Infrastructure
Automation Certifications
HashiCorp’s Infrastructure Automation certification program has two levels: Work up to the advanced Terraform Authoring and Operations Professional Certification by starting with the foundational Terraform Associate certification. The Associate certification validates your knowledge of basic concepts and skills associated with Terraform. Then, continue your certification journey with the Professional hands-on, lab-based exam to validate your years of Terraform production experience.
Terraform Associate (003)
Terraform Associate 003 will be replaced by a new version, (004), on January 8, 2026. Compare the differences between the (003) and (004) exam versions below. The Terraform Associate certification is for Cloud Engineers specializing in operations, IT, or development who know the basic concepts and skills associated with Terraform. You understand what Terraform Enterprise features exist and can differentiate between Terraform Enterprise and Community Edition. You will be best prepared for this exam if you have professional experience using Terraform in production, but performing the exam objectives in a personal demo environment may be sufficient.
Terraform Associate (003) Details
The Terraform Associate 003 exam will be replaced by the Terraform Associate 004 exam version on January 8, 2026.
- December 9, 2025: Advance scheduling for Terraform Associate 004 begins.
- January 5, 2026: Last day to schedule Terraform Associate 003.
- January 7, 2026: Last day to take Terraform Associate 003.
- If you take the (003) version at this time and fail, you will need to take the (004) version when you reattempt the exam.
- January 8, 2026: First day to take Terraform Associate 004. Terraform Associate 003 is now retired.
You can use either version of the exam to validate your Terraform knowledge at the associate level. Terraform Associate 003 is currently available, and the Terraform Associate 004 certification will launch on January 8, 2026. You can hold both the (003) and (004) at the same time.
- Terraform Associate 003: Exam available now.
- Terraform Associate 004: Coming January 8, 2026. The Terraform Associate 003 exam will no longer be available to take once Terraform Associate 004 is released.
- Basic terminal skills
- Basic understanding of on-premises and cloud architecture
| Assessment Type | Multiple choice |
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 1 hour |
| Price | $70.50 USD, plus locally applicable taxes and fees. Free retake not included. |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 2 years |
| 1 | Understand Infrastructure as Code (IaC) concepts |
| 1a | Explain what IaC is |
| 1b | Describe advantages of IaC patterns |
| 2 | Understand the purpose of Terraform (vs other IaC) |
| 2a | Explain multi-cloud and provider-agnostic benefits |
| 2b | Explain the benefits of state |
| 3 | Understand Terraform basics |
| 3a | Install and version Terraform providers |
| 3b | Describe plugin-based architecture |
| 3c | Write Terraform configuration using multiple providers |
| 3d | Describe how Terraform finds and fetches providers |
| 4 | Use Terraform outside the core workflow |
| 4a | Describe when to use terraform import to import existing infrastructure into your Terraform state |
| 4b | Use terraform state to view Terraform state |
| 4c | Describe when to enable verbose logging and what the outcome/value is |
| 5 | Interact with Terraform modules |
| 5a | Contrast and use different module source options including the public Terraform Module Registry |
| 5b | Interact with module inputs and outputs |
| 5c | Describe variable scope within modules/child modules |
| 5d | Set module version |
| 6 | Use the core Terraform workflow |
| 6a | Describe Terraform workflow ( Write -> Plan -> Create ) |
| 6b | Initialize a Terraform working directory (terraform init) |
| 6c | Validate a Terraform configuration (terraform validate) |
| 6d | Generate and review an execution plan for Terraform (terraform plan) |
| 6e | Execute changes to infrastructure with Terraform (terraform apply) |
| 6f | Destroy Terraform managed infrastructure (terraform destroy) |
| 6g | Apply formatting and style adjustments to a configuration (terraform fmt) |
| 7 | Implement and maintain state |
| 7a | Describe default local backend |
| 7b | Describe state locking |
| 7c | Handle backend and cloud integration authentication methods |
| 7d | Differentiate remote state back end options |
| 7e | Manage resource drift and Terraform state |
| 7f | Describe backend block and cloud integration in configuration |
| 7g | Understand secret management in state files |
| 8 | Read, generate, and modify configuration |
| 8a | Demonstrate use of variables and outputs |
| 8b | Describe secure secret injection best practice |
| 8c | Understand the use of collection and structural types |
| 8d | Create and differentiate resource and data configuration |
| 8e | Use resource addressing and resource parameters to connect resources together |
| 8f | Use HCL and Terraform functions to write configuration |
| 8g | Describe built-in dependency management (order of execution based) |
| 9 | Understand HCP Terraform capabilities |
| 9a | Explain how HCP Terraform helps to manage infrastructure |
| 9b | Describe how HCP Terraform enables collaboration and governance |
Review the rules and policies for taking HashiCorp certification exams.
Renew by passing a professional-level exam
Unexpired Terraform Associate credentials:
When you pass the Terraform Authoring and Operations Professional exam, you will receive the professional-level credentials (badge and corresponding certificate). You will also extend the expiration of your Terraform Associate credentials.
Renew by passing an associate-level exam
Unexpired Terraform Associate 002 credentials:
- You can take the current version of the Terraform Associate exam starting 6 months before your expiration date.
- You will receive a new, separate set of credentials that will reflect your recertification date.
- The expiration date of your existing Terraform Associate 002 credentials will not be updated.
Unexpired Terraform Associate 003 credentials:
- You can retake the Terraform Associate 003 exam starting 6 months before your expiration date to extend your (003) expiration date.
Have expired Terraform Associate credentials?
- You are eligible to recertify at any time by passing the current version of the Terraform Associate exam.
- You will receive a new, separate set of credentials with a new expiration date.
For questions about how Terraform Associate 004 impacts your recertification, contact certifications@hashicorp.com.
Learn more about recertification in our Knowledgebase.
We updated the Terraform Associate from version 002 to 003 in 2023 to account for how Terraform had grown. The changes were primarily a reorganization and rewording of the 002 exam objectives. More significant changes are listed below.
| # | Objective Description | Status in Terraform Associate 003 |
|---|---|---|
| 3e | Explain when to use and not use provisioners and when to use local-exec or remote-exec | REMOVED |
| 4 | Use Terraform outside of core workflow | terraform taint removed, other topics reorganized |
| 6b | Initialize a Terraform working directory (terraform init) | Includes questions about terraform.lock.hcl |
| 7 | Implement and maintain state | Cloud integration authentication, and cloud backends added |
| 8a | Demonstrate use of variables and outputs | Covers sensitive variables and outputs' relationship to exposure on the CLI |
| 8g | dynamic block | Use cases for dynamic block are still tested in objective 8 |
| 9 | Understand HCP Terraform capabilities | Restructured to accommodate the current and future state of HCP Terraform |
Terraform Associate (004)
Terraform Associate 004 will replace the current version, (003), on January 8, 2026. Compare the differences between the (003) and (004) exam versions below. The Terraform Associate certification is for Cloud Engineers specializing in operations, IT, or development who know the basic concepts and skills associated with Terraform. You understand what Terraform Enterprise features exist and can differentiate between Terraform Enterprise and Community Edition. You will be best prepared for this exam if you have professional experience using Terraform in production, but performing the exam objectives in a personal demo environment may be sufficient.
Terraform Associate (004) Details
The Terraform Associate 003 exam will be replaced by the Terraform Associate 004 exam version on January 8, 2026.
- December 9, 2025: Advance scheduling for Terraform Associate 004 begins.
- January 5, 2026: Last day to schedule Terraform Associate 003.
- January 7, 2026: Last day to take Terraform Associate 003.
- If you take the (003) version at this time and fail, you will need to take the (004) version when you reattempt the exam.
- January 8, 2026: First day to take Terraform Associate 004. Terraform Associate 003 is now retired.
You can use either version of the exam to validate your Terraform knowledge at the associate level. Terraform Associate 003 is currently available, and the Terraform Associate 004 certification will launch on January 8, 2026. You can hold both the Terraform Associate 003 and Terraform Associate 004 at the same time.
- Terraform Associate 003: Exam available now.
- Terraform Associate 004: Coming January 8, 2026. The Terraform Associate 003 exam will no longer be available to take once Terraform Associate 004 is released.
Exam updates summary:
- Four new topics
- Tests on Terraform version 1.12
- Includes HCP Terraform content
New topics covered in (004):
- 4f:
depends_onandcreate_before_destroylifecycle rules - 4g: Validate configuration using custom conditions
- 4h: Ephemeral values and write-only arguments
- 8c: Describe how to organize and use HCP Terraform workspaces and projects
- Basic terminal skills
- Basic understanding of on-premises and cloud architecture
| Assessment Type | Multiple choice |
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 1 hour |
| Price | $70.50 USD, plus locally applicable taxes and fees. Free retake not included. |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 2 years |
| Release Date | January 8, 2026 |
| 1 | Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Terraform |
| 1a | Explain what IaC is |
| 1b | Describe the advantages of IaC patterns |
| 1c | Explain how Terraform manages multi-cloud, hybrid cloud, and service-agnostic workflows |
| 2 | Terraform fundamentals |
| 2a | Install and version Terraform providers |
| 2b | Describe how Terraform uses providers |
| 2c | Write Terraform configuration using multiple providers |
| 2d | Explain how Terraform uses and manages state |
| 3 | Core Terraform workflow |
| 3a | Describe the Terraform workflow |
| 3b | Initialize a Terraform working directory |
| 3c | Validate a Terraform configuration |
| 3d | Generate and review an execution plan for Terraform |
| 3e | Apply changes to infrastructure with Terraform |
| 3f | Destroy Terraform-managed infrastructure |
| 3g | Apply formatting and style adjustments to a configuration |
| 4 | Terraform configuration |
| 4a | Use and differentiate resource and data blocks |
| 4b | Refer to resource attributes and create cross-resource references |
| 4c | Use variables and outputs |
| 4d | Understand and use complex types |
| 4e | Write dynamic configuration using expressions and functions |
| 4f | Define resource dependencies in configuration |
| 4g | Validate configuration using custom conditions |
| 4h | Understand best practices for managing sensitive data, including secrets management with Vault |
| 5 | Terraform modules |
| 5a | Explain how Terraform sources modules |
| 5b | Describe variable scope within modules |
| 5c | Use modules in configuration |
| 5d | Manage module versions |
| 6 | Terraform state management |
| 6a | Describe the local backend |
| 6b | Describe state locking |
| 6c | Configure remote state using the backend block |
| 6d | Manage resource drift and Terraform state |
| 7 | Maintain infrastructure with Terraform |
| 7a | Import existing infrastructure into your Terraform workspace |
| 7b | Use the CLI to inspect state |
| 7c | Describe when and how to use verbose logging |
| 8 | HCP Terraform |
| 8a | Use HCP Terraform to create infrastructure |
| 8b | Describe HCP Terraform collaboration and governance features |
| 8c | Describe how to organize and use HCP Terraform workspaces and projects |
| 8d | Configure and use HCP Terraform integration |
Review the rules and policies for taking HashiCorp certification exams.
Terraform Authoring and Operations Professional
The Terraform Authoring and Operations Professional exam is a lab-based exam for Cloud Engineers focused on developing Terraform configuration and using it to manage infrastructure over time. You are well-qualified to take this exam if you hold the Terraform Associate Certification (or equivalent knowledge), have extensive production experience with Terraform Community Edition, Terraform Enterprise, or HCP Terraform, develop modules and organization standards to enable other users, and use Terraform to manage your own infrastructure resources, as well as enable others with varying levels of Terraform expertise to use Terraform effectively.
Terraform Authoring and Operations Professional Details
This exam assesses both advanced configuration authoring and a deep understanding of Terraform workflows. Earning this credential reflects that the practitioner has professional-level expertise in both domains. We strongly recommend that you pass the associate-level Terraform exam before taking the professional-level exam. The professional-level exam is intended for practitioners who have extensive experience with Terraform in a production environment, and understand the concepts covered in the associate exam.
- Experience using the Terraform AWS Provider in a production environment
- HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate Certification (recommended)
- Linux skills, such as the ability to list and edit files via command terminal
- Experience using cloud credentials
- Familiarity with YAML, JSON, HCL, and CSV formats
- Understanding of the networking stack and networking protocols, including TCP/IP and UDP
- Advanced configuration authoring and a deep understanding of Terraform workflows
| Assessment Type | Lab-based and multiple choice |
| Format | Online proctored |
| Duration | 4 hours; 15-min break included |
| Price | $295 USD, plus locally applicable taxes and fees. Includes free retake. |
| Language | English |
| Expiration | 2 years |
| Cloud Provider | AWS |
| 1 | Manage resource lifecycle |
| 1a | Initialize a configuration using terraform init and its options |
| 1b | Generate an execution plan using terraform plan and its options |
| 1c | Apply configuration changes using terraform apply and its options |
| 1d | Destroy resources using terraform destroy and its options |
| 1e | Manage resource state, including importing resources and reconciling resource drift |
| 2 | Develop and troubleshoot dynamic configuration |
| 2a | Use language features to validate configuration |
| 2b | Query providers using data sources |
| 2c | Compute and interpolate data using HCL functions |
| 2d | Use meta-arguments in configuration |
| 2e | Configure input variables and outputs, including complex types |
| 2f | Analyze best practices for managing sensitive data, such as using Vault for secrets management |
| 3 | Develop collaborative Terraform workflows |
| 3a | Manage the Terraform binary, providers, and modules using version constraints |
| 3b | Configure remote state |
| 3c | Use the Terraform workflow in automation |
| 3d | Share data across configurations and workspaces |
| 4 | Create, maintain, and use Terraform modules |
| 4a | Create a module |
| 4b | Use a module in configuration |
| 4c | Refactor a module and use module versioning |
| 4d | Refactor an existing configuration into modules |
| 5 | Configure and use Terraform providers |
| 5a | Understand Terraform's plugin-based architecture |
| 5b | Configure providers, including aliasing, versioning, sourcing, and managing upgrades |
| 5c | Manage provider authentication |
| 5d | Troubleshoot provider errors |
| 6 | Collaborate on infrastructure as code using HCP Terraform |
| 6a | Analyze the HCP Terraform run workflow |
| 6b | Understand HCP Terraform workspaces and their configuration options, including access management |
| 6c | Manage provider credentials in HCP Terraform |
| 6d | Analyze policy as code and governance features |
This performance-based exam contains labs that must be completed in a virtual environment along with a shorter multiple-choice section. During the lab scenarios, you will be tested on performing real-world Terraform tasks using the command line, cloud providers' (AWS) UI, and text editors. You will have access to Terraform documentation, AWS cloud provider documentation, and limited Registry access.
Review the requirements and policies for taking exams.
To renew your certification, you will need to take and pass the Terraform Authoring & Operations Professional exam again.
If you hold an unexpired Terraform Professional certification: You can take the exam again starting 18 months after your previous exam date. When you pass the exam, the expiration date on your credentials will be extended.
If you hold an expired Terraform Professional certification: You are eligible to recertify at any time. When you pass the exam again, you will receive a new, separate set of credentials with a new expiration date.
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