Consider this – you have decided to learn Java and carve a career path in it. Java certifications are an excellent way to enhance one’s career. Being certified in Java demonstrates a high degree of proficiency and competency in the language, making one stand out to potential employers and customers.
In addition, acquiring a Java certification provides opportunities for individuals to specialize in various Java development fields, such as database programming, data structures, and algorithms. With a plethora of courses available in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.
To help make the decision easier, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the best Java certification courses, including key features, price, duration, passing marks, and pros and cons. Additionally, we’ve provided links to each course to make the process of selecting one hassle-free.
Need help with your certification exam prep? Try Java Tutoring Online and Learn from Software Engineers and Developers.
8 Best Java Certifications of 2024
- Oracle Certified Professional Java SE 8 Programmer
- VMWare Spring Certified Professional Certification
- AWS Certified Developer – Associate
- Java Programming Masterclass by Udemy
- Red Hat Certified Enterprise Application
- Java EE 7 Application Developer Certification from Oracle
- Certified Jenkins Engineer (CJE) Certification
- Oracle Certified Professional Java SE 17 Developer (1Z0-829)
#1 Oracle Certified Professional Java SE 8 Programmer
Oracle Certified Professional Java SE 8 Programmer: This Java certification is designed to test and validate your skills in Java programming, specifically version 8. The certification covers a range of topics, including Java syntax and semantics, object-oriented programming principles, concurrency, and functional programming. The certification also covers advanced topics like Java I/O, JDBC, and security. By earning this certification, you will demonstrate your expertise in Java programming and your ability to develop robust and scalable applications using the Java platform.
| Name: | Oracle Certified Professional Java Programmer – OCPJP |
|---|---|
| Features | Get this by passing Oracle Java SE 8 Programmer Associate Certification. This is the first building block of a two-part Java SE 8 Training and Certification program. |
| Price | $245 |
| Duration | Multiple exams and a programming assignment |
| Pros | Highly respected certification, demonstrates expertise in advanced Java development, can lead to higher-paying jobs |
| Cons | Extremely difficult and time-consuming, requires a lot of hands-on experience and preparation |
| Passing Criteria | 65% |
#2 VMWare Spring Certified Professional Certification
VMWare Spring Certified Professional Certification: The VMWare Spring Certified Professional Java Certification is designed to test and validate your skills in developing enterprise applications using the Spring framework. The Java certification covers a range of topics, including core Spring concepts like inversion of control and dependency injection, Spring MVC, Spring Boot, and Spring Security. By earning this certification, you will demonstrate your expertise in developing enterprise applications using the Spring and your ability to design and implement scalable and secure applications.
| Name: | VMWare Spring Certified Professional Certification |
|---|---|
| Features | Learn Java Programming for Spring concepts, Spring Data, etc |
| Price | $200 |
| Duration | The validity of the certificate is 2 years |
| Pros | Highly respected certification, demonstrates expertise in advanced Java development, can lead to higher-paying jobs |
| Cons | Extremely difficult and time-consuming, requires a lot of hands-on experience and preparation |
| Passing Criteria | 76% |
#3 AWS Certified Developer – Associate
AWS Certified Developer – Associate: The AWS Certified Developer – Associate certification is designed to test and validate your skills in developing and deploying applications on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform. The Java certification covers a range of topics, including AWS services like EC2, S3, and RDS, as well as application development tools like AWS Elastic Beanstalk and AWS CodeDeploy. By earning this certification, you will demonstrate your expertise in developing and deploying applications on the AWS platform and your ability to design and implement scalable and secure applications.
| Name: | AWS Certified Developer – Associate |
|---|---|
| Features | This certification validates knowledge and skills in developing applications on the AWS platform, including using AWS services such as Lambda, API Gateway, and DynamoDB. It covers topics such as deployment, security, and troubleshooting. |
| Price | $150 USD |
| Duration | 130 minutes |
| Pros | In-demand certification for developers working with AWS can lead to higher paying jobs, covers a range of AWS services and features |
| Cons | Limited to AWS development, may not be as valuable for developers who work with other cloud platforms |
| Passing Criteria | A passing score on the exam, which is not publicly disclosed |
#4 Java Programming Masterclass by Udemy
The Java Programming Masterclass by Udemy is a comprehensive online course that covers all aspects of Java programming, from the basics of syntax and semantics to advanced topics like concurrency and functional programming. The Java course is designed to teach you how to develop robust and scalable applications using the Java platform, with a focus on practical, hands-on exercises. By completing this course, you will gain a deep understanding of Java programming and be well-equipped to develop and deploy high-quality applications using the Java platform.
| Name: | Java Programming Masterclass updated to Java 17 |
|---|---|
| Features | This certification validates the knowledge and skills required to develop Java applications using Java SE 11. It covers topics such as Java syntax and class structure, core APIs, exception handling, multithreading, and JDBC. |
| Price | $10 |
| Duration | 180 minutes |
| Pros | Obtain proficiency in Java 8 and Java 11 Acquire essential Java basics for transitioning to the Spring Framework, Java EE, Android development, and more. |
| Cons | Extensive course and heavy on detail |
| Passing Criteria | Pass Test |
#5 Red Hat Certified Enterprise Application
The Red Hat Certified Enterprise Application certification is designed to test and validate your skills in developing enterprise applications using Red Hat technologies. The Java certification covers a range of topics, including Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform, Red Hat JBoss Developer Studio, and Red Hat OpenShift. By earning this certification, you will demonstrate your expertise in developing enterprise applications using Red Hat technologies and your ability to design and implement scalable and secure applications.
| Name: | Red Hat Certified Enterprise Application Developer |
|---|---|
| Features | This certification validates knowledge and skills in developing enterprise applications using the Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform. It covers topics such as Java EE components, web services, messaging, and security. |
| Price | $400 USD |
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Pros | Widely recognized certification for enterprise Java development covers a range of Java EE technologies, can lead to higher paying jobs |
| Cons | Limited to Red Hat JBoss development, may not be as valuable for developers who work with other enterprise platforms |
| Passing Criteria | A passing score on the exam, which is not publicly disclosed |
#6 Java EE 7 Application Developer Certification from Oracle
The Java EE 7 Application Developer certification is designed to test and validate your skills in developing enterprise applications using the Java EE 7 platform. The Java certification covers a range of topics, including JavaServer Faces, Enterprise JavaBeans, Java Persistence API, and Java Message Service. By earning this certification, you will demonstrate your expertise in developing enterprise applications using the Java EE 7 platform and your ability to design and implement scalable and secure applications.
| Name: | Java EE 7 Application Developer Certification from Oracle |
|---|---|
| Features | This certification validates knowledge and skills in developing enterprise applications using Java EE 7. It covers topics such as web services, messaging, persistence, security, and concurrency. |
| Price | $245 |
| Duration | 180 minutes |
| Pros | Widely recognized certification for enterprise Java development covers a range of Java EE technologies, can lead to higher paying jobs |
| Cons | Limited to Java EE development, may not be as valuable for developers who work with other enterprise platforms |
| Passing Criteria | A score of 63% or higher on the exam |
#7 Certified Jenkins Engineer (CJE) Certification
The Certified Jenkins Engineer (CJE) certification is designed to test and validate your skills in configuring, managing, and using the Jenkins automation server. The Java certification covers a range of topics, including Jenkins installation and configuration, job and pipeline creation, and plugin development. By earning this certification, you will demonstrate your expertise in using Jenkins to automate software development and deployment processes and your ability to design and implement efficient and effective automation workflows.
| Name: | Certified Jenkins Engineer (CJE) Certification |
|---|---|
| Features | This certification validates knowledge and skills in using Jenkins for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) in Java development. It covers topics such as configuring and managing Jenkins, implementing CI/CD pipelines, and using plugins and extensions. |
| Price | $99 |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Pros | In-demand certification for developers working with Jenkins demonstrates proficiency in CI/CD practices, which can lead to higher-paying jobs |
| Cons | Limited to Jenkins development, may not be as valuable for developers who work with other CI/CD tools |
| Passing Criteria | A passing score on the exam, which is not publicly disclosed |
#8 Oracle Certified Professional Java SE 17 Developer (1Z0-829)
This Java certification is designed to test and validate your skills in Java programming, specifically version 17. The certification covers a range of topics, including Java syntax and semantics, object-oriented programming principles, concurrency, and functional programming. The certification also covers advanced topics like Java I/O, JDBC, and security. By earning this certification, you will demonstrate your expertise in Java programming and your ability to develop robust and scalable applications using the Java platform.
| Name: | Oracle Certified Professional Java SE 17 Developer (1Z0-829) |
|---|---|
| Features | Java SE 17 Developer has demonstrated proficiency in Java (Standard Edition) software development recognized by a wide range of world-wide industries. They have also exhibited thorough and broad knowledge of the Java programming language, coding practices, and utilization of new features incorporated into Java SE 17 |
| Price | $99 |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Pros | By passing the required exam, a certified individual proves tremendous fluency in Java SE and the acquisition of the valuable professional skills required to be a Java software developer. |
| Cons | Not very well known |
| Passing Criteria | Test criteria |
Career Prospects after Java Certifications
There are several career prospects and professional opportunities that open up after getting certified in Java. Here are some of them:
- Java Developer
- Java Architect
- DevOps Engineer
- Full Stack Developer
- Big Data Developer
- Mobile Application Developer
Java certifications can lead to proficiency in various roles such as developing Java-based mobile applications for Android devices, big data technologies and tools, both front-end and back-end development, DevOps tools and practices, including CI/CD, cloud-native development, and microservices architecture, designing and developing enterprise-level Java applications,
Java programming, enterprise Java development, and CI/CD practices. These certifications showcase expertise in different aspects of Java and can enable individuals to take on specialized roles in the field of software development.
Need help with your certification exam prep? Try Java Tutoring Online and Learn from Software Engineers and Developers.
Conclusion:
Java certifications can be an excellent way to showcase your expertise and advance your career in software development. Some of the best Java certifications include the Oracle Certified Professional Java SE 11 Developer certification, which demonstrates proficiency in Java programming and application development.
The Oracle Certified Professional Java EE Business Component Developer certification, which showcases expertise in developing enterprise-level Java applications. Other valuable certifications include the AWS Certified Developer – Associate certification, which focuses on cloud-native Java development, and the Pivotal Certified Spring Professional certification, which demonstrates proficiency in Spring Framework development.
Check out our blogs on CPP Certifications, Python Certifications, JavaScript Certifications, React Certifications and SQL Certifications. Whether you are interested in mobile application development, big data technologies, DevOps practices, or enterprise-level Java development, there is a Java certification that can help you achieve your goals and stand out in the competitive job market.
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