Top 11 Build Engineer Certifications

Certifications for a build engineer demonstrate the individual’s technical knowledge and skills in the field. In today’s competitive job market, certifications allow employers to easily distinguish a qualified candidate from other candidates. This can give the certified engineer an edge when competing for jobs. Certifications also make it easier for employers to assess the capabilities of potential hires, as they serve as a form of standardized evaluation that is accepted across industries. Additionally, having certifications can help engineers stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices, allowing them to be more valuable employees in the long run.

The article reviews the most beneficial certifications for build engineers and discusses how they can help to further a build engineer's career.

What are Build Engineer Certifications?

Build engineer certification is a professional certification that validates a person’s knowledge and skills in engineering software applications. It demonstrates a mastery of the principles, best practices, and tools necessary to design, build, deploy, and maintain software applications. This certification can help individuals seeking employment as build engineers demonstrate their qualifications for the position. It can also be used to prove proficiency in the field for those already employed in the profession. Build engineer certifications offer recognition from industry peers and employers for those with specific qualifications in the field. Additionally, it can provide a competitive edge when applying for promotions or new positions within an organization. The certification may also lead to higher salaries as well as more opportunities for professional development and career growth.

Pro Tip: When considering a build engineer certification, make sure to research the requirements and certifying body carefully. Make sure that the certification is up-to-date and relevant to your field of work, as well as accepted by potential employers in your area. Additionally, look into any additional certifications or courses you may need to complete in order to maintain your certification.

Related: What does a Build Engineer do?

Top 11 Build Engineer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Build Engineers today.

1. Certified Build Engineer (CBE)

Certified Build Engineer (CBE) is a professional certification that recognizes the skills and knowledge of an individual who is able to build, deploy, and maintain software systems. This certification is offered by the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB).

To become a Certified Build Engineer (CBE), an individual must first have at least two years of experience in software development or system administration. They must then complete the ISTQB Certified Build Engineer Exam. This exam covers topics such as version control, continuous integration, build automation, release management, and deployment. The exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete.

The cost for the Certified Build Engineer Exam varies depending on where you take it. Generally speaking, it costs around $200 USD to take the exam. It can also be taken online through some providers for a discounted rate.

Once an individual has passed the CBE exam, they will receive their official certification from ISTQB. This certification is valid for three years and can be renewed by taking the CBE recertification exam every three years or by completing continuing education courses provided by ISTQB-accredited training providers.

2. Certified Software Build Professional (CSBP)

Certified Software Build Professional (CSBP) is a certification program designed to recognize the skills and knowledge of software build professionals. It is offered by the International Association of Software Architects (IASA). The CSBP certification is designed to validate the expertise of software build professionals in areas such as build automation, continuous integration, configuration management, and release engineering.

The CSBP certification requires applicants to have at least three years of professional experience in software builds and related activities. Applicants must also pass an online exam that covers topics such as software builds, automation, continuous integration, configuration management, release engineering, and more. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete.

To get the CSBP certification, applicants must first purchase an application package from IASA's website. This package includes study materials and access to the online exam. After purchasing the package, applicants can take the exam at any time within six months after purchase.

The cost for the CSBP certification varies depending on whether you are an IASA member or not. For non-members, it costs $450 USD for the application package plus $150 USD for each attempt at the online exam. For IASA members, it costs $400 USD for the application package plus $100 USD for each attempt at the online exam.

3. Certified Automation Build Engineer (CABE)

Certified Automation Build Engineer (CABE) is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to build and maintain automated systems. The certification is offered by the International Society of Automation (ISA).

The CABE exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as automation system design, programming, networking, safety, and troubleshooting. The exam takes approximately 2 hours to complete.

To become certified, applicants must first submit an application to ISA along with proof of experience in automation engineering or related fields. Once accepted, applicants must pass the CABE exam with a score of 70% or higher. After passing the exam, applicants will receive their official CABE certificate from ISA.

The cost for taking the CABE exam is $395 USD for members of ISA and $495 USD for non-members.

4. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert in DevOps (MCSE: DevOps)

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert in DevOps (MCSE: DevOps) is a certification program designed to help IT professionals demonstrate their expertise in the development and implementation of DevOps solutions. The certification validates an individual’s ability to use Microsoft technologies to develop, deploy, and manage applications using DevOps principles.

The MCSE: DevOps certification requires that individuals pass two exams: Exam 70-537: Configuring and Operating a Hybrid Cloud with Microsoft Azure Stack, and Exam 70-538: Implementing Microsoft Azure DevOps Solutions. Both exams are available through Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers.

It typically takes about 3 months of preparation to pass both exams. To prepare for the exams, individuals should have hands-on experience working with Azure services such as App Services, Service Fabric, and Cloud Services; be familiar with Visual Studio Team Services; understand core concepts related to continuous integration and delivery; and be able to configure monitoring solutions using Log Analytics.

The cost of each exam is $165 USD. The total cost for the MCSE: DevOps certification is therefore $330 USD.

5. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation (RHCSA-AA)

Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation (RHCSA-AA) is a certification program designed to demonstrate an individual’s expertise in using Ansible, an open source automation platform. With the RHCSA-AA certification, individuals can prove their skills in automating system administration tasks and application deployments with Ansible.

The RHCSA-AA exam takes approximately 2 hours and requires a passing score of 70%. The exam consists of multiple choice and scenario-based questions that test a candidate’s knowledge of Ansible concepts, commands, and best practices.

To get certified as an RHCSA-AA, candidates must first register for the exam and pay the associated fee. The cost of the exam varies depending on location and other factors but typically ranges from $200-$400 USD. Candidates must also have completed Red Hat’s online course or have equivalent experience with Ansible prior to taking the exam.

Once registered for the exam, candidates should plan to spend several weeks studying for the exam by reviewing course material, practicing with hands-on labs, and familiarizing themselves with real world scenarios related to using Ansible. After completing the exam successfully, individuals will receive their official Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation (RHCSA-AA) certification.

6. Puppet Professional Certification Program (PPP)

The Puppet Professional Certification Program (PPP) is a certification program offered by Puppet, Inc., the leading provider of IT automation software. The PPP certifies individuals in their knowledge and skills to use Puppet’s IT automation software. It is designed to help organizations find qualified professionals who are capable of using Puppet’s tools to automate their IT infrastructure.

The PPP consists of two levels: the Associate and Professional level. To become certified at the Associate level, candidates must pass an online exam that covers topics such as basic configuration management concepts, installation and usage of the Puppet language, and troubleshooting techniques. The exam can be taken online or at a local testing center and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete.

To become certified at the Professional level, candidates must pass an online exam that covers topics such as advanced configuration management concepts, writing custom modules for Puppet Enterprise, and best practices for managing large-scale deployments with Puppet Enterprise. This exam also takes approximately 90 minutes to complete but requires more preparation than the Associate level exam.

In addition to passing the exams, candidates must also meet certain prerequisites before they can take either exam. These include having a minimum of three months experience working with Puppet Enterprise and having completed either a self-paced training course or instructor-led training course on Puppet Enterprise from an authorized training partner.

The cost for taking either exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $150-$200 USD per attempt. You may need to pay additional fees if you take your exams at a local testing center instead of online.

Overall, it typically takes about six months to get both certifications if you already have some experience working with Puppet Enterprise prior to starting the program. However, this timeline may vary depending on your individual circumstances and how much time you are able to dedicate towards studying for each exam.

7. Jenkins Certified Engineer (JCE)

Jenkins Certified Engineer (JCE) is a certification program created by CloudBees, the company behind the popular open source automation server Jenkins. The JCE certification is designed to recognize individuals with expertise in Jenkins and its related technologies. It is an industry-recognized credential that validates an individual's knowledge and skills in using Jenkins for continuous integration, continuous delivery, and DevOps.

To become a JCE, candidates must pass the JCE exam which consists of multiple choice questions covering topics such as installation and configuration of Jenkins, setting up distributed builds, integrating with external systems, security best practices, and more. The exam typically takes around two hours to complete.

The cost of the exam is $250 USD per attempt. Candidates can register for the exam online at CloudBees' website or through one of their authorized training partners. Once registered, candidates will receive instructions on how to access the exam portal where they can take the exam at any time within 90 days of registration.

Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates will be awarded a digital certificate from CloudBees that can be shared on LinkedIn profiles and other social media platforms to demonstrate their expertise in the field.

8. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional Level

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional Level is a certification that demonstrates an individual’s ability to deploy, manage and operate applications on the AWS cloud. It is designed for individuals who have experience with designing, deploying and managing distributed applications on the AWS platform. The certification requires knowledge of developing, deploying and operating distributed applications using DevOps principles.

To get this certification, you must pass two exams: the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional exam and the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional exam. The former tests your knowledge of designing, deploying and operating distributed applications on the AWS platform while the latter tests your understanding of design best practices for building secure and reliable applications in the cloud.

It typically takes between 6-12 months to prepare for these exams depending on your existing level of knowledge. To prepare for these exams, you should have hands-on experience working with AWS services such as EC2, S3, CloudFormation, etc., as well as a good understanding of DevOps principles such as Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines and Infrastructure as Code (IaC). Additionally, there are many online resources available to help you prepare for these exams including practice tests and study guides.

The cost to take each exam is $300 USD per exam.

9. CompTIA Cloud Essentials+

CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ is a certification program designed to help IT professionals gain the skills and knowledge necessary to understand, design, and manage cloud-based solutions. It is an entry-level certification that focuses on the fundamentals of cloud computing and how it can be used in business.

The CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. To earn the certification, candidates must pass the exam with a score of 700 or higher on a scale of 100-900.

To get CompTIA Cloud Essentials+, candidates must first register for the exam through Pearson VUE or Prometric Testing Centers. The cost for the exam varies by region but typically ranges from $200-$250 USD. Additionally, some training courses may be required prior to taking the exam. Candidates should check with their local testing center for more information about any prerequisites that may be necessary.

Overall, CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ is an excellent way for IT professionals to demonstrate their understanding of cloud computing concepts and gain valuable experience in designing, deploying, and managing cloud-based solutions.

10. Docker Certified Associate

Docker Certified Associate (DCA) is a certification program designed to validate the skills and knowledge of IT professionals who use Docker technologies. It is a vendor-neutral certification that covers the fundamentals of container-based applications, including installation, configuration, security, networking, orchestration, and more.

The DCA exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. The exam covers topics such as: Container Concepts & Architecture; Image Creation, Management & Registry; Installation & Configuration; Networking; Storage & Volumes; Orchestration; Security; and Multi-Container Applications.

To get certified, you must pass the DCA exam with a score of 70% or higher. You can take the exam online via web browser or in person at an authorized testing center. The cost for taking the exam is $195 USD.

11. Chef Certification Program

Chef Certification Program is a comprehensive program that allows individuals to demonstrate their knowledge and proficiency in using Chef, an automation platform for managing IT infrastructure. It is designed to ensure that users of the Chef platform have the necessary skills and understanding to successfully use it.

The Chef Certification Program consists of two levels: Certified Chef Associate (CCA) and Certified Chef Professional (CCP). The CCA level is designed for those who are just starting out with Chef, while the CCP level is for those who have more advanced experience with the platform.

The CCA certification requires passing a written exam which consists of multiple-choice questions related to basic concepts, tools, and techniques used in Chef. The exam takes approximately 90 minutes to complete and can be taken online or at a testing center. The cost of the exam is $300 USD.

The CCP certification requires passing both a written exam as well as a hands-on lab exercise which tests your ability to configure and manage a complex application stack using Chef. This exam takes approximately 4 hours to complete and must be taken at a testing center. The cost of this exam is $600 USD.

Once you have passed either the CCA or CCP exams, you will receive an official certification from Chef Software Inc., validating your expertise in using their platform.

Do You Really Need a Build Engineer Certificate?

The short answer to this question is “it depends.” A Build Engineer Certificate can be beneficial for some individuals, but it may not be necessary for everyone. It is important to consider your individual career goals and needs before deciding if a Build Engineer Certificate is right for you.

If you are already working as a build engineer or are looking to enter the field, then having a Build Engineer Certificate can give you an edge over other applicants. It will show potential employers that you have taken the time to gain additional knowledge and skills in the area of build engineering. Additionally, some certifications may provide access to exclusive resources and events that can help advance your career.

On the other hand, there are many ways to become a successful build engineer without completing a certification program. Building experience through on-the-job training or independent study can be just as effective as obtaining a certificate or degree in the field. If you have experience with software development and/or system administration, then these skills can also be beneficial when transitioning into a role as a build engineer.

In conclusion, whether or not you need a Build Engineer Certificate depends on your individual situation. Be sure to carefully consider your goals and needs before making any decisions about certification programs or other educational opportunities.

Related: Build Engineer Resume Examples

FAQs About Build Engineer Certifications

1. What types of Build Engineer Certifications are available?

Answer: A variety of certifications are available for Build Engineers, including Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) Cloud Platform and Infrastructure and AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional.

2. How do I become a certified Build Engineer?

Answer: To become a certified Build Engineer, you must complete the applicable certification program and pass the associated exam(s). You may also need to meet other requirements such as having a certain amount of experience in the field or taking additional courses.

3. How long does it take to get certified as a Build Engineer?

Answer: The length of time it takes to get certified as a Build Engineer depends on which certification program you choose, how much related experience you have, and how quickly you study and prepare for the exam(s). Generally speaking, it can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to become certified.

4. Do I need any special software or hardware to become a certified Build Engineer?

Answer: Most certification programs do not require any special software or hardware; however, some may require that you have access to specific tools or platforms for completing the coursework or taking the exam(s). Be sure to check the requirements of your chosen program before beginning your studies.

5. Is there an age limit for becoming a certified Build Engineer?

Answer: No, there is no age limit for becoming a certified Build Engineer; however, individuals under 18 may need permission from their parents or guardians in order to take certain exams or courses.