The best Java certifications for software developers

Java, which turns 30 this month, remains one of the most widely used programming languages in the world. Launched in 1995 and employed by many of the largest enterprises globally, Java is used to develop a range of business applications, mobile apps, web applications, and enterprise-level systems. It consistently ranks among the top five programming languages in the Tiobe index.

Java’s platform independence allows its code to run on virtually any operating system or environment. The language also continues to evolve, integrating key features from functional programming and an ambitious new concurrency model among other additions. The combination of innovation and backward compatibility makes Java a reliable and attractive option for new development projects.

In 2024, career site Indeed ranked Java the third most in-demand coding language after Python and JavaScript. Indeed notes that a foundational feature of the language, the Java virtual machine, makes programming with Java easier across different environments.

Motion Recruitment, a provider of IT recruitment and consulting services, says Java continues to be a focal point in technology hiring, as companies across the industry are looking for developers with Java experience.

Given the high demand for Java expertise, some developers wonder whether Java certifications are still worth pursuing. Recruiters and hiring managers say certificates do still matter, and some are more impactful than others.

Benefits of Java courses and certificates in the hiring process

“Earning a Java certification provides tangible proof of your skills, granting a competitive edge with hiring managers and recruiters—often making the difference in securing that crucial first interview,” says Paul Farnsworth, president of technology careers marketplace Dice.

“Recruiters often prioritize easily recognizable credentials, and with well-known organizations like Oracle backing Java certifications, a tech professional’s resume has a better chance of standing out,” Farnsworth says. “Often, a certification becomes more of a validation than anything else, showcasing an individual is dedicated and competent in the skill sets which recruiters seek to employ.”

Java certifications demonstrate multiple things to the hiring manager, says Stanislav Lukyanov, director of product management at in-memory computing platform provider GridGain Systems. Lukyanov has been a Java programmer for 12-plus years and interviews and hires senior Java developers.

One is that the job candidate has the hard skills the organization needs. “The candidate definitely knows Java,” Lukyanov says. Having a certification helps to ensure candidates “will be productive as a Java developer from day one.”

Another is that the candidate is a hard worker. “The exams aren’t a walk in the park; they require studying, even for an experienced Java programmer,” Lukyanov says. “The candidate must be motivated and a good learner if they managed to get the certification.”

It also matters that the exam is based on a newer Java version. If it is, “the candidate must be following the latest trends,” Lukyanov says.

Some certifications count more than others

The kind of impact Java certifications have on the hiring process depends on who’s hiring, says Hayden Cohen, CEO of Hire With Near, a provider of remote hiring services.

“Startups tend to care a lot less about certifications than established companies, and established companies tend to end up with a preferred certification—usually the same one that one of their software or IT leaders has,” Cohen says. “All things being equal, they’re a good investment. They’re a lot cheaper than a degree, and more clearly demonstrate specific, concrete skills.”

Having a Java certification is a great signal to employers all by itself, Cohen says, “but the good ones, like Oracle’s certification [Oracle Certified Professional Java SE 8], also include challenging scenarios and questions that many employers will actually use as interview questions.”

Java certification can be a particularly big plus in the hiring process for early-career professionals or those looking to switch to Java development roles, says Franklin Orellana, chair of the data science program at Post University.

“I see certifications help in validating a candidate’s minimum knowledge and commitment to keeping abreast of advancements,” Orellana says. “For recruiters, it can also serve as an initial filter while sifting through resumes for technical roles.”

Certification is ‘only part of the story’

A Java certification is not always required, but it can be helpful as a discriminator when organizations are hiring to support large-scale back-end systems or performance-critical environments, says Marin Cristian-Ovidiu, CEO of gaming provider Online Games.

“We’ve hired developers who are and are not certified, and the primary difference usually is one of fundamentals,” Cristian-Ovidiu says. “A candidate who presents with certification on Java SE 11 or 17 tends to get things right and do so confidently [with] memory management, threading, and modularization. All these are crucial things when you are building complex, highly time-critical systems such as multiplayer game servers or back-end game logic to large populations.”

For junior or nonconventional talent, certifications are “indicators of initiative and minimum competence, and they speed up decision-making,” Cristian-Ovidiu says. But as with other technology certifications, job candidates can’t expect the certifications to stand on their own when looking to get hired.

“From my perspective as someone who has evaluated technical talent, Java—and other—certifications signal commitment but tell only part of the story,” says Audian Paxson, principal technical strategist at Ironscales, a provider of a cloud email security platform.

“When I see certifications on a resume, my first thought isn’t ‘hired!’. It’s ‘okay, interesting, now show me how you’ve applied this,’” Paxson says. “Certs demonstrate that a candidate has invested in structured learning, but the real differentiator is evidence they can translate that knowledge into meaningful work.”

Aspiring Java professionals might want to complement certifications with practical experience, particularly through volunteer work with nonprofits or community organizations, Paxson says. This approach validates technical skills and showcases initiative and self-management, he says.

“Real-world applications reveal what certifications alone cannot,” Paxson says. “Can the candidate identify problems worth solving? Do they understand how to apply technical skills to serve larger goals? Can they manage themselves through a project lifecycle?”

For hiring managers, it’s not the certification alone that stands out, Paxson says. “It’s when it’s paired with proof that someone can actually solve problems and follow through on real work. Experienced technical professionals understand this balance [and] that certifications provide structure to their learning journey. But real-world application of those skills is where true professional value emerges.”

Weighing the costs and benefits of Java certifications

Not everyone is keen on Java certifications. Many certifications, and particularly Java certifications, are largely useless, says Ryan Frankel president of HostingAdvice, an educational and news content company catering to the hosting, IT, and developer communities.

“A good interview process will test your knowledge and companies will come to a conclusion on their own,” Frankel says. “At HostingAdvice, we do not sort resumes by certifications or put those with certain certifications in special piles. We definitely look to see if you’ve listed the skill, but then we want to verify it for ourselves.”

Others note that earning Java certifications can provide benefits for software developers. One is that they demonstrate credibility and validation in the field. “Certification by long-standing organizations, like Oracle, provides official validation of a candidate’s skills, which can lead to confidence-building—both for the candidate and also the recruiter,” Orellana says.

Java certifications also provide a competitive advantage in the marketplace. “When there are many candidates with comparable qualifications, a Java certification can cause one to easily stand out,” Orellana says. Certified professionals typically have more room for advancement, and certifications also help in salary negotiations, Orellana says. “For example, a junior developer who gets the Oracle Certified Professional: Java SE certification would be better placed to get his or her first full-time developer job or even qualify for more complex project assignments,” Orellana says.

Earning certifications can push developers and other technology professionals out of their comfort zones, driving them to learn new Java-related skills and techniques that they can leverage for future job opportunities, Farnsworth says.

How to choose the right Java certification

“For those who want to use Java in the context of an enterprise, a certification—particularly from Oracle University—could convince enterprises that they’re capable of handling big, complex Java projects at a more extensive scale,” Farnsworth says.

It’s best to certify for the latest version of Java, Lukyanov emphasizes. “Oracle still certifies for older Java versions, like Java 8, but today there is little reason not to go for the latest available, Java 21,” he says. He also suggests adding a Spring or Jakarta EE certification. “These frameworks are as important for enterprise Java application development as Java itself,” he says.

Lukyanov also suggests adding a cloud certification or Kubernetes certification. “Cloud skills are extremely important and, unlike core programming skills, aren’t as widespread,” he says. “A certification like AWS Certified Developer or Certified Kubernetes Application Developer would accompany the Java certification nicely, showing versatile modern software developer skills.”

The 5 most in-demand Java certifications

Recruiters and hiring managers recommend a range of Java certifications including certificates for newer versions of Java SE as well as enterprise Java and Spring.

Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer

The Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE Programmer certification helps candidates build a foundational understanding of Java. Gaining this certification is the first of two steps in demonstrating the high-level skills needed to become a professional Java developer.

Oracle Certified Professional: Java SE 11 Developer

Candidates who hold this certification have demonstrated proficiency in Java (Standard Edition) software development, according to Oracle University, which administers the certificate. They have also demonstrated thorough and broad knowledge of the Java programming language, coding practices and use of new features incorporated into Java SE 11.

Oracle Certified Professional: Java SE 17 Developer

A certified Java SE 17 Developer has demonstrated proficiency in Java (Standard Edition) software development. They have also exhibited thorough and broad knowledge of the Java programming language, coding practices, and utilization of new features incorporated into Java SE 17.

Oracle Certified Professional Java EE 7 Application Developer

The Oracle Java EE 7 Application Developer exam validates programming capability to develop and deploy applications using Java Platform, Enterprise Edition 7, according to Oracle. It is designed for intermediate to advanced-level Java application developers, architects, and software engineers who demonstrate expertise utilizing Java EE 7 technology.

Broadcom Spring Certified Professional

The Spring Certified Professional Certification validates a candidate’s expertise with major features of Spring and Spring Boot and the candidate’s ability to apply Spring’s features to quickly build and deliver production-ready applications, according to Broadcom.