A certification is more that a gold star. It’s more than a compliment or a “job well-done”.
A professional certification is a sign that you are an expert. Employers, peers, and even yourself will see that you are fluent in a particular language. It is expected that your co-workers, decision-makers, and other employees will seek your advice and guidance. Your knowledge and experience will be crucial to the business’s growth in the face external and internal changes.
A certification is basically a confirmation that you offer value. It’s difficult to be noticed in an industry as competitive and crowded as IT.
This is your chance.
There are hundreds of certifications available. How can you choose the right one for you? Which ones are most popular? Which ones are popular?
One certification is not enough to make you stand out. Globally, 85% IT professionals have at least one certification. 66% plan to pursue their next one in the coming year. That’s quite a bit of competition.
Certification takes a lot of energy and time, no matter if you’re just starting out with a foundational credential.
These are 18 options that are worth your time, in no particular order. They are based on site searches and feedback from subject matter specialists, as well as data from the Global Knowledge 2019 IT Skills and Salary Report.
18 IT and Business Certifications Worth Owning
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
PMP(r), Project Management Professional
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
CCNA Routing & Switching
ITIL(r), Foundation
CompTIA Security+
Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect
Microsoft Certified: Expert in Azure Solutions Architect
VMware Certified Professional 6.5 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP6.5-DCV)
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).
CompTIA Network+
AWS Certified Developer – Associate
Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization (CCA-V)
Red Hat Certified System Administrators (RHCSA).
Palo Alto Certified Networks Security Engineers (PCNSE).
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
CCNA Security
1. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate has been the standard bearer of cloud professionals, especially since many organizations have fully invested into AWS cloud services. It’s the fourth highest-paying certification for Americans and Canadians ($130,883) and ninth highest for international workers ($110,429), according to the IT Skills and Salary Report.
This associate-level certification is ideal for IT professionals looking to fill the gap in cloud hiring. Our report shows that 34% of decision-makers have difficulty hiring cloud professionals. This skills shortage is unlikely to disappear, as cloud continues to be a top-tech interest area around the world.
This credential is held by one in three global cloud professionals.
AWS Architect Associate is for those who design cloud infrastructures or reference architectures, as well as those who deploy systems and apps.
This prep guide “How to Become an AWS Certified Architecture” will give you a deeper look into the certification.
How to prepare for the exam
AWS Certification Exam Readiness Workshop – AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate
AWS Architecture
2. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
The CISSP certification is equivalent to a master’s degree. This (ISC2) certification is so important that many organizations require it as a requirement for security staff.
This certification ranks 10th in North America in terms of average salary. The average salary for CISSP-certified professionals worldwide is $116,573, which ranks it No. 3.
CISSP h was released in 1994.
