If you’ve been wondering how to actually become a HubSpot Certified Developer and what that even means for your career, you’ve landed in the right place. Getting certified can seriously boost your professional game, opening doors to new opportunities, better projects, and even a fatter paycheck. It’s a fantastic way to show off your skills in building custom solutions on the HubSpot platform, and honestly, , that’s a huge deal. This guide is going to walk you through everything, from understanding the different certifications to prepping for the exams and what you can expect afterward. Think of it as your personal roadmap to becoming a HubSpot development pro.
So, what exactly is a HubSpot Developer Certification? Well, it’s basically HubSpot’s way of saying, “Hey, this person really knows their stuff when it comes to building and customizing on our platform.” It’s a comprehensive program designed to test your knowledge and skills in creating custom integrations, unique modules, and cool applications within the HubSpot ecosystem.
Who is this for? If you’re someone who’s already comfortable with web development basics like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and you’re looking to specialize in a platform that’s super popular with businesses, then this certification is definitely for you. It’s about showing that you’re not just a generic developer, but someone who can specifically leverage HubSpot’s tools to solve real-world problems for clients.
The big picture here is that by getting certified, you can really make yourself stand out in a crowded job market. It tells potential employers and clients that you have a verified, in-depth understanding of HubSpot’s development environment, which can totally increase your earning potential.
Why Get Certified? The Benefits for Developers
Now, you might be thinking, “Do I really need another certification?” And I get it, but trust me, a HubSpot Developer Certification brings some serious perks to the table. It’s not just a fancy badge. it’s a solid investment in your career.
Boost Your Credibility and Recognition
First off, getting certified instantly boosts your credibility. It’s like having a seal of approval from HubSpot itself. When clients or employers see that you’re certified, they know you’ve met a certain standard of expertise. This can really set you apart in the industry and make you a more attractive candidate for projects and job roles. It shows you’re serious about your craft and committed to staying updated with the platform.
Command Higher Salaries and Rates
Let’s talk money. One of the most tangible benefits is the potential to increase your earning potential. Certified HubSpot developers often command higher salaries and rates, whether you’re working in-house or as a freelance developer. Companies are willing to pay more for proven expertise, especially for specialized skills in a platform as widely used as HubSpot. We’ll get into some salary specifics a bit later, but generally, certifications like this can give your income a healthy bump.
Unlock Exclusive Opportunities and Networking
Becoming certified can also open doors to exclusive resources, networking opportunities, and even job leads. HubSpot has a pretty active developer community, and being certified can connect you with other pros, allowing you to share knowledge, collaborate on projects, and discover opportunities you might not find elsewhere. It’s like joining a special club where everyone speaks your language and is passionate about HubSpot.
Stay Ahead with the Latest HubSpot Features
HubSpot is always , adding new features and improving its tools. Getting certified, and then keeping that certification active, means you’re constantly staying up-to-date with the latest changes and best practices. This isn’t just about passing a test. it’s about continuous learning and making sure you can leverage the full power of the platform for your clients. This ongoing education keeps your skills sharp and relevant.
Build Custom Solutions with Confidence
Finally, a developer certification equips you with the confidence and skills to build truly custom solutions. We’re talking about everything from designing responsive websites and creating unique email templates to developing custom modules and setting up complex integrations. This means you’re not just tweaking existing elements, but you’re actually crafting bespoke experiences that perfectly fit a business’s needs, maximizing their HubSpot investment.
Types of HubSpot Developer Certifications
When we talk about HubSpot developer certifications, there isn’t just one blanket “developer” cert. HubSpot focuses on different areas, which makes sense because development within a platform like HubSpot can cover a lot of ground. The main one you’ll hear about for developers is centered around their CMS.
HubSpot CMS for Developers Certification
This is the big one if you’re serious about building on HubSpot. The HubSpot CMS for Developers Certification is all about getting you skilled in building and managing websites directly on the HubSpot Content Management System. It’s not just about drag-and-drop. it’s about getting under the hood.
To ace this, you’ll need to get cozy with:
- HubL HubSpot Markup Language: This is HubSpot’s own templating language, and you’ll use it to create dynamic and personalized content. It’s crucial for any custom development on the CMS.
- HTML, CSS, and JavaScript: These are your fundamental web development building blocks, and you’ll be using them extensively to create custom modules, themes, and templates.
- Custom Modules and Themes: You’ll learn how to build these from scratch, which lets you create reusable components and consistent branding across a website.
- HubDB and Custom Objects: These allow you to store and display dynamic data on your HubSpot-hosted pages, which is super powerful for things like product catalogs or event listings.
The exam for the CMS for Developers Certification typically has around 40 questions and takes about 40 minutes to complete. You usually need to answer 30 questions correctly to pass, and if you don’t pass on your first try, there’s typically a 12-hour waiting period before you can retake it. Keep in mind, this certification also often includes a practical test or assignments where you demonstrate your actual coding skills, not just theoretical knowledge.
HubSpot API Certification / Custom Integration Accreditation Understanding the Landscape
While there isn’t a standalone “HubSpot API Certification” in the same way there is for the CMS, understanding and working with HubSpot’s API is a critical skill for any HubSpot developer. In fact, HubSpot offers a “Custom Integration Accreditation” for partners who build custom integration solutions for clients using HubSpot’s developer tools. This accreditation is a testament to deep API knowledge, even if it’s not a public certification everyone can take in the same way.
What does this mean for you? Even without a specific certification, you’ll want to hone your API skills. This includes:
- Understanding API Endpoints: Knowing how to interact with different parts of HubSpot marketing, sales, customer service data through their APIs.
- Authentication: Getting familiar with OAuth and API keys for secure connections.
- Data Syncing, Automation, and Webhooks: Learning how to move data efficiently between HubSpot and other systems, trigger actions, and respond to events.
Many developer jobs that involve HubSpot will explicitly look for API experience, as integrating HubSpot with other business tools is a common and valuable task. So, while you might not get a certificate specifically titled “HubSpot API Certified,” mastering the API is absolutely essential for advanced HubSpot development.
A quick note on other certifications: While HubSpot Academy offers many general certifications like Inbound Marketing, Sales Software, etc., these are generally aimed at marketers, sales professionals, or service reps rather than developers focused on building custom code. Developers often benefit from a basic understanding of these areas, but the “CMS for Developers” is the core technical certification.
What Skills Do You Need?
you’re thinking about jumping into HubSpot development. What kind of skills should you be sharpening? It’s more than just knowing a bit of code. it’s about understanding how to build smart, efficient, and user-friendly solutions within the HubSpot platform.
Core Web Development Languages
This is your foundation. You absolutely need to be proficient in:
- HTML: The backbone of any webpage. You’ll use it to structure content on HubSpot templates and modules.
- CSS: This is how you make things look good! Styling pages, ensuring responsiveness, and making sure everything aligns with a brand’s visual identity.
- JavaScript: For all the interactive elements and dynamic functionality. Whether it’s form validation or custom animations, JavaScript is key.
A strong grasp of these three means you can craft clean, maintainable code that works well across different browsers and devices.
HubSpot’s Templating Language: HubL
This one is unique to HubSpot, and it’s a must-have. HubL HubSpot Markup Language is how you create dynamic content within the HubSpot platform. Think of it as a bridge between your standard HTML/CSS and HubSpot’s data. You’ll use it for variables, loops, conditionals, and pulling in content from HubSpot’s various tools. The better you understand HubL, the more powerful and personalized experiences you can build.
Experience with HubSpot CMS and Design Tools
It’s one thing to know the languages, but another to know how they apply within HubSpot. You’ll need practical experience working with the HubSpot CMS itself and its Design Tools. This means knowing how to:
- Create and edit custom modules.
- Build themes and templates.
- Work with HubDB for dynamic content.
- Understand the folder structure and best practices for organizing your development assets.
Practice, practice, practice in a HubSpot developer account or sandbox environment is key here.
Knowledge of APIs and Integrations
As mentioned earlier, even without a specific API certification, deep knowledge of HubSpot’s APIs is crucial. Developers are often tasked with connecting HubSpot to other systems—CRMs, e-commerce platforms, marketing automation tools, you name it. You’ll need to understand how to:
- Make API calls to fetch or send data.
- Handle authentication like OAuth.
- Work with webhooks for real-time data updates.
- Troubleshoot integration issues.
Being able to build seamless integrations adds immense value to any business using HubSpot.
Web Design and Responsive Design Principles
While you might not be a dedicated designer, a good HubSpot developer also understands web design principles and, critically, responsive design. This means building websites that look and function great on any device, from a huge desktop monitor to a tiny smartphone screen. Accessibility standards are also something to keep in mind, ensuring your creations are usable by everyone.
Problem-Solving, Communication, and Collaboration
Beyond the technical stuff, “soft skills” are super important. You’ll be solving complex technical challenges and often working with marketing and sales teams who might not speak “developer.” Strong problem-solving skills help you debug issues and create innovative solutions. Excellent communication and collaboration skills ensure you can translate business needs into technical requirements and work effectively with cross-functional teams.
Familiarity with the Broader HubSpot Platform
Finally, while your focus might be on development, having a basic understanding of HubSpot’s other hubs – like the CRM, Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, and Service Hub – can be incredibly helpful. It allows you to understand the bigger picture of how your development work fits into a client’s overall inbound strategy and how it impacts their marketing and sales efforts.
Preparing for Your Certification: Your Roadmap to Success
you’re ready to get certified. That’s awesome! The good news is HubSpot makes it pretty straightforward to prepare, and a lot of the best resources are completely free.
HubSpot Academy: Your Go-To Resource
Seriously, HubSpot Academy is your best friend here. It’s HubSpot’s official training platform, and it offers a ton of free online courses specifically designed to get you up to speed.
- Expert-Led Courses: The courses are taught by HubSpot’s own experts, so you know you’re getting information directly from the source.
- Video Lessons, Quizzes, and Practical Exercises: They break down complex topics into digestible video lessons, reinforce your learning with quizzes after each section, and give you practical exercises to apply what you’ve learned. This interactive approach is super effective.
- Self-Paced Learning: You can go at your own pace, which is great if you’re balancing this with a job or other commitments.
For the CMS for Developers Certification, you’ll find dedicated courses that cover everything from getting started with the HubSpot CMS and mastering HubL to building templates, modules, and themes.
Hands-On Experience: The Best Teacher
Watching videos is one thing, but actually doing it is another. Hands-on experience is arguably the most crucial part of your preparation.
- Build Custom Modules and Templates: Practice creating these repeatedly. The more you build, the more comfortable you’ll become with HubL and the HubSpot Design Tools.
- Work on Real-World Projects: If you can, try to get involved in actual HubSpot projects. This could be for a client, a personal project, or even helping out a non-profit. Real-world challenges cement your learning in a way no theoretical lesson can.
- Utilize a Free HubSpot Developer Account: You can sign up for a free HubSpot account, which is perfect for experimenting and building without affecting a live client site. This sandbox environment is invaluable for testing out your code and getting familiar with the platform’s interface.
Practice Exams and Quizzes
As you go through the HubSpot Academy courses, make sure you’re actually taking the quizzes seriously. They’re designed to test your understanding. For the final certification exam, look for any practice questions or study guides that might be available. Knowing the format and types of questions to expect can really help calm those exam day nerves. The CMS for Developers exam includes multiple-choice questions and often practical elements.
Join the HubSpot Developer Community
Don’t go it alone! Engage with the HubSpot developer community. This could be official HubSpot forums, LinkedIn groups, or even local HubSpot User Groups HUGs.
- Ask Questions: If you’re stuck on a particular concept or a piece of code, chances are someone else has faced the same issue.
- Learn from Others: See how other developers are approaching problems and staying up-to-date.
- Networking: These connections can lead to future collaborations or even job opportunities.
By combining the structured learning from HubSpot Academy with plenty of hands-on practice and community engagement, you’ll be well on your way to earning that certification.
The Certification Exam Experience
So you’ve studied hard, you’ve practiced your coding, and you’re feeling ready. What’s it actually like to take one of these HubSpot developer certification exams? Let’s break it down.
Exam Format and Content
For the HubSpot CMS for Developers Certification, the exam usually consists of around 40 multiple-choice questions. But here’s the kicker that makes it truly a developer certification: it also often includes practical assignments or a hands-on project. This isn’t just about memorizing facts. it’s about proving you can actually do the work. For instance, you might be asked to build a specific template or module following certain guidelines.
The content covers all the things we talked about in the “What Skills Do You Need?” section: HubL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript as applied to the HubSpot CMS, custom module creation, themes, templates, HubDB, and responsive design.
Time Limits and Passing Scores
Each certification has its own specific rules, but typically for the CMS for Developers exam:
- Time Limit: You usually get about 40 minutes to complete the multiple-choice section. However, some sources also mention a general 3-hour window for HubSpot exams, so it’s always best to double-check the specific exam details when you start.
- Passing Score: You’ll generally need to get around 70% to 80% of the questions correct to pass. For the CMS Developer exam, specifically, it’s often stated as needing 30 out of 40 questions correct.
Retake Policy
Don’t worry if you don’t pass on your first try! It happens to the best of us. HubSpot understands this, so they usually have a generous retake policy. For most certifications, if you don’t pass, you can retake the exam after a 12-hour waiting period. This gives you a chance to review what you got wrong and brush up on those areas before giving it another shot.
Validity Period and Renewal
These certifications aren’t a one-and-done deal forever. HubSpot constantly updates its platform, so your certification is typically valid for one year. To keep your certified status, you’ll need to renew it annually by retaking the exam. This ensures that certified developers are always knowledgeable about the latest features and best practices on the platform. It’s a great way to commit to continuous learning.
My advice for the exam? Take your time, read each question carefully, and if there’s a practical component, make sure you follow all the instructions precisely. And, of course, double-check your answers before you hit submit!
Career Opportunities and Salary Expectations
Getting certified as a HubSpot developer isn’t just about beefing up your resume. it really does open up some solid career paths and can significantly impact your earning potential. So, what kind of jobs are out there, and how much can you expect to make?
Job Opportunities for HubSpot Certified Developers
The demand for skilled HubSpot developers is definitely on the rise. As more and more businesses adopt HubSpot for their marketing, sales, and customer service operations, they need developers who can customize the platform to fit their unique needs.
You’ll find roles with titles like:
- HubSpot Developer: This is a pretty straightforward title, focusing on all aspects of development within the HubSpot ecosystem.
- HubSpot CMS Developer: Specifically focused on building and maintaining websites, landing pages, and blogs on the HubSpot CMS.
- Web Developer with HubSpot Expertise: Many general web developer roles will prioritize candidates with specific HubSpot experience.
- Marketing Technologist/Operations Specialist with Dev Skills: These roles might involve a blend of technical development and strategic marketing ops within HubSpot.
- Freelance HubSpot Developer/Consultant: Many certified developers work independently, offering their expertise to various clients.
These roles often involve developing custom themes, templates, and modules, integrating HubSpot with other third-party systems using APIs, optimizing website performance, and ensuring responsive design across all devices.
Salary Expectations
Now for the exciting part: how much can you actually earn? Being a HubSpot certified developer can indeed lead to a lucrative career.
According to recent industry reports as of late 2024/early 2025 data, the average salary for a HubSpot developer in the United States is generally around $75,000 to $80,000 per year.
However, this number can vary quite a bit based on a few key factors:
- Experience Level:
- Entry-level HubSpot developers can typically expect to earn somewhere in the $50,000 to $60,000 range per year.
- As you gain more experience, especially becoming a senior developer, your salary can easily climb upwards of $100,000 per year.
- The top 10% of HubSpot developers are reported to earn over $130,000 annually, making it a really strong career choice for those with advanced skills and experience.
- Location: Like with any tech job, where you live plays a big role. For instance, a HubSpot developer in California might see an average hourly pay of $52.15, while the national average is around $52.84. Major tech hubs or areas with high demand often offer higher compensation.
- Specific Skills: If you have specialized skills, like deep expertise in HubSpot API integrations, complex HubL development, or a strong portfolio of high-performance CMS projects, you can command a higher salary. Certifications definitely add to this.
- Company Type: Working for a large agency, a HubSpot Solutions Partner, or directly for a company with a significant HubSpot investment might offer different salary structures compared to working for a smaller business or as a freelancer.
Looking at hourly rates, the average for a HubSpot Developer in the US is around $52.84 per hour. But remember, this can range from around $40.38 to $64.66 for the majority, with some going as high as $81.73 or even higher for specialized roles.
In short, a HubSpot developer certification isn’t just about learning. it’s about positioning yourself for a rewarding career with significant growth and earning potential in a rapidly expanding field.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the HubSpot Developer Certification?
The HubSpot Developer Certification is a program that validates your skills in building custom solutions, integrations, modules, and applications on the HubSpot platform. It’s designed for developers who are proficient in languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and HubL, and it helps you show off your expertise in the HubSpot ecosystem.
Are HubSpot developer certifications free?
Yes, generally, most individual HubSpot certifications, including the developer ones like the CMS for Developers Certification, are free through HubSpot Academy. You get access to all the learning materials, video lessons, quizzes, and the exam itself without any cost. This makes them incredibly valuable for career development.
How long does it take to get a HubSpot Developer Certification?
The time it takes can vary depending on your existing knowledge and how much time you dedicate to studying and practicing. For example, the HubSpot CMS for Developers Certification course content itself might take a few hours to go through some sources say 3-4 hours of content, but that doesn’t include the time you’ll spend on hands-on practice, reviewing materials, and preparing for the practical components of the exam. Many people complete it within a few weeks or months, fitting it around their other commitments.
What technical skills are essential for a HubSpot Developer?
You absolutely need a strong foundation in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Beyond those, HubL HubSpot’s templating language is critical for any custom development on the platform. Familiarity with HubSpot’s CMS and Design Tools, and a good understanding of APIs for integrations, are also must-haves. Responsive design principles and problem-solving skills are super important too. Mastering HubSpot User Management: Deactivating, Removing, and Deleting Accounts
Do HubSpot certifications expire?
Yes, HubSpot certifications typically have an expiration date. Most individual certifications are valid for one year. To maintain your certified status and ensure you’re up-to-date with the latest platform features, you’ll need to retake the exam and renew your certification annually.
How much can a HubSpot Certified Developer earn?
The salary for a HubSpot Certified Developer varies based on experience, location, and specific skills. In the United States, the average salary for a HubSpot developer is around $75,000 to $80,000 per year. Entry-level roles might start around $50,000-$60,000, while experienced senior developers can earn upwards of $100,000, with the top 10% potentially exceeding $130,000 annually. Hourly rates average around $52.84.
Is there a specific certification for HubSpot CRM development or API development?
While there isn’t a standalone “HubSpot CRM Developer Certification” in the same explicit way there is for the CMS, developers working with HubSpot often need to understand the CRM for integrations. For API knowledge, HubSpot offers a “Custom Integration Accreditation” for partners who build integration solutions, though it’s not a public certification. However, strong API knowledge and experience are crucial for any advanced HubSpot developer, especially for customizing CRM interactions and connecting other systems. You’ll gain valuable API skills as part of general HubSpot developer training.
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