Top 10 Lead Architect Certifications

Certifications demonstrate to employers that a lead architect has the skills and knowledge necessary to perform the tasks required by their job. They also provide evidence of the individual's commitment to their career and willingness to invest in themselves. Certifications can also be used as a way to differentiate one candidate from another in a competitive job market. For example, having multiple certifications may give one applicant an edge over another who has none. Finally, certifications can be used as leverage when negotiating salary or other benefits with potential employers, adding value to the lead architect’s candidacy.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Lead Architects and examines how they can help to further a Lead Architect's career.

What are Lead Architect Certifications?

Lead Architect Certification is a professional certification program designed to recognize and validate the skills and knowledge of individuals who have achieved expertise in leading software architecture projects. It helps ensure that those who are responsible for the design, development, and implementation of software architectures have the necessary experience, training, and qualifications to do so. The Lead Architect Certification program provides individuals with an internationally-recognized credential that demonstrates their ability to lead architecture initiatives effectively.

The certification is based on a comprehensive exam which covers topics such as software development processes, system architecture principles and practices, problem solving techniques, enterprise application architectures, distributed computing architectures, service-oriented architectures (SOA), cloud computing architectures, security considerations for system architecture designs and more. This ensures that certified architects possess a broad range of knowledge related to software architecture design and implementation.

By having Lead Architect Certification, employers can be assured that these individuals are knowledgeable in best practices for developing robust software solutions that meet their business needs. Additionally, certified architects can use this credential to demonstrate their commitment to excellence in their profession by staying up-to-date on the latest technologies and trends in software architecture. Ultimately, Lead Architect Certification serves as an important tool for organizations looking to hire qualified professionals who understand how to develop effective software systems while ensuring they remain secure and reliable.

Pro Tip: When considering a lead architect certification, make sure to research the different certifications available and the requirements for each. Be sure to understand the scope of the certification and compare it to your current job role and experience level to determine if it is a good fit for you.

Related: What does a Lead Architect do?

Top 10 Lead Architect Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Lead Architects today.

1. Certified Enterprise Architect (CEA)

Certified Enterprise Architect (CEA) is a professional certification offered by the Open Group, an international consortium of vendors and customers that promotes open standards and best practices in IT. The CEA credential recognizes individuals who have demonstrated expertise in enterprise architecture principles and practices.

The CEA credential requires passing a two-hour exam that covers topics such as enterprise architecture principles, the TOGAF framework, business process modeling, service-oriented architectures, and other related topics. The exam is administered online or at Pearson VUE testing centers worldwide.

In order to qualify for the CEA exam, applicants must have at least five years of experience in enterprise architecture or a related field. Applicants must also submit proof of their education and experience to the Open Group before they can register for the exam.

The cost of the CEA exam varies depending on which country you are taking it in; however, it typically ranges from $400 to $500 USD.

2. Certified Solutions Architect (CSA)

Certified Solutions Architect (CSA) is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual’s expertise in designing, building, and managing cloud-based solutions. It is offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and is designed for IT professionals who have experience in designing distributed applications and systems on the AWS platform.

To get the CSA certification, you must pass an exam administered by AWS. The exam covers topics such as security, networking, storage, databases, compute services, application integration, deployment automation, and more. The exam consists of multiple choice questions and takes approximately 2 hours to complete.

The cost of taking the CSA exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $150 to $300 USD. You can also purchase practice exams from third-party vendors for around $50 USD each.

Once you have passed the exam, you will receive a digital certificate confirming your achievement and will be able to use the CSA logo on your resume or website. You will also be listed in the AWS Certified Solutions Architect directory which is publicly available online.

3. Certified Cloud Architect (CCA)

Certified Cloud Architect (CCA) is a professional certification offered by the Cloud Credential Council (CCC) to demonstrate an individual’s expertise in cloud computing. It is designed to validate the knowledge and experience of cloud professionals who design, deploy, and manage cloud solutions.

The CCA requires individuals to pass two exams: one on the fundamentals of cloud computing and another on a specific cloud platform such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP). The exam topics cover core concepts such as architecture, security, networking, operations, storage, and development.

It typically takes between four to six weeks to prepare for the CCA exams. Preparation involves studying course materials provided by the CCC and taking practice tests. Individuals can also take online courses or attend instructor-led classes to help them prepare for the exams.

The cost of the CCA certification varies depending on which exam you take. The cost of the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional exam is $300 USD while the cost of the GCP Professional Cloud Architect exam is $200 USD.

To become certified as a Certified Cloud Architect, individuals must successfully pass both exams within 12 months of each other. Upon successful completion of both exams, they will receive their official certificate from the CCC which is valid for three years from date of issue.

4. Certified Technical Architect (CTA)

Certified Technical Architect (CTA) is a professional certification program offered by Salesforce. It is the highest level of accreditation available on the Salesforce platform and is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated advanced knowledge and skills in the architecture and design of Salesforce applications.

To become a CTA, individuals must pass two exams: the Salesforce Certified Technical Architect (CTA) exam and the Advanced Developer Certification exam. The CTA exam covers topics such as application design, security, data modeling, integration, scalability, performance optimization, testing, deployment, and more. The Advanced Developer Certification exam covers topics such as Apex programming language, Visualforce development, Lightning components development, and more.

It typically takes approximately 6-12 months to complete both exams depending on an individual’s experience with Salesforce technology. Individuals should plan to spend time studying for both exams in order to ensure they are prepared for success.

The cost of becoming a CTA varies depending on which certifications an individual chooses to pursue. The cost for each exam ranges from $200-$300 USD per exam. Additionally, there may be additional costs associated with training materials or courses that individuals choose to take in order to prepare for their exams.

5. TOGAF 9.2 Certified

TOGAF 9.2 Certified is a certification program developed by The Open Group, an international consortium of technology vendors, government agencies, and other organizations. It is designed to help IT professionals demonstrate their knowledge and skills in enterprise architecture and related disciplines.

The TOGAF 9.2 Certification Program consists of two levels: Level 1 (Foundation) and Level 2 (Certified). To become certified at either level, you must pass the associated exam. The Foundation exam covers the core concepts of TOGAF 9.2, while the Certified exam focuses on more advanced topics such as architecture governance and risk management.

It typically takes around 6-12 months to prepare for the exams depending on your experience level and how much time you can dedicate to studying each day or week. You can use online resources such as practice tests, tutorials, and study guides to help you prepare for the exams.

The cost of taking the Foundation exam is $320 USD while the cost of taking the Certified exam is $495 USD. Both exams are administered by Pearson VUE Testing Centers located around the world.

6. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional is an advanced level certification offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It is designed to test the knowledge and skills of experienced cloud architects in designing, deploying, and managing distributed applications on the AWS platform. The certification validates that a candidate has the ability to design, deploy, and manage scalable, secure, highly-available applications on AWS.

The duration of the exam is 170 minutes. Candidates must have at least two years of experience working with AWS technologies in order to qualify for this certification. The exam consists of multiple choice questions as well as hands-on labs.

In order to get the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional certification, candidates must first pass the Associate Level exam and then pass the Professional Level exam. Both exams must be taken within 12 months of each other in order to earn the certification.

The cost for both exams is $300 USD each.

7. Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert is a certification program designed to help IT professionals demonstrate their expertise in designing and implementing solutions on Microsoft Azure, the cloud computing platform from Microsoft. It is an intermediate-level certification that validates a candidate’s skills in designing, deploying, and managing applications and services on the Azure platform.

It takes approximately 6-12 months of studying for the exam to be ready for it. The exam consists of multiple choice questions and hands-on labs. Candidates must pass two exams to earn the certification: AZ-303: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies and AZ-304: Microsoft Azure Architect Design.

To get this certification, candidates must meet certain prerequisites such as having at least two years of experience working with Azure technologies or have completed an equivalent certification such as MCSA: Cloud Platform or MCSE: Cloud Platform & Infrastructure. Candidates must also pass both exams within 12 months of each other in order to earn the designation.

The cost of taking the exam varies by country but typically ranges from $165 - $165 USD per exam.

8. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Architect Associate

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Architect Associate is a certification program designed to help IT professionals demonstrate their expertise in designing, deploying, and managing Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. It is intended for individuals who are responsible for designing, deploying, and managing cloud infrastructure solutions on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

The certification exam consists of multiple choice questions and takes approximately 2 hours to complete. To get the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Architect Associate certification, you must pass the exam with a score of at least 70%. The cost of the exam is $245 USD.

To prepare for the exam, Oracle recommends taking one or more of their training courses such as: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Foundations 2020 Associate Certification Training or Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Professional 2020 Certification Training. Additionally, there are numerous study guides and practice tests available online that can help you prepare for the exam.

9. Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect

Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect is a professional-level certification that demonstrates an individual’s ability to design, develop, and manage Google Cloud Platform (GCP) solutions. This certification is intended for individuals who have a deep understanding of cloud architecture, including designing and managing secure and robust applications on the GCP platform.

The Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and takes about 2 hours to complete. The exam covers topics such as designing secure and robust applications, deploying applications using GCP services, designing data storage solutions, managing application performance, and monitoring operations on GCP.

To become a Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect you must first pass the Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect exam. To take the exam you must register with Pearson VUE at https://home.pearsonvue.com/google/cloud-certification/. The cost of the exam is $200 USD.

Once you have passed the exam you will receive your official Google Cloud Certification badge which can be used to showcase your expertise in cloud architecture on your resume or LinkedIn profile.

10. IBM Certified Solution Advisor – Cloud Architecture V2

IBM Certified Solution Advisor – Cloud Architecture V2 is a professional certification program designed to validate the knowledge and skills of IT professionals who are responsible for designing, deploying, and managing cloud-based solutions. This certification is based on the IBM Cloud Architecture V2 framework, which provides a comprehensive set of best practices and guidelines for designing, deploying, and managing cloud-based solutions.

The certification exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 90 minutes. It covers topics such as cloud computing fundamentals, cloud architecture principles and design patterns, hybrid cloud architectures, security considerations for cloud deployments, and more. The exam fee is $200 USD.

In order to become an IBM Certified Solution Advisor – Cloud Architecture V2 certified professional you must pass the exam. You can register for the exam online or through Pearson VUE testing centers. Once you have successfully passed the exam you will receive your official certificate from IBM.

Do You Really Need a Lead Architect Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on the individual's goals and career aspirations. If someone is seeking a professional certification to demonstrate their expertise in the field of architecture, then a lead architect certificate would certainly be beneficial. However, if someone is simply looking to broaden their knowledge and gain a better understanding of the profession, then they may not need such a certificate.

At its core, architecture is an ever-evolving field that requires both creativity and technical skill. A lead architect certificate can help provide evidence of an individual's proficiency in these areas, as well as their ability to take on leadership roles within an architectural firm or organization. This type of certification can also help demonstrate an individual's expertise in specific areas such as project management, design, and construction processes.

Having a lead architect certificate can also be helpful for those who are interested in pursuing higher-level positions within the industry such as principal architects or directors of design. It may also be beneficial for those looking to start their own business or practice as it provides proof of experience and credentials that potential clients may find appealing.

In summary, whether or not someone needs a lead architect certificate depends on their individual goals and career aspirations. For some professionals, having this type of certification may open up new opportunities within the field while others may find it unnecessary depending on their current level of expertise and experience.

Related: Lead Architect Resume Examples

FAQs About Lead Architect Certifications

Q1: What is a Lead Architect Certification?

A1: A Lead Architect Certification is a professional certification that validates an individual’s experience, knowledge and skills in the areas of architecture and design. The certification demonstrates a commitment to staying current with the latest industry trends and best practices.

Q2: How do I become a Lead Architect?

A2: To become a Lead Architect, you must have extensive experience in the architecture and design field as well as demonstrate competency in relevant areas such as project management, software development, systems engineering and more. In addition to this experience, most certifying bodies require applicants to pass an exam or complete approved courses before earning the certification.

Q3: What are the benefits of becoming a Lead Architect?

A3: Earning a Lead Architect Certification can help individuals advance their careers by demonstrating their expertise in architecture and design. It can also increase job security by showing employers that you are committed to your profession and stay up-to-date on industry trends. Additionally, it may open doors for new opportunities or higher salaries due to increased marketability and credibility.

Q4: How long does it take to become certified?

A4: The amount of time it takes varies depending on each individual’s background, but typically it takes 6 months or more to prepare for the exam or complete approved courses. Once prepared, most certifying bodies offer exams online which can be completed in one day.

Q5: What organizations provide Lead Architect Certifications?

A5: There are several organizations that provide Lead Architect Certifications including the International Association of Software Architects (IASA), Open Group Architecture Forum (OGAF), The Open Group Certified Architects Program (TOGCAP) and The Institute for Enterprise Architecture Development (IEAD).