TYPO3 CMS Certified Integrator: What the TCCI certification really brings and for whom it is worthwhile

Back from the EduCom sprint: Why TCCI certification is an issue right now

Over the weekend, I worked with the TYPO3 Education & Certification Committee on updating the TCCI syllabus for TYPO3 v14. To be more precise: we started the update. It will take a few more weeks until the exam is officially adapted to v14. The plan is that the v14 version will be ready for the TYPO3 Developer Days 2026 from August 6 to 8 in Karlsruhe.

A few impressions of the sprint itself, because I think this way of working is worth mentioning.

It was the first time that all six members of the TCCI Task Force really worked together on a sprint on site. Smaller groups have come together more often, and we are also usually complete at the weekly online meetings. But all together, at one table, for two days in a row: that has never happened before. Two days without a change of context, with full concentration on the task at hand, was a completely different league. We achieved significantly more in this time than would have been possible in a comparable number of regular online meetings.

In terms of content, one topic ran through many of the discussions: TypoScript. It is being used less and less in practice because many things can now be solved directly in Fluid and in other ways. We want to consistently reflect this shift in the syllabus and in the exam questions. For some in the task force, this gradual departure from TypoScript has certainly caused a tear or two to be shed. Understandably. Nevertheless, it is the right way to go.

Our central guiding question was and remains: "Is this best practice these days?" We ask ourselves this question for every skill in the syllabus and every question in the exam pool. My impression is that we are becoming more and more consistent sprint by sprint, meeting by meeting, and that we are weeding out esoteric or non-practical content more and more reliably.

What I particularly enjoyed was the exchange within the team. Everyone brings their own focus and practical experience to the table. These different perspectives are enormously valuable when it comes to building a syllabus that works for the whole range of integrators.

Specifically, we worked through 124 skills from the TCCI syllabus over the weekend: Obsolete skills were removed, existing skills were checked and partially revised, and some new skills specifically for TYPO3 v14 have already been created. Over the next few days and weeks, we will add further skills and then move on to the exam questions, which we will revise and expand in the same way.

Our conclusion after the weekend: We are confident that we will be able to release the TCCI syllabus for TYPO3 v14 shortly and complete the exam itself by the TYPO3 Developer Days 2026 in Karlsruhe.

Between all the discussions about skills, learning objectives and wording, another question came to mind that I often hear from integrators and agency managers: Is this certification actually worthwhile? And if so, for whom exactly?

In this article, I answer both. From two perspectives: from the point of view of an individual integrator and from the point of view of agencies or in-house teams. With an honest edge, not as an advertising brochure.

An important caveat right from the start: even though I am a member of the Education & Certification Committee, this article is not an official statement from the committee. What you read here is my personal experience and assessment.

What the TCCI certification actually is

TCCI stands for TYPO3 CMS Certified Integrator and is the official integrator certification of the TYPO3 Association. It proves that you can set up and configure TYPO3 professionally and make it usable for editors and developers. Content covered includes installation and upgrade, backend administration, TypoScript, templating with Fluid, performance, security, localization and handling extensions.

The exam lasts 90 minutes, comprises 75 questions and is considered passed if you get 51 correct answers. The certification is valid for 24 months. One important hurdle right from the start: the exam is only available in English. The preparation book by Michael Schams, which is widely used in the community, is also only available in English.

Who is behind the content

The content of the syllabus and the exam questions are maintained by the TYPO3 Education & Certification Committee. The TCCI Task Force, which I have been a member of for a few years, is specifically responsible for the Integrator certification.

How did this come about? Long story short: I was never certified as an integrator myself as long as I was employed. Back then, I didn't see the added value for me, and to be honest, I didn't really know the contents of the syllabus. Through my video courses, workshops and visibility in the community, Oli Thiele approached me at some point and asked if I would like to join the TCCI team. I did.

Today we meet regularly, usually weekly, and work on the syllabus, exam questions and on-site certifications at camps and events. Online certifications are run by an external service provider.

A few things I have learned from this work:

• Practical relevance is the most important quality criterion for us. A question that is academically correct but never comes up in everyday professional life does not belong in the pool. Example: We have removed questions on the so-called option split. An elegant function in itself, but one that hardly plays a role in day-to-day integrator practice.
• We make a clear distinction between the syllabus and questions. The syllabus is the syllabus, i.e. an overview of the topics that may appear in the exam. It can be somewhat broader. We are stricter when it comes to the specific questions: they must be relevant to practice and must not drift into theoretical esotericism.
• No question without reference to the syllabus. There must be a suitable subject area in the syllabus for every exam question. What is not in the syllabus will not be tested. We pay consistent attention to this.
• Updates per TYPO3 version are not cosmetic polishing. Standards, best practices and tools change with each LTS version. This is precisely why we are now working on the v14 syllabus.

What certification really brings you as an integrator

I know the typical reservations: "It's just a piece of paper." This may be true for some certifications. With the TCCI certification, I see three specific levers.

Structured learning and honest assessment. Anyone preparing for the exam goes through the whole range of relevant TYPO3 topics once. This is precisely what uncovers gaps in knowledge that remain hidden by routines in everyday project work. You have been working with TYPO3 for years and still realize that you have never really looked at localization or performance systematically. Preparation closes such gaps.

Self-confidence and public image. With the certificate in hand, your gut feeling is also different. You know that you have a solid foundation. To the outside world, this adds to your credibility. On the TCCI listing page of typo3.com you are publicly visible as a certified integrator.

Career and fee leverage. Certification regularly comes up in tenders, especially from public clients. As a self-employed person, you can use the TCCI certification as a serious argument for a higher hourly rate. As an employee, it is a concrete argument in salary negotiations or promotion interviews.

Where TCCI certification reaches its limits

So much for the value. Now to the honest side.

Certification does not automatically make you a better integrator. It helps with tidying up, learning and structuring knowledge. But it is no substitute for experience. I am convinced that anyone who approaches the exam without having completed a few TYPO3 projects will have a hard time. I don't want to give a specific number of years, because it depends a lot on the person. But hands-on practice before the preparation is mandatory, not optional.

This is precisely why I take a critical view of agencies sending junior integrators or even trainees through the certification process as quickly as possible. That can work. But it doesn't have to. And in the worst case, it leads to frustration on both sides.

Another thing I occasionally hear is that some of the questions are unrealistic or esoteric. To a certain extent, that actually used to be the case. It is precisely this type of question that we have consistently eliminated in recent years. If a question seems really exotic to you today, it's worth taking a second look. Often it's exactly where a certain TYPO3 concept is rarely implemented properly in everyday life, but should be included in a solid project.

What TCCI certification means for agencies and in-house teams

From an agency's point of view, TCCI certification is a different matter. It is less about the individual employee and more about the external image and standards within the team.

External image and tenders. An agency with several certified integrators can communicate this openly. This is often a prerequisite for larger tenders. When pitching to new clients, certification also functions as a reliable quality anchor that goes beyond mere self-promotion.

Standards and onboarding. When everyone in the team has a comparable level of knowledge, collaboration becomes easier. Code reviews run more smoothly, onboarding is shorter and discussions about best practices have a common point of reference.

And now for the uncomfortable side. Nobody can be forced. If you don't want to be certified, pressure won't suddenly make you want it. My advice: Communicate clearly during the recruitment interview that certification is part of the package, especially if it is relevant for tenders. If a new or existing employee does not want to wear it, the composition may not be ideal.

A request to all agency managers who are serious about this: If you expect certification, add your learning time. Learning time must be working time. There are people who invest additional free time out of interest. That's fine. But this should not be allowed to pass as a condition. TYPO3 is not a vocation for everyone. For many, it's a solid part of the job. And that's perfectly fine.

What the path to certification actually looks like

The process is straightforward, especially if you've already taken the exam.

1. Preparation. Your own practice plus targeted learning. More on this in a moment.
2. Booking. You can register via exam.typo3.com and select an exam date.
3. Take the exam. You have the choice between two ways.
   • Online: Conveniently from home, clearly structured platform, but limited attempts per period.
   • On site: At a TYPO3 camp, a TYPO3 Developer Day or a dedicated Certification Day. Advantage: personal atmosphere, more attempts per bundle, often combined with other sessions for learning and exchange.
4. Receive a certificate. After passing the exam, you will receive your certificate and be added to the public TCCI list on typo3.com.
5. After 24 months. The validity ends and you can be re-examined. It makes sense to use the syllabus of the current TYPO3 version.

I am deliberately not mentioning specific prices here because they can change. You can always find the current conditions for the individual exam and the Certification Bundle (which covers all four TYPO3 certifications) at typo3.com.

How to prepare yourself sensibly

If you have practical experience, preparation is less about relearning and more about structuring and specifically closing gaps. Three building blocks that make sense in different combinations:

The preparation book by Michael Schams. Currently in the 7th edition for TYPO3 v13 LTS. An updated edition for TYPO3 v14 is already in progress and is expected to be published shortly. Important for classification: The book is not official material of the TYPO3 Association, but a private project of Michael. Although he himself is a member of the Education & Certification Committee, the book is being written independently. Nevertheless, the content is very good: over 350 sample questions with explanatory solutions, format and style largely as in the real exam. The book is also only available in English. If your English is good, it is a very good investment in the final preparation phase.

Your own projects as a practice anchor. Nothing replaces experience with real TYPO3 installations, real customer requests and real site packages. If you don't have a suitable project at the moment, build a practice project with the typical building blocks. TypoScript, site configuration, your own site package, site sets, a few extensions. You will learn more by building than by just cramming.

Structured learning with a system. This is exactly where an accompanying course has proven its worth for many integrators. My TYPO3 complete course, for example, combines a complete knowledge archive with regular live sessions in which we clarify exactly those questions that get stuck in self-study. The content is expanded with each new TYPO3 version. This fits in well with the 24-month validity of the certification: when you take the exam again two years later, you will already be familiar with the new features because you will have kept up to date with them. This is interesting for teams because you create a common basis for learning without everyone having to do their own research.

My conclusion: determining your position instead of a panacea

TCCI certification is not a panacea and does not replace experience. But for integrators with practical experience and for agencies with aspirations, it is a clear, tangible standard. It sorts out your knowledge, creates visibility and gives you a solid argument for fee or salary negotiations.

With the right preparation, you can pass the exam with ease. Which path is right for you depends on your prior knowledge, the time available and whether you want to study alone or in a team.

If you want to tackle the TCCI certification directly, the official overview on typo3.com is the right place to start. If you want to work towards the exam in a structured way and at the same time stay up to date with every new TYPO3 version, the TYPO3 complete course is a suitable companion.

Directly to the certification: Overview and booking at typo3.com/products-services/certifications

Work towards the exam with a plan: TYPO3 complete course