IT Managers Inbox

Resources for IT Managers

10 Certifications to Improve Your IT Career

By

one-step-at-a-time IT is constantly changing as new technologies are implemented. Certifications are one way IT professionals can keep up with current trends in IT technology, build their IT resume and open new doors of opportunity.

Which certifications are right for you depends on your career path. A certification in your current line of work will certify your skills and increase your value in your present position. If you are looking to move into other areas of IT a certification can give you the skills and knowledge you need to make the jump.

Certifications should be looked at for what they can do for you now and in the future. If you look at your career plan as a road map a certification is just one stop on the way to your next destination. If you do not already have a career plan read “How To Develop Your IT Career Plan and Why You Should Do It”.

10 Career Building Certifications

Below in no particular order are 10 certifications that can certify and improve your present skills and add valuable stops on your IT career path.

ITIL V3 Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management

ITIL v3 is a best practice framework for IT Service Management that is being adopted by IT departments around the world. There are four levels of ITIL V3 certification. The Foundation certificate is the entry-level certification that shows general knowledge of the key parts of ITIL V3. ITIL V3 certifications are most useful to managers and leadership.

For more information on ITIL V3 certifications visit the ITIL website.

CCA – Cisco Certified Architect

Cisco offers a range of certifications from entry-level to master. The Cisco Certified Architect is the highest accreditation achievable within the Cisco Career Certification program. This certification is intended for experienced Cisco network professionals and puts a  large gold star on your resume.

For more information about CCA visit the Cisco Certified Architect website.

MCTS – Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist

MCTS offers a variety of certifications you can specialize in. MCTS certifications prove your ability to successfully implement, build on, troubleshoot, and debug a particular Microsoft technology, such as a Windows operating system, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server, and Microsoft Visual Studio.

For more information about MCTS certifications visit the Microsoft MCTS website.

CompTIA Security+

Network security will always be an important part of IT. The CompTIA Security+ certification is an international, vendor-neutral certification that proves competency in system security, network infrastructure, access control and organizational security.

Although not required, it is recommended that you have at least two years of technical networking experience, with an emphasis on security.

For more information visit the CompTIA Security+ website.

VCP – VMware Certified Professional

Virtualization is a hot topic in IT and will continue to grow in the future. The VMware Certified Professional Program is designed for people who want to show their ability in virtual infrastructure and increase the potential for career advancement.

For more information visit the VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 4 website.

PMP – Project Management Professional

Since so much of what IT does today is project related a Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute is a valuable certification for project managers. The PMP certification shows you have demonstrated the knowledge and skills in leading and directing project teams and in delivering project results within the constraints of schedule, budget and resources.

For more information on PMP certification visit the PMI PMP website.

CompTIA Strata Green IT

CompTIA’s Strata Green IT certificate is designed to improve an IT professional’s experience, knowledge, and existing IT credentials to incorporate emerging technologies shaping the global green IT industry today.

This is one of CompTIA’s newest certification programs. It is designed to show that a candidate is schooled in power management as well as virtualization techniques. The certification also includes training on developing and calculating ROI for green IT initiatives and knowledge of environmentally sound waste disposal techniques.

For more information visit the CompTIA Strata Green IT website.

CCNA – Cisco Certified Network Associate

CCNA has become the standard for network and IT professionals who work in network related areas. Cisco Certified Network Associate prove your ability to install, configure, use, and troubleshoot route and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN.

For more information about CCNA certification visit the CCNA Certification website.

MCITP – Microsoft Certified IT Professional

Microsoft Certified IT Professional certifications are Microsoft’s newest lineup of specialized certifications. Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification enables IT professionals to show comprehensive skills in planning, deploying, supporting, maintaining, and optimizing IT infrastructures.

For more information about Microsoft Certified IT Professional certification visit the MCITP website.

MCPD – Microsoft Certified Professional Developer

For those who create and support the software solutions in IT the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) credential certifies a comprehensive set of skills that are necessary to deploy, build, optimize, and manage applications successfully by using Microsoft Visual Studio and the Microsoft .NET Framework.

For more information visit the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer website.

Comments

  2. I have my eyes set on a Linux-based cert. I should be beginning it nearer the end of year 12. Linux usage worldwide is climbing dramatically wouldn’t you agree? Especially over the past few years.

    • If your primary job or the job you want to get in involves Linux it is certainly a certification worth pursuing. Linux will certainly see increased growth, but don’t stop with Linux. A broad range of knowledge and skills make you more valuable in your present position and gives you more opportunities for your future.

  3. I’m afraid I’ll have to disagree with you here. I don’t believe it’s about certification anymore, rather, can you actually do the job. I know plenty of “certified” techies, and wouldn’t trust any of them.

    • I know where you are coming from, but I would not discount the value of certifications because of a few bad apples. I know those types as well. They study (or cheat), get a certification and then can’t do the job. These people do not last long. Most people who obtain certifications are seeking to validate that they do have the and skills and knowledge to do the job. During the time spent studying or taking classes to pass the certification they increase their skills and knowledge which increases their value.

      Certifications, continuing education and training show someone is actively engaged in improving themselves. These are the people hiring managers and HR are looking for and those most likely to advance their career. When you have 5 people applying for a position and all appear equal in skills and knowledge, but one has a certification in the area you are hiring for, which one do you think will get the job?

      • I agree with this 100%. Just saying you know something isn’t gonna just work. I have coworkers here that say they know stuff, well prove it by getting certified. If you know the stuff then what is the problem?

    • A+ is considered an entry-level certification. If you are a technician it is a great certification to start with. If you want to build your technician skills you can also pursue vendor specific certifications. A+ is a good start because some vendor specific certification require you to have A+ first. The main point is to keep building your skills and knowledge and showing your employer that you are actively improving yourself.

    • Linux is a good certification if it is used in your job or if you are looking to move into that area. The same would apply to web certifications. Which certification you should pursue is dependent on what you can improve your position in your current job and what can improve your position in an area you would like to move into.

  7. Thanks for the list and the links. It is a good read. Also I like how you actually answer peoples questions in the comments section. I got here from Stumble and spent some time checking out the rest of the site.

    • Thanks Adam. I am glad you found it useful. I try to answer all questions, but life/work keeps me pretty busy. Stumble on! It’s a great way to find new and interesting sites.

  8. Certs are BS. So are degrees. Wanna jump-start your career in IT? Be smart and learn things quickly. The field changes too fast for any of these certs to mean anything. Period. This is coming from one of the primary thinkers and a senior programmer behind my.army.mil, http://www.army.mil and the CMS that supports them.

    I have no certs, and a AA in Game Design from a degree mill.

    • I am glad your approach has worked out for you. I would disagree that certifications and degrees are useless. Read some IT job postings and look at the required or desired education, training and certifications. Talk to HR representatives and find out how they factor into salaries or even having your resume read by a hiring manager. While on the job experience is invaluable, add to that a degree and field specific certifications and you will find more opportunities and more money.

    • This is not intended as a top ten list. IT would be impossible to nail down a top ten list as diverse is IT has become. Instead the post was meant to encourage people to think about how they can use certifications to improve their career. Certifications should be specific to the area one is in or is interested in getting in. A Java certification would be an excellent choice for a programmer, but a poor choice for a network engineer.

  11. The best certifications for a career in IT are ones in an industry you support to show you have business skills in addition to technical. All t he ones above lock you into the tech stuff and brand you accordingly Cool if you want to be a techie forever but if you ever hope to advance into management and definitely into other corporate functions you must have some business skills you can document.

    • Absolutely, management and soft skills are essential to being a good manager. ITIL is a good example of a non-technical certification for a manager. A lot of management positions in IT require a great deal of technical knowledge. A manager needs to stay on top of currently technology and continue to build technical skills. I see your point though. A CCNA certification is going to be less valuable to a manager that some good courses in communications skills.

  12. I have been considering a degree in networking for a long time now. I have been fooling around with computers since I was about 10 yrs old and am mostly self taught.
    This is right up my alley of interest, but I can’t decide which route to take. Should I go for a degree or are certifications the way to go? Degree’s take a long time. Certifications focus on the main area of interest and seem like a more practical route to take.
    What would you recommend???

    • It really depends on where you are now and where you want to go. While it is true a degree can take a long time it can give a big boost to your career and your resume. Also you do not need to pursue a degree to benifit from continuing your education. Specialized courses can help fill in gaps. Also courses that prepare you for higher level certifications can be benificail depending on your knowledge. Overall I would lean towards certifications as a quick and relatively easy way to have a positive impact on your career. Many find even after obtaining a college degree they still need certifications to further their career.

  14. Hi
    good article i’m sure people can find this information useful.

    if any of your readers are in Maryland / Virginia and looking for training I found this school to be very helpful

    http://www.phoenixts.com

    hope this can help somebody out there.
    have a nice day

  15. i am doing job in L&T Power as customer support eng. in support

    one of my friend told me to do linux cert. it good for my future ??

    • If you are presently doing a job that uses Linux or want to get one that does then it would be a good certification for you. It all depends on what your career path is. For instance it would do you little good to obtain a Linux certification if you want to work with Microsoft servers. Consider a just-in-time approach to training and certification. Get what you need to improve your present career path, the work you do presently or if you are looking to change your career path.

  16. Hi Sam,

    Just want to know what is the carrier path for a ITIL V3 F certified professional. or if could u please suggest any other certification as i have 4+ yr experience as a IT engineer.

    Regars…….

    • If your company uses ITIL I would say management and leadership would be a career path. Understand ITIL is a best practices framework for IT Service Management. It also is not just for management. If your company uses ITIL it probably touches every department in IT so even if you did not want to pursue a management path it will benefit you to know it. If you are an engineer you may want to seek additional training, education or certifications in the area you work in first.

  17. I have been employed with AT&T for 7 years as a network service technician working on there landline copper and fiber optics network in the field and at customers premises for residential and businees accounts and working on home/small business networks that tied into our services. Unfortunately I was recently (1year) surplused from that title and am still with AT&T as a Support Rep for there sales units where I help on system flow issues caused by cross promotional platform of products they sell so its not an IT type support its more of a back office complex order group. I want to get into the IT/Network setting within at&t but all are looking for a BS in comp sci/eng, exp, and some level of certs depending on the position. The amount of jobs avail internally are ample in these fields since we handle so many technologies and can transfer freely amongst the many depts we run ie wireless and are nationwide. thing is I am 30 with HS diploma and 2 very new babies with little time or patience to try and get a BS with my schedule. i went to a tech scool for my ccna but never tested because i never felt that i was ready and ran out of money for school on my last class which was the test prep. my local comm coll is ofering an AS in NETWORKING SERVICES TECHNOLOGY where i pick a specialty of either Microsoft MCITP – Enterprise Administrator with Net+ and SEC+, or CCNP, or Network Support Specialistwith net+ sec+ linux+. Do you think this would be a viable option and would i be marketable for these types of jobs? does an AS even have an value in this setting? Is my experience even considerable as related when dealing with an enterprise setting? Am I waisting my time and will the HR “machines” see past my AS? I am at a crossroads here and need a point in the right direction. I currently am in the 52k per year class and cant seem to break through the next tier here which is 55-95k. My current position is miserable and I can only handle a few more years of this. PLEASE HELP, THANKS.

    • If you want to get into networking and have already studied for CCNA that is where I would start back. After that Cisco has a host of other certifications you can take. You can do a lot of self-study at minimal cost, but it takes time and commitment. Once you get in and learn more you should have a good idea which path you want to take. As for the AS degree if a HR department or hiring manager dismisses an Associates degree they are foolish. One of the biggest things I look for as a hiring manager and from my reports is what are they doing to improve themselves. When you work a full-time job, take care of a family and take time to improve your education it says a lot about you and your desire to improve yourself.

      At your age you have plenty of time to obtain an Associates degree and even a Bachelors degree. It will take a long time and a lot of effort, but I’ve seen people earn an AS at their local community college and then get their BA from a local college. Be sure the courses you take at the CC will transfer to the college you would take BA classes. Not all of them do. Talk to a counselor at the CC, explain what you want to do and they can help you. I know someone who went to class at night and earned an Associates degree and recently moved to a higher paying job. This is in a department stacked with BA’s. What did the hiring manager see? Not just the Associates degree, they saw the passion, the drive, the commitment to improve which adds up to high potential. Your education should be lifelong. Never stop learning, never stop improving yourself.

  18. ITIL is on top of the list? Could you please say why you put that there?
    Is ITIL Foundation a great certification? Please share Your thoughts on it

    Txs

    ynotna

    • From the post “Below in no particular order”. Being the first on the list did not mean it is the best certification. The best certification is one in an area you currently work in, one you want to improve in or move to. ITIL is a good certification if the company you work at uses it. Mine does so it was a very good certification for me to obtain to improve my career.

  19. i am a stundent of class 8 . how can i become I. T. engineer and make a company?

  20. I am a lotus notes developer having 4.9yr exp.
    I want to go in management line.
    Kindly tell which certification I have to do for this.

  21. IT is a booming sector. There are lots of people wanted to make their career in IT field and for this they want to pass out certification degree. This site provides information about 10 certification courses such as PMP certification, CAN, MCTS and lots of other courses that help the students to improve their IT career.

  22. I’m brand new to the IT field and am in need of guidance when it comes to certifications. I don’t work for an It company but I’m currently pursuing a BA in IT. Should I shoot for an A+ cert as a beginner?

  23. I’m confused whether to take certification in Red Hat or Java .Which have good job opening …

  24. I’d love to see an updated post about the same topic. Things have changed so much in the certification space, with cloud and then security being two of the top areas. I hope to see that soon!! 🙂

  25. right now i’m doing a computer application degree course..pls suggest which certification course should i pursue to improve my skills for IT’s??

  26. want your opinion what do you think about certification in redhat for rhce….
    thus this will help for future growth in it

  27. I wondering if you can help me make a decision. I have completed the A+, network +, and security + courses in the As in networking and security course i am/was doing. I was wondering would you spend the money to get certified in these courses or finish the AS instead.

    ** i pay for all my courses out of pocket, so doing both is not an option for me financially.

  28. I have an IT degree & never worked a single day in the industry. I was never given the opportunity at an entry level helpdesk position. All this talk about bettering urself, get some more certifications, do another course. What a load of horse shit. What’s life about seriously?? It’s about paying ur house off isn’t it?? U can waste thousands of dollars and years of ur life on schooling and so called bettering urself, when in reality the money can be used to pay off a mortgage. I’ve worked shitty Security for the last 10 years locking up doors & patrolling venues & can now happily say I’ve payed my house off as I saved every dime I earned. I may have an IT degree, however from my experience, IT can kiss my ass. I’m currently working at a bar mixing drinks, not giving the slightest shit in the world.

    • True, IT certifications can take a lot of money and time to obtain. To some people, the achievement of an IT certification is fulfulling, to others, it’s about earning good money. As long as you’re enjoying life, then that’s what matters – whether it’s working in IT or in a bar or anything else.

  30. I have completed my engineering in Electronics & communication…Wanna make a career in Linux Domain..so Which Certification Course is Better for my Career Growth???
    some of my Friendz says that “Device driver Developement” is better than “LInux Administration”.so i am stuck in both of them..which to choose…. anyone plz help me out…..

  31. I am intrested in networking area but i am a bit confused to first take RHCE certification and later CCNA or to directly jump to CCNA certification.

    • Hi Ashik,

      The RHCE certification is aimed at senior administrators, and actually requires the RCHSA first. I would suggest aiming for the CCNA first, and then making your way to the CCNP or RHCSA. Have a read of the subject areas of these certifications first, to ensure they match up to your career goals and interests.

  32. Hi am working with windows nt 4 to 2008 as network admin(14 years exp), currently (jan 2012) get ITIL v3 certificate. in our country no jobs for ITIL v3. can you please give me any link where i can apply & they are hiring from other country?

  33. Hi
    I have completed one year in IT company in testing field. Kindly guide me regarding the certifications I must take in order to grow in my career as a quality professional. I dont want to be just a tester, I want to take my career into software quality .
    Please give your valuable suggestions.

    Thanks & Regards
    Navneet Kaur

  34. I live in NYC and I have no prior experience in the IT field. I’m currently working on my A+ and plan on moving up towards my CCNA. while I’m work on my A+ I want to know what would be my salary if I find work with my A+ and is their many job opportunities for me entry level?

  35. Great article! I don’t have any of these certifications at the moment, but I’ll be looking to get the PMP sometime soon. It’s good to know that there are other certifications out there that can improve my career – some technical ones such as CCNA and non-technical ones such as ITIL.

  36. Hello,

    I find this site useful. Ironically speaking, I work in the Helpdesk/Tech Support industry which handles a lot of Windows-related issues. Apparently, I had my Cisco training way back but never really had a crack at the certification since I think there are already enough networking peeps who are taking this. In your honest opinion, is it worthwhile getting a 70-680 MCTS or should I go for an A+ approach prior to getting windows-related certs before moving on to servers? Or is there any windows client-server combo that I may have missed that is worth looking back at?

    Thanks and more power!

    • Hi Marc,

      I would think that the MCTS Windows 7 Configuration (which the 70-680 exam is for) would be a good certification to get. The A+ is more of an introductory certification, and if you’ve got work experience, you may already know this information. The MCTS will also lead into two MCITP certifications which could be useful to you – the Enterprise Desktop Admin and the Enterprise Desktop Support Technician.

      Hope this helps!

  38. I had a Bachelor in another field. Self-taught myself IT and later went for 2 IT Certs when I had the money.

    Now I am earning more than what I earned with my non-IT degree without the IT certs. The IT certs were well worth it and if not for them, I’d be stuck with 3K/month …. now earning double that.

    Venturing into IT was the best choice for me. Cheerz.

  39. Hello
    Im ashfaq from india, i completed my master degree in digital communication and networking. Now im searching for job in india, can i do mcitp and ccna course its good to me in future

  40. Compeleted my PMP Training from Simplilearn and it is one of the certification which gives your career, a much needed push.

  41. please I work as support and operations in an IT firm. I want to know the IT cert that would be good for me to improve in this field. I have CCNA cert. my company are into web design, e-commerce. e-government, school portal manager, and etc. advice me .

  42. How about enterprise architect certifications like TOGAF.. which ones are the best for people aspiring in leadership roles like IT director

    – PMP
    – ITIL
    – what else? something may be in IT strategy, IT portfolio management?

IT Managers Inbox Runs On The Magazine Theme