Top Containerization Certifications in 2022

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A step in building up a software development career, including in DevOps, can be obtaining Docker- or Kubernetes-based containerization certifications. 

DevOps is in high demand, due to the interconnectedness of business departments. With containerization, DevOps developers can stimulate an IT environment with greater customization and better integrations, securing higher performance and easier builds. 

However, developers should consider other factors before finalizing the best certification for themselves: the technology offered, prerequisites, and availability.

See below to learn all about some of the top containerization certifications in the market:

Docker Certified Associate

Docker offers beginners and master professionals courses to get hands-on experience with the latest containerization technologies with its Docker Certified Associate 2022 certification. Udemy has officially created a DCA manual for devs to review before applying for the test directly.

Once a dev passes the test, they are eligible to join Docker’s Certified professional network, with entry into exclusive events and online certification verification. To take the exam, users must register at Examity and schedule the online exam. Docker also offers a beginner course covering elementary Docker commands, image, compose, and networking.

Skills acquired: Installing containerized applications via Docker; running containers in a stimulating environment; image creation and management; setting up swarm clusters; templatizing services; advanced container orchestration concepts; working knowledge of container orchestration tools troubleshooting; service replication; and automation of working containers.

Requirements: To sit for the exam, pros must get basic working experience with container orchestration, Docker Enterprise Edition, and Docker Swarm. Docker also recommends 6-12 months hands-on experience with basic Docker nomenclature.

Duration: The exam lasts 90 minutes; Examity proctors the 55-question long exam. Forty-four questions are based on a discrete option pattern with a yes or no answer, while the rest are multiple-choice questions.

Cost: $195

Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

Kubernetes is a Docker-compatible development engine to create a cloud-streamlined environment. Learning about Docker and Kubernetes together with the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification can help developers stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Skills acquired: Hands-on experience with Kubernetes; securing Kubernetes ecosystem; basic installation; five-factor model; managing production-grade clusters; Kubernetes networking; security; storage; maintenance; application life cycle; troubleshooting; logging and monitoring; API object primitives; and establishing end use cases.

Requirements: Basic knowledge around Kubernetes is required.

Duration: The exam takes two hours and is in multiple-choice question format with questions from storage, troubleshooting, workloads and scheduling, and cluster architecture.

Cost: $375. If devs are looking to buy the course along with the exam, the total amounts to $575.

Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers and Kubernetes

Red Hat is a containerization pioneer; a certificate issued by the organization can help a DevOps skill set. The Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers and Kubernetes certificate is ideal for novice developers or administrators who have an intermediate proficiency with containers.

Skills acquired: Containerizing applications; working knowledge of Red Hat OpenShift; deploying multi-container software; container orchestration; and creating and managing custom container images.

Requirements: Users are recommended to take the Red Hat OpenShift I: Containers & Kubernetes (DO180) before applying for the certificate.

Duration: The exam lasts two hours.

Cost: $400

Architura Certified Containerization Architect

Architura’s Certified Containerization Architect certification contains three courses across beginner, advanced, and expert categories. The training is ideal for DevSecOps and container architects looking to understand the security aspects of containerization.

The course also offers lab exercises and practical project exposure to solve issues in real-time. Candidates, post-completion, are also eligible for a participation certificate and a Digital Training Badge.

Skills acquired: Applying containerization technology to develop scalable business products; multi-tenancy technology; creating container templates; securing containers; and managing security controls.

Requirements: Users are required to qualify for the CN90.01 exam with a passing percentage before applying for the certificate.

Duration: The exam lasts two hours.

Cost: $400

IBM DevOps and Software Engineering Professional Certificate

IBM’s DevOps and Software Engineering Professional certification is handy for engineers building a career in security and cloud-native ecosystems. The training also includes a detailed Linux workshop to automate tasks using Bash and Git commands.

It comes with an online schedule with flexibility for working professionals to complete the course at their own pace. The average amount of time required to complete the course is 10 months if developers take the classes three hours a week.

Skills acquired: Hands-on experience with Python, REST APIs, and container deployment tools, like Puppet, Chef, Tekton, GitHub, and Travis; work exposure to cloud-native; DevOps; continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD); application development; software engineering; test-driven development; behavior-driven development; infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS); agile software development; and scrum methodology

Requirements: Basic computer literacy is recommended, not required.

Duration: The exam lasts two hours.

Cost: Free via Coursera for limited users.

Essential for Istio by Solo.io

Solo.io recently introduced the Essential for Istio certification for architects already familiar with Kubernetes. Istio is an open-source mesh tool required in Kubernetes for microoperations and analyzing data behavior. However, Istio sometimes is nuanced to manage, and Solo.io’s new course can help developers handle complex applications.

Skills acquired: Implementing Istio’s data plane; basic routing; service-to-service encryption; observability systems; hands-on experience with Grafana; Prometheus; understanding Envoy Proxy; Kubernetes services; mTLS; and debugging Istio configurations.

Requirements: Professionals are required to complete the live-streamed Istio workshop for production deployment with a passing score of 80%.

Duration: The workshop runs for two days; however, users can extend lab hours.

Cost: Free

Google Kubernetes Certification

Google’s Kubernetes Certification helps developers start their Kubernetes journey. A certification by Google Cloud, a market leader, can boost a cloud developer’s work profile.

Skills acquired: Working with Linux; Kubernetes; deployment; basic virtualization principles; command-line interface (CLI) tools; CI/CD using Jenkins, Nginx, and other web server technologies and command-line tools.

Requirements: Professionals are required to complete at least six months of GCP work. Mid-level certifications mandate three years of industry experience before attempting the course.

Duration: Developers are required to complete 50 multiple choice questions in two hours.

Cost: The cost depends upon the level of certification undertaken by the professional. The associate exam costs around $125, while the higher-level courses come in the range of $200-$250.

Chaos Engineering Practitioner by Gremlin

Chaos engineering is a development in the segment of distributed cloud and overlapping microservices. Netflix and AWS, for instance, are hiring chaos engineers, and the Chaos Engineering Practitioner certification by Gremlin is ideal for beginners looking to enter into chaos engineering without having a previous background in the field. It comes with bootcamps, on-demand training materials, live prep sessions, and personal mentorship.

Skills acquired: Building resilient systems; fixing failures; predictive analysis; hands-on experience with RHEL, Ubuntu, Centos, and Windows; identifying attacks on systems and containers; testing networks for Blackhole, DNS, latency, and packet loss using Gremlin with EKS and RDS; and testing against shutdown and time travel.

Requirements: No prerequisites are required.

Duration: Professionals need to take 20 questions in 30 minutes.

Cost: The exam is free to take and also comes with a prep session right from the co-founder’s professional library.

Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)

The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) certification is designed for intermediate DevOps and architects who already have two or more years of experience handling Kubernetes.

Skills acquired: Understanding state persistence; multi-container pods; observability; pod design; networking; designing; exposing; building; and configuring native cloud applications.

Requirements: Kubernetes Certified Application Developer with Tests is recommended but not required. Fundamental working knowledge about cloud concepts, OCI-compliant container runtime, Python, and Java can help users get the basics right.

Duration: The exam lasts two hours and covers problem-solving questions.

Cost: $300

Ultimate Openshift Bootcamp

Udemy’s is helping make Openshift easier for DevOps engineers. The Ultimate Openshift (2021) Bootcamp certification offers a detailed tutorial on Jenkins, Openshift 4.6 and 3.10 versions, Prometheus, platform-as-a-service (PaaS), Istio, and around 350+ training practices by industry leaders.

Skills acquired: Understanding PaaS and deployment with containers; building dynamic infrastructure; configuring and managing an Openshift Cluster; networking OpenStack cloud; testing fault tolerance and self-healing; set up service discovery; load balancing; managing workloads; and setting up auto-scaling.

Requirements: Developers must have basic hands-on experience with Docker fundamentals, running containers, YAML syntax, Linux and Git commands, Digital Ocean, and Dockerfiles

Duration: The bootcamp is 3.5 hours of video sessions.

Cost: About $20, depending on location.

Avya Chaudhary
Avya Chaudhary
Avya Chaudhary is a contributor to Enterprise Storage Forum and Datamation. Previously she was an engineer with a history of experience working with NGOs and civil societies.

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