This year I made a commitment to myself: level up my DevOps skills through hands-on experience and structured learning. After working on a couple GitLab projects and going through their training to earn two certifications in securing CI/CD pipelines, I set my sights on the HashiCorp Terraform Associate certification. Here's my study plan and the resources I used to pass the exam.
Why Terraform?
While I had some minor experience with Terraform from previous projects, I knew that structured learning would help me build a solid foundation and fill in the knowledge gaps that come with learning on the job.
The certification seemed like the perfect way to validate my growing DevOps skills while ensuring I understood Terraform's core concepts, best practices, and real-world applications.
My Study Strategy
I used several resources that combined official documentation, practical books, and hands-on experience:
Official HashiCorp Documentation
I started with HashiCorp's own certification preparation materials at developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/tutorials/certification-003. These tutorials are an excellent starting point and are directly aligned with the exam objectives. The official documentation gave me confidence that I was learning exactly what would be tested.
Review with Ned's Book
For last-minute review and exam-specific insights, I used Ned Bellavance's "Terraform Certified Associate Preparation Guide" from Leanpub. This book is concise and laser-focused on the certification, making it perfect for reinforcing key concepts and identifying areas that needed more attention.
Practical Depth with "Mastering Terraform"
To go beyond just passing the exam, I read Mastering Terraform by Mark Tinderholt. While not certification-specific, this book provided real-world context and advanced techniques of how Terraform fits into broader infrastructure strategies. I really enjoyed it!
Hands-On Labs: The Game Changer
The most valuable part of my preparation was writing my own Terraform code. I created various infrastructure scenarios, experimented with different providers, and learned through trial and error. This practical experience proved invaluable during the exam.
The Exam Experience
Everything I heard online proved true: if you have practical experience, the exam is very manageable. The questions felt fair and grounded in real-world scenarios rather than obscure edge cases.
Below are the details of the exam:
- Assessment Type: Multiple choice
- Format: Online proctored
- Duration: 1 hour
- Price: $70.50 USD, plus locally applicable taxes and fees. Free retake not included.
- Language: English
- Expiration: 2 years
Key Takeaways
Experience Matters: The combination of hands-on practice and structured study created a solid foundation. Don't just read about Terraform….use it.
Official Resources Are Gold: HashiCorp's certification materials are detailed and directly relevant. Start there before looking elsewhere.
Real-World Application: The exam tests practical knowledge, which means your day-to-day experience with Terraform directly translates to exam success.
Multiple Learning Styles: Combining official docs, targeted review books, and other guides gave me different perspectives on the same concepts, reinforcing my understanding.
Should You Take the Terraform Associate Certification?
I highly recommend it if you're working with or interested in Infrastructure as Code. The certification process itself is educational, and the credential validates real, practical skills that are increasingly valuable in the DevOps world.
The exam strikes the right balance, it's challenging enough to be meaningful but fair enough that solid preparation and practical experience will see you through. If you're already working with cloud infrastructure or considering a move into DevOps, the Terraform Associate certification is an excellent investment in your professional development.
The structured learning approach worked well for me, and I'm confident it can work for others taking a similar path. The key is combining multiple learning resources with plenty of hands-on practice. Good luck on your own Terraform journey!