Associate
Associate · infrastructure automationHashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate. Foundational infrastructure as code with Terraform, no formal prerequisites, valid for two years.
HashiCorp Certification Practice Exams
Free practice questions for HashiCorp certification, starting with the Terraform Associate (TA-004): the associate-level credential that validates infrastructure as code fundamentals, the core Terraform workflow, state, modules, and HCP Terraform. 10 free questions and detailed explanations on every exam.
New to infrastructure as code
Start with the Terraform Associate (TA-004). It is HashiCorp's foundational credential and assumes no formal prerequisites, so it is the natural first step for anyone moving from clicking through cloud consoles to managing infrastructure as code with a repeatable workflow.
What the exam validates
TA-004 focuses on the fundamentals you use every day with Terraform:
- Infrastructure as code concepts and the purpose of Terraform.
- The core workflow: write, plan, and apply.
- Reading, writing, and modifying HCL configuration.
- Providers, resources, input variables, outputs, and modules.
- Terraform state, including remote state and state locking.
- HCP Terraform (formerly Terraform Cloud) capabilities.
How to prepare
The most reliable preparation is hands-on. Install the Terraform CLI, pick one cloud provider, and run terraform init, plan, apply, and destroy against a few small configurations until the workflow is second nature. Use the 10 free practice questions on the TA-004 page to check your recall and find weak spots before you book.
After the Associate
Once you are comfortable authoring and operating Terraform in a team setting, HashiCorp's professional-level Terraform certification is the usual next step. It goes deeper into authoring reusable modules, managing state at scale, and operating HCP Terraform in production.
Why Terraform skills matter
Terraform is the de facto standard for infrastructure as code across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and hundreds of other providers. A single declarative workflow that can provision any of them is one of the most in-demand skills in cloud and platform engineering, and the Terraform Associate is the credential that proves you have the fundamentals.
Who is the HashiCorp Terraform Associate certification for?
The Terraform Associate (TA-004) is HashiCorp's foundational, associate-level credential, aimed at cloud engineers, DevOps practitioners, sysadmins, and developers who provision infrastructure as code. No formal prerequisites are required, though basic terminal and cloud familiarity helps.
What does the TA-004 exam cover?
Core IaC concepts, the purpose of Terraform, the write, plan, and apply workflow, HCL configuration, providers and resources, variables and outputs, modules, state management, and HCP Terraform (formerly Terraform Cloud).
Do I need prior Terraform experience to take TA-004?
No experience is strictly required. HashiCorp recommends hands-on practice with the core workflow (terraform init, plan, apply, and destroy) against a real provider. A few small configurations plus practice questions is usually enough to be ready.
Are these practice exams really free?
Yes. The TA-004 page offers 10 free practice questions with detailed explanations, no credit card required. For multiple full-length practice exams, consider our premium course.
How long is the Terraform Associate certification valid?
HashiCorp certifications are valid for two years from the date you pass. You recertify by retaking the exam before it expires, which also picks up any changes in the objectives.
What score do I need to pass TA-004?
HashiCorp does not publish a fixed passing score and reports a scaled result as pass or fail. Aim for consistent 85 percent or higher on practice questions before booking.