Selkobase certification index

Alternatives to the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional Certification for Automation and Delivery Roles

Comparable DevOps credentials, a neighboring specialism, and a practical assessment option

Practitioners who automate and operate delivery workflows on AWS can look at what else the market offers. The reviewed options below group comparable DevOps credentials from other clouds, a neighboring container specialism, and a hands-on infrastructure assessment, each with its own reason to be considered.

Why compare

DevOps credentials to weigh next to AWS DevOps Engineer Professional

Reviewed options for the DevOps Engineer - Professional credential are grouped by reason. Google Cloud and Microsoft offer comparable DevOps credentials, the Linux Foundation covers a Kubernetes specialism, and HashiCorp provides a hands-on Terraform assessment. None is ranked.

Starting point

Reference facts

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional

Amazon Web Services
Level
Professional
Credential type
Professional certification
Exam type
Written
Study time
100-180h
Known price
$300
Full certification details

Comparable

Comparable options to AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional

Credentials aimed at a similar goal and level, from another angle or provider. A similar purpose does not make them interchangeable.

Professional DevOps and SRE on Google Cloud

Google Cloud's professional DevOps credential is built around delivery pipelines, SRE practices, and observability for engineers who may work on Google Cloud.

Who it suits

Suits experienced DevOps and site reliability engineers working on Google Cloud. Those whose pipelines and operations run on AWS will find the AWS credential more directly applicable.

Key differences

  • It emphasizes SRE practices, observability, and reliability on Google Cloud, so terminology and tooling differ from AWS.
  • Both are professional-level written exams aimed at experienced engineers, so format and seniority are similar.
  • It fits teams on Google Cloud or those adopting SRE vocabulary, while the AWS credential fits AWS-centered delivery workflows.
Level
Professional
Assessment
Written
Study time
80-140h
Listed from
$200

Expert DevOps credential in Microsoft ecosystems

Engineers delivering software on Azure and Microsoft developer tooling may weigh an expert DevOps credential covering pipelines, source control, and security.

Who it suits

Suits DevOps engineers in Microsoft-centered organizations who want to validate pipeline design and operations. AWS-centered teams will get less direct reuse.

Key differences

  • It centers on DevOps practices across Microsoft platforms, including source control, pipelines, and instrumentation, instead of AWS-native services.
  • It sits at the expert tier like the professional AWS credential, and both are written exams.
  • It suits organizations that run delivery workflows through Azure and Microsoft tooling.
Level
Expert
Assessment
Written
Study time
80-160h
Listed from
$165

Hands-on

Hands-on alternatives to AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional

Credentials assessed through practical, lab-based, or multi-part exams, for people who want to show applied ability.

Infrastructure as code with a hands-on component

Engineers who want a tool-specific, multi-part exam covering infrastructure as code may consider HashiCorp's professional credential.

Who it suits

Suits engineers who provision and manage infrastructure across several clouds and want assessment beyond multiple choice. Those looking for AWS-specific delivery coverage should stay with the AWS credential.

Key differences

  • It focuses on authoring and operating infrastructure as code with Terraform rather than the full AWS delivery and operations scope.
  • Its multi-part format differs from the all-written AWS exam, and it may include practical work.
  • It is cloud-agnostic, so it carries across providers but does not cover AWS-specific services in depth.
Level
Professional
Assessment
Multi-part
Study time
90-150h
Listed from
$295

Other specialism

Neighboring specialisms to AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional

Credentials that build on overlapping knowledge but lead toward a different focus or role.

Hands-on Kubernetes cluster administration

A performance-based Kubernetes administrator credential is worth shortlisting for DevOps engineers who run containerized workloads and want cluster-level depth.

Who it suits

Suits engineers who run production Kubernetes clusters and want hands-on proof. Those whose work centers on AWS pipelines and managed services may find it a complement more than a replacement.

Key differences

  • It focuses on operating Kubernetes clusters, covering workloads, networking, and storage, rather than the full delivery workflow spectrum on AWS.
  • It is assessed through practical tasks, unlike the written AWS professional exam.
  • It is cloud-neutral, so skills carry across providers but it does not validate AWS service knowledge.
Level
Professional
Assessment
Practical
Study time
70-120h
Listed from
$445

Side by side

How the options compare on the record

Structured facts from each certification record, with AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional as the reference row. Prices and exam details change, so check the provider before deciding.

CertificationCompared forLevelAssessmentStudy timeListed from
Reference
ProfessionalWritten100-180h$300
ProfessionalWritten80-140h$200
ExpertWritten80-160h$165
ProfessionalMulti-part90-150h$295
ProfessionalPractical70-120h$445

Next steps

Narrow your choice beyond AWS DevOps Engineer Professional

Begin with the work you want to prove: platform-wide delivery, container operations, or infrastructure as code. Compare provider fit, specialism, and assessment style on each detail page, then use certification search to look at other DevOps certifications.

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Ready to Compare AWS Professional Certifications and Skills?

Deepen your research into advanced AWS credentials. Compare the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional with other certifications, explore related skills for platform engineers, or find alternative paths in cloud administration and site reliability engineering to inform your career decisions.