Pick the right DevOps certification, prep with a mentor who has already passed it, and put it to work in your next role. Updated for 2026.
Anyone can sign up for a certification course. But getting certified – and putting that knowledge to work – takes more than reading slides. A long-term mentor keeps you focused and gets you across the finish line faster.
The best DevOps certification depends on your current role and target job. Most professionals start with a foundational DevOps cert to validate core skills, then move to a role-specific track. Pairing exam prep with a DevOps mentor on MentorCruise cuts study time and turns the cert into real, applied skills.
Last reviewed: June 2026 · Based on 12 DevOps certifications recommended by working mentors.
The 11 industry certs below, plus MentorCruise itself as the 1-on-1 prep path most mentees pair with whichever one they pick. Each cert is paired with prep notes from someone who has already passed it. Not sure which to start with? Talk to a DevOps mentor first – the wrong cert costs you months.
AIOps Foundation aims to cover the origins of AIOps, including the history behind the term, patterns that preceded it, and the technology context in which it has evolved. Candidates will gain an understanding of the processes of combining big data analytics, machine learning algorithms, automation,…
Consider reaching out to a coach specialized in DevOps certifications. They can help you prepare for your exam, and provide you with the necessary resources to succeed. MentorCruise is the best place to find a coach for your DevOps certification.
This program is ideal for existing software and IT professionals who want to level up their careers with modern development practices and skills. It requires knowledge of software engineering fundamentals, at least 1 programming language (preferably Python), Linux Commands and Scripts, and Git/Gith…
An engineering approach is critical to DevOps journeys. This certification validates understanding of the foundational knowledge, principles and practices from a technical perspective needed to engineer a successful DevOps solution. To maintain the highest quality learning for our community, DevOp…
DevOps on AWS specialization teaches you how to use the combination of DevOps philosophies, practices and tools to develop, deploy, and maintain applications in the AWS Cloud. Benefits of adopting DevOps include: rapid delivery, reliability, scalability, security and improved collaboration. Prices…
As a DevOps engineer, you’re a developer or infrastructure administrator who also has subject matter expertise in working with people, processes, and products to enable continuous delivery of value in organizations. Your responsibilities for this role include delivering Microsoft DevOps solutions …
Consider joining a workshop specialized in DevOps. Workshops are a great way to learn new skills, and get hands-on experience. MentorCruise is the best place to find a workshop for your DevOps certification.
This program provides the skills you need to advance your career as a data engineer and provides training to support your preparation for the industry-recognized Google Cloud Professional DevOps Engineer certification. 87% of Google Cloud certified users feel more confident in their cloud skills. …
This self-paced introductory course explores DevOps as a cultural movement. It describes the business case for DevOps, and covers its essentials. This course teaches new ways of thinking, working, organizing, and measuring to fully realize the benefits of DevOps. By applying DevOps practices, you w…
In Week 1, you'll learn about the definition and characteristics of a project. We will introduce project management best practices, including how to justify your project, developing a project summary and a project plan. The week will conclude with an overview of all phases of the software developme…
As DevOps adoption continues to grow and drive digital business success, organizations and their teams need to ensure they have the needed skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality software solutions quickly, exceed customer expectations and outpace competitors. To maintain the highest quality …
This certificate will equip you with the key concepts and technical know-how to build your skills and knowledge of DevOps practices, tools and technologies and prepare you for an entry-level role in Software Engineering. The courses in this program will help you develop skill sets in a variety of…
Leading people through a DevOps evolution requires new skills, tools, innovative thinking, and transformational leadership to be successful. To maintain the highest quality learning for our community, DevOps Institute Certifications expire two years from the date of completion. Members can maintai…
A DevOps cert is a starting point, not a finish line
A certificate proves you can pass an exam. A mentor proves you can apply the work. Most of our mentees pair their DevOps cert with weekly 1-on-1 sessions so the knowledge sticks – and translates into a promotion, a new job, or a real project shipped.
There is no better source of accountability and motivation than having a personal mentor who has already passed the cert you're studying for. All mentors are vetted, certified, and hands-on.
Explore a curated network of vetted mentors – engineers, designers, founders, and more. Find someone who matches your goals, skills, and budget.
Choose a flexible plan that fits your pace – whether it's Q&A chats, regular calls, or something in between, your mentor will help you build a personalized roadmap.
Get ongoing support through regular calls, check-ins, and feedback. Your mentor stays with you for the long haul.
Mentees who stick with their mentor for 3+ months reach their goals 2x faster than they would on their own. Fewer dead ends, more breakthroughs.
A mentor who has already passed the DevOps cert can spot weak areas in your prep, point you at the exam topics that actually matter, and save you a re-sit fee.
Cut down on failed attempts, abandoned courses, and bootcamp upsells. Work directly with someone who knows what worked and what didn't.
Self-paced learning is easy to drop. Mentorship adds structure and momentum, so you actually finish the cert you started.
Mentors help with more than the exam – they review portfolios, coach for interviews, and translate the cert into a promotion or new role.
Frequently asked
The questions DevOps mentees ask most before picking a certification and starting prep.
Start with a foundational DevOps certification if you're new to the field – it validates core concepts and is recognized everywhere. If you already have hands-on experience, jump to a role-specific or associate-level track. A DevOps mentor can look at your background in one session and tell you which cert is the right starting point.
Most DevOps certifications take 6 to 16 weeks of structured prep, depending on your starting point and the cert level. Foundational exams are closer to 6 weeks. Professional and specialty exams run longer. Mentees with weekly mentor sessions typically finish in the lower half of that range.
Yes, when paired with applied work. A DevOps certification opens recruiter pipelines and signals baseline competence – hiring managers still look for evidence you can use the skill on real projects. That's why mentees who get certified alongside mentor-led portfolio work move into roles faster than those who only have the cert.
MentorCruise plans start at $120/month, which is roughly 70% less than most cert bootcamps. You get weekly 1-on-1 sessions with a DevOps expert plus async messaging between sessions. Cancel anytime – you're not locked into a multi-month bootcamp contract.
Courses give you a curriculum. A mentor gives you a curriculum, accountability, and a feedback loop on the gaps you didn't know you had. Most mentees pair both – they consume a self-paced course and meet with a mentor weekly to debug their understanding. Pure self-study works for some, but completion rates are much lower.
Yes. Most MentorCruise mentors do production DevOps work day-to-day. They'll guide you through portfolio projects, code reviews, architecture decisions, and the kind of real-world judgment calls that an exam can't test for. This is what closes the gap between "certified" and "actually employable".
A failed attempt is information, not a verdict. Most cert programs let you re-sit after a short waiting period. Your mentor will help you read the score report, identify which knowledge domains you missed, and rebuild the prep plan around those gaps. Mentees who fail once and re-sit with a mentor usually pass the second time.
Weekly 1-hour sessions are the sweet spot for most DevOps certification tracks. It's frequent enough to stay accountable and unblock confusion early, but not so frequent that you don't have time to study between sessions. Bi-weekly works for longer prep cycles or part-time learners.
Senior Software Engineer / Manager at Microsoft
Prinicipal Software Engineer at Microsoft
Staff Engineer at Dojo
Founder at Barcode Essentials Pty L…
CTO at Attune
Chief Consultant | Top 1% mentor | AI-Data-Cloud-Software Engineer |…
Senior Software Engineer / Manager at Microsoft
Prinicipal Software Engineer at Microsoft
Staff Engineer at Dojo
Founder at Barcode Essentials Pty L…
CTO at Attune
Chief Consultant | Top 1% mentor | AI-Data-Cloud-Software Engineer |…
We've already delivered 1-on-1 mentorship to thousands of students, professionals, managers and executives. Even better, they've left an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for our mentors.
Find a DevOps mentor
