The most valuable IT certificates will help you improve your skill set, make a positive impact on your career trajectory, earn you a higher salary, and make you a competitive candidate. The job market is intensely competitive, especially in the IT industry. Obtaining a certificate can be the difference between landing that dream job and not! The Best 5 Valuable IT Certificates.
If you’re looking to land an IT job, start your search on ZipRecruiter! ZipRecruiter is free for job seekers and you can apply for jobs with a single click.
5 Of The Most Valuable IT Certificates
What Is An IT Certificate?
An IT certificate is a credential you earn, showing that you’ve satisfactorily completed the requirements for that professional specialization. In IT, there are dozens of different certificates you can get, for IT specialties:
For example, there is a Certified Data Professional certificate (CDP) for professionals who have proven their competence and understanding in one or more data specialties like business analytics, data stewardship, data warehousing, and more.
A resume sample for a heavy equipment operator includes sections on experience, certifications, skills, and relevant training, showcasing qualifications for operating heavy machinery safely and effectively.
Best 5 Careers For Work-Life Balance
- Data Analyst
- Web Developer
- HR Manager
- Physical Therapist
- Speech-Language Pathologist These careers often provide a healthy work-life balance, allowing professionals to enjoy personal time.
Reviews Of The 5 Most Valuable IT Certificates
1. Certified Associate In Project Management (CAPM)
The CAPM certification is an entry-level certification for project managers. With the project management industry rapidly expanding and expected to grow 33% by 2027, many workers are entering the job market, creating a more competitive environment.
The CAPM certification will make you stand out and enhance your credibility as a project manager.
Cost: $300
2. COMPTIA A+
This is a certification in information technology. There are a variety of certifications offered under CompTIA from introductory basic certificates to professional-level and specialty certifications. The basic certificate is the IT Fundamentals certification.
Professional-level certifications include:
- A+
- Cloud+
- Data+
- Linux+
- Project+
- Security+
The master-level certification is the CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) certification. Specialty and stackable certifications are available as well. For beginners, to be competitive in IT, you’ll want to take the CompTIA A+ certification. It covers mastering skills in hardware, software, networking, security, mobile devices, and more.
The jobs you’ll be able to get with this certification can include:
- Help desk tech
- Desktop support specialist
- System support technician
Cost: $246
3. Comptia Security Pentest+
The CompTIA Security+ certification offers four certification series, entry-level to expert. The PenTest+ certification will improve your skills and experience in planning, scoping, and testing system weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
There are stackable certifications you can add as well, like:
- CompTIA Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional
- CompTIA Network Security Professional
- CompTIA Security Infrastructure Expert
Jobs you can get with this certification include:
- Vulnerability tester
- Penetration tester
- Network security operations
- Security Analyst II
Cost: $392
4. Comptia Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
The CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) is an advanced-level hands-on, performance-based cybersecurity certification, best for seasoned cybersecurity professionals. It covers security architecture and engineering.
The certification covers senior security engineering and security architecture in traditional, cloud, and hybrid environments, along with:
- Risk
- Governance
- Compliance
- Assessing cybersecurity readiness
- Leading technical teams
Cost: $494
5. Microsoft 365
This certification teaches you a foundation for cloud computing, an understanding of SAAS solutions, and an understanding of Microsoft 365 cloud services.
Cost: $99
Can An IT Certificate Boost Your Career?
Absolutely! Now, while getting an IT certificate doesn’t guarantee a career boost or a higher salary, it can make you a more competitive IT professional which can lead to future pay raises within your company, and greater opportunities.
- Stand out amongst the competition
- Make yourself a more valuable employee (guarding against layoffs, etc.)
- Networking opportunities
- Become a subject matter expert in your company
Who Should Consider An IT Certificate?
Obtaining an IT certificate is hard work. It requires a significant time investment and it’s at a cost, as well. If you’re questioning whether or not you think it’s worth it, you should think about your career trajectory. If you plan to work in IT for the long run, within a field where an IT certificate would benefit you, then you should consider pursuing one.
If not, it may not make sense to invest your time and money into getting an IT certificate if you plan on switching career fields, like moving from web development to physical therapy, for example.
The Bottom Line
What you’ll find from many of these IT certificates is while some can help you get a job in IT, many don’t. For example, Project Managers can get hired without any certifications. The same is true for many other IT careers but, as you’ve learned, certificates can be incredibly valuable. From helping you level up your reputation, to making you more competitive in the job market, fetching a higher salary, and more. If you’re working in IT or looking to make a career move, getting an IT certificate is a smart move.
