DevOps engineers are currently some of the most wanted professionals in the job market. Building software or a new application from the ground is not a job that everyone can do, hence a big demand. DevOps engineers implement necessary tools and processes to develop a certain software and their jobs usually include coding, deployment, maintenance, and updating.

DevOps are usually hired by different companies and organizations or work as freelancers, but to start a career in this area, they need to get DevOps certification. With this certification, they are able to prove that they have acquired the necessary skills and can do the work properly. If you are wondering what the process of getting DevOps certification is and how to become a DevOps engineer, you came to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we will explain the importance of the certification itself, give you some tips & tricks to get it as soon as possible, and show you what you should do next to reach a competitive DevOps engineer salary in the US.

What Does a DevOps Engineer Do?

A DevOps engineer is an IT professional who works with software developers and other IT experts in order to optimize and create the optimal software development life cycle. Their role usually consists of overseeing the code, data analysis, overseeing workflow, making decisions, creating code solutions, technical support, project management and so much more. It takes a lot to be a DevOps engineer, hence the average DevOps engineer salary in the US reaches $104,063 per year. Other than a competitive base salary, there are also numerous bonuses and some supplemental income.

What is DevOps Certification?

DevOps certification is a program that consists of formalized testing of the applicant’s skills. These skills and knowledge should be at the desired level to make the applicant eligible to work in software and application development. A course that precedes the test gives the basics of software development to the learners, teaches them the main principles and practices and shows them how to become competitive in their profession.

There are actually three main categories of DevOps certifications, which go from the basics to the more advanced ones:

• Introductory certifications – They cover the basics of DevOps.
• Advanced certifications – They tend to cover practical parts and DevOps tools and develop more advanced skills.
• Specific certifications – They include working on a specific platform or specific public cloud.

If you are not sure which one to take, then think about your current knowledge and skills you possess regarding DevOps. If you are not that familiar with the content and do not know how to start with it, you should take an introductory course and certification. If you start from the beginning, it will be easier for you to absorb everything you need to know and you will have more time to perfect the basics of it.

However, if you have already encountered DevOps and would like to sharpen those skills, you should not waste your time with introductory courses but take the advanced ones. If you work in a DevOps department and want to learn more out of curiosity or to get a better job position, you should opt for such a certification.

If you are already an experienced DevOps engineer but do not have a lot of professional experience in some specific tool set your company works with, a DevOps course and certification would be perfect for you to polish your skills to perfection.

How Can I Prepare for a DevOps Certification?

Certification programs usually do not have strict conditions and prerequisites for getting a DevOps certification, so anyone who wants to gain it can join the such program. Most of the applicants usually have some academic background tied to the IT sector or some work experience within it, but that is not necessary.

Of course, if you have some experience or knowledge within IT, it will be a lot easier for you to understand the course or get the certification. If not, make sure to do a small research about the basics of web and application development, get to know the basic stuff about networking, and try to work with some programming or scripting language.

How Do I Get a DevOps Certification?

1. Enroll in a DevOps Course

The first thing you should do if you would like to deal with DevOps is to choose an area. Even if you start with introductory courses, you should be more specific and focus on the part that interests you the most. This will make your learning path more efficient, and you will know in which area you should look for a job once you receive your certification. The length of the courses can vary a lot, from a few hours to a few months.

2. Take the Exam

After you have finished the course, you should take the exam to be able to prove your knowledge and show that you are eligible for the DevOps certification and working in such a position. If you are not sure how to prepare for it, we can tell you that finishing your course is the best possible preparation for the certification exam.

3. Get Certified in DevOps

Passing the test with the desired percentage means that you can finally get what you have been working on for so long – your DevOps certificate. After that, the only preparation you should have is the one regarding the DevOps interview questions. DevOps interview questions can be a bit complex because employers and organizations want to make sure that they have found a true professional for the position, so take this seriously and find some most common DevOps interview questions on the internet.

Conclusion

This guide is a perfect way to find all the information about starting a career as a DevOps engineer. Your first step should be learning some basics of IT, while the second one finding a course in DevOps. Then you will be able to take the exam and get certified in your desired area. Be patient and good luck!