By Quick answer: Which certifications are best for software engineers in 2027?
- Cloud — AWS SAA, AZ-104, Google Cloud ACE.
- Platform — CKA, Terraform.
- AI — AI-102, AWS MLE, LLM course.
- Security and process — Security+, PSM I.
Key takeaways
- Engineers gain most from cloud, platform and AI credentials.
- Hands-on exams (CKA) carry extra weight.
- Certifications complement, never replace, shipped code.
Software engineers are hired on code, so certifications aren't required. But the right ones add skills that move careers: cloud architecture, platforms, AI and security. These ten add the most in 2027.
Ten certifications for engineers 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 Solutions Architect – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1501 | 130 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 2 | Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)Linux Foundation / CNCF | $4452 | 2-hour hands-on, performance-based exam | Free test |
| 3 | HashiCorp Certified: Terraform AssociateHashiCorp | Check the official page3 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 4 | Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)Microsoft | Exam priced by country4 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
| 5 | Google Cloud Associate Cloud EngineerGoogle Cloud | $1255 | 2 hours, multiple choice | Free test |
| 6 | Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)Microsoft | Exam priced by country6 | 100 minutes | Free test |
| 7 | AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1507 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 8 | Generative AI with Large Language ModelsDeepLearning.AI & AWS / Coursera | Coursera plan8 | 2 weeks at 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 9 | CompTIA Security+CompTIA | Voucher price on the CompTIA store9 | V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk | Free test |
| 10 | Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum.org | Check the official page10 | 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 Solutions Architect Associate Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate before you pay.Start free test →
- Kubernetes CKA & CKAD Practice ExamPractise for Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) before you pay.Start free test →
- Terraform Associate Practice ExamPractise for HashiCorp Certified: Terraform 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 certification, and what it adds to an engineer
- AWSAWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateDesigning systems on AWS$150
- Linux FoundationCertified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)Running containers$445
- HashiCorpHashiCorp Certified: Terraform AssociateInfrastructure as codeCheck the official page
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Cost
- $1501
- Format
- 130 minutes, 65 questions
Proves you can design secure, resilient systems on AWS. $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 fordesigning systems on AWS
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
- Cost
- $4452
- Format
- 2-hour hands-on, performance-based exam
A hands-on Kubernetes exam in a live cluster. $445 with one retake. 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 forrunning containers
HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate
- Cost
- Check the official page3
Infrastructure as code across clouds. 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 forinfrastructure as code
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country4
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
Azure administration for engineers in Microsoft environments. 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 forAzure environments
Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer
- Cost
- $1255
- Format
- 2 hours, multiple choice
Google Cloud's associate engineer exam. $125. Google Cloud's associate exam tests deploying, monitoring and managing projects on Google Cloud. It's two hours, costs $125 and rewards hands-on practice with the console and command line.
Best forGoogle Cloud teams
Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country6
- Format
- 100 minutes
Building AI and generative AI solutions on Azure. Microsoft's associate exam proves you can build AI solutions on Azure, including generative AI, language and vision apps. It's a 100-minute exam priced by country, needs coding skills and renews free online each year.
Best forbuilding AI apps
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate
- Cost
- $1507
Deploying and monitoring ML on AWS. $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 forML in production
Generative AI with Large Language Models
- Cost
- Coursera plan8
- Time
- 2 weeks at 10 hours a week
How LLMs work and how to fine-tune and deploy them. DeepLearning.AI and AWS's course explains how large language models work, how to fine-tune and evaluate them and how to deploy them. It takes about two weeks at ten hours a week and suits developers and data scientists with Python.
Best forLLM fundamentals
CompTIA Security+
- Cost
- Voucher price on the CompTIA store9
- Format
- V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk
Security fundamentals that make engineers write safer code. 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 forsecure coding context
Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)
- Cost
- Check the official page10
Scrum knowledge for engineers on agile teams. 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 forScrum teams
Pick by engineering direction
| Direction | Certifications |
|---|---|
| Backend and cloud | AWS SAA, Terraform |
| Platform and SRE | CKA, Terraform |
| AI engineering | AI-102, AWS MLE, LLMs |
| Tech lead | PSM I, Security+ |
Table: Certifications by engineering direction
How we ranked these picks
We ranked certifications by how much they add to working engineers' skills and job prospects. Fees come from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do software engineers need certifications?
No, but cloud, platform and AI certifications add valued skills.
Which certification is best for developers?
AWS Solutions Architect – Associate is the most broadly useful.
Is CKA worth it for developers?
Yes if you work with Kubernetes.
Which AI certification suits engineers?
Azure AI-102 or AWS ML Engineer, plus the LLM course.
Is there a free test for engineers?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free cloud, Kubernetes, AI and coding tests.
Sources
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Linux Foundation — Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- HashiCorp — HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google Cloud — Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- DeepLearning.AI & AWS — Generative AI with Large Language Models, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- CompTIA — CompTIA Security+, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Scrum.org — Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I), 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 Certifications by Profession (2027 Directory) — related guide
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Top 5 DevOps certifications to get hired in 2027: the ones job posts nameThe top 5 DevOps certifications to get hired in 2027: CKA, Terraform, AWS Solutions Architect, Azure AZ-104 and Google Cloud ACE.
- 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 2027The best cloud computing certifications of 2027: ten across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and KubernetesThe 10 best cloud certifications of 2027: AWS Solutions Architect, Azure AZ-104, Google Cloud ACE, CKA, Terraform and more, with verified exam fees.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Top 5 cloud computing certifications to get hired in 2027: the ones cloud job posts nameThe top 5 cloud certifications to get hired in 2027: AWS Solutions Architect, Azure AZ-104, Google Cloud ACE, CKA and Terraform, matched to job titles.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Top 10 tech certifications that boost salary in 2027: the credentials behind the best-paid engineering rolesThe top 10 tech certifications that boost salary in 2027: AWS Solutions Architect, CKA, Terraform, AI-102, Google Cloud ML Engineer and more, with costs.
- 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.
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