The term DevOps refers to cooperation between an organization’s software developers (devs) and operations (ops) teams to create software products that run faster, are more efficient, and are secure. 

Substantially, DevOps certification could prove excellent for one's resume, enhance earning potential, authenticate knowledge on the concept of a development cycle, and even pave the way to higher career advancement. DevOps jobs are consistently ranked as some of the highest earners in the technical field. 

This blog will consider the top five popular DevOps certifications to look for, moving through the potential benefits of getting certified.

What is meant by the DevOps Foundation Certification?

The DevOps Foundation Certificate involves a little bit of everything-the introduction to the principles, practices, and vocabulary of DevOps, as far as entry-level certifications go. This is a certification conferred by the DevOps Institute upon those who are just being introduced to DevOps and would like to have some recognition for their learning with respect to the fundamental principles of DevOps.

Foundational knowledge in DevOps, particularly in the culture of collaboration between development and operations teams, automation tools, and continuous feedback, is the primary emphasis of the certification. It provides an overview of methodologies and tools in a DevOps environment and how DevOps can drive an enhancement in the software development lifecycle.

Here are the top 5 in-demand DevOps certifications.

In the world of DevOps certifications, there are various types; the right one for you should depend on your industry, current market trends, and level of experience. The following are five widely justified and well-respected certifications in the eyes of employers. 

1. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer-Professional

An Amazon Web Services (AWS) certification shows the employer that you can test and deploy applications and infrastructure on AWS. It also serves as proof of your grasp of cloud platforms in general, such as implementing and automating compliance validation, governance processes, and security controls.

AWS is said to be the best cloud computing platform out there. AWS certification saw Naukri advertising over thousands of jobs for AWS-certified DevOps engineers in India in August 2025, one of the most in-demand qualifications today. 

For whom: DevOps engineers relating to cloud technology, mainly in the AWS environment. 

Recommended Experience: Two or more years working in AWS environments and the ability to code in a high-level programming language.

2. Docker Certified Associate (DCA)

Docker is a tool that simplifies the development and deployment of software and programming projects using containers. Industry leaders consider it one of the leading container runtime platforms, and thus, it is advantageous to have Docker certification. 

It will validate your general skills with Docker and containers, including orchestration, image creation, management, and registry; installation and configuration, networking, security; and storage and volumes.

for whom : DevOps engineers, software engineers, and others who work with Docker.

Recommended experience: Six to 12 months using Docker, and a good understanding of Linux.

3. Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) 

Open-source for container management workloads and services, Kubernetes has been widely embraced. 

CKA certification will prove one's ability in administering as well as setting up production-grade Kubernetes clusters. Basic certification too, this examination will validate your capabilities in areas such as Cluster Architecture , Installation and Configuration, Services and Networking, Workloads and Scheduling, and Storage.

For whom :The target audience is IT professionals who are administering their organization's Kubernetes instance. This includes Kubernetes administrators and cloud administrators.

Recommended experience: Middle level: knowledge of Kubernetes. 

4. Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert

DevOps processes, particularly "working with people, processes, and products to enable continuous delivery of value in organizations" [1], are demonstrated by this certification, previously named Azure DevOps Engineer Expert. 

This certification tests on skills like developing an instrument strategy, site reliability engineering strategy, security, and compliance plan. It will also show your level in source control management, facilitating communication and collaboration, and implementing CI and CM strategies.

For whom: DevOps Engineers

Recommended experience: Expert in Azure administration or development and familiarity with both. Must have either the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate or Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate certification as a prerequisite.

5. Puppet Certified Professional

In the quest to change the processes to deliver infrastructure changes faster and build better software, DevOps professionals have used Puppet to achieve the automation of these processes. The Puppet software is controlled mainly as system management tools that automate configuring and managing server functions. 

Successful completion of the Puppet Certified Professional exam validates that, at the least, you are capable of utilizing the Puppet IT automation software, as it tests with real-life assessments of your practical skills. Expect to be tested on your understanding of classification strategies, troubleshooting Puppet code, module authoring, orchestration and tasks, environments, administration, language, and concepts.

For whom: DevOps engineers and IT professionals. 

Recommended experience: Foundational understanding and use of Puppet.

Having a DevOps certification will greatly strengthen your career prospects and enhance your value in the competitive job market. Be it working with cloud platforms, containerized applications, or any automation tools, all the certifications on the list are some of the widely accepted credentials in the industry.

Depending on one's interests and expertise, these certifications can help in opening up opportunities to become a highly recruited individual in the DevOps world.