Top 10 Technical Architect Certifications

Certifications are important in the job market for technical architects because they demonstrate a level of expertise and knowledge. Certifications provide employers with evidence that the technical architect has achieved a certain level of proficiency in their field, which can be an invaluable asset when it comes to hiring decisions. Additionally, certifications often provide access to exclusive professional networks, giving technical architects access to resources and contacts that may not be available otherwise. Finally, certifications can give an edge over competitors when it comes to salary negotiations – companies may be willing to pay more for a certified architect than an uncertified one.

The purpose of this article is to review some of the top certifications for Technical Architects and explain how they can help advance a technical architect's career.

What are Technical Architect Certifications?

Technical architect certification is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual’s expertise and knowledge in the design and implementation of technical solutions. This certification is designed for IT professionals who have deep knowledge in the architecture of various software applications, systems, networks, and infrastructure services. It is also beneficial to those who are responsible for planning, designing, developing, and managing complex IT systems.

The benefits of obtaining a technical architect certification include gaining recognition from employers as an expert in their field, having a competitive edge over other job applicants in the same field, increasing your salary potential due to higher levels of expertise, and having access to the latest technology tools. By obtaining this certification, you will be able to stay ahead of new trends in the industry and be better equipped to handle more challenging tasks. Additionally, having this type of certification can help you progress quickly in your career as it shows employers that you have the skills necessary to lead a team or manage large-scale projects. Furthermore, it can open doors for new opportunities such as consulting or teaching positions.

Pro Tip: Make sure to research the various certifications offered for technical architects, and choose one that is most relevant to your specific industry. Also, be sure to look into the cost and time commitment associated with each certification program before making a decision. Additionally, it's important to stay up-to-date on any changes or updates in the field of technical architecture so you can apply them to your own practice.

Related: What does a Technical Architect do?

Top 10 Technical Architect Certifications

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

1. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional is a certification offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that demonstrates an individual's ability to design and deploy applications on the AWS platform. It is intended for individuals who have a deep understanding of the AWS platform and are able to use it to design, deploy, and manage applications in a secure and reliable manner.

The exam typically takes about two hours to complete and covers topics such as architecture design, deployment strategies, security best practices, cost optimization, troubleshooting, scalability, and performance optimization. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and hands-on labs.

In order to become certified as an AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, you must first pass the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate exam. After passing the Associate exam, you can then take the Professional exam. You can register for both exams through the AWS website.

The cost of taking the exam varies depending on your location but generally ranges from $150 - $300 USD per exam.

2. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Cloud Platform and Infrastructure

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Cloud Platform and Infrastructure is a certification that validates an individual's ability to design, deploy, configure, manage and maintain cloud-based solutions on the Microsoft platform. It is designed for IT professionals who have experience with Windows Server, System Center, Microsoft Azure and other related technologies.

It typically takes around three months to complete the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification. To get certified, you must pass two exams: 70-535 Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions and 70-537 Configuring and Operating a Hybrid Cloud with Microsoft Azure Stack.

The cost of the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification depends on the country you are taking it in as well as the type of exam you are taking. Generally speaking, it can range from $100 to $200 per exam.

3. Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect

Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect is a certification that demonstrates an individual’s ability to design, develop, and manage solutions on the Google Cloud Platform. This certification is intended for individuals who have a deep understanding of cloud architecture and can effectively design, develop, and manage solutions on the Google Cloud Platform. The Professional Cloud Architect certification validates an individual’s ability to:

• Design and plan a cloud solution architecture
• Manage and provision the cloud solution infrastructure
• Design for security and compliance
• Analyze and optimize technical and business processes
• Manage implementations of cloud architecture
• Ensure solution and operations reliability

It typically takes around 6-9 months of preparation to become a Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect. To get this certification, you must pass two exams: the Google Cloud Certified Associate Cloud Engineer exam (GCP-ACE) and the Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect exam (GCP-PCA).

The cost of these exams varies depending on your location; however, it typically costs around $200 USD per exam. Additionally, there are various online courses available that can help you prepare for these exams which may cost extra.

4. Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Data Center

Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Data Center is a certification program offered by Cisco that focuses on the design, implementation, and troubleshooting of data center networks. It is considered to be one of the most prestigious certifications in the IT industry and is highly sought after by employers.

It typically takes around 18-24 months to complete the CCIE Data Center certification. To get it, you must first pass two written exams: the CCIE Data Center Written Exam and the CCIE Data Center Lab Exam. The written exam covers topics such as data center networking technologies, storage networking, unified computing systems, automation and orchestration, security protocols, and more. The lab exam requires hands-on experience with configuring and troubleshooting complex network scenarios in a simulated environment.

The cost of obtaining the CCIE Data Center certification varies depending on your region but generally ranges from $1,500 - $2,500 USD for both exams combined.

5. Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)

Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) is a certification program for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in Red Hat technologies. The RHCA certification is the highest level of accreditation offered by Red Hat and requires extensive knowledge and experience with Red Hat products, services, and solutions.

To become an RHCA, you must have at least five years of experience in an IT-related field and have passed a series of exams that test your knowledge and skills related to Red Hat technologies. The exams cover a range of topics such as system administration, networking, storage, virtualization, cloud computing, security, automation, DevOps practices, and more.

The process of becoming an RHCA takes approximately 12-18 months depending on the individual's experience level. To get started on the path to becoming an RHCA, you will need to register for the appropriate courses or exams through the Red Hat Learning Subscription or purchase them individually from the Red Hat website.

The cost for each exam varies depending on which one you choose to take; however most exams range from $400-$600 USD per exam. Additionally there are other associated costs such as study materials or training courses that may be required prior to taking the exam.

6. Oracle Certified Master, Oracle Database Administrator (OCM-DBA)

Oracle Certified Master, Oracle Database Administrator (OCM-DBA) is a certification that recognizes an individual’s expertise in administering and managing Oracle databases. It is the highest level of Oracle Database certification available.

To get this certification, you must have at least five years of experience working with Oracle databases. You must also pass two exams: the Oracle Database 12c: Advanced Administration Exam and the Oracle Database 12c: Performance Tuning Exam. The exams are administered by Pearson VUE and cost $245 each.

The entire process from start to finish can take up to six months or more, depending on your availability for taking the exams and scheduling your performance review session with an Oracle professional.

The total cost for getting the OCM-DBA certification is approximately $1,000, which includes the cost of both exams and the performance review session.

7. VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX)

VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) is the highest level of certification offered by VMware. It is a professional certification program designed to recognize IT professionals who demonstrate advanced skills in designing, deploying, and managing VMware solutions.

The VCDX program requires candidates to design a complete VMware-based solution that meets customer requirements and then defend the design before a panel of subject matter experts. This process tests the candidate's ability to think critically and develop innovative solutions while also demonstrating their technical knowledge of VMware products and services.

It typically takes around 6 months to prepare for the VCDX exam, depending on the individual's experience level. To become a VCDX, candidates must first hold one or more current VMware certifications such as VCP or VCAP. They must then submit an application along with their design documentation and pass both a written exam and an oral defense.

The cost of the VCDX certification depends on which certification path you choose. The cost for the standard path is $450 USD for each attempt at passing the written exam and $1,500 USD for each attempt at passing the oral defense. The cost for the accelerated path is $600 USD for each attempt at passing both exams combined.

8. IBM Certified Solution Architect – Enterprise Architecture

IBM Certified Solution Architect – Enterprise Architecture is a professional certification that demonstrates the ability to design and implement solutions using IBM’s enterprise architecture framework. It is designed for IT professionals who are responsible for designing, developing, and deploying enterprise-level architectures.

The certification requires passing one exam: C9530-519. This exam covers topics such as business strategy, architecture modeling, technology selection, and implementation planning.

It typically takes about 3 months of study to prepare for this exam. Candidates should have experience working with IBM products such as WebSphere Application Server and DB2 or equivalent experience with other products. They should also be familiar with industry standards such as TOGAF 9.1 and Zachman Framework 2.0.

The cost of the exam varies by country but typically ranges from $200-$300 USD.

9. HPE Master ASE - Advanced Server Solutions Architect V2

HPE Master ASE - Advanced Server Solutions Architect V2 is a certification that validates the skills and knowledge of experienced IT professionals who design, deploy, and manage HPE server solutions. This certification is targeted at those individuals who have a minimum of five years' experience in designing and deploying HPE servers. It is the highest level of certification offered by HPE for server solutions architects.

To obtain this certification, candidates must pass two exams: the HPE ATP – Server Solutions V2 exam (HPE0-S51) and the HPE Master ASE – Advanced Server Solutions Architect V2 exam (HPE0-S56). The first exam covers topics such as server architecture, storage infrastructure, virtualization technologies, high availability solutions, and system management. The second exam focuses on advanced topics such as cloud computing architectures, software-defined infrastructures, converged systems, security architectures, and disaster recovery strategies.

The cost of taking these exams varies depending on your geographic location but typically ranges from $150 to $200 USD per exam. The exams are available online or through Pearson VUE testing centers worldwide. It typically takes around 4-6 weeks to prepare for the exams depending on your level of experience in working with HPE servers.

10. Citrix Certified Professional – Networking (CCP-N)

Citrix Certified Professional – Networking (CCP-N) is a certification program that validates an individual’s skills and knowledge in the design, implementation, and maintenance of Citrix NetScaler products. It is designed to help IT professionals who are responsible for deploying, managing, and troubleshooting Citrix NetScaler solutions.

The CCP-N certification requires passing two exams: 1Y0-230: Citrix ADC 12 Essentials and Traffic Management exam and 1Y0-240: Citrix NetScaler 12 Advanced Topics – Security, Management, and Optimization exam. The exams can be taken separately or together as a bundle.

It usually takes about 6 months to prepare for the CCP-N certification if you are studying on your own. However, if you take an instructor-led course or use self-paced eLearning courses from Citrix Education it may take less time to prepare for the exams.

In order to get the CCP-N certification you will need to pass both of the required exams with a score of 65% or higher. You can register for the exams online at Pearson VUE or through your local testing center. The cost of each exam is $200 USD.

Do You Really Need a Technical Architect Certificate?

The answer to this question depends largely on the circumstances of each individual. For some, a technical architect certificate may be necessary in order for them to remain competitive in the job market and to advance their career. For others, it may be a superfluous expense that does not directly contribute to their success. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to determine whether or not obtaining a technical architect certificate is worth the effort and cost associated with it.

For those who are already established in their career as a technical architect, having a certificate can provide additional recognition of their credentials and knowledge. It can also demonstrate that they have an advanced understanding of the industry's best practices and standards. Additionally, having a certification can help them stand out among other applicants when applying for jobs or promotions.

On the other hand, obtaining a technical architect certificate may not be beneficial for those who are just starting out in the field or who do not yet have significant experience as an architect. In this case, investing in such a program could be money wasted if they do not make use of what they learn from it or apply it to their work. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that having such a certificate will lead to better job opportunities or higher salaries; employers tend to prioritize practical experience more than certifications when making hiring decisions.

In conclusion, whether or not someone needs a technical architect certificate depends on many factors related to their current situation and goals within the field. Those who are already established professionals may find that such certification has benefits for them, while those new to architecture might want to focus on gaining experience first before pursuing any additional qualifications.

Related: Technical Architect Resume Examples

FAQs About Technical Architect Certifications

Q1: What is a Technical Architect Certification?

A1: A Technical Architect Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge and skills in designing, developing, and managing complex technical systems. This certification provides recognition of the individual’s ability to lead teams, manage projects, and provide strategic direction for technology-related initiatives.

Q2: What are the prerequisites for a Technical Architect Certification?

A2: Prerequisites vary depending on the specific certification program. Generally speaking, most programs require that candidates have at least 5 years of experience in software development or architecture design as well as a bachelor's degree in information technology or a related field.

Q3: How long does it take to obtain a Technical Architect Certification?

A3: The length of time it takes to obtain a Technical Architect Certification depends on the specific program. Generally speaking, many programs allow candidates to complete their certifications within one year from start to finish.

Q4: Is there an exam associated with obtaining a Technical Architect Certification?

A4: Yes, most programs require candidates to pass an exam in order to receive their certification. The exam typically covers topics such as system design, architectural design principles and practices, software development lifecycle (SDLC) principles and practices, and other relevant topics.

Q5: Are there any continuing education requirements after obtaining a Technical Architect Certification?

A5: Yes, some programs may require that certified individuals complete periodic continuing education courses or workshops in order to maintain their certification status.