Top 10 IT Certifications to Launch Your Career in IT

In the field of information technology, an individual has a shot at having a great start by trying to do some certification courses. An IT certification exam tests the ability of an individual in a particular field. The certification exams help employers as they act as a proof of standard and quality. Certifications are crucial as they give them the necessary skills to succeed in that line of work. Below are some of the Information Technology certification that can help you kick-start your career.

Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)

This is an entry-level certification that mainly acts as an introduction to the various technologies in IT. It is a perfect starter for individuals who are very new to IT. It is provided by Microsoft as the lowest of their certification levels. The exams provided include Exam 98-348, Exam 98-361 and Exam 98-365 etc. The exams for this certification depend on the field that an individual chooses to specialize in and are ranging from Windows Operating System to Programming with Java.

CompTIA A+ Technician

This is an entry-level certification under CompTIA track. It instills the ability to be able to deal with computers, operating systems, printers, mobile devices, and laptops. This certification is a good starter for a career because people are certainly guaranteed a job. Most Information Technology individuals tend to focus on the higher jobs like programmers and network administrators forgetting the crucial role of a technician. This certification is provided by CompTIA A+ organization. The exams that candidates need to take are 220-901 and 220-902. The base salary of this individual is $77,000. Common titles include computer technician, technical support, and in-home support specialist.

Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching

This is one of the most popular certifications that has kept its place over time. CCNA R&S is a certification of the associate level and gives a start to candidates’ careers depending on the field they choose to work in. The certification ensures that individuals have the necessary skills in installing, configuring and operating enterprise level switches and routers. It is one of the most popular certifications by Cisco. In order to get it, one needs to take either 200-125 exam or two exams one by one 100-105 and 200-105. It is a nice certification to start with because any company with information technology infrastructure requires well-equipped networking specialists. And, the higher their skills are, the better. Being CCNA R&S certified is also a guarantee of employment. It costs around $165 to take any CCNA exam. The ICND1 and ICDN2 exam mainly consists of 60 multiple questions and CCNA certification is provided by the mighty Cisco corporation. Some of the common job titles in this field are Network Administrator, Network Engineer, and Systems Administrator.

CompTIA Network+

CompTIA Network certification is very similar to CCNA R&S certification mentioned above. It instills the skills required to manage, design and troubleshoot any wired or wireless network. CompTIA Network+ is provided by CompTIA. The exams include the updated N10-007 and the retiring N10-006. The fact that it deals with networking means that Network+ certified professionals will always be in demand by various companies. According to payscale.com the average salary of CompTIA Network+ certified individuals is $79,000. Some common job titles include Information Technology Technician, Network Support, and Network Technician.

Linux Essentials Professional Development Certification (PDC)

This certification is aimed at teaching individuals on how to use the Linux operating system. This system is majorly used for ensuring security in different systems because of its wide variety of tools. PDC certification is ideal for beginners due to the fact that the Linux OS is relatively easy. Job security is almost guaranteed due to the fact that few individuals know how to use Linux. This certification is provided by the Linux Professional Institute. The certification consists of an exam coded as 010-150 of 40 questions that must be completed within 90 minutes. According to payscale the average salary for PDC specialists is $83,000.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

This is a relatively new certification that focuses on cloud technology. It has gained its popularity from the fact that cloud technology is rapidly on the rise. It is a good career starter because it is relatively new. This guarantees employment. It has a salary of around $120,000. Some of the common job titles include cloud architect and cloud administrator.

Certified Network Defender Certification

This certification is provided by the EC-Council and their third-party partners. This certification is still relatively new as it was launched in 2016. The fact that networks are the first line of defense means that having individuals who can secure them is very crucial. This means that Certified Network Defender certification will always be in demand. Certified Network Defender (CND) 312-38 exam is provided by EC-Council and it consists of 100 questions with multiple choice answers. The salary for individuals with this certification is approximately $85,000.

CompTIA Security+

As for security, CompTIA Security+ is one of the most basic security credential available and is chosen by beginners. It instills the skills in the following fields of access control tools, cryptography and how to respond to security incidences. These fields are the most basic insecurity but are also the most crucial. This certification is popular due to the fact that individuals who are well trained in security will always be in demand. This is also emphasized by the sudden rise in cybersecurity. This certification is provided by CompTIA organization. The current exam is SY0-501 while SY0-401 has just retired. The salary of individuals with this certification is $95,000 according to infosecinstitute.com.

EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

This is a certification that instills skills in individuals that are necessary for hacking computer systems. These hacking skills are not used to cause harm but rather they are used to prevent hackers. CEH certification is a perfect start because of the fact that cybercrime is on the rise thus the need for individuals who can prevent them. This certification is provided by EC-Council. 312-50 exam (v9) consists of 50 multiple choice questions that can be taken online on the official EC-Council website. According to itcareerfinder the salary for individuals certified in this is about $90,000.

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

It aims at instilling the proper skills required to secure the Information Technology assets of an organization and try to protect it from future attacks. The exam for this course is provided by ISACA and is called CISM exam. The average annual salary for a CISM certified individual is $122,488 according to payscale.com. The various job titles in this certification include Senior Security Analyst and Chief Security Analyst.

As seen from the information given above, an IT certification is a guaranteed way of starting a career in technology. They benefit both those who want to be employed and those who prefer self-employment. It’s never too late to start from scratch, especially in the sphere you have the passion for. Wish you luck!