Whether you already have a job in the tech industry or you’re just getting started, you should never stop learning. There are tons of online resources that allow you to expand your expertise. Certifications are convenient and affordable, and some are even free! All you need is a computer and some time, no tuition required. If you’re a developer, a systems administrator, or a digital marketer, there’s a certification out there for you. Not only do you gain valuable skills in your field, but it also ups your credibility with clients. Here are 8 certifications that you can start today:
1. Acquia Certification Program
If you’re a developer, especially when it concerns Drupal, an Acquia Certification is a must. Acquia Certification for Drupal 8 includes four categories:
Site Builder
The Site Builder test focuses on topics including features, user management, content modeling, site display, modules, theme management, security, and performance. Once you pass this test, clients and employers will see that you have the ability to plan, build, and manage Drupal 8 projects. You’ll also gain a solid understanding of the core Drupal practices.
Developer
Similar to the Site Builder, the Developer certification will ensure that you know how to design, develop, and deploy Drupal 8 solutions. In addition, this exam offers a more in-depth focus on modules and themes. You’ll learn how to build, customize, implement and extend new and existing modules.
Front End Specialist
The Front End Specialist focuses mainly on developing and maintaining themes. In addition, you’ll learn how to set up and configure Drupal sites.
Back End Specialist
With more of a focus on development, the Back End Specialist exam touches on everything from basic architecture practices to customizing modules.
Our developers are well-versed in Drupal thanks to the Acquia-certification. You can trust our developers with everything from full-scale development to managed hosting to troubleshooting for all things Drupal.
2. Digital Marketing Certification by Google
Google offers a free certification to help marketers expand their digital skills. The Digital Garage gives you access to free tools, videos, and resources to help you earn the Digital Garage Certificate of Online Proficiency. Google is a platform that all marketers strive to conquer. With everchanging SEO requirements, tricks, and trends, it’s hard to keep up. The Digital Garage is essentially a complete overview of how to work with the search engine. With an organized dashboard, you can track your progress in the certification and unlock badges with each topic that you master. The library includes 26 topics including building web presence, email marketing, and analytics.
3. cPanel University
cPanel offers a web-based control panel to make site management convenient for customers. This allows customers to create email accounts, maintain site security, set up subdomains, back up files, and store data all on one platform. As a systems administrator, you should be familiar with cPanel. Thanks to cPanel University, you can get well acquainted with the software by way of courses, certifications, and training modules. You’ll learn everything you need to know about selling and using cPanel.
In 2017, our Systems Administrator, Ryan, attended the biannual cPanel Conference in Florida where he became cPanel certified! Since then, he’s kept up with the 2018 certification and will most likely be attending the 2019 conference.
4. Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification Course
Here’s another great (and free) course for digital marketers. Hubspot offers certifications for tracks including sales software, email marketing, social media, and a lot more. The Inbound Marketing certification explores strategies and techniques focused on content creation, social promotions, converting leads and general marketing. This track includes 11 lessons:
- Inbound Marketing Fundamentals
- Planning a Long-Term Content Strategy
- Creating a Blog Post
- Creating Topic Clusters and Pillar Pages
- Understanding Social Media Promotion
- Developing a Conversational Growth Strategy
- Understanding Conversions
- Creating a Conversion Optimization Strategy
- Understanding Lead Nurturing
- Aligning Your Marketing with Sales
- Applying a Customer Marketing Approach
Each lesson comes with videos and quizzes to test your knowledge along the way. Once you’ve made it through every lesson, take a quick exam to earn your certification!
5. Free Code Camp Certifications
There are plenty of ways to start your coding career: boot camps, open source, more school. Everyone has their own process with unique time and budget constraints. However, freeCodeCamp allows you to join a community of coders to build projects for nonprofits, all for free. So you get experience and help out nonprofits at the same time! You can start getting familiar with languages including:
- HTML5
- CSS3
- JavaScript
- Node.js
- React.js
6. Mobile Web Specialist from Google Developers Certification
Google Developers offers a plethora of resources and certifications for coders. The Mobile Web Specialist certification includes a study guide, an exam, and an exit interview. This four-hour exam is performance-based. You’ll write code and solve problems to demonstrate your skills as a mobile web developer. Building a responsive website is as important for user experience as it is for SEO. The study guide covers everything from layout and styling to front-end networking and Progressive Web Apps.
It’s important to note that the study guide and resources for this certification are free. However, there is an exam fee. Once you pass the exam, you’ll receive a badge that you can share on your résumé and LinkedIn.
7. Sass Workflow Certification
Udemy offers over 80,000 online courses in 15 categories ranging from development to health and fitness. While some courses cost a small fee, a lot of them are free, like the Sass Workflow course. Sass helps developers maintain CSS. With three hours of video lessons and downloadable resources, you’ll learn how to develop and implement projects using Sass as well as understand Sass commands and APIs.
8. Master the Basics of HTML5 & CSS3: Beginner Web Development
You’ll need to know HTML and CSS in order to get your Sass Workflow certification. The Basics of HTML5 & CSS3 certification can help with that, and it’s also free through Udemy. This certification will offer a beginner’s guide to all things HTML and CSS. You’ll learn how to create and style web pages using HTML and CSS. With these foundational aspects, you can complete simple tasks like adding images, changing colors, creating stylized lists, and add content boxes to a webpage.
The entire course adds up to less than five hours of content. This is a great course for beginner developers or anyone in the tech industry. Even a marketer or project manager can benefit from knowing the basics.
These courses set you apart from the growing pool of developers, and you can go at your own pace. At Sevaa Group, we want our team to be knowledgeable in their field, which is why we encourage certifications. Not only do they better our team, but it also increases the quality of service we give our clients. Online courses are convenient, but there are a lot of ways to interact with developers in your area. We help out with the Atlanta JavaScript Meetup as well as DrupalCamp Atlanta. There are many free events in your community, and they’re a great way to make valuable connections, learn something new, and maybe get a free dinner!
