to build automated infrastructures and govern systems
• Understanding of operations and modern development methodologies
• Continuous delivery systems and methodologies on AWS
• Metrics, logging systems, and how to deploy monitoring on AWS

Reasons to pursue: The certification demonstrates that you have the requisite skills to operate an AWS-based DevOps environment. Students do not need to sign up mandatorily for the learning materials (much of it is free). They can schedule the exam at their convenience and get their skills validated. 

2. Certificate in DevOps from the York University, School of Continuing Studies (Online)

Overview: York University is among Canada’s leading academic and research institutions, based in Toronto, Ontario. It offers an excellent course for those interested in the high-level importance of DevOps. The learning track is also ideal for students who want to be introduced to DevOps, with case studies, practical training, and lessons on disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). 

Location and duration: It is a blended course, with live attendance either at the university campus or online via Zoom, along with self-paced online components. It will take approximately 8-10 hours of time per week, with a course duration of approximately six months.

Course fees: This course costs $3,297.

Ideal for: This course is ideal for IT professionals with a basic knowledge of Linux, scripting, and Python.

Curriculum components: The curriculum for this course includes:

• Introduction to DevOps (people, process, and tools)
• The DevOps toolchain, including source code management, automated deployments, and modern build servers
• Infrastructure as code, Ansible, Docker, and Kubernetes
• Hands-on experience utilizing public cloud IaaS
• How to build a secure next-gen DevOps CI/CD pipeline

Reasons to pursue: The course is a part-time, blended learning program, which means that students can gain from live instructors and hand-holding. It is among the few DevOps courses available to provide a holistic introduction to the field without narrowing it down to specialized skills for one particular tool. Professionals with this certification will find themselves employable at various organizations, regardless of technical environments.

3. Cloud & DevOps: Continuous Transformation by MIT

Overview: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a premier institution for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies. It offers a range of online programs for professional education, including practical technology fields like DevOps. This particular course focuses on the ongoing digital transformation in the 21st century and the role of cloud computing and DevOps. 

Location and duration: The course is entirely online and takes approximately eight weeks to complete.

Course fees: This course costs $2,900. 

Ideal for: This course is ideal for technical professionals, CXOs, managers, and professionals who want to understand the benefits of DevOps. 

Curriculum components: The curriculum for this course includes:

• The rise of the internet, mobile, IoT, and the cloud
• Web computing and open-source software
• Containers and keys, with a focus on Docker and serverless computing
• Introduction to DevOps, agile development, and DevOps implementation
• Case studies from Microsoft, General Electric, Netflix, and AWS

Reasons to pursue: A certification from MIT will boost the resume of any technical professional. The course offers practical guidance and strategic insights on how DevOps fits in an organization’s overall transformation journey. Students can benefit from case studies, hands-on serverless training, and lessons on building an agile corporation. 

4. DevOps and SRE Fundamentals by The Linux Foundation

Overview: Continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) is a key tenet of DevOps, and this course is all about implementing continuous delivery based on CI/CD principles. The Linux Foundation is a non-profit technology consortium officially responsible for driving Linux growth and adoption. Its DevOps and SRE Fundamentals course verifies that developers have the skills to operate DevOps in a Linux environment. 

Location and duration: The course is completely online and comprises 25-30 hours of coursework with access to the learning materials for 12 months. 

Course fees: This course costs $299. 

Ideal for: This course is ideal for individuals with basic Linux and system administration knowledge.

Curriculum components: The curriculum for this course includes:

• Introduction to Linux, DevOps, and site reliability engineering
• GitOps, serverless computing on Kubernetes, and Jenkins
• Essentials of Linux system administration and quality assurance
• CI/CD with Jenkins, containerization, and implementing DevSecOps
• DevOps for network engineers

Reasons to pursue: During this learning track, you will also earn the Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) certification, which is an added benefit. It covers all the major DevOps tools like Git, Kubernetes, Spinnaker, Jenkins, Docker, etc. It is among the few courses available to focus entirely on CI/CD implementation and the development aspect of the DevOps process. 

5. DevOps Leader by the DevOps Institute 

Overview: The DevOps Institute is a professional member association and certification authority that aims to develop emerging talent in this field. It has several certification programs across all seniority levels, from DevOps Foundation to Practitioner and Management. The DevOps Leader course trains technical and business professionals in the skills they need to lead a DevOps team, which is a culture shift from how software development usually works. 

Location and duration: The certification examination is entirely online, but learners can purchase instructor-led learning tracks to prepare. The duration of the examination is 60 minutes.

Course fees: The certification examination costs $245 in the U.S.

Ideal for: This course is ideal for anyone interested in modern IT leadership.

Curriculum components: The curriculum for this course includes:

• Differences between DevOps IT and traditional IT
• DevOps mindset and mental models
• Ideas for organizing workflows and preparing investment cases
• Target operating models and organizational design
• Performance management, rewards, and motivation

Reasons to pursue: One of the key facets of DevOps implementation is its organizational and cultural implications. Managing a DevOps team requires highly specific skill sets, apart from a technical understanding of the field. This course is indispensable for those aspiring for managerial roles, particularly professionals on a career track to becoming chief technology officers, chief information officers, and the like. 

See More: Top 10 Must-Have DevOps Tools in 2021

6. DevOps Post Graduate Program by Caltech

Overview: Like MIT, Caltech is a leading institution for STEM research. The Caltech Center jointly designs this online post-graduate program for Technology and Management Education and Simplilearn. It offers live classes, self-paced learning tracks, and learner forum participation. It focuses on key DevOps concepts and tools like CI/CD, configuration management, Jenkins, Ansible, and Docker.

Location and duration: The course is entirely online, with live (web-based) and self-paced components, which takes approximately nine months to complete.

Course fees: The course costs $4,500.

Ideal for: This course is ideal for early to mid-career professionals.

Curriculum components: The curriculum for this course includes:

• DevOps methodology, configuration management, and containerization
• Version control using Git and GitHub
• Cloud-native DevOps and AWS
• The use of Docker, Kubernetes, and Ansible
• Project-based learning for Jenkins pipelines, containerization, and Dockerization

Reasons to pursue: While many technical professionals may know DevOps methodologies, they often lack practical skills. If a role requires an experienced DevOps professional, then this post-graduate program offers all the hands-on skills necessary to use DevOps tools. It is comprehensive and covers all major tools and infrastructure environments in use. 

7. DevOps Professional Certification by the DevOps University

Overview: DevOps University is a community of industry leaders and practitioners that provides learning resources to aspiring DevOps professionals. It has several certification options, from Foundation to Professional and specialized roles like quality engineers. The DevOps Professional Certification verifies that learners can build software using DevOps in real-world scenarios. It is available to both individuals and organizations. 

Location and duration: The certification examination takes place online. Students can either attend DevOps University workshops to prepare or study independently. The examination takes 45 minutes to complete.

Course fees: The certification examination costs $95.

Ideal for: This course is ideal for professionals in technical roles like software developers, testers, engineers, solution architects, and integration specialists. 

Curriculum components: The curriculum for this course includes:

• DevOps methodologies and the core concepts behind CI/CD
• Version management of all artifacts and source code using Git
• Test automation of web elements through Selenium’s suite of tools
• Continuous monitoring using Nagios, Grafana, and Prometheus
• Configuration management tools such as Puppet and Chef

Reasons to pursue: This certification offers excellent training on DevOps tools and how to use them for better business outcomes. Learners will gain hands-on experience in automation, containerization, artifactory, command-line usage, cloud infrastructure deployment, quality assurance, etc. Those with some background knowledge of DevOps will especially find this course helpful. 

8. Diploma in DevOps by CCT College Dublin (Online)

Overview: CCT College Dublin is one of Ireland’s leading internationally accredited colleges. It is known for its courses in computing, information and communications technology (ICT), and business programs, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It offers an online diploma program in DevOps, which can bolster one’s resume for technical roles. The course is designed to provide a strong foundation in DevOps.

Location and duration: The course is entirely online, led by a live instructor. Students can choose from two options – autumn and spring sessions spread across one evening class per week, or the summer boot camp option, delivered online for two evenings per week. The course duration is approximately nine weeks.

Ideal for: This course is ideal for developers and system administrators exploring a career in DevOps. 

Curriculum components: The curriculum for this course includes:

• The foundation of DevOps and its role in modern IT systems
• Docker images, containers, Docker engine architecture, and how to Dockerize apps
• The fundamentals of Kubernetes and developing Kubernetes-friendly applications
• Introduction to cloud, running Kubernetes in the cloud and maintaining availability
• Secret management and continuous delivery

Course fees: The course costs $1,108. 

Reasons to pursue: The biggest benefit of this course is that a live instructor leads it. Students can log in from any location in the world and gain from the support and guidance of a teacher. The course’s primary objective is to help run applications in a managed Kubernetes cluster deployed in the cloud – a foundational skill for DevOps delivery. The instructor will also take learners through potential career paths in DevOps. 

9. Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert

Overview: This Microsoft certification validates that an individual has the skills to run a DevOps project on Microsoft Azure infrastructure. Cloud skills are among the most common requirements employers look for in DevOps engineers. It allows professionals to orchestrate public cloud infrastructures, deploy automation, and maintain security. This certification is an advanced career booster for operational roles. 

Location and duration: The course is completely online, but also offers an option of an offline examination. Students can download self-paced learning materials for free or sign up for a paid instructor-led track. The examination takes approximately 60 minutes to complete, which may vary depending on the language in which the examination is taken.

Course fees: The certification examination costs $165 in the U.S. 

Ideal for: This course is ideal for existing Azure Administrator Associates or Azure Developer Associates.

Curriculum components: The curriculum for this course includes:

• How to develop an instrumentation strategy
• Site reliability engineering (SRE) strategy and security and compliance planning
• Communication and collaboration to streamline DevOps
• How to implement CI/CD with a release management strategy
• Source control management for DevOps efficiency

Reasons to pursue: Microsoft Azure is among the most widely used public cloud infrastructures. Organizations operating on Azure need DevOps engineers skilled in Azure capabilities, particularly infrastructure management and cloud strategy. The certification ensures employability at any DevOps team or company using Azure and drives one’s career forward within the Microsoft ecosystem. 

10. Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer Certification by Google

Overview: Like AWS and Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud is among the top public cloud infrastructures in use. This certification from Google ensures that an individual can run efficient development operations balancing delivery speed with service reliability. It is meant for operational roles but requires some knowledge of software development and application building. 

Location and duration: Course materials are available online as part of Google’s learning path. The examination is conducted either via a remotely-run online-proctored mode or at a testing center as an onsite-proctored exam. The examination duration is two hours. 

Course fees: The certification examination costs $200. 

Ideal for: This course is ideal for professionals with at least three years of industry experience, and one year of solution management on Google Cloud.

Curriculum components: The curriculum for this course includes:

• Google Cloud fundamentals, core infrastructure, and its computing and storage services 
• How to develop a Google SRE culture and design Google Cloud deployments
• Logging, monitoring, and observability in Google Cloud
• Improving the speed, stability, availability, and security of software delivery
• Infrastructure monitoring and logging with Google Cloud Operations Suite

Reasons to pursue: Professionals already conversant with the Google Cloud can take up this course to validate their skills. Those new to Google Cloud will learn about its infrastructure, services, and solutions in detail and explore opportunities at organizations running Google Cloud. Learners can test their skills using Google Cloud Free Tier. 

See More: Top Factors Plaguing DevOps Evolution and Tips to Overcome the Challenges

Comparison of the Top 10 DevOps Certifications and Courses in 2022

Let us understand how these courses compare.

Takeaway

DevOps is poised to be among the top skills required by technical professionals in 2022. As organizations accelerate their migration to the cloud and increase their reliance on cloud-based applications, DevOps professionals are integral in optimizing delivery, minimizing application errors, and generating value for the organization. DevOps certifications and courses from leading institutions demonstrate an individual’s comfort with the DevOps culture. One must choose a course based on their current skill level and future career aspirations, factoring in the must-have components during the selection process. 

Which DevOps certification are you looking to pursue this year? Tell us on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We would love to hear from you!

MORE ON DEVOPS

• What Is DevOps? Definition, Goals, Methodology, and Best Practices
• What Is DevOps Lifecycle? Definition, Key Components, and Management Best Practices
• DevOps vs. Agile Methodology: Key Differences and Similarities
• Top 10 DevOps Automation Tools in 2021
• DevOps Roadmap: 7-Step Complete Guide