Preparing to take the Qiskit developer certification exam

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About presenter James Weaver

IBM Quantum Developer Advocate

Java Champion

Developer / Author / Speaker

james.weaver@ibm.com

@JavaFXpert

Getting the workforce quantum-ready

https://www.ibm.com/blogs/research/2021/03/quantum-developer-certification/

With our quantum developer certification, companies and research institutions will find a clear path to get their workforce quantum-ready. The certificate will help those hiring for classical programming and non-programming roles recognize holders of this certification as forward-thinking individuals willing to skill up for the future of the computing workforce.

The IBM Quantum Developer Certification is a 60-question certification exam offered on the Pearson VUE platform. Those who pass the exam will have demonstrated experience using Qiskit to create and execute quantum computing programs on IBM quantum computers and simulators, and the ability to perform these tasks with little to no assistance from product documentation, support, or peers.

What to expect from the exam

https://medium.com/qiskit/learn-more-about-the-ibm-quantum-developer-certification-and-how-to-take-it-for-free-d237f9765dc5

We figure that plenty of Qiskitters will be looking to take the certification exam, so we’ve put together a sneak peak of the exam’s structure, what’s going to be on it, and how to study for it. The test is going to be a 60-question exam, in English, offered on the Pearson VUE platform. The goal of the test is to certify that those who pass it can define, execute, and visualize quantum circuits using Qiskit, implement single and multi-qubit gates and understand their effects on quantum circuits, and leverage the fundamental features of Qiskit in order to write quantum programs.

Create your first circuit walkthrough

Also, explore the Quantum Composer user guide, and Operations glossary

@JavaFXpert

Gain an intuitive understanding of the Bloch sphere and gate rotations with this web-based application known as Grok the Bloch Sphere

Bloch sphere playground

Studying the Qiskit Textbook

https://qiskit.org/textbook

Explore all of sections 1 and 2

Continue studying the Qiskit Textbook

https://qiskit.org/textbook

Explore the Defining Quantum Circuits section

Leveraging the IBM Quantum Lab

https://quantum-computing.ibm.com/lab/files/qiskit-tutorials/qiskit/start_here.ipynb

Explore the Qiskit Tutorials - Circuits Jupyter notebooks

The links shown above are in the start_here Jupyter notebook

Continue leveraging the IBM Quantum Lab

https://quantum-computing.ibm.com/lab/files/qiskit-tutorials/qiskit/start_here.ipynb

Explore the Qiskit Tutorials - Advanced circuit visualization Jupyter notebook

The Advanced circuit visualization link is in the start_here Jupyter notebook

Explore the Qiskit tutorials outside of a Jupyter notebook

https://qiskit.org/documentation/tutorials.html

Consulting the Qiskit API reference

https://qiskit.org/documentation/apidoc/terra.html

Working with OpenQASM

https://openqasm.com/

Consult qiskit.circuit.QiskitCircuit methods for using QASM within Qiskit

For example https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.QuantumCircuit.html#qiskit.circuit.QuantumCircuit.from_qasm_str

Consulting Quantum Computing StackExchange

https://quantumcomputing.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/qiskit

Learn nuggets like this from other Qiskit developers

Working through the 20 sample questions

Each certification exam question falls into one of these objectives:

%qiskit_backend_overview

QiskitCircuit.from_qasm_str()

and string:

Access

... and understand

}

Working through sample question #1

https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.QuantumCircuit.html

Familiarity with Qiskit API

✓

Working through sample question #2

https://javafxpert.github.io/grok-bloch/

Mental gymnastics on the Bloch sphere

✓

Working through sample question #3

✓

Familiarity with Qiskit API

https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.QuantumRegister.html

https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.QuantumCircuit.html

Working through sample question #4

✓

Familiarity with Qiskit API, measure vs. measure_all

https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.QuantumCircuit.html

Working through sample question #5

https://qiskit.org/textbook/ch-gates/multiple-qubits-entangled-states.html

Entanglement and knowing the four Bell states

✓

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_state

Working through sample question #6

https://javafxpert.github.io/grok-bloch/

Gymnastics on the Bloch sphere, plot_bloch_multivector vs. plot_bloch_vector

✓

Working through sample question #7

https://quantum-computing.ibm.com/composer/docs/iqx/operations_glossary

Gate operations

✓

Working through sample question #8

https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.QuantumCircuit.html

Bell state, and initialize()

✓

Working through sample question #9

https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.QuantumCircuit.html

Familiarity with Qiskit API, multi-qubit gates

✓

https://qiskit.org/documentation/apidoc/circuit_library.html

Working though sample question #10

https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.QuantumCircuit.html

Familiarity with Qiskit API, Toffoli gate

✓

https://qiskit.org/documentation/apidoc/circuit_library.html

Example Toffoli gate:

Working through sample question #11

https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.QuantumCircuit.html

Familiarity with Qiskit API, barrier operation

✓

Working through sample question #12

https://youtu.be/tS2CMOyWFMQ

Barrier operation, optimizing circuits

✓

Working through sample question #13

https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.QuantumCircuit.html

Barrier operation, circuit depth

✓

Working though sample question #14

Using execute function parameters, coupling map, Aer qasm_simulator

✓

https://qiskit.org/documentation/tutorials/circuits/1_getting_started_with_qiskit.html

Working through sample question #15

https://qiskit.org/documentation/apidoc/execute.html

Using execute function parameters, coupling map, BasicAer qasm_simulator

✓

Example device gate map:

https://qiskit.org/documentation/apidoc/providers_basicaer.html

Working through sample question #16

https://qiskit.org/documentation/apidoc/providers_basicaer.html

BasicAer simulators

✓

Working through sample question #17

https://qiskit.org/documentation/tutorials/circuits/2_plotting_data_in_qiskit.html

Assigning BasicAer simulators

✓

Working through sample question #18

https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.quantum_info.Operator.html

Quantum information, creating an Operator

✓

https://qiskit.org/textbook/ch-states/single-qubit-gates.html

Working through sample question #19

https://qiskit.org/documentation/apidoc/quantum_info.html

Familiarity with Qiskit quantum_info API, process and gate fidelity

✓

Working though sample question #20

Mentally calculating statevector from a quantum circuit

✓

Thanks for your attention! Any more questions?

https://www.ibm.com/certify/exam?id=C1000-112

Axioms of Quantum Mechanics

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

featuring grumpy cat (or is it grumpy ket)?

@JavaFXpert

My microscopic cat is often grumpy

@JavaFXpert

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

sometimes he is actually happy

but I've never observed him in-between those states

desmos.com/calculator/0rpttswx6s

Axiom 1: Superposition principle

@JavaFXpert

my cat can be in any combination of grumpy and happy

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

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= \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

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= \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} \sqrt{\frac{1}{3}} \\ \sqrt{\frac{2}{3}} \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} \sqrt{\frac{1}{3}} \\ \sqrt{\frac{2}{3}} \end{bmatrix}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{3}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{3}}

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

+

+

\sqrt{\frac{2}{3}}

\sqrt{\frac{2}{3}}

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

Representing quantum states

geometrically, ket notation, and vectors

\vert\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\rangle

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\vert\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\rangle

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\vert\space\space\space\space\rangle

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@JavaFXpert

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

Axiom 2: Unitary evolution

gates modeled as matrices

X

\begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{bmatrix} \cdot \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix}

\begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{bmatrix} \cdot \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix}

NOT gate (Pauli/X, bit-flip)

@JavaFXpert

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

Hadamard gate

great for putting cats in equal superpositions

H

\begin{bmatrix} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} & \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \\ \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} & -\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \end{bmatrix} \cdot \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \\ \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \end{bmatrix}

\begin{bmatrix} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} & \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \\ \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} & -\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \end{bmatrix} \cdot \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \\ \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \end{bmatrix}

Hadamard gate

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

+

+

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

@JavaFXpert

\sqrt{\frac{1}{3}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{3}}

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

+

+

\sqrt{\frac{2}{3}}

\sqrt{\frac{2}{3}}

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

Axiom 3: Measurement

probability is amplitude squared

When observed there is a:

\frac{1}{3}

\frac{1}{3}

\frac{2}{3}

\frac{2}{3}

probability of being grumpy

probability of being happy

@JavaFXpert

Multiple cats

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

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=

=

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

= \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}

\otimes \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}

\otimes \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}

Composite quantum states

@JavaFXpert

= \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}

Multiple cats

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

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\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

=

=

= \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}

\otimes \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix}

\otimes \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix}

Composite quantum states

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

@JavaFXpert

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

+

+

Superpositions, evolution & measurement

putting the three axioms together

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

+

+

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\sqrt{\frac{1}{6}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{6}}

+

+

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\sqrt{\frac{1}{3}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{3}}

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

@JavaFXpert

quantum gates

measure

\downarrow

\downarrow

\downarrow

\downarrow

\downarrow

\downarrow

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

with 1/2 probability

with 1/6 probability

with 1/3 probability

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

Quantum entanglement

spooky actions at a distance

H

Hadamard gate

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\rangle

CNOT gate

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

+

+

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

+

+

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\space\space\space\space\space\rangle

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}

Mars - ESA

Alice Cat

Bob Cat

Venus - NASA

\vert\space\space\rangle

\vert\space\space\rangle

=

=

\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \end{bmatrix}

\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \end{bmatrix}

\begin{bmatrix} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} & \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \\ \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} & -\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \end{bmatrix}

\begin{bmatrix} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} & \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \\ \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} & -\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \end{bmatrix}

Preparing for the Qiskit developer certification exam