Drupal 10 & 11 Certification: Which Acquia Exam Is Right for You?

Drupal 10 and Drupal 11 have raised the bar for performance, security, and modern web development. As organizations increasingly rely on Drupal for complex and high-traffic websites, the need for proven Drupal expertise has never been greater. Acquia's official Drupal certification program offers multiple role-based exams - but choosing the right one can be confusing without a clear understanding of what each certification represents.

Understanding the Acquia Drupal Certification Track

Acquia offers a role-based certification track, meaning each exam targets a specific job role within the Drupal ecosystem. All certifications support Drupal 10 and Drupal 11 and are available in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, French, and Spanish.

The four main certifications are:

●Acquia Certified Site Builder

●Acquia Certified Developer

●Acquia Certified Front End Specialist

●Acquia Certified Back End Specialist

Let's explore each one and who should take it.

Acquia Certified Site Builder – Drupal 10/11

Best for: Content managers, site builders, and non-developers

If you work primarily in the Drupal admin interface and build sites without heavy custom code, this is the perfect starting point.

This exam is right for you if you:

●Create content types, views, and menus

●Configure site settings and displays

●Install and manage contributed modules and themes

●Handle basic security and performance tasks

Skills Validated

●Understanding Drupal core concepts

●Content modeling and site structure

●Site configuration and display

●Module and theme management

Security and performance fundamentals

This certification is ideal for beginners and functional Drupal professionals.

Acquia Certified Developer – Drupal 10/11

Best for: Full-stack Drupal developers

The Acquia Certified Developer exam is designed for professionals who both build sites and write custom code.

This exam is right for you if you:

●Develop custom modules and themes

●Work with Drupal APIs

●Customize site functionality

●Understand both front-end and back-end development

Exam Focus Areas

●Fundamental web development concepts

●Site building with Drupal

●Front-end theming

●Back-end coding and customization

This certification is best suited for developers who want a well-rounded Drupal credential.

Acquia Certified Front End Specialist - Drupal 10/11

Best for: Front-end developers and theming specialists

If your focus is on how Drupal looks and feels, this certification targets your strengths.

This exam is right for you if you:

●Build and customize Drupal themes

●Work with Twig templates and preprocess functions

●Configure layouts and responsive designs

●Optimize front-end performance

Key Skills Tested

●Web development fundamentals (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)

●Drupal theming concepts

●Templates and preprocess logic

●Layout configuration

●Performance and security basics

This certification is ideal for UI/UX-focused Drupal professionals.

Acquia Certified Back End Specialist – Drupal 10/11

Best for: Senior developers and Drupal architects

The Back End Specialist exam validates advanced technical knowledge of Drupal’s internal systems.

This exam is right for you if you:

●Work extensively with Drupal Core APIs

●Debug complex issues

●Optimize performance and scalability

●Implement security best practices

●Contribute to or leverage the Drupal community

Skills Validated

●Drupal Core API mastery

●Debugging and troubleshooting

●Theme integration

●Performance optimization

●Security hardening

●Community tools and best practices

This is the best choice for experienced, back-end-focused Drupal developers.

How to Choose the Right Acquia Drupal Certification

Ask yourself these questions:

Do I mostly configure Drupal sites? → Site Builder 

Do I code on both front end and back end? → Certified Developer 

Do I focus on themes and UI? → Front End Specialist 

Do I specialize in Drupal internals and APIs? → Back End Specialist

You can also progress naturally: Site Builder → Developer → Front End or Back End Specialist

Acquia's Drupal 10 & 11 certifications provide a clear, trusted pathway for Drupal professionals at every stage of their careers. Choosing the right exam ensures your certification aligns with your real-world role, making it more valuable to employers and clients.