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!
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.
7 Of The Most Valuable IT Certificates
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) - Best for Project Managers
- CompTIA A+ - Best for Beginners
- CompTIA Security PenTest+ - Best for Entry-level Cybersecurity professionals
- CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) - Best for Advanced-level Cybersecurity Professionals
- Microsoft 365 - Best for Cloud Services IT workers
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) - Best for Entry-level ScrumMaster professionals
- Full Stack Web Development with React Specialization - Best for Full Stack Web Developers
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:
- Cloud computing
- Cybersecurity
- Artificial intelligence
- Web development
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.
Reviews Of The 7 Most Valuable IT Certificates
These are 7 of the most valuable IT certificates.
1. Certified Associate In Project Management (CAPM) - Best For Project Managers
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
Where to get the certification: Project Management Institute
2. CompTIA A+ - Best for Beginners
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
Where to get the certification: CompTIA.org
3. CompTIA Security PenTest+ - Best for Entry-level Cybersecurity professionals
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
Join The Break Community
- Network security operations
- Security Analyst II
Cost: $392
Where to get the certification: CompTIA.org
4. CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) - Best for Advanced-level Cybersecurity Professionals
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
Where to get the certification: CompTIA.org
5. Microsoft 365 - Best for Cloud Services IT workers
This certification teaches you a foundation for cloud computing, an understanding of SAAS solutions, and an understanding of Microsoft 365 cloud services.
Cost: $99
Where to get the certification: Microsoft
6. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) - Best for Entry-level ScrumMaster professionals
If you’re an entry-level ScrumMaster or you wish to break into this career, this is a certification you’ll want to get.
It will teach you about project management methodology and Scrum values like teamwork and accountability, along with Scrum theory, Scrum teams, Scrum events, and more.
Cost: $400 to $1,000
Where to get the certification: Scrum Alliance
7. Full Stack Web Development with React Specialization - Best for Full Stack Web Developers
Full stack web developer jobs are amongst one of the highest-paying IT jobs.
While you don’t need a certificate to work as a full stack developer, it can definitely give you a competitive edge and prove beneficial.
This full stack web development with react specialization certification is ranked #1 by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
You’ll learn:
- Front-end and back-end web development
- Node.js
- Jquery
- SASS (stylesheet language)
- Authentication
- Express.js
- MongoDB
Three courses are included:
- Front-End Web UI Frameworks and Tools: Bootstrap 4
- Front-End Web Development with React
- Server-side Development with NodeJS, Express, and MongoDB
Cost: 7-day free trial for Coursera platform, then $49/month
Where to get the certification: Coursera
Benefits Of Obtaining An IT Certificate
It’s not uncommon for IT workers to have multiple IT certificates. It can be incredibly valuable for your career.
There are extrinsic and intrinsic benefits to getting an IT certificate.
The extrinsic benefits can include:
- Higher salary
- Career advancement opportunities
- The opportunity to build your reputation as an IT expert in your field
The intrinsic benefits are:
- The challenging experience of expanding your education
- Joy in learning something new
- The fun experience of connecting with peers, the instructor, and students in a learning environment
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
Did you know that certified IT professionals earn 7% more than non-certified IT professionals?
Additionally, consider this…
- IT workers who grew their skill set and got certified, got an average raise of $12,000 to $13,000 (Source)
- 91% of hiring managers pointed to certification as an important factor in their hiring decision (Source)
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.
You can see that going for an IT certificate can provide a wealth of benefits. Whether you’re looking to transition into a new career, you want to earn more money, or for other reasons, deciding to obtain an IT certificate can be a wise choice.
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.
Once you’ve obtained your IT certificate, make sure to update your resume with one of these best resume writing services, and when you start your career search, head to ZipRecruiter to get started!
