By Quick answer: Which certifications fit the fastest-growing jobs of 2027?
- AI/ML specialists — AWS ML Engineer, Google Cloud ML Engineer.
- GenAI engineers — Databricks GenAI Engineer.
- Data — Google Data Analytics.
- Cloud and security — AWS SAA, Security+.
Key takeaways
- AI and ML specialists are among the fastest-growing roles (WEF).
- Specialist roles need a professional or associate exam plus projects.
- Entry routes exist through data, cloud and security.
The World Economic Forum's 2025 report lists AI and machine learning specialists among the fastest-growing jobs, with technology roles leading growth overall.1 Here are the certifications that fit those roles, plus the entry routes through data, cloud and security.
Seven certifications for growing roles
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 Machine Learning Engineer – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1502 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 2 | Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning EngineerGoogle Cloud | $2003 | 2 hours, multiple choice | Free test |
| 3 | Deep Learning SpecializationDeepLearning.AI / Coursera | Coursera plan4 | 3 months at 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 4 | Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer AssociateDatabricks | $2005 | 90 minutes | Free test |
| 5 | Google Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan6 | 6 months at 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 6 | AWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1507 | 130 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 7 | CompTIA Security+CompTIA | Voucher price on the CompTIA store8 | V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk | 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 ML Engineer Associate Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate before you pay.Start free test →
- Google Professional ML Engineer Practice ExamPractise for Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer before you pay.Start free test →
- Deep Learning CertificationPractise for Deep Learning Specialization before you pay.Start free test →
- Databricks Generative AI Engineer Practice ExamPractise for Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate before you pay.Start free test →
Each growing role, and the certification that fits
- AWSAWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – AssociateAI/ML specialists on AWS$150
- Google CloudGoogle Cloud Professional Machine Learning EngineerAI/ML specialists on Google Cloud$200
- CourseraDeep Learning SpecializationDeep learning rolesCoursera plan
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate
- Cost
- $1502
For ML engineers on AWS: data preparation, training, deployment and monitoring. $150. AWS's associate exam proves you can prepare data, train, deploy and monitor machine learning models on AWS. It costs $150 and expects hands-on ML and AWS experience, making it a strong credential for ML engineers.
Best forAI/ML specialists on AWS
Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer
- Cost
- $2003
- Format
- 2 hours, multiple choice
Google Cloud's professional ML exam for production ML engineers. $200, two hours. Google Cloud's professional exam tests production machine learning: framing problems, building pipelines and serving and monitoring models. It's two hours, costs $200 and is aimed at experienced ML engineers.
Best forAI/ML specialists on Google Cloud
Deep Learning Specialization
- Cost
- Coursera plan4
- Time
- 3 months at 10 hours a week
Andrew Ng's Deep Learning Specialization, about three months part-time, free to audit. The Deep Learning Specialization covers neural networks, optimisation, CNNs and sequence models in depth. It takes about three months at ten hours a week, assumes machine learning basics and can be audited free on Coursera.
Best fordeep learning roles
Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate
- Cost
- $2005
- Format
- 90 minutes
Databricks' GenAI engineer exam: building LLM applications on Databricks. $200, 90 minutes. Databricks' associate exam proves you can design and build LLM applications on the Databricks platform, from data preparation to evaluation. It's 90 minutes and costs $200, so it suits data and AI engineers whose teams use Databricks.
Best forGenAI engineers
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan6
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
An entry route into data roles, about six months part-time. Google's professional certificate teaches spreadsheets, SQL, Tableau and R through case studies and ends with a portfolio capstone. It's designed for beginners, takes about six months at ten hours a week and offers financial aid on Coursera.
Best fordata roles
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Cost
- $1507
- Format
- 130 minutes, 65 questions
The most requested cloud credential, for cloud engineer roles. $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 forcloud engineers
CompTIA Security+
- Cost
- Voucher price on the CompTIA store8
- Format
- V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk
The standard first credential for security analysts. CompTIA's vendor-neutral security exam covers threats, architecture, operations and governance, and the new version adds AI-related risk. It's listed in ANAB's ISO/IEC 17024 directory; voucher prices vary by country.
Best forsecurity analysts
Entry routes into growing roles
| Target role | Entry route |
|---|---|
| AI/ML specialist | Data analytics → ML Specialization → ML Engineer exam |
| Cloud engineer | Cloud Practitioner → Solutions Architect |
| Security analyst | IT support → Security+ |
Table: Routes into the fastest-growing roles
How we ranked these picks
We used the WEF's Future of Jobs Report 2025 for job growth and matched roles to credible certifications. Fees come from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What are the fastest-growing jobs of 2027?
The WEF lists AI and machine learning specialists among the fastest-growing roles, with technology jobs leading growth.
How do I become an AI specialist?
Learn Python and data, then ML (the ML Specialization), then an ML engineer exam with projects.
Which growing job is easiest to enter?
Data, cloud support and security analyst roles have clear entry routes through beginner certifications.
Are AI jobs only for programmers?
Specialist roles need programming, but many AI-adjacent roles need AI literacy rather than code.
Is there a free test for these roles?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free AI, data, cloud and security tests with instant results.
Sources
- World Economic Forum — The Future of Jobs Report 2025
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google Cloud — Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- DeepLearning.AI — Deep Learning Specialization, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Databricks — Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- CompTIA — CompTIA Security+, 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
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- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Science of Apps free certification catalogue — 1,200+ free tests
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Prove the skill before you pay for the exam.
Start with the free AWS ML Engineer Associate Practice Exam. 1,200+ free, test-based certifications graded on our server. Pass and get a founder-signed certificate with a credential ID employers can verify.