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Infrastructure
Automation Certifications

HashiCorp’s Infrastructure Automation certification program has two levels: Work up to the advanced Terraform Authoring and Operations Professional Certification by starting with the foundational Terraform Associate certification. The Associate certification validates your knowledge of basic concepts and skills associated with Terraform. Then, continue your certification journey with the Professional hands-on, lab-based exam to validate your years of Terraform production experience.

HashiCorp Certified:

Terraform Associate (003)

Product version tested:Terraform 1.0 or higher

The Terraform Associate certification is for Cloud Engineers specializing in operations, IT, or development who know the basic concepts and skills associated with Terraform. You understand what Terraform Enterprise features exist and can differentiate between Terraform Enterprise and Community Edition. You will be best prepared for this exam if you have professional experience using Terraform in production, but performing the exam objectives in a personal demo environment may be sufficient.

  • Basic terminal skills
  • Basic understanding of on premises and cloud architecture
Assessment TypeMultiple choice
FormatOnline proctored
Duration1 hour
Price$70.50 USD, plus locally applicable taxes and fees. Free retake not included.
LanguageEnglish
Expiration2 years
1Understand Infrastructure as Code (IaC) concepts
1aExplain what IaC is
1bDescribe advantages of IaC patterns
2Understand the purpose of Terraform (vs other IaC)
2aExplain multi-cloud and provider-agnostic benefits
2bExplain the benefits of state
3Understand Terraform basics
3aInstall and version Terraform providers
3bDescribe plugin-based architecture
3cWrite Terraform configuration using multiple providers
3dDescribe how Terraform finds and fetches providers
4Use Terraform outside the core workflow
4aDescribe when to use terraform import to import existing infrastructure into your Terraform state
4bUse terraform state to view Terraform state
4cDescribe when to enable verbose logging and what the outcome/value is
5Interact with Terraform modules
5aContrast and use different module source options including the public Terraform Module Registry
5bInteract with module inputs and outputs
5cDescribe variable scope within modules/child modules
5dSet module version
6Use the core Terraform workflow
6aDescribe Terraform workflow ( Write -> Plan -> Create )
6bInitialize a Terraform working directory (terraform init)
6cValidate a Terraform configuration (terraform validate)
6dGenerate and review an execution plan for Terraform (terraform plan)
6eExecute changes to infrastructure with Terraform (terraform apply)
6fDestroy Terraform managed infrastructure (terraform destroy)
6gApply formatting and style adjustments to a configuration (terraform fmt)
7Implement and maintain state
7aDescribe default local backend
7bDescribe state locking
7cHandle backend and cloud integration authentication methods
7dDifferentiate remote state back end options
7eManage resource drift and Terraform state
7fDescribe backend block and cloud integration in configuration
7gUnderstand secret management in state files
8Read, generate, and modify configuration
8aDemonstrate use of variables and outputs
8bDescribe secure secret injection best practice
8cUnderstand the use of collection and structural types
8dCreate and differentiate resource and data configuration
8eUse resource addressing and resource parameters to connect resources together
8fUse HCL and Terraform functions to write configuration
8gDescribe built-in dependency management (order of execution based)
9Understand HCP Terraform capabilities
9aExplain how HCP Terraform helps to manage infrastructure
9bDescribe how HCP Terraform enables collaboration and governance

Review the rules and policies for taking HashiCorp certification exams.

Renew by passing a professional-level exam

Unexpired Terraform Associate 002 or 003 credentials:

When you pass the Terraform Authoring and Operations Professional exam, you will receive the professional-level credentials (badge and corresponding certificate). You will also extend the expiration of your Terraform Associate 002 or 003 credentials.

Renew by passing an associate-level exam

Unexpired Terraform Associate 002 credential:

  • You can take the Terraform Associate 003 exam starting 18 months after your previous exam date.
  • You will receive a new, separate set of credentials that will reflect your recertification date.
  • The expiration date of Terraform Associate 002 credentials will not be updated.

Unexpired Terraform Associate 003 credential:

  • You can retake the Terraform Associate 003 exam starting 18 months after your previous exam date.
  • The expiration date on your credentials will be extended.

Have an expired Terraform Associate credential?

  • You are eligible to recertify at any time by passing the Terraform Associate 003 exam.
  • You will receive a new, separate set of credentials with a new expiration date.

Learn more about recertification in our Knowledgebase.

Content Differences Between the 002 and 003 exams

We updated the Terraform Associate 003 exam to account for how Terraform has grown, and to accommodate future growth. The changes are primarily a reorganization and rewording of the 002 exam objectives. More significant changes are listed below.

#Objective DescriptionStatus in Terraform Associate 003
3eExplain when to use and not use provisioners and when to use local-exec or remote-execREMOVED
4Use Terraform outside of core workflowterraform taint removed, other topics reorganized
6bInitialize a Terraform working directory (terraform init)Includes questions about terraform.lock.hcl
7Implement and maintain stateCloud integration authentication, and cloud backends added
8aDemonstrate use of variables and outputsCovers sensitive variables and outputs' relationship to exposure on the CLI
8gConfigure resource using a dynamic blockUse cases for dynamic block are still tested in objective 8
9Understand HCP Terraform capabilitiesRestructured to accommodate the current and future state of HCP Terraform
HashiCorp Certified:

Terraform Authoring and Operations Professional

Product version tested:Terraform 1.6

The Terraform Authoring and Operations Professional exam is a lab-based exam for Cloud Engineers focused on developing Terraform configuration and using it to manage infrastructure over time. You are well-qualified to take this exam if you hold the Terraform Associate Certification (or equivalent knowledge), have extensive production experience with Terraform Community Edition, Terraform Enterprise, or HCP Terraform, develop modules and organization standards to enable other users, and use Terraform to manage your own infrastructure resources, as well as enable others with varying levels of Terraform expertise to use Terraform effectively.

This exam assesses both advanced configuration authoring and a deep understanding of Terraform workflows. Earning this credential reflects that the practitioner has professional-level expertise in both domains. We strongly recommend that you pass the associate-level Terraform exam before taking the professional-level exam. The professional-level exam is intended for practitioners who have extensive experience with Terraform in a production environment, and understand the concepts covered in the associate exam.

  • Experience using the Terraform AWS Provider in a production environment
  • HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate Certification (recommended)
  • Linux skills, such as the ability to list and edit files via command terminal
  • Experience using cloud credentials
  • Familiarity with YAML, JSON, HCL, and CSV formats
  • Understanding of the networking stack and networking protocols, including TCP/IP and UDP
  • Advanced configuration authoring and a deep understanding of Terraform workflows
an associate badge on the left with an arrow pointing to a professional badge on the rightan associate badge on the left with an arrow pointing to a professional badge on the right
Assessment TypeLab-based and multiple choice
FormatOnline proctored
Duration4 hours; 15-min break included
Price$295 USD, plus locally applicable taxes and fees. Includes free retake.
LanguageEnglish
Expiration2 years
Cloud ProviderAWS
1Manage resource lifecycle
1aInitialize a configuration using terraform init and its options
1bGenerate an execution plan using terraform plan and its options
1cApply configuration changes using terraform apply and its options
1dDestroy resources using terraform destroy and its options
1eManage resource state, including importing resources and reconciling resource drift
2Develop and troubleshoot dynamic configuration
2aUse language features to validate configuration
2bQuery providers using data sources
2cCompute and interpolate data using HCL functions
2dUse meta-arguments in configuration
2eConfigure input variables and outputs, including complex types
2fAnalyze best practices for managing sensitive data, such as using Vault for secrets management
3Develop collaborative Terraform workflows
3aManage the Terraform binary, providers, and modules using version constraints
3bConfigure remote state
3cUse the Terraform workflow in automation
3dShare data across configurations and workspaces
4Create, maintain, and use Terraform modules
4aCreate a module
4bUse a module in configuration
4cRefactor a module and use module versioning
4dRefactor an existing configuration into modules
5Configure and use Terraform providers
5aUnderstand Terraform's plugin-based architecture
5bConfigure providers, including aliasing, versioning, sourcing, and managing upgrades
5cManage provider authentication
5dTroubleshoot provider errors
6Collaborate on infrastructure as code using HCP Terraform
6aAnalyze the HCP Terraform run workflow
6bUnderstand HCP Terraform workspaces and their configuration options, including access management
6cManage provider credentials in HCP Terraform
6dAnalyze policy as code and governance features

This performance-based exam contains labs that must be completed in a virtual environment along with a shorter multiple-choice section. During the lab scenarios, you will be tested on performing real-world Terraform tasks using the command line, cloud providers' (AWS) UI, and text editors. You will have access to Terraform documentation, AWS cloud provider documentation, and limited Registry access.

To renew your certification, you will need to take and pass the Terraform Authoring & Operations Professional exam again.

If you hold an unexpired Terraform Professional certification: You can take the exam again starting 18 months after your previous exam date. When you pass the exam, the expiration date on your credentials will be extended.

If you hold an expired Terraform Professional certification: You are eligible to recertify at any time. When you pass the exam again, you will receive a new, separate set of credentials with a new expiration date.