Robotic process automation (RPA) is a pivotal technology to help streamline business processes. Today, automation engineers are among the most highly sought-after professionals in various sectors, including FinTech, telecommunications, and data analysis.
With more companies working on automation solutions, the market for RPA has expanded. The RPA market is expected to reach $7 billion by 2028, creating opportunities for software development and IT professionals, according to FortuneBusinessInsights. As such, RPA certifications can help individuals land a better-paying job and be on top of software-specific RPA skills.
See below for 10 top RPA certifications being offered in the market:
1. Appian Applied RPA
The Applied RPA program is an offshoot of Appian’s Associate Developer certification series and is designed to test your ground knowledge and understanding of app development in the Appian environment. The certification is completely an instructor-led one.
Skills acquired: The exam validates a professional’s skills in designing, developing, and maintaining applications by following leading Appian practices. After the course, individuals can attain a better understanding of RPA architecture and process modeling as well as gain hands-on experience with Selenium.
Requirements: While this exam has no prerequisite conditions, it is usually considered best to finish the Appian Developer training course and Appian Applied Development first. Some basic app development knowledge is also preferred.
Duration: The course lasts for three days and is available in both virtual and classroom modes. In addition, the certification exam is 60 minutes long and covers 60 matching, multiple-choice, and list-making questions.
Cost: The cost of the Appian Applied RPA exam is $200, and the course cost is $2,550.
2. IBM Certified Developer, Robotic Process Automation v20.12.x
The IBM Certified Developer for IBM Robotic Process Automation v20.12.x suits experienced developers with an extensive understanding and knowledge of IBM Robotic Process Automation v20.12.x. The exam is intermediate level and has four sections: development, architecture, testing, and admin access. Candidates facing difficulty can also connect with IBM at [email protected] for more information.
Besides, IBM has also partnered with WDG to create RPA courses across beginner and intermediate categories, covering WDG fundamentals, database, web pages, and error handling.
Skills acquired: This certification exam validates skills like developing bot scripts, understanding RPA components, administration basics, and RPA commands. Moreover, candidates who successfully complete this exam can build, test, and deploy complex RPA applications.
Requirements: No prerequisites are required.
Duration: The exam is 90 minutes long and has 60 questions.
Cost: The IBM Certified Developer for IBM Robotic Process Automation v20.12.x certification exam costs $200.
3. Blue Prism Associate Developer
The Blue Prism Associate Developer exam tests your knowledge and skills in working with a process automation solution offered by the Blue Prism university.
Skills acquired: The exam tests understanding of Blue Prism’s basic functions, applications, data types, process templates, casting data, debugging, and process flow.
Requirements: This exam has no prerequisites. However, reading the Blue Prism Foundation Training spec and associated consolidation exercise is recommended before taking the certification exam.
Duration: The exam lasts 50 minutes and includes 50 questions selected from a large set of questions. There are multiple-choice, single-choice, and drag-and-drop questions.
Cost: The Blue Prism Associate Developer certification exam costs $65.
4. UiPath Certified RPA Associate
Offered by the UiPath Academy, the UiPath Certified RPA Associate (UiRPA) certification is meant for candidates applying for roles like RPA architects, RPA developers, business analysts, and solutions architects. The exam is designed to cover developers with both beginner and advanced RPA skills.
The RPA developer track course is a fundamental RPA program covering essential automation processes and designing frameworks. However, the general track certification series is exclusively designed for experienced RPA developers.
Skills acquired: The exam validates your RPA fundamentals and covers topics connected to the UiPath Studio software, data manipulation, selectors, control flow, etc.
Requirements: To be eligible, you will have to either finish the UiPath RPA Developer foundational training program or undergo three to six months of hands-on RPA training.
Duration: The UiPath Certified RPA Associate exam is about 90 minutes long and has 60 multiple-choice questions.
Cost: The UiRPA certification costs around $150.
5. Automation Anywhere Certified RPA Professional
Automation Anywhere’s Advanced RPA Professional certification tests your knowledge and understanding of RPA platforms. The university offers certification across three branches: Essentials RPA Certification for beginners, Advanced Automation Anywhere RPA Certification, and a Master course for working professionals.
Skills acquired: After the exam, developers will be able to understand the RPA life cycle, create dashboards, build bots, and apply automation fundamentals in business use cases.
Requirements: While the beginner certification exam has no prerequisites, it is best to prepare for the test by finishing the free Certification Prep training course available on the Automation Anywhere website. The advanced courses, however, require completion of the Bot Developer (Automation 360) learning trail.
Duration: Automation Anywhere’s Advanced RPA professional exam lasts two hours and covers 60 multiple-choice questions.
Cost: The basic course is free, and the advanced ones cost around $75.
6. Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals
The Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals certification is a beginner exam for candidates who wish to test their basic RPA skills on Microsoft’s Power Platform and Power Automate software.
Skills acquired: The exam tests developer skills in building solutions using Power Platform, automating business processes through Power Automate, analyzing data, and creating basic Power Apps and virtual chatbots.
Requirements: No previous experience is required for this certification test.
Duration: The exam lasts 45 minutes.
Cost: Microsoft charges $99 for the RPA training.
7. Certified Pega Business Architect
The Certified Pega Business Architect certification helps candidates design and build a Pega application by integrating business requirements.
Skills acquired: Candidates will be tested on automating workflows, forming data objects, styling UI, creating and configuring data validation, designing subject life cycle and approval processes, reporting, customizing user interface elements, and managing application development.
Requirements: Candidates are required to take the Business Architect course by Pega.
Duration: The Certified Pega Business Architect exam is about 90 minutes long and covers 50 questions. Candidates need to secure 70% marks to earn the certificate.
Cost: The Certified Pega Business Architect certification exam costs $175.
8. RPA 11.1 Professional Developer Certification Exam by Kofax
Kofax’s RPA 11.1 Professional Developer Certification Exam is suitable for professionals looking to upgrade their RPA skills and have already undergone basic training in automation.
Skills acquired: This exam validates foundational knowledge about the basic engine robot fundamentals and basic engine robot workflow. Some of the topics covered by this test are desktop automation, attended automation, component selectors, best practices, and running robots using the API.
Requirements: While this certification does not have prerequisites, it is ideal to have taken the RPA Professional Developer Role-Based training program offered by Kofax.
Duration: The exam lasts 150 minutes and covers 75 questions.
Cost: The RPA 11.1 Professional Developer Certification Exam costs $300.
9. Robotic Process Automation and Beyond
Offered by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the Robotic Process Automation and Beyond course is ideal for CFOs or FinTech experts looking to understand the basic RPA functioning.
Skills acquired: Post-completion, professionals will be able to gain foundational RPA knowledge, its working, business use cases of RPA, and executing an RPA strategy.
Requirements: While this certification does not have prerequisites, it is ideal to have taken the RPA Professional Developer Role-Based training program offered by Kofax.
Duration: The course is 14 hours long and includes a self-paced learning module.
Cost: The Robotic Process Automation and Beyond course costs $452–$735, depending on the candidate’s AICPA membership level.
10. AutomationEdge Foundation Training in RPA
AutomationEdge Foundation Training is a 56-hour training course that helps professionals to develop industry-specific RPA technologies. The course is available in both self-paced and instructor-led formats. Candidates also have a choice to undergo developer training and end-user workshop manuals post-completion.
Skills acquired: This training course covers RPA fundamentals and process studio, AutomationEdge Platform, creating an RPA dashboard, GUI automation, building bots with plugins, and hands-on experience with RPI APIs.
Duration: 56 hours. Training is available in both full-time and part-time mode.
Requirements: First-hand experience with the AutomationEdge Cloud platform is required.
Cost: Costs vary depending upon training formats and levels.
