Developer Certification Role
Who this role is for
Section titled “Who this role is for”The Developer role is for engineers who write code against Optimizely APIs, SDKs, and platform extension points. You might be a front-end developer building headless experiences with Graph, a back-end engineer extending CMS PaaS with custom .NET code, or a full-stack developer integrating feature flags into a deployment pipeline. You solve problems with code.
What Developer exams test
Section titled “What Developer exams test”Developer exams emphasize code-based assessment. You are expected to demonstrate:
- API and SDK usage — Writing correct API calls, Graph queries, and SDK integrations.
- Content type development — Defining and extending content models in CMS SaaS or CMS PaaS.
- Feature flag implementation — Implementing feature flags, managing flag lifecycle, and targeting rules.
- Front-end integration — Connecting front-end frameworks to Optimizely services (CMS, experimentation, commerce).
- Testing and debugging — Writing tests for Optimizely integrations, debugging API responses, and troubleshooting SDK behavior.
At Core and Advanced tiers, you write real code in a sandboxed environment. The exam provides a codebase with tasks to complete — implementing a feature, fixing a bug, or extending an integration.
Available certifications
Section titled “Available certifications”| Track | Foundation | Core | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMS SaaS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CMS PaaS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Web Experimentation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Feature Experimentation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Configured Commerce | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ODP | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Graph | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Developers have access to all tiers across all tracks. Advanced exams require solving complex implementation problems under time pressure.
Recommended learning path
Section titled “Recommended learning path”- Start with the Foundation in your primary product — If you work with CMS daily, start with CMS SaaS or CMS PaaS Foundation. If you work with feature flags, start with Feature Experimentation Foundation.
- Add Graph Foundation — Most developer workflows involve content delivery through Graph.
- Progress to Core in your primary track — The Core exam tests your ability to write working code.
- Add Feature Experimentation Core — Feature flags are a cross-cutting concern for every developer.
- Pursue Advanced certifications — Advanced exams validate your ability to handle production-grade complexity.
Preparing for exams
Section titled “Preparing for exams”- Write code. The learning paths include hands-on labs — complete every one.
- Study the API reference and SDK documentation for your track.
- Build a small project that integrates the Optimizely product you are certifying in.
- Core exams require 12-20 hours of preparation including significant coding practice.
- Advanced exams require 30+ hours and real project experience.