Top 10 Ruby Developer Certifications

Certifications are important for a Ruby developer in the job market because they demonstrate a level of expertise and proficiency in the language. Having certifications can help to set a developer apart from other applicants and show potential employers that they have taken the time to master the technology. Certifications also provide an assurance to employers that the developer is knowledgeable about best practices, coding standards, and current trends in the industry. Additionally, having certifications can open up more job opportunities for developers as many employers prefer certified developers over those who do not have any certification.

This article reviews the most beneficial certifications for Ruby Developers and outlines how they can help to advance their career.

What are Ruby Developer Certifications?

Ruby developer certification is a professional certification program designed to help Ruby developers gain the skills and knowledge needed to work with the Ruby programming language. This certification provides a comprehensive understanding of the principles, concepts, and practices of Ruby development. It covers topics such as object-oriented programming, web development, databases, APIs, security, and performance optimization.

The certification can be beneficial for both aspiring and experienced Ruby developers alike. For those just starting out in the field, it can provide a solid foundation upon which to build their careers. For experienced developers, it can serve as an assurance that they have achieved a level of proficiency in the language that employers will recognize and value. Additionally, it is often seen as a way to stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs or seeking promotions within an organization. Finally, since many organizations are now utilizing open source technologies such as Ruby on Rails to create their applications, having this certification can give one an advantage when competing for these positions.

Pro Tip: Make sure to research the various certifications available for Ruby developers, as they can vary in terms of cost, topics covered, and duration. Also look into the requirements for certification, such as any prerequisites or exams that need to be taken. Lastly, check out online resources and tutorials to help you prepare for the certification process.

Related: What does a Ruby Developer do?

Top 10 Ruby Developer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Ruby Developers today.

1. Ruby on Rails Developer Certification from the Ruby Association

The Ruby Association Certified Ruby Programmer (RRCP) is a certification program for developers who want to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the Ruby programming language. The certification is administered by the Ruby Association, an international organization that promotes the use of the Ruby language.

The RRCP requires applicants to pass two exams: a written exam and a practical exam. The written exam covers topics such as object-oriented programming, data structures, algorithms, and software engineering principles. The practical exam requires applicants to solve problems using the Ruby language and its associated libraries.

The RRCP certification process typically takes 4-6 months from start to finish. Applicants must first register with the Ruby Association and pay a registration fee of $200 USD before they can take either of the exams. Once registered, applicants can choose to take either or both exams at any time within one year of registering.

Once both exams have been passed, applicants will receive their official RRCP certificate from the Ruby Association. This certificate is valid for three years and can be renewed by taking additional exams or attending approved training courses.

Overall, getting certified as a Ruby on Rails Developer through the RRCP program costs approximately $200 USD in registration fees plus any additional fees associated with taking additional exams or attending approved training courses.

2. Certified Ruby Programmer from the International Association of Software Architects

The Certified Ruby Programmer from the International Association of Software Architects (IASA) is a professional certification program that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a high level of expertise in Ruby programming. The certification is designed to help software engineers and developers gain greater recognition for their skills and abilities in the field.

It takes approximately two months to complete the certification process, which includes an online assessment, a written exam, and a practical project. The online assessment consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as Ruby syntax, object-oriented programming, database design and integration, web development with Rails, testing frameworks, security best practices, debugging techniques, and more. The written exam covers the same topics as the online assessment but also includes essay questions. Finally, applicants must submit a practical project that demonstrates their ability to apply their knowledge of Ruby programming to solve real-world problems.

To get certified as a Ruby Programmer from IASA you must first become an IASA member. Membership costs $99 per year and can be done online or through an accredited training provider. Once you are an IASA member you can register for the certification program by completing the application form on the IASA website. Upon successful completion of all three components (online assessment, written exam and practical project), you will receive your Certified Ruby Programmer certificate from IASA.

The cost of getting certified as a Certified Ruby Programmer from IASA depends on whether or not you choose to take part in any additional training courses offered by accredited providers. If you opt for self-study only then it will cost $99 for membership plus any associated costs related to taking the exams or submitting your practical project (e.g., exam fees or hosting fees). If you choose to take part in additional training courses then these will incur additional costs which vary depending on the provider chosen.

3. Professional Ruby Developer Certification from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

The Professional Ruby Developer Certification from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a certification program designed to recognize professionals who have demonstrated expertise in developing software applications using the Ruby programming language. The certification requires that applicants demonstrate their knowledge and skills in areas such as object-oriented programming, data structures, algorithms, database design, web development, and more.

The certification process takes approximately 6 months to complete. Applicants must first pass an online assessment to demonstrate their foundational knowledge of the Ruby language. Those who pass this assessment are then eligible to take the final exam which consists of multiple choice questions and coding challenges. Passing this exam will earn applicants the title of Certified Professional Ruby Developer.

To get started on the certification process, applicants must register with IEEE and pay a fee of $150 USD. This fee covers the cost of the online assessment and the final exam. Once registered, applicants can access study materials such as tutorials and practice exams to help them prepare for the assessment and final exam.

Upon successful completion of both assessments, applicants will receive an official certificate from IEEE indicating their status as a Certified Professional Ruby Developer. This certificate is valid for two years after which time it must be renewed by taking another assessment or re-taking the final exam.

4. Advanced Ruby Programming Certification from the American Computer Society (ACS)

The Advanced Ruby Programming Certification from the American Computer Society (ACS) is an industry-recognized certification that validates a candidate’s proficiency in the Ruby programming language. This certification is designed to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the Ruby language, its syntax, and its application in web development.

To become certified, candidates must pass an online exam which consists of multiple-choice questions and programming assignments. The exam typically takes around two hours to complete. Candidates must also have at least two years of experience working with Ruby before they can take the exam.

The cost of the Advanced Ruby Programming Certification from ACS is $150 USD. To get started, candidates must first register on the ACS website and then purchase the exam voucher code which will be used to access the online exam. After successfully completing the exam, candidates will receive their certificate via email within 14 business days.

5. Certified Expert in Ruby Programming from the Information Technology Certification Council (ITCC)

The Certified Expert in Ruby Programming from the Information Technology Certification Council (ITCC) is a professional certification program designed to demonstrate an individual’s knowledge and proficiency in the Ruby programming language. It is aimed at software developers, web developers, and system administrators who use Ruby on a daily basis.

The certification requires applicants to pass an online exam that covers topics such as basic syntax, object-oriented programming, database integration, and web development with Ruby. The exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 2 hours to complete.

To be eligible for the ITCC Certified Expert in Ruby Programming certification, applicants must have at least two years of experience working with the language and must have completed an approved course or training program related to Ruby.

The cost of the ITCC Certified Expert in Ruby Programming certification is $295 USD. This fee includes access to the online exam as well as a certificate upon successful completion.

6. Certified Professional Ruby Developer from the Open Group

The Certified Professional Ruby Developer (CPRD) from the Open Group is an industry-recognized certification that demonstrates a professional’s proficiency in the Ruby programming language. It is designed to demonstrate an individual’s ability to develop, maintain, and deploy high-quality applications using Ruby.

It typically takes between 10 and 20 hours of study time to prepare for the CPRD exam. The exam consists of multiple choice questions that cover topics such as object-oriented programming, data structures, algorithms, web development, databases, and more.

To get certified as a CPRD, you must first purchase an exam voucher from the Open Group's website. The cost of the voucher varies depending on your country of residence and other factors. Once you have purchased your voucher, you can register for the exam online or by phone. After successfully completing the exam with a score of 70% or higher, you will be awarded your CPRD certification.

The cost of becoming a Certified Professional Ruby Developer depends on several factors such as where you live and which version of the exam you take. Generally speaking, it costs around $400 USD for most people to take the CPRD exam.

7. Certified Ruby on Rails Specialist from the Open Group

The Certified Ruby on Rails Specialist from the Open Group is a certification that validates a professional’s knowledge and skills in developing web applications using the Ruby on Rails framework. This certification is designed to assess a candidate's ability to design, develop, deploy, and maintain web-based applications using Ruby on Rails.

The certification exam consists of multiple choice questions and typically takes two hours to complete. In order to become certified, candidates must pass the exam with a score of at least 70%.

To get this certification, candidates must first register for the exam through The Open Group website. Once registered, they will receive an email containing instructions on how to access the online examination system. Candidates can then proceed to take the exam at their own pace by answering questions related to Ruby on Rails development topics.

The cost of taking this certification exam varies depending on where it is taken. Generally, it costs around $150 USD per attempt.

8. Mastering Ruby on Rails Certification from Code School

Mastering Ruby on Rails Certification from Code School is a comprehensive certification program that teaches you the fundamentals of Ruby on Rails, a popular web application framework. The program takes an estimated 10-15 hours to complete and covers topics such as setting up a development environment, creating models and controllers, working with views and layouts, testing applications, deploying to production, and more.

To get the Mastering Ruby on Rails Certification from Code School, you must first enroll in the course. The cost of enrollment varies depending on your subscription plan; however, it typically ranges from $29-$49 per month. After enrolling in the course, you must complete all of the lessons and quizzes in order to receive your certification. Once you have completed all of the required material for the course, you will be able to download a PDF certificate that verifies your completion of the program.

9. Advanced Professional Ruby Developer Certification from Coding Dojo

The Advanced Professional Ruby Developer Certification from Coding Dojo is a comprehensive certification program designed to help developers of all levels become proficient in the Ruby programming language. The certification consists of two parts: a course and an exam.

The course portion of the certification takes approximately 20 hours to complete and covers topics such as object-oriented programming, web development with Ruby on Rails, database design, and more. The course also includes hands-on labs that allow students to apply their knowledge in a practical setting.

The exam portion of the certification requires students to demonstrate their mastery of the material by completing a series of coding challenges. Students must pass the exam with a score of 80% or higher in order to receive their certification.

In order to get the Advanced Professional Ruby Developer Certification from Coding Dojo, you must first enroll in the course and successfully complete it. Once you have completed the course, you can register for the exam online through Coding Dojo's website. The cost for both parts of the certification is $499 USD.

10. Professional Certificate in Web Development with Ruby on Rails from Stanford University

The Professional Certificate in Web Development with Ruby on Rails from Stanford University is an online program designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to create web applications using the Ruby on Rails framework. The program consists of five courses that cover topics such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, databases, and the Ruby on Rails framework. Each course is self-paced and can be completed in approximately 10 weeks. Students must complete all five courses to receive the Professional Certificate.

To get the Professional Certificate in Web Development with Ruby on Rails from Stanford University, students must first register for the program through the Stanford Center for Professional Development website. Once registered, students will have access to all five courses through a dedicated learning platform. After completing each course and passing a final exam, students will receive a certificate of completion for that course. Once all five courses have been completed and passed, students will receive their official Professional Certificate in Web Development with Ruby on Rails from Stanford University.

The cost of the Professional Certificate in Web Development with Ruby on Rails from Stanford University is $2,000 USD. This fee covers all five courses and any additional resources provided by Stanford Center for Professional Development during the duration of the program.

Do You Really Need a Ruby Developer Certificate?

No, a Ruby developer certificate is not necessary for most people. While having a certificate may look good on your resume and demonstrate your knowledge of the language, it is not a requirement for most roles. The best way to prove your worth as a Ruby developer is to have experience with the language and be able to show off your projects or code samples.

For those who are looking to become employed in a Ruby development role, having a certificate may give you an edge over other applicants. It can show that you have taken the time to learn the language beyond just playing around with it or taking courses online. Companies may also view this certification as evidence that you are committed to becoming a better programmer and staying up-to-date on industry standards.

However, if you’re already experienced in Ruby development and have been working in the field for some time, then having a certificate may not be necessary for you. Your experience and portfolio should be enough to prove your abilities as a developer. So while having a certificate can be beneficial when applying for jobs, it’s not always necessary for everyone.

Related: Ruby Developer Resume Examples

FAQs About Ruby Developer Certifications

Q1. What is a Ruby Developer Certification?

Answer: A Ruby Developer Certification is a professional certification that is designed to demonstrate an advanced understanding of the Ruby programming language and associated frameworks. It is typically awarded by an accredited organization or institution after successfully completing an examination or coursework.

Q2. How do I become certified as a Ruby Developer?

Answer: To become certified as a Ruby Developer, you must pass an exam that tests your knowledge and skills in the language and related frameworks. You can also attend specialized courses offered by universities or educational institutions to help prepare for the certification exam.

Q3. Are there any prerequisites for taking the Ruby Developer Certification Exam?

Answer: Yes, most organizations require applicants to have at least one year of experience working with Ruby before they can take the certification exam. Additionally, some organizations may require applicants to have prior programming experience in other languages such as Java or Python before they can attempt the exam.

Q4. How long does it take to complete a Ruby Developer Certification?

Answer: The length of time it takes to complete a Ruby Developer Certification varies depending on the organization offering the certification and how much time you are able to dedicate to studying for the exam. Generally speaking, it can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to complete all necessary requirements for certification.

Q5. Is there a cost associated with obtaining a Ruby Developer Certification?

Answer: Yes, most organizations charge an application fee and/or an examination fee when applying for a Ruby Developer Certification. Additionally, some organizations may also require applicants to purchase study materials or attend specialized courses in order to be eligible for examination.