You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t looking for a way forward in tech. This article is going to be heavily targeted towards traditional IT and support roles. If you’re looking for standard coding gigs or similar, go elsewhere. While I do cover certs which can help a coding career, they aren’t the focus. Tech is huge, but the “lower rungs” are easier to grab on to.
These certificates will be split up by difficulty and what part of the industry they’re good for. There’s a range of security, networking, tech, and process certificates in the list. I left out some of the more business and management minded pieces intentionally. While some devs can benefit from this list, it really doesn’t do much for coding outside of full-stack, certain systems engineering roles, and similar.
I’m also skipping the really common sub-domain specific ones (most Microsoft certificates, software certificates, etc.). My goal is to give a list of certificates that fits someone getting started or stuck, not someone who knows where their next move is. Some careers have a natural progression which you would have to try to not find, others hit a wall unless you know what way to move.
The Usefulness of Certs
I still hear mixed opinions about getting certificates and focusing on more “academic” knowledge (theoretical with an “Ivory Tower” understanding of the real world), but as long as you can apply it, it’s rarely a negative nowadays. Some locales will frown on having too many certs without relevant experience, but others will frown on having too few. A lack of certs cost me a job offer (which was already junior to me) for an offer which was where I was almost a decade of learning ago.
I wasn’t affiliated with CompTIA before writing this article, but my research of job applications, experience with recruiters and recruiting, combined with my technical network has shown me just how widespread CompTIA certs are. I have included affiliate links to the CompTIA store in this article if you are interested in these certs. It doesn’t cost you anything, but helps support my writing.
CompTIA may not be the absolute best certificate at every level, but they tend to be the most pragmatic choice overall for kick-starting a career. Plenty of them are DoD 8140/8570.01-M directive compliant, and they’re considered ISO 17024 complaint. Almost any standard tech shop or corporate job at least knows of and accepts CompTIA. They’re going to be your best bet in your first couple years in the industry barring regional preferences.
Who Should Get a Cert?
If you’re starting in tech or trying to find a way up, certs can be extremely useful. They serve as a way to get your foot in the door, prove you have a certain level of knowledge, or have the will to keep learning. Do not conflate them with true knowledge of an entire domain though, even though some employers and technicians do.
A cert is a way to show you have learned the more ideal way to handle a task, but not necessarily the real world way to do it. When I started in tech, a cert was actually a liability depending on the job. Their accreditation was all over the place, and there was a tendency for paper tigers to fail hard. Having more certs than experience was more dangerous than no experience and no certs, but that changed many years ago.
There’s been a glut of people looking for a job in tech. Unless you hit a certain level, niche, or get a recommendation, a cert can be a way to move forward. If you’re bored in quarantine, getting a couple certs can be a way to advance your technical career.
With Covid-19, companies have gotten a surplus of resumes and non-technical people (hiring managers, recruiters, etc.) have to find a way to make sense of it. While tech has been trending this way for a while now, Covid-19 just sped everything up.
Beginner Level Certs
These certs are beginner level for their respective fields. While the security and networking certificates I list below are arguably beginner level for their field, they require the cert or knowledge from the general tech side. Arguably, the bar is low enough that some people hit it just being the family “computer fixer” (the technical term at reunions and gatherings). A lot of these are going to be CompTIA certificates.
1. A+
CompTIA’s A+ is one of the most fundamental beginner tech certs. It covers the basics of troubleshooting a computer. It covers hardware, software, phone troubleshooting, OS troubleshooting, etc. This the most basic “get your foot in the door” cert for a help desk job. It also gives the theoretical backing to really make sense of things you know but never formally learned.
Some help desks will require this for Tier 1, others put it as a requirement to advance past Tier 1. Even if you’re already good at troubleshooting most technical issues, this cert can still help if you don’t have the traditional experience to show it. I would go so far to say that UI/UX and documentation writers should consider this certificate if they’ve not done troubleshooting. Knowing how basic techs and end users approach a problem can make it easier to make an app “easy to use”.
2. ITF+
The ITF+ (IT Fundamentals, CompTIA) certificate is a bit more advanced the A+ with respect to theoretical knowledge, but it’s still a beginner’s certificate. It is a prerequisite for more advanced IT work. It helps a practical learner make a theoretical jump from one field to a basic global understanding of tech. One major difference with this cert is it can be useful in basically any technical job or role, and not just help desk or similar.
This is going to be something after the level of the A+, but before more specialized certs. If you’ve learned in a more formal setting, this cert isn’t for you. This cert carries a lot less weight than the A+ at most shops, but can help you jump to higher certs.
3. HDI
HDI (name of the company and the nickname for the cert) has created this cert which is supposed to equate to something like the A+ and My Computer Career. I don’t know how well it holds up personally, but I do know it has a bit of a cult following with certain shops strongly preferring it.
If your local or ideal job prefers it, or the local market favors it, it’s worthwhile. Some employers are also encouraging both. Overall, A+ has a better reputation in the industry overall.
4. Network+
The Network+ is another CompTIA cert. This cert (usually) comes after A+, but doesn’t have to. It covers the basics of networking and how to work with equipment in general. This is a “foot in the door” certificate for a lot of technical analyst positions which involve networking.
Most help desks with certificate requirements will require this to jump from Tier 1 to Tier 2. Network issues are a huge pain for certain programs, and understanding the concepts which are involved can make it easier for a tech to pick the correct course of action. Many techs can work with networks, but don’t understand what they’re actually working with. This can also be a good cert for software engineers who want to move towards a more full-stack role.
5. Security+
Security+ is a sister certificate with Network+. While Network+ will touch on concepts which are necessary for security, security is also necessary for networking and general technical work. Since these two certs feed into each other, they’re often taken together or with each other. Security+ isn’t the only beginner’s security certificate, but it’s the most relevant for the American job market.
This cert also gets you DoD 8570 compliance (ISO for many technical positions. If that’s required, it just makes this cert that much more valuable. A lot of help desk positions will require this cert for an advanced Tier 1 or Tier 2 position. The concepts and ideas are also great for most SaaS developers to consider.
6. Linux+
The Linux+ certificate is one of the hardest beginner certificates out there for most new techs since most people use Windows at home. You learn the basics of Linux administration and SELinux. This won’t get you fluent in a specific distro, but it will get you the basics to make more sense of the generalities in Linux and other POSIX systems. This can help you in any kind of Linux administration job if you don’t know the difference between /bin and /sbin or similar.
This is good before you get into Linux for theoretical learners, or after you’ve learned a new distro for experience based learners. Again, this is another cert for getting your foot in the door with Linux. If you work with Docker containers with Linux but don’t really get it, consider this cert. It also helps for getting out of the Windows world if you want more variety.
Intermediate
Beginner certificates will get your foot in the door more than anything. The initial jump may be from a non-technical role to a technical one, or from a more customer service oriented role to a results oriented one. Intermediate level certs are how you go from the first couple rungs in a technical job to further up if you don’t have a clear path where you are. CompTIA dominates a lot of the more generic ones, but there are more specialized certificates at this level which can be game changing. I’ve focused on what I’ve heard about the most and what seems to be the most applicable to the most people in a generic tech career.
7. Server+
Server+ is one of the first CompTIA certs I remember which turned its reputation around. Even when A+ was a joke, Server+ carried some respect. This cert hits on the basics of maintaining a server. It used to be primarily troubleshooting, but it has moved on to include developments like virtualization, security, and storage.
Many places require this for Tier 2, while others require it as a way past Tier 2. This cert probably isn’t all that useful unless you’re either just hitting a plateau or you need it. It can help some crossover administrators (DBAs, DevOps, etc.), but overall, it’s most useful for help desk, project technicians, and infrastructure technicians.
8. Cloud+
The Cloud+ certificate isn’t actually out as of writing. I expect this cert to become more and more useful based on CompTIA’s reputation in tech and the move to SaaS and other cloud solutions. Obviously, this cert will be more focused on cloud infrastructure more than anything else.
I’m including it because I cannot get rid of recruiter emails for “cloud” devops positions and similar. Work from home has necessitated a shift in infrastructure. You say you can do something with anything “cloud” and have a paper to prove it and you’re going to get showered in job offers. It may feel dot-com-ish, but that’s not going to stop the market.
This cert could be useful if you have the experience since it’s cheap during the beta phase. It can also be sold as “being ahead of the curve” for cloud technology. Since CompTIA keeps striking deals and pushing its weight, it’s just a matter of time before this cert finds its way into more traditional infrastructure and DevOps requirements.
9. SQL
This is basically the only “cert” on the list which is actually a group. SQL stands for Structure Query Language. Almost every modern application which has storage relies on SQL in some way. Getting the certs to become a DBA or at least get familiar with a specific SQL variant can be a game changer. This is the difference between being a tech and being an SME for something.
There are SQL variants including MS SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc. Each is based on a very similar standard with very different implementations. If you’re a developer, knowing the difference is extremely useful. Admins benefit by gaining a better way to troubleshoot and work with proprietary applications via the database (and growth potential). There isn’t any one specific cert in this arena which is objectively better either. MS techs would do well to stick with MS SQL, while LAMP techs do best with MySQL. The other variants are on a case by case basis depending on where you are and where you want to go combined with market potential.
10. CCNA
The CCNA is the first level of any real use for Cisco certification. While it can pay just as much, if not more, to get a different networking cert, this is one of the best for applying networking principles in real life. Cisco equipment is considered top tier and is near ubiquitous in the technical realm (even if individuals don’t like it).
Network+ can get you the concepts, something like the CCNA shows you can apply them. Having a practical cert can definitely help for infrastructure or data center positions. Even if you don’t use Cisco in practice, you’ve shown you can learn the arbitrary concepts, ideals, and restrictions of a specific platform. This cert is held in high esteem compared to other vendor certs for networking equipment usage.
11. CSM
Scrum is a common methodology for project management which has taken over Agile in the game of buzzword bingo. The CSM basically serves as proof of understanding of the Scrum method and its application. The whole process basically boils down to coming up with an idea, implementing it to a degree, then gauging the reaction and adjusting. I’m technically a Scrum developer (minus the cert).
This is a great cert for DevOps, coding, and most technical project positions. This can be extremely useful for getting out of standard tech and into technical management. And, unlike Agile, Scrum hasn’t been reduced to a buzzword in the mainstream (yet).
12. Project+
CompTIA mainly shines at the beginner to low intermediate level. The Project+ cert is CompTIA’s answer to Agile, Scrum, etc. and focuses on generic project management over methodologies. This is its primary benefit and its major shortcoming. You’re not beating an Agile cert at an Agile shop, but you’re not instantly disqualified at a cert-based shop and you get the main talking points to show you know what goes into managing a project. It’s more than a foot in a door, but it’s also not a home run.
This certificate can be useful in places where CompTIA is entrenched, but we’re getting to where there are better options. CompTIA has been pushing hard so this certificate will probably grow, but for now, it’s more limited in scope. If you need a more generalist project background or are just getting started with project management, the theoretical side of this certificate can be more useful than a specific methodology.
13. CEH
The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certificate is a jump in technical skill for a security cert. This isn’t going to make you live in the world of Swordfish or turn you into Neo, but it will give you a great springboard to jump up from. You’ll get the lingo and idea behind things like SQL injections, DOS, social engineering, session hijacking, etc.
If you want to get serious about security, this can be a great way to really get going. Some of the tactics and examples can be used to show a proof of concept which can help get a job. If you’re building an application or working in more advanced QA, this helps immensely for testing.
14. CySA+
The CySA+ is one the more generic security intermediate cert from CompTIA, but it’s also the most universally applicable. This is the cert many SOCs and security oriented NOCs want to see. The other certs are arguably better for specifics, but this certificate has its reputation for a reason.
Some places use this as a way to gauge aptitude for more security oriented positions. Help desks like this cert since it helps with threat response. This can be useful for differentiation at a Tier 3 or higher level in a help desk or project team.
Advanced
These certs build off of specialization at the intermediate level as well as knowledge at the beginner level. The irony is that these do typically require the lower levels of knowledge, but they can’t always take the place of lower certificates due to lack of familiarity. If you don’t specifically need one of these, get the lower level certs first. If a company is asking for some of these specifically, they most likely won’t hire you without them or close enough though.
15. PMP
PMI’s Project Management Profession (PMP) is one of the most famous certificates for project management. If you want to do projects and hit a plateau, this is the certificate you eventually want to get. This is an advanced cert because of the education requirements, the price, and the difficulty. Most people skip the CAPM or get it specifically for this cert (which is why it isn’t on the list elsewhere). If a place asks for PMP, you need to be able to at least talk about the concepts in an interview.
16. CCIE
Getting the CCNA is the first step for buying into Cisco, but the CCIE seals the deal. This isn’t just one certificate, but basically any CCIE can fill in for another as a general expert in Cisco in most companies.
If you want to work in a data center, large enterprise, school, or similar, you probably want one of these certificates. The difference in most is the focus of the information, but you still have to have an advanced understanding of Cisco equipment for any of them. Just having one can be more than enough for any intermediate level networking position at the right shop (even non-Cisco ones). A lot of networking gigs I’ve seen won’t hire without either 10 years data center experience or a CCIE.
17. CISA
The CISA is one of the most respected advanced security certifications. This certification is useful if you want to stay in security but get more advanced as an auditor. I put this as a more advanced certificate than something like the CEH because it is more limited in scope. You basically become the senior accountant of security. If you want to be a security auditor, on an advanced SOC, etc. this is the cert for you, but it has far less flexibility otherwise.
18. CISSP
This certificate is similar to the CISA, but the CISSP has traditionally been more about the implementation rather than auditing. Both certs are useful, they just differ in function. The CISSP is better if you want to employ security techniques while the CISA is better if you want to verify security. If you want to build the infrastructure, you get a CISSP, if you want to maintain it, you get a CISA.
Cloud Certifications
I have split these off into their own category because of how useful they are. 7 out of every 10 recruiter emails I get have been for cloud jobs. With the push to Work From Home (WFH) and similar from Covid-19, more and more companies are moving to the cloud. WFH showed how fragile traditional IT could be when the entire environment wasn’t controlled. The cloud has also gotten much cheaper and more desirable.
Each of these certs is a more advanced cert, even at the most basic levels compared to our other certs. Cloud certs build off of the principles of standard troubleshooting, networking, security, and project management for a proper implementation. Not every company employs all of these principles, but you’ll not get far not knowing how to apply these to the cloud.
These next few certificates are the most common I see listed. The breakdown is about half Azure, a third AWS, and the remainder as Google for more client facing contracts. Azure and AWS are flipped for tech company or internal contracts.
19. AWS
AWS is a popular cloud platform which is used by a multitude of products. They offer an AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate certificate among others. The certs cover the basics of implementation and maintenance of an AWS environment. Getting their associate certificate can be a great start, but you have to have a way to apply the knowledge to really get the higher level ones.
If you are going full-stack or interested in more specific cloud platforms, it won’t hurt to get this cert. While AWS isn’t necessarily the best platform, it is the most well-known. A high enough level of an AWS certificate usually has a pretty close approximation until you get to the really niche positions.
20. Google Cloud
Google has their own offerings for cloud certificates. Google is as well known as Amazon, but their cloud services are a bit rarer in many technical fields. They have the weight to pull it off, so getting a Google certificate is still going to be useful. They have basically the same name brand recognition as AWS, but are rarer in more technical shops. Some shops will take this as a stand in for certain intermediate or more advanced certs just due to the background knowledge required to pass.
21. Azure
Microsoft offers their own cloud platform with Azure, and certificates to go along. Some of the certification programs they offer in conjunction with community colleges or other training centers offer free access to certain tiers of the product themselves. One of my friend took the Azure DevOps course just for the education license it previously offered. The certs are also held in high respect for Windows shops.
If you are a .NET developer or invested in Microsoft, an Azure certificate can help you get further. Azure’s platforms offer the functionality of the most modern serverless paradigms without the complexity. You have the power of Kubernetes with a simple GUI, for a cost. The programs they offer (or at least offered) can be worth the cost just for the licensing. That being said, you’re not selling anyone outside of a Microsoft shop on the value of a Microsoft certificate or platform.
Conclusion
Certificates aren’t necessarily the best way forward or even essential for certain positions, but they can open doors to new careers. Where do you want to go and how do you plan to get there? A certificate can be the Hard Rock Cafe shirt you got to show you at least have seen a technology, but it can also be the conceptual boost you need to advance.
Some certificates are invaluable and some are useless. These are a list of the certificates I’ve heard the most about. CompTIA dominates at the lower levels, but other industry standards tend to win out for name brand and applicability at the higher levels. To be honest, a decade ago, I would never have imagined CompTIA would become this influential.
The more advanced you get, the more niche the certificates are. Know where you want to go and why before you pick the next level of a certificate. These are the most universally applicable, but certain paths will deviate substantially.
If you’re in more mainstream tech and outside of a niche, a new certificate will almost always help you. If it isn’t a path forward, it’s a way up and out. Certs can have a value even if they aren’t inherently valuable. What did you learn and how does it improve your work as a tech? Can you sell it as new learning? As long as you think and operate in these terms, a cert can always be a net positive to your career.
If you’re looking to move forward with CompTIA and want to support my writing, go to the store here.
Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay