Top 11 Wordpress Developer Certifications

Certifications are important for WordPress developers in the job market because they demonstrate a level of expertise and knowledge that employers look for when hiring. Certified WordPress developers have demonstrated their understanding of the platform, its capabilities, and how to use it effectively. This gives them an advantage over other applicants who may not have the same level of experience or knowledge. Additionally, certifications can help employers distinguish between good developers and great ones, helping them make better hiring decisions.

The purpose of this article is to review some of the most highly sought-after certifications for WordPress developers and explain how they can help advance their career.

What are Wordpress Developer Certifications?

WordPress Developer Certification is a comprehensive certification program designed to help individuals build their knowledge and skills in WordPress development. It provides an industry-recognized credential that can be used to demonstrate proficiency in developing websites and applications using the WordPress platform. The certification covers a wide range of topics, including WordPress fundamentals, theme development, plugin development, security, workflow optimization, and more.

This certification can be extremely beneficial for freelancers and professionals who are looking to boost their career prospects or expand their client base. By having this certification, developers can demonstrate their expertise in WordPress development to potential employers or clients. This certification also helps developers stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry and gain valuable hands-on experience with coding for WordPress projects. Additionally, this certification can help developers stand out from the competition when applying for jobs or seeking new business opportunities.

Pro Tip: Before pursuing a WordPress Developer Certification, make sure to review the minimum requirements and prerequisites outlined by the certification provider. Additionally, it is recommended to gain experience working with WordPress through tutorials or hands-on projects before taking the exam.

Related: What does a Wordpress Developer do?

Top 11 Wordpress Developer Certifications

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

1. Wordpress Developer Certification from WP Academy

Wordpress Developer Certification from WP Academy is a certification program that provides an in-depth understanding of the WordPress platform and its associated technologies. It is designed to help developers gain the skills necessary to develop websites and applications using WordPress.

The certification consists of two parts: a self-paced online course, and a final exam. The online course takes approximately 8 hours to complete, and covers topics such as setting up WordPress, developing themes and plugins, working with databases, security best practices, and more. Upon completion of the online course, students are eligible to take the final exam which tests their knowledge of the material covered in the course.

To get certified, you must first purchase the certification package from WP Academy. The cost of this package varies depending on your country of residence but typically ranges between $199 - $249 USD. Once you have purchased the package you will be given access to the online course materials and can begin studying immediately. After completing the online course you will be able to schedule your final exam at any time convenient for you.

Upon passing the final exam you will receive your official Wordpress Developer Certification from WP Academy along with a digital badge that can be added to your website or social media profiles showcasing your achievement.

2. Wordpress Developer Certificate from Udemy

The Wordpress Developer Certificate from Udemy is a comprehensive course designed to teach you the basics of WordPress development. The course covers topics such as setting up a local development environment, creating custom themes and plugins, and understanding the WordPress database structure. It also includes hands-on exercises to help you practice what you learn.

The course takes about 10 hours to complete and consists of video lectures, quizzes, and assignments. You can take the course at your own pace and have up to one year access to all the materials. Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a certificate of completion from Udemy.

To get the Wordpress Developer Certificate from Udemy, simply sign up for an account on their website and enroll in the course. The cost of the course varies depending on when you purchase it; however, it typically ranges between $10-$30 USD.

3. Wordpress Certified Professional Program from WP Engineer

The WordPress Certified Professional Program from WP Engineer is a professional certification program designed to recognize and reward individuals who have achieved a certain level of expertise in the use of WordPress. The program provides a way for developers, designers, and other professionals to demonstrate their knowledge and proficiency in the WordPress platform.

The program consists of four levels of certification: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Master. Each level requires the completion of an online exam that tests the individual’s knowledge and understanding of WordPress. To get certified at each level, applicants must pass the corresponding exam with a score of 80% or higher.

The Basic certification is designed for those with basic knowledge of WordPress who are just starting out with the platform. It covers topics such as installation and setup, theme development, plugin development, security best practices, performance optimization, SEO fundamentals, and more. The exam takes about 1 hour to complete.

The Intermediate certification is designed for those with intermediate-level experience using WordPress who want to deepen their understanding of the platform. It covers topics such as custom post types, taxonomies, custom fields, user roles and capabilities, multisite networks, customizing themes using hooks and filters, creating custom widgets and shortcodes, working with APIs like REST API or GraphQL API ,and more. The exam takes about 2 hours to complete.

The Advanced certification is designed for experienced developers who want to become experts in WordPress development. It covers topics such as coding standards & best practices for developing themes & plugins; writing secure code; debugging techniques; optimizing database queries; working with JavaScript frameworks like React & Vue; integrating third-party services into WordPress; developing complex plugins & themes; creating multilingual sites; leveraging caching technologies; building RESTful APIs; utilizing version control systems like Git & SVN ;and more. The exam takes about 3 hours to complete.

The Master certification is designed for professionals who have mastered all aspects of developing on the WordPress platform and want to demonstrate their expertise by becoming certified masters in the field. It covers topics such as advanced theme customization techniques using hooks & filters; creating custom post types & taxonomies; working with JavaScript libraries like jQuery & React ;building complex plugins from scratch; developing multisite networks from scratch; creating eCommerce solutions using WooCommerce ;working with webhooks & APIs ;and more. The exam takes about 4 hours to complete.

To get certified through WP Engineer’s program you must purchase an exam voucher which costs $99 per level (Basic - $99 / Intermediate - $198 / Advanced - $297 / Master - $396). Once you have purchased your voucher you can register for your chosen exam on WP Engineer’s website where you will be given access to study materials that will help prepare you for taking the exams successfully. Once you have passed your chosen exams you will receive your official certificate via email within 48 hours along with a digital badge that can be displayed on your website or social media profiles demonstrating your achievement!

4. WordPress Core Contributor Certification from Automattic

WordPress Core Contributor Certification from Automattic is a program designed to recognize and reward individuals for their contributions to the WordPress core software. This certification is awarded to those who have made significant contributions to the development, design, and/or documentation of WordPress core.

The certification process typically takes around two weeks and involves an application review by Automattic’s team of experts. Applicants must provide evidence of their contributions to the WordPress core, such as code commits, bug reports, or feature requests. Applicants must also demonstrate knowledge of the WordPress environment and its underlying technologies.

The cost of getting certified varies depending on the level of contribution made by the applicant. For example, those who have contributed significantly may be eligible for a free certification while others may need to pay a fee. The fee covers the cost of administering and verifying the application process.

Once certified, contributors will receive an official badge that can be displayed on their website or social media profiles as well as recognition from Automattic and other members of the WordPress community.

5. WordPress Developer Certification from Zend

WordPress Developer Certification from Zend is a professional certification program that validates the skills and knowledge of WordPress developers. It is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of proficiency in developing and managing WordPress websites. The certification is offered by Zend, a leading provider of enterprise-level software solutions.

The certification process takes approximately 4-6 weeks to complete, depending on the individual's experience level. To get certified, applicants must pass an online exam that covers topics such as WordPress installation and configuration, theme development, plugin development, security best practices, and more. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and can be taken at any time from anywhere with an internet connection.

The cost for the certification varies depending on the package purchased. Prices range from $99 for the basic package to $499 for the premium package which includes additional study materials and practice exams.

Once certified, individuals will receive a digital certificate that can be displayed on their website or social media profiles to demonstrate their expertise in WordPress development. Additionally, they will also receive access to exclusive resources such as webinars and discounts on Zend products and services.

6. Professional WordPress Development Certification from LearnWP

Professional WordPress Development Certification from LearnWP is a certification program designed to help developers and designers learn the skills necessary to build and maintain professional WordPress websites. It covers topics such as setting up a development environment, creating custom themes and plugins, working with databases, using best practices for coding, and more.

The Professional WordPress Development Certification program consists of six online courses that can be taken at your own pace. Each course takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete. Upon completion of all six courses, you will receive an official Certificate of Completion from LearnWP.

To get the Professional WordPress Development Certification from LearnWP, you must purchase the full bundle of six courses for $399 USD. This includes access to all six courses and the final certification exam. You can also purchase individual courses if you prefer not to take the full bundle.

Once you have completed all six courses and passed the final exam, you will be awarded your Professional WordPress Development Certification from LearnWP.

7. Advanced WordPress Developer Certificate from Skillcrush

The Advanced WordPress Developer Certificate from Skillcrush is a comprehensive online course designed to teach students the skills needed to become a professional WordPress developer. The course covers topics such as HTML and CSS, PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, and more. It also provides an in-depth look at how to build custom themes and plugins for WordPress websites.

The course takes approximately 10 weeks to complete, with each week focusing on a different topic related to WordPress development. During each week of the course, students will learn through lectures, quizzes, coding challenges, and hands-on projects. At the end of the course, students will have a portfolio of their work that they can use to demonstrate their knowledge and skills when applying for jobs or freelance projects.

To get the Advanced WordPress Developer Certificate from Skillcrush, you must successfully complete all 10 weeks of the course and pass a final exam with a score of 80% or higher. The cost of the certificate program is $499 USD (or $599 USD if you choose to pay monthly).

8. WordPress Developer Certificate from Treehouse

The WordPress Developer Certificate from Treehouse is a comprehensive certification program designed to teach users the skills necessary to build and maintain websites using WordPress. It covers topics such as installing WordPress, setting up themes and plugins, customizing the look and feel of a website, creating content, managing users, optimizing performance, and more. The program consists of several courses that can be taken individually or as part of a larger package.

It typically takes around 40 hours to complete the entire certificate program. Each course is self-paced so you can take as much or as little time as needed to learn the material. Courses are available on demand so you can start learning right away.

To get the WordPress Developer Certificate from Treehouse, you must sign up for an account on their website and select the “WordPress Developer” option in your profile settings. Once you have completed all of the required courses, you will receive an email with instructions on how to claim your certificate.

The cost of the certificate varies depending on which plan you choose when signing up for an account with Treehouse. The basic plan is $25/month and includes access to all courses related to web development and design including those for WordPress development. The Pro plan is $49/month and includes additional features such as unlimited access to all courses, 1-on-1 mentoring sessions with experts in web development and design, exclusive discounts on other products from Treehouse partners, and more.

9. Professional WordPress Developer Certification from Webucator

The Professional WordPress Developer Certification from Webucator is a comprehensive certification program designed to help developers gain the skills and knowledge needed to create custom WordPress websites. The program consists of three courses: WordPress for Developers, Advanced WordPress for Developers, and Professional WordPress Development.

The program takes approximately 40 hours to complete, depending on the student's prior experience with WordPress. Students can take the courses online at their own pace or attend an in-person class at one of Webucator's training centers.

To get certified, students must pass all three course exams with a score of 80% or higher. Once they have passed all three exams, they will be awarded the Professional WordPress Developer Certification.

The cost of the certification program varies depending on how you choose to take it. Online courses start at $595 per course while in-person classes start at $1,695 per course.

10. Certified WordPress Expert Program from WPCertified

The Certified WordPress Expert Program from WPCertified is a comprehensive certification program for WordPress developers. It is designed to equip developers with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, develop, and maintain websites using WordPress.

The program consists of three levels: Foundation, Advanced, and Professional. Each level requires the completion of an online course that covers topics such as WordPress installation, theme development, plugin development, security best practices, and more. The program also includes hands-on practice sessions where students can apply their knowledge in a real-world environment.

The program takes approximately 8 weeks to complete depending on the level chosen. The Foundation level can be completed in 4 weeks while the Advanced and Professional levels each take 4 weeks to complete.

To get certified, applicants must pass all three levels of the program with a score of 80% or higher on each exam. Once all exams have been passed successfully, applicants will receive a certificate verifying their expertise in WordPress development.

The cost of the Certified WordPress Expert Program varies depending on which level is chosen. The Foundation level costs $499 USD while the Advanced and Professional levels cost $999 USD each.

11. WordPress Theme Development Certification from OSTraining

WordPress Theme Development Certification from OSTraining is a comprehensive online course that teaches you the fundamentals of WordPress theme development. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to create custom themes for WordPress sites. The course covers topics such as HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, and more.

The certification takes approximately 10 hours to complete and includes video tutorials, quizzes, and assignments. You will learn how to create a custom theme from scratch, customize existing themes, add features like widgets and menus, and troubleshoot common issues.

To get the certification, you must first register for the course on OSTraining’s website. The cost of the course is $99 USD. Once registered, you will have access to all of the course materials and can begin working through them at your own pace. After completing all of the requirements for the certification (including passing a final exam), you will receive your certificate of completion.

Do You Really Need a Wordpress Developer Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on your individual needs and goals. If you are looking to become a professional Wordpress developer, then having a Wordpress Developer Certificate may be beneficial for you. It can serve as proof of your knowledge and skills, which can help you stand out from the competition in the job market.

Having a Wordpress Developer Certificate will also give you access to exclusive resources such as tutorials, forums, and support networks that can help you improve your skills. Additionally, having a certificate can provide additional credibility when it comes to working with clients or employers.

On the other hand, if you are an independent web developer or freelancer who works with Wordpress on a part-time basis, then obtaining a certificate may not be necessary for you. Instead, investing in books or online courses about developing for Wordpress may be more beneficial for improving your skillset and gaining more business. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide what makes the most sense for your individual situation.

Related: Wordpress Developer Resume Examples

FAQs About Wordpress Developer Certifications

Q1. What is a WordPress Developer Certification?

A1. A WordPress Developer Certification is an official certification program offered by Automattic, the company behind WordPress, that verifies the knowledge and skills of professional WordPress developers. It is designed to help developers demonstrate their expertise in creating custom websites with WordPress.

Q2. How do I become certified as a WordPress developer?

A2. To become certified as a WordPress developer, you must pass the Automattic Certified Professional (ACP) exam, which covers topics such as installation and configuration, theme customization, plugin development, and security best practices. You must also have experience working with the WordPress software platform for at least six months before taking the exam.

Q3. How much does it cost to get certified as a WordPress developer?

A3. The cost to take the Automattic Certified Professional (ACP) exam is $250 USD. This fee includes access to course materials and practice exams that can help you prepare for the certification test.

Q4. Is there any ongoing maintenance requirement for maintaining my certification?

A4. Yes, to maintain your certification status you will need to complete continuing education credits every two years and pay an annual renewal fee of $50 USD.

Q5 What are some benefits of obtaining a WordPress Developer Certification?

A5 Obtaining a WordPress Developer Certification can help you stand out from other developers by demonstrating your knowledge and skills in the popular open source web platform known as WordPress. Additionally, it can give you access to exclusive job opportunities and provide credibility when dealing with clients or employers who require proof of your qualifications before hiring you for projects or jobs related to WordPress development.