By Quick answer: What is the DevOps certification roadmap for 2027?
- Stage 1 — Cloud basics.
- Stage 2 — Cloud associate.
- Stage 3 — Automation.
- Stage 4 — Containers.
Key takeaways
- Each stage builds on the last.
- Stop when you reach the role you want.
- Hands-on practice at every stage.
DevOps careers move in clear stages. This roadmap names the certification for each one.
The roadmap at a glance
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Certified Cloud PractitionerAmazon Web Services | $1001 | 90 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 2 | Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)Microsoft | Exam priced by country2 | 45 minutes | Free test |
| 3 | AWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1503 | 130 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 4 | Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)Microsoft | Exam priced by country4 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
| 5 | HashiCorp Certified: Terraform AssociateHashiCorp | Check the official page5 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 6 | Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)Linux Foundation / CNCF | $4456 | 2-hour hands-on, performance-based exam | Free test |
| 7 | Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum.org | Check the official page7 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 8 | ITIL 4 FoundationPeopleCert / AXELOS | Check the official page8 | Check issuer | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner before you pay.Start free test →
- AZ-900 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) before you pay.Start free test →
- AWS Solutions Architect Associate Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate before you pay.Start free test →
- Azure Administrator AZ-104 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) before you pay.Start free test →
Each stage, and the certification for it
- AWSAWS Certified Cloud PractitionerStage 1: Cloud basics$100
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)Stage 1: Cloud basicsExam priced by country
- AWSAWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateStage 2: Cloud associate$150
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- Cost
- $1001
- Format
- 90 minutes, 65 questions
Stage 1: AWS Cloud Practitioner, $100 AWS's entry exam covers cloud concepts, core services, security and billing. It's 90 minutes with 65 questions and costs $100, so it's the usual first cloud exam for beginners and non-technical staff.
Best forstage 1: Cloud basics
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country2
- Format
- 45 minutes
Stage 1: Azure AZ-900 Microsoft's Azure fundamentals exam covers cloud concepts, core Azure services, pricing and governance in 45 minutes. Training is free on Microsoft Learn, the exam is priced by country and it doesn't expire.
Best forstage 1: Cloud basics
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Cost
- $1503
- Format
- 130 minutes, 65 questions
Stage 2: AWS SAA, $150 AWS's associate exam tests designing secure, resilient, high-performing and cost-aware systems on AWS. It's 130 minutes with 65 questions and costs $150, and it's the cloud credential most often named in job posts.
Best forstage 2: Cloud associate
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country4
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
Stage 2: Azure AZ-104 Microsoft's associate exam proves you can manage Azure identity, storage, compute and networking. It's 100 minutes, priced by country, and renews free online every 12 months, which keeps long-term cost low.
Best forstage 2: Cloud associate
HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate
- Cost
- Check the official page5
Stage 3: Terraform Associate HashiCorp's associate exam proves infrastructure-as-code skills with Terraform, which works across AWS, Azure and Google Cloud. It suits DevOps and cloud engineers; check HashiCorp's page for the current fee.
Best forstage 3: Automation
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
- Cost
- $4456
- Format
- 2-hour hands-on, performance-based exam
Stage 4: CKA, $445 hands-on The Linux Foundation's Certified Kubernetes Administrator is a two-hour, performance-based exam taken in a live cluster. It costs $445 including one free retake and is respected because it tests real hands-on skill.
Best forstage 4: Containers
Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)
- Cost
- Check the official page7
Stage 5: PSM I Scrum.org's Professional Scrum Master I is exam-only, with no course required, and it doesn't expire. Study the free Scrum Guide and practise before booking; check Scrum.org's page for the current fee.
Best forstage 5: Delivery
ITIL 4 Foundation
- Cost
- Check the official page8
Stage 5: ITIL 4 PeopleCert's ITIL 4 Foundation covers the core concepts of IT service management and continual improvement. It's foundation-level, quick to prepare for and especially common in IT service roles in the UK and Australia.
Best forstage 5: Delivery
Stages at a glance
| Stage | Focus | Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cloud basics | AWS Cloud Practitioner, $100, Azure AZ-900 |
| 2 | Cloud associate | AWS SAA, $150, Azure AZ-104 |
| 3 | Automation | Terraform Associate |
| 4 | Containers | CKA, $445 hands-on |
| 5 | Delivery | PSM I, ITIL 4 |
Table: DevOps roadmap
How we ranked these picks
We ordered certifications by prerequisites and role level. Fees from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I start in DevOps?
Linux, Git and a cloud fundamentals exam.
When should I take CKA?
After a cloud associate exam.
Is Terraform necessary?
It's widely used for infrastructure as code.
How long does the roadmap take?
Often a year or more.
Is there a free test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free DevOps tests.
Sources
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- HashiCorp — HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Linux Foundation — Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Scrum.org — Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PeopleCert — ITIL 4 Foundation, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- The best online certifications of 2027 — the full top 10 across every field
- Best DevOps Certifications of 2027: Top 10 Ranked — related guide
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The cloud certification roadmap for 2027: from first cloud exam to platform engineerA cloud certification roadmap for 2027: Cloud Practitioner or AZ-900, then AWS SAA, AZ-104 or Google ACE, then CKA and Terraform, then ML on cloud.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The best DevOps certifications of 2027: eight for cloud, containers, automation and deliveryThe 8 best DevOps certifications of 2027: CKA, Terraform, AWS Solutions Architect, Azure AZ-104, Google Cloud ACE, ITIL 4, PSM I and AWS Cloud Practitioner.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Devops certifications for beginners: the best picks for 2027, in learning orderThe 6 best DevOps certifications for beginners in 2027, in learning order: AWS CCP or AZ-900, AWS SAA, Terraform, CKA and PSM I.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The IT certification roadmap for 2027: from beginner to expertAn IT certification roadmap for 2027: Google IT Support or A+, Network+ or CCNA, Security+ or a cloud exam, CKA or ITIL, then CISSP.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The networking certification roadmap for 2027: from beginner to expertA networking certification roadmap for 2027: Google IT Support or A+, Network+, CCNA, then Security+ and AWS SAA.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The machine learning certification roadmap for 2027: from beginner to expertA machine learning certification roadmap for 2027: Kaggle and CS50 AI, the ML Specialization, Deep Learning and LLMs, then AWS MLE, DP-100 and GC PMLE.
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