Hey there! Have you been thinking about getting certified as a Magento 2 developer? As someone who recently passed the Magento 2 Associate Developer exam, let me tell you – it was totally worth it!
I know the idea of certifying can be daunting, but I‘m here to show you that with the right preparation, you can pass on your first attempt.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through everything I learned while prepping for the exam. I‘ll share tips directly from my experience that I wish someone told me beforehand!
Let‘s start by looking at why Magento skills are so in-demand right now.
Why Get Magento 2 Certified
E-commerce platforms like Magento have exploded in popularity over the last decade. The global e-commerce market is projected to grow to $27.4 trillion by 2027 according to Statista.
And Magento has emerged as a top choice for large enterprises building custom online stores. Its robust features for marketing, SEO, security, and order management make it a standout platform.
With increasing Magento adoption, businesses are scrambling to find skilled Magento developers. Getting certified shows employers you have validated expertise in working with Magento 2 specifically.
Let me share some interesting stats that highlight why certified Magento pros are in high demand:
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Magento job postings on Indeed grew over 30% from 2020 to 2021. The average salary for a Magento Developer is $99,000 in the US according to PayScale.
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Over 250,000 merchants have built stores powered by Magento, including big brands like Ford, Nestle, and Coca Cola.
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Magento has been ranked the #1 e-commerce platform for the last 5 years straight by G2 Crowd.
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Adobe, who acquired Magento in 2018, reported 36% year-over-year revenue growth in 2021 – the most in over a decade!
With numbers like those, it‘s no wonder employers want to hire developers certified in the leading enterprise e-commerce platform.
Let‘s take a closer look at what exactly the Magento 2 Associate Developer certification involves.
All About the Magento 2 Associate Developer Certification
The Magento 2 Associate Developer certification is offered directly by Adobe to validate core skills for entry-level Magento developers.
Here are some key facts about the credential:
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It covers Magento Open Source 2.3 and Magento Commerce 2.3. New versions just released in 2022!
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The exam has 60 multiple choice questions and you get 1.5 hours to complete it.
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You need a score of around 62% to pass. The passing threshold is set by detailed psychometric analysis.
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The registration fee is usually around $295. Certification prep materials cost extra.
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Certification stays valid for two years, after which you‘ll need to recertify.
The exam thoroughly tests skills in critical areas like:
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Developing using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP
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Customizing Magento themes and extensions
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Architectural concepts like routing, controllers, and events
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Modifying the Magento database with install/upgrade scripts
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Configuring catalog and inventory management rules
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Implementing a checkout process with payment and shipping methods
It covers a wide spectrum of web development, programming, and e-commerce platform expertise. I found the questions balanced between theoretical concepts and practical implementation.
Both front-end and back-end developers can benefit from getting Magento certified. But you‘ll need hands-on experience with Magento 2 beyond just following tutorials.
Let‘s go through the process of actually registering for and taking the certification exam step-by-step.
How to Register for the Exam
Booking your exam slot is straightforward if you follow these steps:
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Visit the Magento Certification portal and login with your Adobe ID. Create one if you don‘t have an account.
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Click on "Register for Exam" and select "Register for New Exam".
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Find the listing for the Magento 2 Associate Developer exam and select it.
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Pick your exam delivery center location along with a date and time slot that works for you.
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Enter payment information to complete your registration.
After registering, you‘ll get a confirmation email with instructions for scheduling your exam date.
I‘d recommend picking a time slot when you can expect to be focused and distraction-free. Personally, I chose a 9 AM slot so I‘d be fresh and could focus 100% on just the exam.
You‘ll also get info on the online proctoring process which allows you to take the exam remotely. More on that later.
Now let‘s get into the most critical part – how to actually prepare and study for passing the exam!
Preparing and Studying for the Exam
Getting Magento certified requires diligent preparation. You need to put in consistent work over at least 2-6 months to give yourself the best shot at passing on the first try.
Here are my top tips for exam preparation:
Learn the exam objectives thoroughly
Review the exam syllabus and topics so you can focus your studies properly. Pay special attention to domains you have less experience with.
For me, that was Magento‘s architectural concepts like custom routing, plugins, and proxies that enable extensibility.
Use a mix of learning materials
Relying on just courses or just docs makes prep one-dimensional. Combine reading, videos, tutorials, and practice for the best results.
Some resources I‘d highly recommend are:
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Magento 2 Fundamentals course on Magento U – Perfect for getting oriented.
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Alan Storm‘s blog – One of the best sources of expert Magento 2 techniques.
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Magento Stack Exchange – Active developer community to get help.
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Magento 2 Developer Certification Study Guide – Comprehensive overview of all topics.
Get hands-on with Magento 2 source code
No amount of reading can substitute for direct experience. Experiment with code to get comfortable with real workflows.
I installed a test Magento 2 instance and played around with things like creating theme files, adding custom attributes, modifying layout XML – this built my confidence.
Practice with mock tests
I found tests on sites like Udemy hugely valuable for identifying knowledge gaps to work on. They prepare you for the real exam format.
I made it a habit to take tests regularly in my last month of studying to get comfortable with the MCQ style.
Connect with the Magento community
Joining Slack channels and following active Magento devs on Twitter created a support network. Being able to ask questions helped accelerate my learning.
You could also find local study groups to go through practice questions together. Having an accountability partner keeps motivation high.
With several months of strategic preparation, you‘ll walk into the exam fully ready to succeed.
Now let me share some tips to keep in mind on exam day itself.
Helpful Tips for Exam Day Success
Here are some best practices I followed that helped me stay calm and maximally focussed:
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Arrive early at the exam center so you have time to settle in properly. Getting rushed can negatively impact your mental state.
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Read each question stem and choices fully before answering. Eliminate obviously wrong options first.
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Flag questions you want to return to and recheck. Skipping and coming back clears your mind.
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Stick with your first choice since your instinct is often correct. Only change answers you‘re sure are wrong.
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Budget time to review flagged questions at the end. Avoid needlessly rushing near the end.
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Stay confident in your preparation. Tackle one question at a time without overthinking.
Remember, the certification is designed to validate skills you already have through months of work. Trust your abilities and stay cool under exam pressure.
To help you prep efficiently, let‘s look at some of the best learning resources available online.
Top Learning Resources for Exam Prep
Having the right study materials makes all the difference in effective certification preparation.
Here are some stellar Magento 2 learning resources I recommend checking out:
1. Magento 2 Fundamentals Course on Magento U
Alan Storm‘s Magento 2 Fundamentals course is purpose-built for Associate Developer exam prep.
The lessons deeply explain core Magento dev concepts like:
- Architectural fundamentals
- Controllers, routing, and events
- Customizing UI through layouts and themes
- Developing modules and customization techniques
I found Alan‘s teaching style clear and engaging. This course really cemented my foundational knowledge.
2. Magento 2 Certification Study Guide eBook
This comprehensive study guide contains 300+ pages summarizing everything assessed on the exam. It was invaluable for structuring my studies.
It includes:
- Detailed review of all exam objectives
- 100+ practice questions with explanations
- Handy glossary of key Magento terminology
- Flashcards on important concepts
- Testing strategies and tips
The practice questions exposed areas I needed reinforcement in. And the glossary helped me lock down definitions of terms like interceptors, UI components, collections etc.
3. The Definitive Guide to Magento 2 by Adam Moss
For complete grounding in Magento 2 frontend and backend, Adam Moss‘ book is fantastic.
It thoroughly covers topics like:
- Magento architecture fundamentals
- Customizing themes and layouts
- Modifying storefront features and functionality
- Admin panel usage for inventory, orders, and promotion management
I gained strong perspective on how everything interconnects in Magento 2 from this book. It expanded my knowledge into the business user side as well.
4. Magento 2 Developer‘s Guide on DevDocs
Magento‘s official developer‘s guide contains everything about developing on Magento 2, right from setting up your environment to building custom functionality.
Some key topics it digs into:
- Utilizing plugins, interceptors, and proxies
- Techniques for customizing UI components
- Applying dependency injection principles
- Optimizing site performance
- Building services compliant with contracts
This was my go-to technical reference for clarifying implementation best practices while coding. You‘ll gain skills directly applicable on the job.
5. Magento 2 Fundamentals for Developers Course on Udemy
For those who prefer learning through video tutorials, this Udemy course is fantastic.
Instructor Sascha Kosman provides 8+ hours of lessons on topics like:
- Installing and configuring Magento 2
- Building custom themes, layouts and templates
- Developing modules from scratch
- Implementing catalog and inventory domain business logic
- Debugging and troubleshooting Magento sites
Seeing concepts explained visually accelerated my learning. I felt ready to start applying my skills after completing this course.
With the help of these stellar resources, you will gain the Magento 2 mastery required to pass the certification with flying colors!
Now let‘s recap some key pointers.
Quick Recap
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Getting Magento 2 certified can significantly boost your career opportunities and earnings potential as a developer.
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The Associate Developer certification validates core skills in customizing, configuring, and programming Magento stores.
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Registration involves picking a test center and booking an exam slot through the Magento portal.
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Diligent preparation over 2-6 months is advised, using a mix of courses, documentation, and hands-on practice.
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Time management and relying on your abilities is key to excelling on exam day.
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Some of the best exam study resources include video courses on Magento U and Udemy, the official study guide, and technical references like Adam Moss‘ book.
Embark on your certification journey today and invest in standing out in one of tech‘s hottest skills – Magento 2 development. You got this!
Have any other questions? I‘m happy to help guide you based on my first-hand experience. Just drop me a line below!
