Top 5 Python Certifications: Choose the One That Will Be Your Guiding Star in the IT World

When it comes to the IT certifications, the first thing to check before you decide whether you should pursue one or not is its worth. The same applies to the Python certificates. Interestingly, if you take a little time to check for the credentials of this vendor, you will be amazed at the little information that you will come across. If you’ve ever done this search, you probably would have the feeling that one of the reasons why not so much information about the Python certifications is because these credentials are really not worth much. Well, before you jump to this conclusion, you should also consider the flipside of the coin. Why are these certificates not in the certification limelight? This is because they are rare gems that are in high demand among the employers but they are not the conventional ones.

If you work in the field of IT, you already know that earning a certificate is a big requirement for developing your career in the industry. Many recruiters look out for the professionals with the credentials in specific realms to take up job roles in their organizations. However, the certifications for the programmers are a bit in the gray area. The reason for this is not farfetched. The credentials are not true representations of skills and expertise required in programming. In other words, the programming certifications do not display the skills and experience needed to function optimally with a specific programming language.

Although this may be true, it still doesn’t eliminate the fact that many hiring managers expect the candidates to have a role-based certification that validates their knowledge and skills in the specific programming language. If you are a Python developer, for instance, obtaining a credential will go a long way to get your resume noticed by the recruiters. This is the very first important step to landing a job. If the HRs are interested in your resume, you have a high chance of being called for an interview or a discussion. Therefore, if you are trying to build a career in programming, you should give the Python certificate a good thought. Let’s look at some top credentials in the industry that can have a significant impact on your career as a Python developer.

Top Python Certifications

The Python Institute has the mandate to train and help sharpen the skill sets of the Python developers in the industry. In the light of this, the organization offers a range of credentials designed to validate the candidates’ proficiency at various levels. We’ll look at these certifications in detail.

1. Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer (PCEP)

This certification is aimed at the entry-level professionals with little to no experience in programming. After going through the training, the candidates will gain knowledge of certain Python specifics such the runtime environment and the language syntax. In addition to this, they will develop competence in procedural programming concepts. The PCEP exam objectives cover basic concepts; data types, evaluation, & basic I/O operations; data collections; lists, tuples, & dictionaries; flow control; loops & conditional blocks; functions. It is important to note that this entry-level credential is not a prerequisite for other advanced certifications and there are no requirements for this one.

2. Certified Associate in Python Programming (PCAP)

This is an associate-level credential and it is built on the procedural basics of PCEP. It explores the object-oriented concepts, more advanced comparison operators, file operations, and loops. Those professionals who pursue this certification will have the capacity to start programming immediately without the need for further training. The PCAP certificate is ideal for the individuals with a programming degree but you don’t have to attain the previous level of the certification. The exam objectives of this credential include control & evaluations; functions & modules; data aggregates; classes, exceptions, and objects. This certificate is a prerequisite for other professional credentials. To earn PCAP, the students are required to pay the fee of $295.

3. Certified Professional in Python Programming-1 (PCPP-32-1)

PCPP-32-1 is the first of the two credentials under the PCPP level. This certification focuses on more definite applications such as science & engineering modules and programming for the GUI environments. The candidates for this certificate should have a high competence level in OOP. The credential is aimed at those individuals who develop full applications in the Python environment. The exam objectives of the PCPP-32-1 certification include file processing & communicating with the program environment; Python enhancement proposals; math, science & engineering tools; advanced perspective of classes & object-oriented programming in Python; GUI programming.

4. Certified Professional in Python Programming-2 (PCPP-32-2)

This certificate delves further into the skills and knowledge required for leadership roles, including software engineer, team lead, and DevOps. The credential focuses on architecting & deploying Python applications for the enterprise. The candidates for the certification test should have the capacity to abstract code using design patterns, establish client-server communications using sockets, build multi-thread optimized software, carry out database transactions, and incorporate all these through the creation and deployment of release packages. The exam objectives cover creating & distributing packages; design patterns; Python-MySQL database access; inter-process communications; Python network programming.

5. Certified Expert in Python Programming (CEPP)

This credential doesn’t need any exam. All you need to obtain CEPP is to earn the PCAP certificate as well as both PCPP certifications. With these three credentials, you will be regarded as a Python Master, and you can look forward to taking up a senior Python role.

Summary

Over and beyond the programmers, Python appeals to a wider audience. For instance, IT administration will benefit from Python, which makes PCEP and PCAP an ideal option to demonstrate administrative proficiency using scripts for process automation. Finally, it is essential to understand that the programming credentials can make up for the lack of experience in some cases. However, when combined with experience, it offers a great reward. When choosing a certificate to start with, your level of expertise will determine the specific certification level to launch your journey. If you have little to no programming expertise, it is recommended that you start with the PCEP credential and use it as you grow in your career.