The rapidly evolving landscape and new arrays of technology have boosted the demand for skilled and competent programmers for an increasing number of businesses seeking to digitize their operations. The competitive IT job market has resulted in many tech jobs offering extremely lucrative remuneration and compensation packages for chosen candidates.
With such a central focus being placed on technological development, the boom in demand for programmers has been unprecedented and has created a rich demand for skilled labor that many are seeking to fill. While traditional education is available to those with the time and resources to invest, it is unfortunately out of the cards for many. An attractive alternative is enrolling in online programming certification courses! Popular coding certifications offer an attractive and convenient way to gain critical competencies in line with traditional and emerging standards within the field.
Programming certifications are a great way to develop useful and comprehensive programming skills and an understanding of emerging, trending, and essential programming languages and tools needed for success in the industry. This article will discuss 10 key programming certifications that beginners seeking professional development can take today!
If you are looking to acquire or brush up on the core knowledge and competencies needed to enter the tech industry, this article will tell you everything you need to know about each course’s cost, target audience, content, and much more!
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Due to the saturation of graduates in computer sciences and similar fields, jobs in the competitive tech industry often seek more than a relevant degree to land an interview and secure a job. Many times, companies require years of professional experience or some form of proof of exposure to the core skills that will be used in the position being advertised.
Professional programming certificates can demonstrate this competency; most certifications in programming concepts are accredited courses run by distinguished universities and institutions in the field and can carry significant weight when included in a resume. Here are some of the most common benefits of completing programming certification for your programming job resume.
As is the case with a university degree, a professional programming certification offers a standardized way to test knowledge in a certain programming language. These courses are generally well-structured and are complete with lessons, tutorials, readings, quizzes, and (usually) a final culminating task or project. This standardized approach provides participants with the opportunity to demonstrate their development, the product of which can be later shown to companies to assess and demonstrate proficiency in that specific programming language or technology.
Holding a certification in a core skill in any field can also have tangible effects on one’s career! In the tech field, demonstrable and quantifiable knowledge in a core skill or programming language opens doors to new positions and greater levels of responsibility within teams that utilize that skill. These professional certifications can also increase your odds of landing a new (higher-paying) job; according to Axelos, over 95% of decision-makers in the recruitment process attest that the presence of certifications in a resume can have a positive impact on the final decision for an advertised position!
As is the case with university degrees, not all certifications in programming are made equal. In the case of the tech field, obtaining a professional programming certification from a reputable organization or industry leader can greatly increase its credibility and trust with employers, and can lead to greater faith being placed in your industry knowledge and competencies.
With frequent developments in technology and industry standards, having the adaptability and willingness to be in a constant state of learning is incredibly important for the modern workplace. Earning certifications demonstrate this willingness to adapt to new technologies and industry trends. Employers can easily see the drive to develop for the sake of remaining at the forefront of your industry.
Microsoft Azure, more commonly referred to as simply Azure, is a cloud computing service offered by the Microsoft Corporation. The Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate certification program provides a deep investigation into the functions, features, development, and applications of Azure.
This course requires substantial background knowledge of Azure with 2 years as the recommended level of direct exposure to the program. Suitable candidates for this professional certification should be experienced developers already proficient in an Azure-supported programming language, SDK, and data storage options, and should be able to comfortably operate several Azure programs including Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI.
Over six weeks, this course will cover topics including how to develop Azure compute solutions, implement Azure security systems, troubleshoot Azure solutions, and much more. At the end of the course, the certification offers an exam that can be retaken in the event of failure. Upon passing the exam, a certificate of completion will be issued.
This professional certification costs USD 165 and is supported in 12 languages. Software engineers and other established professionals in the field who wish to gain a deeper understanding of Azure and its applications in their workplaces are encouraged to take this comprehensive certification course.
The AWS Certified Developer Associate program develops and demonstrates participants’ competencies in core AWS features, uses, and architecture. This course culminates in an exam, which takes approximately two to three months of preparation. The AWS Certified Developer course is intended for those with prior experience in at least one high-level programming language, experience in AWS technology, and exposure and past work in cloud-based services. This certification program seeks to deepen knowledge in 10 core AWS features, ranging from AWS Lambda’s visual code execution features to AWS Elastic Beanstalk and its web application use cases.
The AWS Certified Developer exam costs USD 150 to sit and offers many resources on basic AWS architecture to help accommodate those from all professions and countries. Amazon even offers a 30-minute exam extension time for those whose native language is not English. This makes the exam extremely accessible for native and non-native English speakers alike!
The Google Associate Android Developer Certification and exam is designed to test the knowledge of entry-level Android developers. Before considering undertaking this exam, interested software developers should ensure they have a strong foundational knowledge of Android app functionality, debugging techniques, UI design, leveraging Android frameworks for database management, and testing programs to find errors or areas of improvement. This exam can be taken in Java or Kotlin, so proficiency in one of these specific programming languages is a must!
This certification exam costs USD 149 to sit and takes about 8 hours to complete. There is a manual submission option for those who finish the test early. This exam is available for aspiring programmers 13 years or older, although those between 13 and 17 will need parental consent before sitting the exam. Furthermore, a form of government-issued identification is required from a non-US embargoed country when registering for the certification exam. Finally, the certification gained from this exam is valid for 36 months; after this time, software developers will need to sit the certification exam again.
This course is a step above the Oracle Certified Associate certification and is intended to test knowledge of much more than Java basics; this course deeply examines the scope of the Java language and the practical skills needed to become a professional Java developer. Before taking the OCJP course, programmers without exposure or experience with the Java programming language are advised to take the beginner and intermediate Java SE 8 training course and get as much hands-on experience with Java programming as possible.
Throughout the course, participants will gain an intimate understanding of topics related to object-orientation programming, modularity, and functional programming through lambda expressions, to name a few. This highly advanced course should only be undertaken by those with years of deep and substantive experience in the field and with Java. This certification exam is free for the first attempt and USD 245 for each subsequent retest.
The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer certification tests a candidate’s ability to design, build, and deploy an application for Kubernetes. This certification is designed for those with prior experience operating within the Kubernetes ecosystem and for other cloud operators and software engineers interested in gaining experience with the Kubernetes cloud system. By the end of the certification and examination process, CKAD holders should be able to define and utilize Kubernetes core features to create and configure applications, understand and apply Cloud Native application concepts, and have knowledge of container runtimes and microservice architecture.
The CKAD course culminates in a 2-hour proctored exam that costs USD 395. Candidates who register for the exam are eligible for one retest in the event of an initial exam failure. There are also provided resources for candidates to take that include instructional guides and mock exams! This makes the CKAD certification program extremely accessible to many people and is a great resource for those interested in adding a widely recognized qualification standard to their resume.
The comprehensive CompTIA Security+ certification is offered by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). CompTIA is a great platform that those interested in gaining valuable certifications that attest to their knowledge and qualifications should consider checking out. The CompTIA Security+ program tests the foundational skills needed to pursue a career in IT security or cybersecurity. Throughout the program, candidates will gain an understanding of and be tested on evaluating an enterprise's security capacity, monitoring a company's security environment, and developing solutions to emerging security threats.
This course is not designed for beginners in IT security; at least two years of IT security in an administrative position and a prior pass in the CompTIA Network+ certification exam are recommended. There are no requirements for any particular programming language, a general understanding of various programming languages and concepts and computer programming could give you an advantage throughout the certification testing.
This course costs USD 2,499 to sit; while coming at a steep price, the certification is a gold standard for those seriously considering careers in cybersecurity, security and risk management, or network security. Certificate holders can easily include this widely recognized certification in their resumes and use it to seek positions in cybersecurity or the security infrastructure of businesses around the world.
The Google Certified Professional Cloud Developer certification program is designed for those interested in designing scalable applications using Google ecosystem tools and architectures in CLI-based software development. This professional-level course requires at least three years of experience in project management and developing solutions using the Google Cloud Platform and Google Cloud services, and proficiency in at least one general-level programming language.
Throughout the course, candidates will learn how to effectively use Cloud-based tools and applications to develop solutions for more effective database management. This course costs USD 200, takes 2 hours to complete, and can be taken on an online-proctored testing website or in-person at a Google testing center.
The CIW Web Development Professional is a 3-course certification obtained after completing the CIW Javascript Specialist, CIW Database Design Specialist, and CIW advanced HTML5 and CSS3 Specialist courses. This course is an in-depth investigation of a candidate’s web development concepts and principles. Certificate holders will have a deep understanding of web programming languages and applications, and how these processes can integrate into and benefit a company’s operational workflow.
Each course costs USD 150 to complete. The recommended background for those interested in taking the test includes knowledge of data types and database skills, data structures, and requires a working knowledge of various programming languages including HTML, CSS, Javascript, and much more!
The Certified Associate in Python Programming (PCAP) course emphasizes the object-orientation approach to Python programming and offers those proficient in the language a certification that validates an advanced understanding of Python and its practical applications. PCAP-certified programmers can confidently demonstrate their understanding of strings, exception classes and objects, file streams, file processing, and many more!
The PCAP certification is one of the best programming certifications that aspiring Python programmers can take to validate their skill set in the current job market! That said, this programming certification requires a deep understanding of Python, and only those with years of experience under their belts should attempt to take this certification.
In addition to the exam at the end, this coding certification comes with many instructional resources and guides. What’s more, the PCAP certification offers various pricing levels, ranging from a single exam costing USD 295 and a practice test of USD 49. This makes practicing and reviewing for the test much more convenient and reliable than other programming certifications, as the practice tests come directly from the PCAP company itself.
The CLP-C Certified Professional Programmer Certification tests candidates on their understanding of advanced concepts within the C programming language. The contents of the course include demonstrating knowledge of processes and threads, low-level IO, and memory and strings, amongst others. The exam costs USD 295 to take and consists of 55 questions to be completed over 65 minutes. Professionals with substantial experience working with C who wish to deepen and validate their skill set for employers or other programming jobs should consider taking this certification training course.
Programming jobs offer an extensive array of diverse career opportunities spanning multiple industries and fields. In this section, we will explore some popular career paths that those seeking employment in software engineering can consider!
Software developers, also called software engineers, are responsible for producing efficient code, new software development, improving computer systems, and finding software solutions for emerging and persisting problems within their job scope. Software engineers are typically well-compensated, with annual salaries in the US going as high as USD 127,000.
📚Further reading: 20 Best Software Engineering Interview Questions
Web developers are in charge of working on the backend of websites to troubleshoot technical issues related to the website, manage the data analysis for websites to ensure that they are functioning at optimal speeds, and much more! Web developers are highly sought after by many industries as more and more businesses take their services online. The average annual salary for a web developer in the United States is USD 79,647.
📚Further reading: How to Create a Web Developer Portfolio
With thousands of apps being added to online platforms and stores daily, the demand for mobile app developers has never been higher! Mobile app developers have a broad range of responsibilities, ranging from performing data analysis to tracking user metrics and consumer engagement and developing and coding new updates for release to consumers. Mobile app developers are well-compensated, with an average annual salary of over USD 116,000
Data scientists are responsible for large-scale data processing, database administration, and system scripting for a company. Data scientists use data science to create data development systems that analyze data given to them and visually organize it into digestible and logical structures so that it can be properly interpreted and used by risk management and other departments for changes to production and operational strategies. Data scientists, on average, receive an annual remuneration of around USD 124,166.
📚Further reading: Best Data Scientist Cover Letter with Tips and Examples
Cybersecurity analysts are a central part of many businesses, particularly those in the tech, finance, and business fields. In the modern day, threats to the digital infrastructure of business and the threat of cybertheft and ransomware have necessitated cybersecurity experts to protect intellectual and digital properties. Cybersecurity analysts are responsible for investigating security threats to a company, performing network security updates, maintaining and troubleshooting security software, and assessing potential vulnerabilities in a system. Cybersecurity is a highly advanced field in computer sciences and yields an average annual salary of over USD 119,000.
DevOps engineers focus on improving the speed, efficiency, and security of software development platforms. In increasing the speed and efficiency of software, DevOps hopes to give their company a competitive advantage in their field over other competitors with slower and less efficient systems. DevOps are particularly sought after in the tech field and are handsomely compensated for their services; the average annual salary of a DevOps engineer in the United States is around USD 114,600. This high salary reflects the years of experience and studying required to attain this highly advanced position within the IT department of a company.
In the programming world, investing in skill development through continuous learning is paramount to long-term success in the ever-evolving tech field. A great way to take advantage of the virtually limitless resources of the internet is to take a suitable programming certification. Programming certifications cover a wide range of topics, ranging from programming certifications in languages like R and C+ to teaching the operation of software development platforms and cloud-based services!
Many of the most popular programming certifications are easily accessible online and can be taken at your leisure. While the cost of some programs is significantly higher than others, all programming certifications offer attractive additions to the resumes of aspiring and experienced programmers alike.
Are you a recent graduate in computer sciences and are seeking ways to increase your qualifications without the financial burden of another degree? Consider taking a programming certification we discussed today!
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--- Originally Written by Alexander Coye ---
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