To be honest, I was looking for ways to get a leg up in my job search when I stumbled upon the certificates.dev site. It's designed for people who want to get their front-end web development skills validated. One of the certifications is for Nuxt, which this site is built on, so there may be some questions about building the back end (API).

The first thing that caught my eye was a banner at the top announcing a free "Vue.js Certification Weekend" coming up (August 23-24, 2025). I decided to go for it. In the week leading up to the event, I studied Vue.js on my own. Let's be honest—cramming everything in two days isn't realistic—so I wanted to prepare in advance. By the time the weekend rolled around, I was ready to see what I needed to know for the certification.

The process started with a self-paced Preparation Guide, which outlined what you needed to study. Each chapter listed topics and provided links to resources, usually the official Vue.js docs or Vue School. Vue.js had detailed documentation and code examples, while Vue School offered video guides that explained concepts and walked through pitfalls (for example, the drawbacks of using shallowRef). If you were already comfortable with a topic, you could skip ahead.

The guide also included quizzes to test your knowledge and let you know which areas needed review. There were also code challenges you could complete directly in the browser. The challenges came with detailed requirements, helpful hints, and starter code that you could run locally (npm install, npm run dev). If you got stuck, you could choose to view the solution, but it was recommended to try first. The solutions were especially useful for spotting gaps in your understanding. One thing to note: the challenges use TailwindCSS. While it isn't required for the certification, it does make styling faster.

At the end of the guide, there was a trial exam: 10 questions and one code challenge. Safari didn't work well for this, so they recommended using Chrome. You could wait for the results or jump straight into the real certification exam if you felt ready.

The actual exam was definitely the tough part (and not exactly fun, lol). It was created in partnership with Vue.js's creator, Evan You. During the free weekend, the exams were 50% off, and demand was so high that they extended the sale an extra day. I purchased mine but waited a few days before taking it—I felt I needed more prep (and who doesn't get anxious about exams?).

The exam required proof of identity, a live camera and mic, and proctoring software that records you throughout. You also had to show your desk was clear of notes or phones, and once the test began, you couldn't leave your seat. The exam lasted 130 minutes, so planning ahead was crucial. If you moved out of camera view, it could be flagged as cheating. No talking was allowed, so if you don't live alone, it's best to warn housemates ahead of time.

The test itself had 30 multiple-choice questions, one bug-fix challenge, and one code challenge. You needed 24 out of 30 correct and to solve both coding tasks. The multiple-choice section was timed at 30 minutes, after which you couldn't change your answers. The coding section lasted 100 minutes, and you could switch between challenges as needed—but saving your work as you went was critical to avoid losing progress.

When finished, you'd get an on-screen notification as well as an email confirming your submission. They said results could take up to five days, but I got mine the very next day—and I passed! I honestly didn't think I would, especially with one trick question in the coding challenge, but I was thrilled with the result.

After earning the certification, I decided to dive deeper into Nuxt, which is Vue.js's equivalent of Next.js in the React world. I might pursue the Nuxt certification in the future, but for now, I'm focused on expanding my knowledge of the framework.

Certificates.dev offers a variety of certifications beyond Vue.js, so if you're considering one, good luck—I hope you achieve it!