Validates foundational knowledge of infrastructure as code, the Terraform workflow, configuration, modules, state management and HCP Terraform.
A good Terraform Associate course covers every 004 objective, including HCP Terraform, and has you run the Terraform workflow yourself. We compared the main options on 004 coverage, hands-on labs, practice and price.
Most people should take Bryan Krausen's Udemy course, which covers every 004 objective with labs, quizzes and practice exams. Choose KodeKloud for browser labs without your own cloud account, Zeal Vora's course if you are new to Terraform, and HashiCorp's learning path for a free option.
| Course | Best for | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 HashiCorp Certified Terraform Associate 004 Exam Prep Course | Full course with labs | Video | $20 |
 HashiCorp Certified Terraform Associate 004 | Browser labs | Interactive | $35/month |
| HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate 2026 | New to Terraform | Video | $28 |
 Terraform Associate (004) learning path | Free official path | Interactive | Free |
A 23-hour video course by HashiCorp Ambassador Bryan Krausen, with hands-on labs, quizzes and two practice exams mapped to the 004 objectives. It is the full-coverage option for most people.
Great fit if you want one guided course that covers every objective
Poor fit if you already use Terraform daily and only need a quick review; use HashiCorp's free learning path
A lab-first course with about 17 hours of short videos, guided labs in the browser, 11 section quizzes and one full practice exam. It is updated for Terraform 1.12 and HCP Terraform.
Great fit if you want hands-on labs without setting up your own cloud account
Poor fit if you prefer to buy a single course rather than a subscription; choose Bryan Krausen's Udemy course
A 25-hour beginner-to-advanced Terraform course with practical demos and an exam preparation section with practice tests. It starts from the basics, which suits people meeting Terraform for the first time.
Great fit if you are new to Terraform and want a broad introduction before exam practice
Poor fit if you want guided browser labs; choose KodeKloud
HashiCorp's own study guide lists tutorials and documentation in a recommended order, with an exam content list grouped by objective. It is free and comes straight from the exam's author.
Great fit if you learn well from documentation and hands-on tutorials
Poor fit if you want video lessons or practice exams; choose Bryan Krausen's Udemy course
For most people, Bryan Krausen's Udemy course. Choose KodeKloud for browser labs, Zeal Vora's course if you are new to Terraform, and HashiCorp's learning path for a free option.
Yes. HashiCorp's free learning path covers the exam objectives, and its sample questions are free. Add a paid practice exam ($20) to rehearse the real exam.
The video courses here run about 17 to 25 hours. Plan for about 35 hours of preparation in total, including labs and practice exams.
No prerequisites are required. HashiCorp recommends basic terminal skills and an understanding of on-premises and cloud architecture.