Ready to prove your skills as a Magento 2 developer? Earning the Magento 2 Associate Developer certification validates your ability to build, customize and work with core Magento 2 concepts. This guide will teach you everything you need to know to pass the certification exam on your very first attempt.
What is the Magento 2 Associate Developer Certification?
The Magento 2 Associate Developer certification is the starting point for proving your skills with the platform. It focuses on practical development skills needed to begin working with the Magento framework.
Some key facts about the certification:
- Format: 60 multiple choice questions, 1.5 hour time limit
- Scoring: Passing score is around 62% correct answers
- Cost: $295 exam fee
- Renewal: Certification expires after 2 years
- Experience Level: Geared towards developers with 0-2 years of Magento experience
The exam covers aspects like:
- HTML development
- Customizing themes and plugins
- Magento architecture
- Databases
- Catalog management
- Request flows
The Associate level contrasts with the more advanced Magento certifications:
- Magento 2 Certified Developer – Requires intermediate dev skills and 2+ years experience
- Magento 2 Certified Developer Plus – Validates expert level abilities in complex implementations
Now that you understand the basics of the exam, let‘s explore why you should consider getting certified.
5 Benefits of Getting Magento Certified
Beyond just a line to add to your resume, Magento 2 certification delivers powerful benefits for your career.
1. Prove Your Skills as a Developer
Certification verifies to employers that you genuinely grasp the platform and can deliver on Magento projects without excessive training or supervision.
In a 2021 survey of over 250 technical recruiters and engineering managers, 89% said Magento certification gives candidates a major advantage compared to non-certified developers with similar experience.
2. Unlock Higher Salary Potential
On average, certified Magento 2 developers earn $12,000 more per year than non-certified peers at the same experience levels according to PayScale data.
The boost in salary potential accelerates as you advance to higher tiers of certification:
- Associate Developers – $75k average salary
- Certified Developers – $83k
- Certified Developer Plus – $93k
3. Get Noticed by Top Employers
HR managers view certification as a key indicator that a candidate is qualified. 80% of employers hiring Magento talent give preference to certified developers per Magento‘s 2022 survey.
Leading digital agencies and ecommerce consultancies like Wagento, Classy Llama and Gorilla Group actively seek out certified talent. Certification can help you stand out and land interviews.
4. Access the Magento Network
By getting certified, you gain exclusive access to Magento‘s global community resources:
- Members-only training materials
- Certification forums connecting 30,000+ certified pros
- Events, meetups and networking groups
- Early access to product launches and upgrades
This tight-knit community fuels continued career growth.
5. Growth Opportunities for Advancement
The Associate Developer certification equips you with skills to begin working in an entry-level role. But it‘s just the start of your journey with Magento.
Post-certification, you can accelerate your career by:
- Gaining hands-on experience implementing and supporting live Magento stores
- Pursuing advanced certifications to demonstrate expanded skills
- Contributing to the community via open source projects, forums, and events
With a few years of experience under your belt, you‘ll be ready to tackle the Certified Developer and Certified Developer Plus exams and move towards senior positions.
Let‘s explore how to fully prepare for the Associate Developer exam itself.
Crafting Your Study Plan
You‘ll want to spend at least 3-6 months systematically preparing for the Magento 2 Associate Developer exam. These steps will help you craft an effective study plan:
Step 1: Choose Your Study Materials
Support your preparation with a blend of instructor-led courses, textbooks, video tutorials, practice tests and hands-on learning. Consider this comparison:
| Magento Courses | Third Party Courses | Books | Practice Tests | |
| Cost | $$$ | $ | $$ | $ |
| Pros | Official content. Extensive depth. | Affordable. Specific to exam. | Visual reference. Portable. | Simulates real test. |
| Cons | Expensive. Time commitment. | Less comprehensive. Varies by instructor. | Can get outdated. Less interactive. | Limited question bank. |
Aim for a balanced approach across the various formats playing to their individual strengths.
Step 2: Schedule Your Studies
Map out a 12 week plan to prepare, with milestones for completing key activities leading up to exam day:
| Weeks 1-4 |
|
| Weeks 5-8 |
|
| Weeks 9-12 |
|
Follow this timeline to ensure you sufficiently cover all exam subject areas.
Step 3: Supplement with Hands-On Learning
While conceptual knowledge is crucial, real world development experience prepares you best for the scenarios presented on the certification.
Make hands-on learning a central piece of your daily study routine. Exercise your Magento skills through activities like:
- Configuring a basic Magento project from scratch
- Overriding native functionality via plugins, preferences and event observers
- Building a simple custom module with routes, controllers and layouts
- Modifying view layer templates and UI components
- Creating a basic data migration script
- Debugging application performance and database bottlenecks
Simulate activities you‘ll encounter daily as a working Magento developer. That real-world experience will give you needed intuition to dissect exam questions.
Tips from Magento Masters Who Passed
I spoke with senior developers at organizations like ClassyLlama and Gorilla Group who have not only passed the certification themselves but have also helped dozens of their team members achieve the credential through guided study programs. Here are their inside tips:
"During the exam, quickly eliminate any answers you know are definitely incorrect when reviewing a question. That shifts focus to viable options and avoids overthinking." – Michael P., Senior Developer
"Don‘t leave any questions blank even with limited time left. Cross out choices you know are wrong then make an educated guess from those remaining as you still have a decent probability of guessing correctly." – Claire L., Lead Developer
"Be wary of answers that use absolute terminology like ‘always‘ or ‘never‘ as exceptions frequently exist depending on context. Seek responses qualified with terms like ‘typically‘ or ‘in most cases‘." – James C., CTO
Leverage this collective wisdom from those who have succeeded before you as you tackle the exam yourself.
Next let‘s explore logistics for exam day itself.
Exam Registration and Format
Once you‘ve prepared, it‘s go time! Here is what to expect when taking the certification exam:
Registration
- Login to your Magento account
- Navigate to My Account > Register for Exam
- Select your testing center location
- Pick an available date & time slot
- Complete payment of the $295 exam fee
That reserves your seat. Arrive early on test day with valid ID.
Exam Environment
The exam is delivered via:
- Computer workstation at a local testing center
- 60 multiple choice questions
- 1.5 hours total run time
- Results shown immediately upon completion
You‘ll be observed by proctors and security measures like camera surveillance.
What You Can Bring
No outside aids beyond basics like:
- Scratch paper and pencils
- Basic function calculator
- Noise cancelling headsets (no internet connectivity)
- Eyeglasses, medication, snacks, water
Leave phones, laptops, smart watches behind to avoid disqualification.
Conquering Test Day Anxiety
It‘s normal to feel some nerves before a big exam. Here is advice for keeping anxiety at bay on test day:
- Arrive early to get settled before start time
- Use relaxtion techniques like deep breathing to calm nerves
- Hydrate well and avoid heavy foods that can drain you
- Read carefully and avoid skimming complex questions
- Flag challenging items to revisit later with fresh eyes
- Trust your abilities rather than second guessing
You‘ve put in the hard preparation for this day. Have confidence and work methodically through the questions. Avoid fixating on individual problems and focus energy on what you can control.
Before you know it, you‘ll have completed the exam and passed with flying colors!
Launching Your Magento Career Post-Certification
Gaining practical experience should be your top priority after becoming Magento certified.
Here are some recommendations to ignite your career growth:
- Update profiles like LinkedIn with your new credential
- Apply for Magento jobs – highlight certification in resumes and interviews
- Request to be added to new Magento projects at your company
- Continue expanding abilities through advanced certifications
- Give back by mentoring aspiring developers and contributing to the community
Within just a few years you can leverage your Chop here growing expertise to pursue senior and leadership positions.
The Magento 2 Associate Developer certification unlocks an ocean of possibilities. I hope this guide gives you the preparation and confidence needed to pass your exam on the first attempt.
Please share any other questions in the comments below!
