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Infrastructure
Automation Certifications

Pass the Terraform Associate certification exam to validate your infrastructure automation skills.

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 open source. This includes understanding which enterprise features exist and what can and cannot be done using the open source offering. You should 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 Terraform Cloud capabilities
9aExplain how Terraform Cloud helps to manage infrastructure
9bDescribe how Terraform Cloud enables collaboration and governance

Visit the Exam-taker Handbook to learn about the requirements and policies for taking exams.

To renew any Terraform Associate certification, you will need to take and pass the new Terraform Associate 003 exam.

If you hold an unexpired Terraform Associate 002 certification: You can take the new (003) exam starting 18 months after your previous exam date. When you pass the Terraform Associate 003 exam to recertify, you will receive a new, separate set of credentials (badge and corresponding certificate) that will reflect your recertification date. The date of your credentials related to your Terraform Associate 002 certification will not be updated.

If you hold an unexpired Terraform Associate 003 certification: You can take the new exam starting 18 months after your previous exam date. When you pass the new exam, the expiration date on your credentials will be extended.

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