Top Python Certification Exam for Upskilling Your Job in 2021

Top Python Certification Exam for Upskilling Your Job in 2021
Top Python Certification Exam for Upskilling Your Job in 2021

Introduction

Do you know which is the simplest, coolest, and most popular programming language of the decade that has made programming smooth?

If No, Then here is the answer i.e Python, the jungle of programming language!!

Years ago, when it entered the world of programming, developers thought it was not the language of the future, however, Python has witnessed incredible growth and popularity year by year. So mastering python is beneficial and being certified is like getting a cherry on the cake.

What is the Python certification exam?

Python Certification exams are designed to measure skills in python subjects. They validate the knowledge and also help you to build up a resume. There are numerous python certification exams available in various domains like automation, data science, core python knowledge etc.


Why Should You Take The Python Certification Exam?

As python is being used in several areas, the demands for Python developers are increasing rapidly. 

Preparing for certifications is a great way to boost your skills and validate your newfound knowledge.

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Top Python Certification Exams

Several organizations conduct the Python certification exam however the two popular ones for getting python certified are Python Institute (Open education and development group) and Microsoft.

Let’s take a dig into the criteria needed to get certified by these institutions:

1. OpenEDG Python Institute Certifications

The Python Institute is a non-profitable educational institute whose motto is to promote, educate and support individuals in the field of python and related technologies.

Who should enrol?

Anyone who wants to skill up in Python can enrol for this exam. The only prerequisite is the ability to use a computer and a very basic knowledge of mathematics.

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Python certification exams by Python institute are conducted at three proficiency levels: Entry, Associate, and Professional.

Entry Level

PCEP – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer

The PCEP certification exam is the base level exam one had to take to validate its knowledge of core concepts of python like data types, functions, loops etc. 

Certification Exam Details:

  • The entry-level Python certification exam Name is PCEP – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer (PCEP-30-01)
  • Candidates have to pay USD 59 as a registration fee.
  • The exam consists of 30 questions of type Single-choice and multiple-choice questions, drag & drop, gap fill.
  • The duration of the exam is 45 minutes (exam) + approx. 5 minutes (Non-Disclosure Agreement/Tutorial)
  • The exam is available in English language and Python version 3.x
  • The Passing score is: 70%
  • Pre-requisites: None
  • Exam Syllabus: Click here to view the Exam Syllabus

Associate level

PCAP – Certified Associate in Python Programming

Moving forward to the next step, the PCAP certification exam measures one’s ability to code tasks related to Python’s coreto. It also checks for the fundamental techniques of object-oriented programming.

Certification Exam Details:

  • The Associate-level Python certification exam Name is PCAP – Certified Associate in Python Programming
  • Candidates have to pay USD 295 as a registration fee.
  • The exam consists of 40 questions of type Single-choice and multiple-choice questions 
  • The duration of the exam is 65 minutes (exam) + 10 minutes (Non-Disclosure Agreement/Tutorial)
  • The exam is available in English language and Python version 3.x
  • The Passing score is: 70% (PCAP-31-02, PCAP-31-03)
  • Pre-requisites: None, but it is suggested to first take PCEP as it validates the core concepts of python which are needed in clearing PCAP.
  • Exam Syllabus: Click here to view the Exam Syllabus

*You can Purchase certification exam Vouchers from OpenEDG Voucher Store.

Professional level

PCPP1 – Certified Professional in Python Programming 1

The PCPP1 is a professional-level certificate that checks the proficiency of the candidate in advanced topics of python like GUI programming, networking, using RESTful APIs, connecting databases in python etc. It ensures that you are alert of the basic concepts of python as well as advanced topics too.

Certification Exam Details:

  • The Associate-level Python certification exam Name is Certified Professional in Python Programming 1(PCPP-32-101)
  • Candidates have to pay USD 195 as a registration fee.
  • The exam consists of 40 questions of type Single-choice and multiple-choice questions, gap filling, drag and drop
  • The duration of the exam is 65 minutes (exam) + 10 minutes (Non-Disclosure Agreement/Tutorial)
  • The exam is available in English language and Python version 3.x
  • The Passing score is: 70% (PCAP-31-02, PCAP-31-03)
  • Pre-requisites: PCAP – Certified Associate in Python Programming
  • Exam Syllabus: Click here for a detailed syllabus

PCPP2 – Certified Professional in Python Programming 2

PCPP2 is the expert level of certification series provided by the Python institute. It checks that the candidate is familiar with the advanced concepts of python as well as the concepts like creating Python and Python-related tools, frameworks and systems.

Certification Exam Details:

  • The Associate-level Python certification exam Name is PCPP2 – Certified Professional in Python Programming 2(PCPP-32-201 )
  • Candidates have to pay USD 195 as a registration fee.
  • The exam consists of 40 questions of type single-choice and multiple-choice questions, gap filling, drag and drop
  • The duration of the exam is 65 minutes (exam) + 10 minutes (Non-Disclosure Agreement/Tutorial)
  • The exam is available in English language and Python version 3.x
  • The Passing score is: 70% (PCAP-31-02, PCAP-31-03)
  • Pre-requisites: PCPP1 – Certified Professional in Python Programming 1 
  • Exam Syllabus: For a detailed description of the syllabus Click here.

*All OpenEDG Python Institute certifications are valid for a lifetime and do not have to be renewed.

2. CEPP – Certified Expert in Python Programming

The candidate who passes the all mentioned above exams is recognised as an OpenEDG Python Institute Certified Expert in Python Programming (CEPP) and they are badged as master of Python programming language and related technologies.

Python Institute Certification Roadmap | Image Source: Python Institute

How to Schedule Your Exam

  • For scheduling your exam, you have to set up your web account at Pearson VUE and obtain your Candidate Testing ID (CPI ID). Follow this tutorial for a clear idea.
  • If you have got an existing CPI ID, please sign in to your Pearson VUE web account and follow the exam registration procedure and make an arrangement.

Study resources

Edube OpenEDG Assessment and learning platform provide 100% free, online courses to expand your python skills which help prepare for the above-mentioned certifications.

3.Microsoft Certificate

Microsoft offers a single Python programming certification. Anyone from a programming background knowing the various data types in Python and can understand and write python code is eligible for taking this certification

Certification Exam Details

  • Exam Name – Microsoft Technology Associate 98-381: Introduction to Programming Using Python
  • Duration – 45 minutes
  • Language(s) – Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish
  • Level – Associate
  • Passing Percentage – 70%
  • Prerequisites – As instructed by Microsoft, candidates should have 100+ hours of instruction/hands-on experience in the Python programming language, familiarity with the capabilities and options of Python.
  • Price – USD 127
  • Total Questions – 40
  • Type – Drag & drop, a selection from the drop-down list, single-choice and multiple-choice questions
  • Resources – Self-learning courses /e-learning platforms.
  • Syllabus-For detailed description click here.

*For the registration process scheduling the exam visit here.

Here is a Preparation Guide for a Microsoft Azure Certification Exam.

4. NPTEL Certifications

NPTEL is an E-learning platform that provides a wide variety of courses in various domains. 

All courses are completely free to enrol for learning purposes. For getting certified the fee is Rs 1000/course exam. Taking the exam is optional. The exam is for three hours and is conducted in morning and evening sessions. You could choose according to your comfort. Registration URL for the exam is sent via mail as soon as the date is announced.

Top python certification courses provide by NPTEL are:

Programming, Data Structures And Algorithms Using Python

This course introduces programming and problem-solving in Python.

Prerequisites: None

The joy of computing using python

This is a 30 hours course covering all the aspects of python including some interesting hands-on practice problems.

Python for Data Science

The course aims at equipping participants to be able to use python programming for solving data science problems.

Python (Basic) Skills Certification Test by HackerRank

This test by HackerRank consists of two very basic programming questions. The candidate should be clear with core python concepts mainly input/output operations, data types, classes, and objects, etc to clear this 90 minutes test.

There are various dedicated online-learning portals that provide certifications of completion, one of them is 

Coding Ninjas, one of the best learning platform which provides –Python Foundation with Data Structures & Algorithms course to train with the core programming concepts of python as well as provide deep knowledge of data structures and hands-on experience.

Apart from the above-mentioned platform, there are numerous other e-learning platforms for gaining knowledge and certificates.

Some helpful tips:

  • Don’t panic, be patient 
  • Read the question with calm.
  • If you’re stuck at some point, don’t spend much time, mark it as a review and jump on to the next question
  • Practice

If you’re preparing for the ACM-ICPC 2021, please read this blog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which certification is best for Python?

The most popular python certification exams are provided by the Python institute as they have detailed course descriptions and various levels of certification so one can choose according to their level of knowledge.

How do I get certified in Python?

Some institutions and E-learning platforms provide opportunities to be python certified and skill up your knowledge.

Is there a python certification test?

Yes, many organisations like Python Institute, Microsoft conduct python certification tests with cutoff criteria before issuing a certificate to a candidate. Many profitable/non-profitable organisations provide certification based on module completion.

What is the cost of the PCAP exam?

The cost of the Full PCEP exam is USD 295, no voucher needed. The exam fee includes a free retake.

Can I learn Python in three months?

Writing code in python is like writing a sentence in English, easy to write and learn. If you have previous programming experience then you can learn and get hands-on skill on core concepts of python in a month or less.

For beginners, three months are enough for mastering core python and some advanced topics too(if you want to). Take your time, understand and practice

Key Takeaways

Being the Jack of all trades and the most demanded language today, the Python Certification exam provides you with an opportunity to upskill yourself and also get better work opportunities.

But always keep in mind that It’s not only about having the certificate, what matters is the backend work you do to clear it i.e your knowledge, efforts and hard work.

By Aakriti Jain