Certification exam preparation
Prepare from the published exam blueprint and exam facts. Follow a topic roadmap, work through lessons and practice exercises, and use practice exams before exam day.
The certifications below are what we cover today. The catalogue can grow wherever a certification body publishes an exam blueprint.
Microsoft
8 exam guides, Foundational and Associate and Expert level. Blueprint, exam length, fee and validity for each. All Microsoft exam guides
SC-900FoundationalMicrosoftDemonstrate foundational knowledge on security, compliance, and identity concepts and related cloud-based Microsoft solutions.45 minutes - Fee on Microsoft's site - Does not expireAZ-900FoundationalMicrosoftDemonstrate foundational knowledge of cloud concepts, core Azure services, and Azure management and governance features and tools.45 minutes - Fee on Microsoft's site - Does not expireAZ-104AssociateHands-onMicrosoftDemonstrate your subject matter expertise in implementing, managing, and monitoring an organization's Microsoft Azure environment including virtual networks, storage, compute, identity, security, and governance.100 minutes - Fee on Microsoft's site - 1 yearDP-900FoundationalMicrosoftDemonstrate foundational knowledge of core data concepts and related Microsoft Azure data services.45 minutes - Fee on Microsoft's site - Does not expirePL-900FoundationalMicrosoftDemonstrate foundational knowledge of Microsoft Power Platform business value, environment management, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Copilot Studio agents.45 minutes - Fee on Microsoft's site - Does not expireAZ-500AssociateMicrosoftValidates your ability to implement, manage, and monitor security for resources in Azure, multi-cloud, and hybrid environments.100 minutes - Fee on Microsoft's site - 1 yearAZ-305ExpertMicrosoftValidates expertise in designing cloud and hybrid solutions on Microsoft Azure, covering compute, network, storage, monitoring, and security.2 hours - Fee on Microsoft's site - 1 yearAZ-204AssociateMicrosoftBuild end-to-end solutions in Microsoft Azure to create Azure Functions, implement and manage web apps, develop solutions utilizing Azure storage, and more.100 minutes - Fee on Microsoft's site - 1 year
AWS
4 exam guides. Blueprint, exam length, fee and validity for each. All AWS exam guides
AWS Solutions Architect AssociateAWSThe most widely held cloud certification. It tests design judgement across security, resilience, performance and cost rather than hands-on operation.130 minutes - $150 - 3 yearsAWS ML Engineer AssociateAWSThis certification validates your technical proficiency in building, deploying, and operationalizing production-ready machine learning solutions using AWS services.130 minutes - $150 - 3 yearsAWS Developer AssociateAWSThe AWS Certified Developer - Associate validation demonstrates your technical proficiency in developing, testing, deploying, and debugging cloud-based applications on AWS.130 minutes - $150 - 3 yearsAWS AI PractitionerAWSValidates foundational knowledge of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and generative AI concepts and use cases for AWS services.90 minutes - $100 - 3 years
CompTIA
3 exam guides, Foundational and Associate level. Blueprint, exam length, fee and validity for each. All CompTIA exam guides
SecurityXHands-onCompTIAAn advanced cybersecurity certification validating the skills of security architects and senior security engineers to design, build, and implement secure enterprise solutions.165 minutes - Fee on CompTIA's site - 3 yearsNetwork+AssociateHands-onCompTIACertifies foundational IT infrastructure skills required to troubleshoot, configure, and manage modern enterprise networks.90 minutes - Fee on CompTIA's site - 3 yearsSecurity+FoundationalHands-onCompTIASecurity+ validates the core skills required for a career in IT security and cybersecurity.90 minutes - Fee on CompTIA's site - 3 years
The Linux Foundation / CNCF
3 exam guides. Blueprint, exam length, fee and validity for each. All The Linux Foundation / CNCF exam guides
CKAHands-onThe Linux Foundation / CNCFThe operator exam. You are given a live cluster and a command line, and asked to fix, configure and recover it under time pressure.2 hours - $445 - 2 yearsCKADHands-onThe Linux Foundation / CNCFThe developer counterpart to CKA. Same format and same time limit, but the tasks are about building and running applications on a cluster rather than operating the cluster itself.2 hours - $445 - 2 yearsCKSHands-onThe Linux Foundation / CNCFThe hardest of the three and the only one with a gate in front of it: you must already hold a current CKA to sit it.2 hours - $445 - 2 years
Cisco
2 exam guides, Associate and Professional level. Blueprint, exam length, fee and validity for each. All Cisco exam guides
CCNP EnterpriseProfessionalCiscoDemonstrate advanced proficiency in enterprise network infrastructure, virtualization, assurance, security, and automation through a core exam and a specialized concentration exam.2 hours - $400 - 3 yearsCCNAAssociateCiscoValidate your knowledge and skills in network fundamentals and access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability with the Cisco CCNA certification.2 hours - $400 - 3 years
HashiCorp
1 exam guide. Blueprint, exam length, fee and validity for each. All HashiCorp exam guides
ISC2
1 exam guide, Professional level. Blueprint, exam length, fee and validity for each. All ISC2 exam guides
What learners say about Acelro
About Acelro rather than any particular exam: what learners made of the gap analysis, the roadmap and the projects.
“The roadmap makes me focus on a learning curve, no matter the length.”
“Acelro has been really great for me, an inspiring experience. I've gained a lot of confidence doing projects I thought were rocket science.”
“The gap analysis maps your actual skills against what the current job market is asking for. Nobody else made it that clear where I stood.”