HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate
An infrastructure-as-code credential for understanding Terraform workflows, configuration, state, providers, modules, resource lifecycle, and common automation practices.
Last verified: 2026-09-01
Overview
HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate validates foundational infrastructure-as-code skills using Terraform Community Edition and HCP Terraform. The current 004 exam tests Terraform 1.12 and covers providers, state, the core workflow, configuration, modules, infrastructure maintenance, and HCP Terraform collaboration features. It is designed for cloud engineers and other practitioners who use Terraform to define and manage infrastructure consistently.
- Recommended experience
- HashiCorp lists basic terminal skills and an understanding of on-premises and cloud architecture as prerequisites. Professional Terraform experience is recommended, although candidates can also prepare by practicing the published objectives in a personal demo environment.
- Estimated study time
- 50–90 hours
- Target job roles
- Cloud EngineerDevOps EngineerPlatform EngineerInfrastructure EngineerSite Reliability Engineer
Exam Details
Terraform Associate Exam
- Exam code
- 004
- Number of exams
- 1
- Duration
- 60 minutes
- Question count
- Multiple-choice exam; HashiCorp does not publish a fixed question count on the certification page
- Delivery method
- Online proctored
- Price
- $70.50 USD plus locally applicable taxes and fees
Skills and Domains
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Terraform
Verify with official provider.Understand infrastructure as code and Terraform approaches across cloud and hybrid environments.
Terraform fundamentals
Verify with official provider.Work with providers and understand how Terraform uses providers and state.
Core Terraform workflow
Verify with official provider.Initialize, validate, plan, apply, destroy, and format Terraform-managed infrastructure.
Terraform configuration
Verify with official provider.Use resources, data sources, variables, outputs, expressions, functions, dependencies, conditions, and sensitive values.
Terraform modules
Verify with official provider.Source, use, scope, and version Terraform modules.
Terraform state management
Verify with official provider.Work with local and remote state, locking, backends, drift, and resource state.
Maintain infrastructure with Terraform
Verify with official provider.Import existing infrastructure, inspect state, and use logging for troubleshooting.
HCP Terraform
Verify with official provider.Use HCP Terraform workspaces, integrations, collaboration, and governance features.
Study Resources
Terraform Associate 004 Preparation
Official resourceOfficial Training · Free
Official HashiCorp preparation collection for the current exam.
View resourceTerraform Associate 004 Certification
Official resourceDocumentation · Free
Official HashiCorp certification page with exam details and renewal options.
View resourceTerraform Associate 004 Exam Content List
Official resourceOfficial Guide · Free
Official objective-by-objective study reference.
View resourceRenewal
- Validity period
- 2 years
- Renewal method
- Pass Terraform Associate 004 during the eligible renewal window, or pass the Terraform Authoring and Operations Professional exam while the Associate credential is current.
- Notes
- HashiCorp credentials expire after two years. The current Associate 004 credential can be renewed by retaking 004 starting six months before expiration or by earning the higher-level Terraform professional certification.
Related Certifications
Recommended Before
Verify with official provider.
Recommended After
Verify with official provider.
Alternatives
Verify with official provider.
Specializations
Verify with official provider.
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