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Best Software Developer certifications
Software developer certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an software developer to employers. However, not all software developer certifications provide the same value for job seekers.
The best certifications for a software developer are Software Engineering Master Certification (SEMC), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), and Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD).
Below is a list of the best software developer certifications. Obtaining an software developer certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
20 best certifications for software developers
20 best software developer certifications
1. Software Engineering Master Certification (SEMC)
This professional competency certification requires successful completion of Certificates of Proficiency in twelve key knowledge areas: Software Engineering Requirements, Software Engineering Design, Software Engineering Construction, Software Engineering Testing, Software Engineering Maintenance, Software Engineering Configuration Management, Software Engineering Quality, Software Engineering Processes, Software Engineering Models & Methods, Software Engineering Management, Software Engineering Project Management, Software Engineering Economics and the successful completion of two advanced applied modules.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
2. Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
A Certified ScrumMaster helps project teams properly use Scrum, increasing the likelihood of the project's overall success. CSMs understand Scrum values, practices, and applications and provide a level of knowledge and expertise above and beyond that of typical project managers. CSMs act as "servant leaders," helping the rest of the Scrum team work together and learn the Scrum framework.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required?
3. Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)
Microsoft Certified Solution Developers (MCSDs) can actively design and develop leading-edge business solutions with the latest development tools, technologies, platforms, and architectures.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? No
4. Programming in C# Certification
This exam is intended for developers with one or more years of experience programming the essential business/application logic for a variety of application types and hardware/software platforms using C#.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required?
5. Java Development Certified Professional
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? No
6. Certified Web Professional - Web Developer
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required?
7. Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP)
The IEEE Computer Society is proud to offer professional certification for software development professionals. The program is intended for experienced software development and software engineering professionals.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
8. Oracle Certified Associate - Oracle9i Database Administrator (OCA)
Oracle 9i Database Administrator Certification combines training, experience, and testing to ensure that you have a strong foundation and expertise in Oracle9i Database techniques, including backup and recovery, performance tuning, and administration. Oracle9i Database provides efficient, reliable and secure data management for high-end applications such as high-volume online transaction processing (OLTP) environments, query-intensive data warehouses, and demanding Internet applications.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? No
9. E-Commerce Developer (ECD)
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? Every 1 year(s)
10. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Workflow Fnd Applications (MCTS)
Candidates work on a team in a medium-sized or large development environment that uses Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 Enterprise Developer, Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, or Microsoft Visual Studio 2008. Candidates should have at least two to three years of experience developing Web-based, Windows-based, or distributed applications by using the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0, the .NET Framework 1.1, the .NET Framework 2.0, or the .NET Framework 3.5. Candidates should have a working knowledge of Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required?
11. Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD)
Microsoft Certified Application Developers (MCADs) use Microsoft technologies to develop and administer applications and deploy and implement web back-end data solutions. Join the community of developers who are leveraging the power of .Net.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? No
12. Oracle PL/SQL Application Developer - Associate (OCA)
Oracle offers a complete, integrated set of application development tools that support any development approach, technology platform, or operating system.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required?
13. Sun Certified Business Component Developer (SCBCD)
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? No
14. Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3
Candidates for this exam should have one or more years of experience programming the essential business/application logic for a variety of application types and hardware/software platforms using JavaScript. Candidates should also have a minimum of one to two years of experience developing with HTML in an object-oriented, event-driven programming model.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required?
15. Associate Android Developer Certification
Accelerate your move toward a career in mobile app development. Learn to build simple Android apps with our Android Basics in Kotlin training — no programming experience necessary. Then, take the Associate Android Developer Certification exam to gain recognition for your skills as a developer
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? No
- Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
16. Sun Certified Java Associate (SCJA)
The Sun Certified Associate for the Java Platform, Standard Edition, Exam Version 1.0 certification exam provides an ideal entry into an application development or a software project management career using Java technologies. This worldwide credential validates basic knowledge of Object-Oriented Concepts, UML representation of OO concepts, the Java programming language, and general knowledge of Java Platforms and Technologies. Candidates for this exam include: entry level Java programmers, students studying to become Java programmers, project or program managers working with Java technology in the software development industry.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? No
17. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
The Certified Information Security Manager® (CISM®) certification program is developed specifically for experienced information security managers and those who have information security management responsibilities. The CISM certification is for the individual who manages, designs, oversees and/or assesses an enterprise's information security (IS). The CISM certification promotes international practices and provides executive management with assurance that those earning the designation have the required experience and knowledge to provide effective security management and consulting services. Individuals earning the CISM certification become part of an elite peer network, attaining a one-of-a-kind credential. The CISM job practice also defines a global job description for the information security manager and a method to measure existing staff or compare prospective new hires.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? Every 1 year(s)
18. Oracle Advanced PL/SQL Developer Certified Professional
Oracle offers a complete, integrated set of application development tools that support any development approach, technology platform, or operating system. Oracle PL/SQL Developer Certified Associates demonstrate expertise in building database-centric Internet applications for both Oracle9i and Oracle Database 10g. Oracle Forms Developer Certified Professionals gain greater credibility, a higher level of efficiency, and improved job performance as application developers.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required?
19. Microsoft Certified Professional Developer: Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 (MCPD)
If you plan to develop applications by using Visual Studio 2010 and the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0, the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) on Visual Studio 2010 certifications can help you validate your skills and abilities.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required?
20. Computer Service Technician (CST)
The following can be expected to identify the major areas of training-study-knowledge and skills which the Computer Service Technician needs in order to perform the job of servicing the hardware and the systems software for personal computers: Computer Assembly-Disassembly; Motherboards; Buses; System Resources, Processor Characteristics; Memory Characteristics (Physical & Electronic); Secondary Storage Devices; Peripheral Devices; I/O Ports; Power Concepts and Power Supplies; Basic Networking Concepts; Portables; Digital Concepts; Troubleshooting/Preventive Maintenance; current Operating Systems; File Management; Safety Procedures/Handling; and Workplace Practices.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? Every 4 year(s)
What is the best certification for a software developer?
The best software developer certification is Software Engineering Master Certification (SEMC). The Software Engineering Master Certification (SEMC) is awarded by the IEEE Computer Society. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.
Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this software developer certification:
- To become a certified Software Engineering Master Certification (SEMC), you need to pass the exam.
- Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
- Renew certification every 3 year.
What are some of the most in-demand certifications for software developers?
The most in-demand software developer certification is Certified Scrum Master based on all active job postings. Having this software developer certification will give you access to more software developer jobs with higher salaries.
What certifications can impact a software developer career and salary?
The Certified Scrum Master certification will help you to secure a senior software engineer position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A senior software engineer's average salary is $104,228 whereas software developers make an average salary of $87,521.
The most common combination of software developer certifications include: Software Engineering Master Certification (SEMC), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), and Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD).
Online courses for software developers to earn certifications
1. Software Engineering Immersive (Full-time)
Meet the global demand for technical problem-solvers by developing your coding skills to create full-stack web applications across multiple frameworks, incorporating functionality from third-party APIs, executing software engineering projects in an Agile development workflow, and more...
2. Data Science Immersive (Full-time)
Harness the power of data science to solve the world’s most challenging problems by developing your skills in predictive modeling, pattern recognition, data visualization, wrangling massive data sets, forecasting trends, and informing strategy across diverse industries like public policy, robotics, and FinTech...
3. Programming for Data Science with R
Prepare for a data science career by learning the fundamental data programming tools: R, SQL, command line, and git...
4. Full Stack Web Developer
Design and develop modern web applications.Students will also learn how to deploy a Flask-based web application to the cloud using Docker and Kubernetes...
5. Full Stack Web Development with C# OOP, MS SQL & ASP.NET MVC
Web development with C#, ASP.NET MVC, MS SQL, C# OOP. All gathered for full stack web development in one course!...
6. ASP.NET MVC: Complete Practical Guide (.NET 7) C# Web Dev
The best ASP.NET MVC Course providing practical real world example of creating ASP.NET MVC Website with Entity Framework...
7. Data Science (Part Time)
Create robust predictive models with statistics and Python programming. Build confidence and credibility to tackle complex machine learning problems on the job. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
8. Python Programming (Part Time)
Gain fluency in Python — the world's fastest-growing major programming language — and start leveraging its versatile capabilities to build web and data science applications. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
9. Android Kotlin Developer
Master Android app development with Kotlin, a modern programming language that enables developers to be more concise and productive. Build professional apps for the world's most popular mobile platform using Android Studio and Kotlin...
10. Artificial Intelligence for Trading
Complete real-world projects designed by industry experts, covering topics from asset management to trading signal generation. Master AI algorithms for trading, and build your career-ready portfolio...
11. Complete ASP NET MVC Web Development - Newbie to Ninja!
Quickly Learn Web Development with ASP NET MVC and C#. From absolute basics to ninja! Learn C# and MVC like a Pro...
12. Ultimate ASP.NET Core Web API Development Guide
Learn how to create a maintainable Web API using ASP.NET Core, Entity Framework and Enterprise Level Design Patterns...
13. Front-End Web Development (Part Time)
Start building responsive websites with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — a versatile skill set with powerful applications in a variety of design, marketing, and other tech-adjacent roles. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
14. JavaScript Development (Part Time)
Gain fluency in JavaScript — the world's most popular programming language — and start leveraging its versatile capabilities to build rich, interactive websites and applications. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
15. Data Engineer
Learn to design data models, build data warehouses and data lakes, automate data pipelines, and work with massive datasets...
16. iOS Developer
Master the Swift programming language, and create a portfolio of iOS apps for iPhone and iPad to showcase your skills!...
17. C# Console and Windows Forms Development w/ Entity Framework
C# .NET Core Console Programming Windows Forms Data-driven development OOP Git Hub SQL Entity Framework...
18. C#.NET Core 7 with MS SQL Complete Beginner to Master 2023
Learn API Development with C# .NET Core 7 and MS SQL Server from Mac, Linux or Windows!...
19. React Development (Part Time)
Expand your JavaScript programming skills, and boost your profile at work — and on the job market. Learn to build sophisticated, scalable web applications. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
20. Intro to Coding
Discover if coding is a career fit for you In this free, two-hour livestream, explore the building blocks of the web — HTML and CSS — and learn how you can apply these programming languages to develop your own simple sites. All in real time, taught by an industry professional. Come learn the basics and gain the skills you need to write your first line of code!...