The best certifications for software engineers give you hands-on experience and essential skills to land the job you want. Certifications display your practical experience and help you stand out among other candidates in the job market.
Software engineer certifications provide you with extensive knowledge and analytical skills. This article discusses the benefits of a certification program and options for free software engineering certifications.
What Is a Software Engineering Certification?
A software engineering certification is a credential offered after a certification exam. While college students study a broad range of subjects, a certification program for software developers narrows down the field to give a developer in-depth knowledge of fewer subjects.
Certifications showcase your skills in software development. Students who have demonstrated their competence and knowledge in software engineering will receive a professional certification. This is proof of your competence for a career in software development. This is an ideal certification to have when considering a career change at 35.
How Much Can You Earn With a Software Engineering Certification?
The typical U.S. software developer earns a median annual wage of $133,080, with overall employment for software developers, QA analysts, and testers projected to grow 15% from 2024–2034, much faster than average.¹ Indeed’s current national average for software engineers is about $126,000 per year.²
Why Is Software Engineering Certification Important?
A software engineering certification is important because it showcases your abilities and technical skills to potential employers. Professional certification shows that you have the programming skills needed to do the job. Below are other benefits of software engineering certifications.
Job Retention
Certifications for software developers give you the necessary skills to retain your job in today’s uncertain and competitive job market. It’s a good idea to upskill with relevant certifications so that whatever happens, you won’t lose your job. Certifications also prove that you are willing to learn new skills.
Employment Opportunities
Software certification provides a wider range of employment opportunities and gives employers proof that you can do the job. A software engineer certification can give you the edge over others in a competitive field. Having a few certifications in software development broadens your field of possible application opportunities.
Career Advancement
Programming certifications help professionals advance in their careers. To thrive in your career, you need to boost your skill level in different aspects of software development. Including professional certifications in your resume adds value and gives job security.
Best Certifications for Software Engineers at a Glance
| Certification | Cost | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Web Services (AWS Certified Developer – Associate Level) | $150 | No formal prerequisite; 1+ year building on AWS recommended.³ |
| Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) | $1,199 | Either 2 years’ information security experience or completion of official EC-Council training; eligibility application required if skipping training.⁴ ⁵ ⁶ |
| Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) | $575 (ISACA member) / $760 (non-member) | 5 years of information security management experience (with limited substitutions per ISACA policy).⁷ ⁸ |
| Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) | $749 | 5 years paid work experience in 2+ CISSP domains (1 year may be waived); “Associate of (ISC)²” option if lacking experience.⁹ ¹⁰ |
| Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP) | Per-exam fee (varies by test center) | Pass JavaScript Specialist, Database Design Specialist, and Advanced HTML5 & CSS3 Specialist exams.¹² |
| Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert | $165 | Pass Exam AZ-305 (Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions).¹³ |
| Oracle Database 19c Certified Master (OCM) | Price varies | Hold Oracle Database OCP and complete required advanced courses; significant DBA experience recommended.¹⁴ ¹⁵ |
| Professional Software Developer (IEEE Computer Society) | $775 | Pass the PSD exam covering requirements, design, construction, and testing.¹⁶ |
| Project Management Professional (PMP) | $405 | Either a 4-year degree + 36 months leading projects + 35 hours PM education OR high school/associate’s + 60 months + 35 hours.¹⁷ ¹⁸ |
Top Software Engineering Certifications: A Closer Look
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Developer – Associate Level
This vendor certification is ideal for software engineers who work with Amazon Web Services to develop web apps. The exam covers AWS services, development, deployment, debugging, and lifecycle management. The exam is 130 minutes; there are no formal prerequisites.³ After passing, you can pursue advanced options such as AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty or AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional.³
Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP)
This software engineering certification focuses on the software development lifecycle with security as the main topic. It validates applying security practices to authorization, authentication, auditing, and other SDLC activities. Candidates typically need four years of SDLC experience (or three with a degree).¹¹
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
The Certified Ethical Hacker certification is a practical credential for professionals who want to understand and help prevent cyber attacks. You can qualify by either completing official EC-Council training or by documenting at least two years of information security experience through an eligibility application.⁴ ⁵ ⁶
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
This certification is common for security leaders. It emphasizes governance, risk management, security program management, and incident management. ISACA requires five years of relevant experience to become certified (with limited substitutions), in addition to passing the exam.⁷ ⁸
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
CISSP is a widely recognized security certification that spans eight domains, including security and risk management, asset security, security architecture and engineering, communication and network security, identity and access management, security assessment and testing, security operations, and software development security. Candidates need five years of cumulative paid experience in at least two domains (with an Associate option if you’re still building experience).⁹ ¹⁰
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
This certification validates the ability to design secure, resilient, cost-optimized Azure solutions. To earn the certification, pass Exam AZ-305 (Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions). Microsoft lists exam pricing by country at checkout.¹³
Oracle Database 19c Certified Master (OCM)
Oracle’s OCM is a capstone certification for experienced DBAs. Candidates typically hold an Oracle Database OCP, complete approved advanced training, and demonstrate extensive hands-on skills with Oracle Database (current track is 19c).¹⁴ ¹⁵
Professional Software Developer (IEEE Computer Society)
The IEEE Professional Software Developer (PSD) certification validates mastery across requirements, design, construction, and testing via a single proctored exam.¹⁶
Project Management Professional (PMP)
If you want to apply for managerial roles, the Project Management Professional certification is highly regarded. It validates your ability to manage software development projects, people, processes, and priorities. Eligibility includes specific combinations of education, project leadership experience, and 35 hours of PM education; PMI lists exam fees as $405 for members and $555 for non-members.¹⁷ ¹⁸
Free Software Engineering Certifications Worth Your Time
- AWS Educate. AWS Educate provides no-cost access to beginner-friendly cloud training, labs, and pathways designed by AWS experts.¹⁹
- Coursera. You can audit many technical courses for free; earning a certificate generally requires payment unless financial aid is granted.²⁰
- SoloLearn. SoloLearn offers free online certificate courses with downloadable course-completion certificates for most tracks.²¹
Are Software Engineers Certifications Worth It?
Yes, software engineer certifications are worth it because they can strengthen your portfolio, validate in-demand skills, and help you compete for roles. The best certifications for software engineers can also support higher-level responsibilities and leadership tracks over time. Pair certifications with real projects and a clean GitHub profile to show practical ability. So, when deciding whether or not to become a software engineer vs a developer, always consider enrolling in a certificate program to assist you I’m achieving your dreams.consider enrolling in a certificate program to assist you I’m achieving your dreams.
Best Certifications for Software Engineers FAQ
The CIW Web Development Professional, Professional Software Developer (IEEE), Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, and Project Management Professional (PMP) certifications are respected options that map to common career paths in engineering, cloud, and delivery leadership.¹² ¹³ ¹⁶ ¹⁷
Compensation depends more on your role (e.g., software engineer, security engineer, solutions architect), experience, and location than on any single certification. Current BLS data shows strong pay for software developers overall; certifications can complement—but not replace—experience.¹
Certifications aren’t mandatory, but they can help you stand out, especially for security, cloud, and project roles. Choose credentials aligned to the jobs you want (e.g., AWS/Azure for cloud engineering; CISSP/CSSLP/CISM for security; PMP for delivery leadership).³ ⁹ ¹¹ ¹³ ¹⁷
Yes—Python remains a widely used, popular programming language. If your goal is a Python-heavy role (data, backend, automation), a reputable Python certificate, Python tutorial, or university-backed course plus projects can be helpful. Confirm employer preferences in your target job postings, then pick the course or exam accordingly.²
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