Top Software Developer Certifications With Fees
Software Developer Certifications | Best Certifications & Average Costs | Resume.com
Getting certified as a software developer can give your resume the boost it needs to stand out to hiring managers. A software developer certification lets hiring managers know that your computer programming skills and expertise have been tested and verified which can increase your chances of landing a job. This article explains the best software developer certifications and skills to list on your resume to land a job in this field.
What is a software developer certification?
A software developer certification is an official document that attests to your computer programming skills and abilities. It tests your ability to create computer software, whether it’s for an application or an underlying computer system. This also involves your ability to install and test various software systems. Certifications in this field are available for both beginner and experienced software developers.
Why is a software developer certification important?
A software developer certification is a great way to gain extra knowledge in different areas of programming. It also gives you the opportunity to sharpen your skills. A software developer certification can help you stand out in your field. This is especially important when applying for a job with steep competition. Software developer certifications show hiring managers that your computer programming skills are tested and certified. Employers in this industry want to hire candidates with a strong background in computer programming and a software developer certificate is a great way to showcase your unique qualifications.
Best software developer certifications to list on your resume
Here are the best software developer certifications to earn and list on your resume:
Puppet Certified Professional (PCP)
Average Cost of Certification: $200
Description: This certification verifies your expertise in configuration management systems that use Puppet. In addition, the PCP tests your knowledge in Puppet best practices, operating systems maintenance and various aspects regarding data work. While this certificate does not expire, it can become outdated when the exam is revised. This happens approximately every 18 months or whenever there is a software update.
Cloudera Certified Apache Spark (CCA Spark) and Hadoop Developer
Average Cost of Certification: $295
Description: This certification is great for software developers working within the big data market as it tests your knowledge of Python and Scala coding. Applicants should have data analysis, configuration, transformation skills. You should also understand data ingest. This certification expires after two years. It also has the potential to increase your salary since employers often want to hire candidates with big data experience.
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
Average Cost of Certification: $127
Description: This is an entry-level certification for those hoping to enter the world of technology. The MTA tests your ability to understand technical concepts and general knowledge. It’s geared toward students with no previous history working in information technology. Applicants need to pass one of the exams to earn an MTA certification. Some exams include Software Development Fundamentals, Database Fundamentals and the Mobility and Devices Fundamentals exam. There is no prerequisite for the MTA exam. Certificate holders often go on to earn their MCSA or MCSD certificates.
Amazon Web Services (AWS Certified Developer—Associate)
Average Cost of Certification: $150
Description: This certification is for developers with one or more years of hands-on experience with an application that uses the AWS platform and infrastructure. The certificate verifies your AWS architecture knowledge, uses and best practices. It also showcases your ability to develop and debug AWS-based applications.
C /C++
Average Cost of Certification: $295 per exam
Description: The C Programming Language Certified Associate (CLA) and the C++ Certified Associate Programmer certifications test your knowledge of coding tasks related to the C and C++ programming languages. The former verifies your ability to perform basic programming techniques while the latter verifies your ability to use the object-oriented model and computer programming concepts overall. These certifications do not expire and are independent of each other.
Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP)
Average Cost of Certification: $549
Description: This cyber-security certification is vendor-neutral and verifies a software developer’s ability to secure applications. The exam revolves around every phase of software development and tests your understanding of coding, design, testing and other software concepts. Certified members need to pay a maintenance fee of $125 each year.
Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)
Average Cost of Certification: $165
Description: This certificate proves your knowledge of building mobile or web applications. It’s a highly recognized certification for intermediate-level software developers. There are various exams you can take including the Developing Mobile Apps exam, Developing ASP.NET MVC Web Applications exam and Developing Microsoft Azure and Web Services exam.
MongoDB Certified Developer Associate
Average Cost of Certification: $150
Description: The MongoDB Certified Developer Associate certificate is great for intermediate-level developers. Applicants should understand the basics of designing and building MongoDB-based applications. This database certification is in high demand and never expires.
Popular skills and qualifications to list on a resume for software developer jobs
While every job is different, here is a list of popular skills and qualifications you can list on your resume when applying for software developer jobs:
Computer programming and coding
In order to apply or find success in a software development role, you need to have a strong knowledge of computer programming. Not only should you understand how to build an application, but you also need to know how to make changes to existing computer software. In order to do this, you need to know how to code. It’s also important to understand data structures and algorithms.
Problem-solving skills
Hiring managers want to see problem-solving skills listed on your resume. This refers to your ability to solve problems related to coding errors or mishaps. The better problem solver you are, the easier time you will have fixing any computer programming failures you may encounter.
Attention to detail
You should also have good attention to detail when applying for a software developer position. During your day-to-day, you detect minor glitches within the coding in order to resolve any issues. It’s important to have patience at all times to make the software development process easier and more efficient.
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