The need for professional certifications is debated, and many software developers grumble about their relevance when it comes to securing a job. But in a competitive job market, anything that can give you an edge or help you stand out from the competition is worth considering.
If you're early in your career or looking to make a change, obtaining a certification can showcase your skills if you haven't already had relevant experience. Professional certification also demonstrates your commitment to continuous learning and maintaining the latest technologies and best practices – an essential skill for any software developer.
Additionally, certification training materials are often free – it's the assessment that will cost you – so you can always use them to build your industry-ready skills and find other ways to demonstrate this to potential employers.
1. AWS Certified Developer
To give you an idea of how much your daily digital interactions rely on Amazon Web Services (AWS), an outage of some of the company's cloud servers in December 2021 not only impacted online media and streaming services, but also disabled some security cameras. interactive retail screens, automatic vacuum cleaners and electric vehicles.
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AWS is such a dominant feature of the cloud marketplace that a job description may require proof of your expertise. For example, this Cloud Data Architect role at Adesso requires proven technology knowledge in AWS, ideally supported by vendor certifications or project experience.
There are no requirements to become an AWS certified developer. However, AWS recommends that you have at least one year of experience working with apps built on the AWS platform before getting started. The assessment includes a 130-minute exam that costs €138. You'll gain certified knowledge of AWS architecture best practices, user support, web development and deployment, debugging, and software lifecycle management.
2. Microsoft certified: Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft's Azure is the second largest cloud service in the world after AWS. Complete beginners who want to build a career with this platform should consider Azure Fundamentals certification. With this certification you show potential employers that you understand the basics of Azure architecture. It is a prerequisite for many of Microsoft's more advanced Azure certifications.
For example, this Microsoft developer position in Rennes notes that it would be an advantage for candidates to have at least a Microsoft certification.
It's a 45-minute exam that costs €99 or less (depending on your location). Developers should also note that Microsoft specialty certifications may expire if not renewed.
3. Oracle Certified Professional: Java SE Developer
Almost a third of developers worldwide use Java and for good reason: the platform is very popular in business development. If your previous work was limited to Java SE 8 or older, becoming certified in SE 11 or 17 shows employers that you are up to date on the latest features. For example, this Java developer role at CGI specifies Java 11 as one of the key technologies.
The exam for a professional certification as a Java SE 11 or SE 17 developer lasts 90 minutes, consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and costs €228. There are no prerequisites for these exams, but some practical experience with Java is definitely recommended.
4. Salesforce Platform Developer
When it comes to customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, Salesforce has long been at the top of the charts with nearly a quarter of the market share. To earn the Salesforce Platform Developer I certification, some prior developer experience and some experience with Lightning, Salesforce's app development platform, is recommended.
The exam lasts up to 105 minutes, consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and costs $200 (185 euros). Salesforce certifications also require annual completion of maintenance modules.
5. Certified Scrum Developer
The Scrum Alliance is a nonprofit organization that provides training and certifications in agile development. Scrum developer certification is less about testing and demonstrating your technical skills as a developer and more about demonstrating your soft skills and your ability to work in an agile team framework.
This training and certification could be a big step for developers looking to acquire or improve their skills in leading and managing teams. There are currently a number of Scrum Master roles in companies across the Netherlands, for example at JEX software agency in Rotterdam, IT company Capgemini in Eindhoven and Utrecht University.
Certification requires at least 14 hours of training followed by an assessment. Prices vary depending on the course you enroll in. The certification is valid for two years and can be extended for a fee.
6. Certified Software Developer
This professional software development certification is issued by the IEEE, a member-driven professional development organization. The online exam covers software requirements, design, construction and testing in 160 questions and lasts three hours.
Although not required, test takers are recommended to have at least two years of college education in computer science or a related discipline and an additional two years of professional experience. Taking the exam costs up to $485 (€448), with discounted rates for students and IEEE members.
The cost and experience level present higher hurdles for this certification, but it enjoys the respect of the IEEE, which claims that its certifications serve as a benchmark for hiring by companies such as Siemens, IBM and Oracle.
7. Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional
The CSSLP certification is issued by (ISC)2, a professional association specializing in the training and development of cybersecurity professionals, and is aimed at software developers who want to improve their security skills. Emphasis is placed on authentication, authorization and auditing skills. To qualify, candidates must have four years of professional experience in software development.
The four-hour exam costs 555 euros and consists of 175 multiple-choice questions. Cybersecurity is an area where accreditation is particularly important, and this (ISC)2 certification is even recognized by the US Department of Defense.
