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Top Cloud-Native Certifications and Learning Resources
This post provides a quick overview of the most popular cloud-native certifications. There are different reasons why one decides to get certified. I’ve heard from people that use certification as a forcing function to learn about different technologies — check out the interview I did with Vijay Nadkarni on how he prepared for one of the certifications.
Others use it to either advance their careers, command a higher salary or even switch careers. Regardless of your motivation, it’s essential to understand the investment (both financial and time) required to get a certification.
In addition to the financial costs, it’s crucial to consider your experience and knowledge. Don’t blindly jump into any of these exams and expect to pass them on the first try, especially if it’s an expert exam and you’ve only started learning about the technology. There’s a purpose to different categories of certification — if you’re a beginner, start with the certification that matches your experience and knowledge. However, even if you don’t succeed on the first try, most offers include a free exam retake.
If you’ve decided to get certified, make sure you take the time and study the curriculum of the exam you want to tackle. Create your learning plan or follow an existing one if provided. Most certifications are performance-based (especially the Kubernetes ones), meaning you have hands-on knowledge of the technology. This brings me to another important point: practice is crucial! Don’t expect to pass an exam after only reading a tutorial or watching a video — it will take more than that.
Some of the certifications also offer a free preview exam — this allows you to familiarize yourself with the exam environment and get a feel for what type of questions you can expect. Take the opportunity and take the free preview exam. I suggest you take the preview or practice exam once you understand the topics.
Good luck if you decide to take one or more of these certifications!
