FAQs

What is Platform Engineering University?

Platform Engineering University is the leading education and certification provider focused on the discipline of platform engineering - from foundational concepts to building enterprise-grade Internal Developer Platforms (IDPs) and scaling them.

Who are the courses designed for?

The courses cater to a range of profiles, including:

• Anyone wanting to upskill in platform engineering
• Engineering managers, directors or platform leads wanting to understand strategy, adoption, ROI.
• Teams or organizations that want to train multiple members (group bundles)

How are the courses structured?

We offer two distinct categories of courses designed to cater to different learning preferences and professional development needs:

Certification courses:

These are premium, paid offerings that provide a comprehensive, instructor-led learning experience. Our certification courses blend the best of both worlds, incorporating interactive live sessions with our expert instructors and flexible on-demand content. This hybrid approach allows for real-time engagement and Q&A, while also providing the convenience of self-paced study to accommodate diverse schedules. Upon passing the exam, participants receive a valuable certification, validating their acquired skills and knowledge in a specific domain.

Free specialty courses:

For those looking to explore specific topics or enhance their skills without a financial commitment, our free specialty courses are an excellent option. These courses are delivered entirely on-demand, offering complete flexibility for learners to progress at their own pace, anytime and anywhere. While these courses do not lead to a formal certification, they are meticulously designed to provide in-depth knowledge and practical insights into specialized areas, empowering individuals to expand their expertise and stay current with industry trends.

Which certification course should I take?

Platform Engineering Certified Practitioner

Best for everyone (engineers, architects, and technical leaders) who want to master the foundations.

Learn how to design an Internal Developer Platform, build golden paths, and drive adoption.

Ideal for:

- DevOps & SREs moving into platform roles

- Platform engineers designing or improving IDPs

- Engineering managers aligning teams around platform-as-a-product

Start here if you’re building or operating platforms and want practical frameworks.

Platform Engineering Certified Professional

For graduates of Practitioner ready to go deeper.

Focus on business impact, ROI, scaling to production, and advanced topics like security.

Ideal for:

- Senior platform engineers and leads

- Teams scaling existing platform initiatives

Choose this if you already understand the fundamentals and want to lead org-wide adoption.

Platform Engineering Certified Leader (or Leadership Bundle)

For Directors, VPs, and any kind of leaders shaping platform strategy.

Learn to align platform engineering with business goals, champion cultural transformation, governance and prove ROI.

Ideal for:

- Platform product managers and heads of platform

- Mid- and senior-level managers

- Executives responsible for long-term platform investment

Take the Leadership Bundle (Practitioner + Leader) if you’re defining, funding, or governing platform strategy at scale.

Platform Engineering Certified Architect

For graduates of Practitioner ready to go more technical.

Master the architectural foundations of any scalable, reliable and secure Kubernetes-based platform. 

Ideal for:

- Platform engineers

- Architects with focus on compliance and security

Choose this  for hands-on learning experience to implement compliance and security by design through best practices such as Policy as Code.

What prerequisite knowledge or tools do I need?

You will always find prerequisites on the course detail page before you sign up.

Some paid certificate courses require basic understanding of concepts and technologies like Infrastructure as Code, Terraform, Kubernetes etc.

Are all courses live?

No. Many of our courses are self-paced and fully on-demand, allowing you to start anytime and learn at your own pace. Others are offered in live cohorts with scheduled sessions. Some combine both formats. Recordings are provided for all live sessions, so you’ll never miss important content.

How does certification work?

Certification courses include final exams. Successfully completing these earns you an official certificate from Platform Engineering University valid for 12 months.

Will I receive a certificate or badge?

Yes. For free courses you will receive a digital completion badge, for paid certification courses you will get a digital certificate and badge after passing the exam.

What do I need to take part in a course?

All you need is a computer with internet access and a modern web browser. There's no need for specialized hardware or paid tools. Should a course require specific tooling, we will provide it through a Cloud Development Environment (CDE). This guarantees a consistent experience for all students, eliminating "works on my machine" issues.

What payment methods are accepted?

We accept major credit cards and other common online payment methods. Organizations can also request invoices and pay by bank transfer.

Can organizations enroll multiple people?

Yes. We offer team bundles and enterprise training options. Contact us at certifications@platformengineering.org for group pricing and custom solutions.

What is the refund or cancellation policy?

We currently don’t offer refunds after enrollment, but you can transfer your seat to a future cohort if needed.

Is there a community for learners?

Yes. Many of our courses include access to a dedicated Slack workspace where you can ask questions, network with peers, and interact with instructors and alumni.

What happens after I complete a course?

Graduates gain access to alumni channels, community resources, and exclusive updates. Many learners continue with advanced certifications or specialized modules.

Are the courses vendor-neutral?

Yes. Our curriculum focuses on platform engineering principles, frameworks, and best practices - not on any single vendor’s product. While we do talk about specific products occasionally, it comes always with the balance of comparables mentioned. While we do mention specific products from time to time, we always ensure a balanced comparison with similar alternatives.