5 Popular DevOps Certifications in 2026

Key takeaways

DevOps combines the efforts of development (dev) and operations (ops) teams to create software that runs more efficiently and with greater security. 

• DevOps engineers earn total median salaries ranging from $114,000 to $178,000 [1], and certification could increase your earning power.

• Select a DevOps certification according to your interests, goals, and knowledge to ensure you meet the requirements and align your credentials with your objectives. 

• You can earn a DevOps certification to boost your salary potential, validate your expertise in development cycles, and gain hands-on experience to prepare you for more advanced DevOps positions. 

Learn more about five popular DevOps certifications to consider and the potential benefits of getting certified. If you're ready to start earning a DevOps certification 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

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

Recommended experience: 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

Recommended experience: 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

Recommended experience: 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

Recommended experience: 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 source control, facilitating communication and collaboration, and implementing continuous integration and management strategies.

Who it's for: DevOps engineers

Recommended experience: 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.

Read more: Microsoft Certification Path Guide: How to Create a Roadmap

How to choose a DevOps certification 

Choosing a DevOps certification depends on your career goals, background knowledge, and personal interests. DevOps certifications come from several sources, including Red Hat, HashiCorp, DevOps Institute, MIT, Linux, 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?

Explore free resources to continue your DevOps learning journey

Whether you’re sharpening your skill set or beginning a new career, our free resources can help you along the way. For example, you can assess your career path and abilities in our Career Resources Hub. Other resources to check out include: 

• Subscribe to our newsletter: How to build your career development plan

• Watch a YouTube video: Break into the tech industry with these high-growth careers. #devops #cloudcomputing 

• Hear from a fellow learner: How One Software Developer’s Leadership Aspirations Led Her to Graduate School

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