Best IT Certifications for 2024

Best IT certifications

We’ve narrowed IT certifications into specific categories to help IT professionals assess what’s available and pursue the best certifications to show their willingness to learn and develop the in-demand career skills employers want.

Best database certifications 

Database platforms have changed greatly over the years, but database technology remains important for various applications and computing tasks. Available certifications for IT professionals include those for database administrators (DBAs), database developers, data analysts and architects, business intelligence, and data warehousing specialists, and other data professionals.

Obtaining database certifications demonstrates an understanding of database concepts, design, implementation, administration and security. This can boost your credibility in the job market and show potential employers that you have the skills needed to work with databases. The best database certifications include the following:

• IBM Certified Database Administrator 
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
• Oracle Certified Professional MySQL Database Administrator

Best SAS certifications 

SAS is one of the world’s leading firms for business analytics, data warehousing and data mining. Today, the SAS Global Certification Program offers 23 credentials across categories including foundation tools, advanced analytics, business intelligence, data management and administration.

SAS programmers remain in high demand, with a quick search of job boards showing thousands of open positions. Obtaining SAS certification shows employers that you are proficient in the company’s popular suite of tools. Some of SAS’s certification programs include the following: 

• SAS Certified Programmer 
• SAS Certified Data Scientist 
• SAS Certified BI Content Developer
• SS Certified Big Data Professional 

Best Cisco certifications 

Cisco Systems is a market leader not only in networking and communications products, but also storage networking and solutions for data centers. Cisco offers a variety of certifications for IT professionals, ranging from entry level credentials to expert-level exams. 

These certifications prepare professionals for Cisco-related careers. A search of job boards reveals thousands of open positions for Cisco experts, underscoring the continued relevance of these skills. Some of Cisco’s certifications include the following:

• Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician 
• Cisco Associate-Level Certifications
• Cisco Professional-Level Credentials
• Cisco Expert-Level Credentials 

Best Dell certifications 

Dell Technologies remains one of the world’s leading computing companies. In addition to its well-known hardware lineup, Dell also offers solutions for networks, storage, servers, gateways and embedded computing, as well as a broad range of IT and business services.

Becoming certified in Dell products can help make IT professionals competitive in engineering roles for server, virtualization, networking, systems, integration and data security. Additional roles include consultants, account executives, system administrators, IT managers and deployment managers.

• Implementation Engineer, PowerEdge Specialist (DECS-IE)
• Information Storage and Management Associate (DCA-ISM)
• Implementation Engineer, SC Series Specialist (DCS-IE)
• Certified Associate – Networking
• Advanced Analytics Specialist (DECS-DS)

Best mobility certifications 

In the mobile era, it has become increasingly important for network engineers to support local, remote and mobile users, as well as provide proper infrastructure. The focus on application and app development now leans more toward mobile environments, requiring security professionals to thoroughly address mobility from all perspectives.

Due to the fast-changing nature of mobile technology, not many mobility certifications have become widely adopted. However, a few of the top mobility certifications can help IT professionals stand out in this rapidly evolving field. 

• ACMP: Aruba Certified Mobility Professional
• VMware Certified Professional
• CCNP Wireless: Cisco Certified Network Professional Wireless
• GMOB: GIAC Mobile Device Security Analyst

Best computer hardware certifications 

As remote and computer-based work has become more common, it’s more important than ever that businesses and individuals be able to maintain their hardware. While discussions about potential computer-related jobs often revolve around software work and coding, jumping into the IT field by becoming a computer technician is an excellent starting point.

Today, thousands of hardware technician jobs are available across the country. Entering this industry becomes more accessible for those who acquire computer hardware certifications. These certifications can showcase your expertise and proficiency in the upkeep of computers, mobile devices, printers and other hardware components.

• Apple Certified Support Professional
• BICSI Technician (TECH) Certification
• Cisco Certified Technician Routing & Switching
• CompTIA A+
• CompTIA Server+

Best Google Cloud certifications 

IT pros with solid cloud computing skills continue to be in high demand as more companies adopt cloud technologies. Today, Google Cloud is one of the market leaders in the cloud computing space. 

Regardless of where you are in your IT career, engaging with certification programs can demonstrate your willingness to keep on top of rapidly evolving cloud technologies. To that end, Google has introduced a host of certifications for its cloud platform, including the following: 

• Cloud Digital Leader
• Associate Cloud Engineer
• Professional Cloud Architect
• Professional Cloud Database Engineer
• Professional Data Engineer

Best evergreen IT certifications

In the fast-changing world of technology, it can help to focus on certifications that have stood the test of time. “Evergreen” refers to certifications that remain popular year after year. 

The top evergreen certifications are based on recent pay surveys in IT, reports from IT professionals about certifications they want or pursue the most, and those that appear most frequently in online job postings. Obtaining these credentials is one step toward ensuring that your skills remain relevant for a long time: 

• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Service Management Foundation

Best IT governance certifications 

IT governance provides structure for aligning a company’s IT with its business strategies. Organizations faced with compliance rigors always need experienced IT pros who can see the big picture and understand technology risks. This means certified IT governance professionals are likely to remain in high demand.

Earning one of the following certifications proves a commitment to understanding the role of IT governance and its position in a company’s current and future success. Getting certified can validate your expert knowledge and lead to advanced career opportunities.

• ITIL Master: Certified in Service Management
• CGEIT: Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT
• CGRC: Certified in Governance, Risk and Compliance
• CRISC: Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
• PMI-RMP: Certified Risk Management Professional

Best system administrator certifications 

An IT system administrator is responsible for managing and maintaining the information technology infrastructure within an organization. The position demands sought-after career skills, ranging from configuring and maintaining servers and clients to managing access controls, network services, and addressing application resource requirements.

If you’re in charge of managing modern servers, there’s a long list of tools and technologies that system administrators must master. Obtaining some of the most prominent system administrator certifications can demonstrate your mastery to potential employers. 

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
• Professional Oracle Linux 8 System Administrator
• RHCE: Red Hat Certified Engineer
• CompTIA Server+
• VCAP-DCV Design 2022: VMware Certified Advanced Professional

Best ITIL certifications 

ITIL, or Information Technology Infrastructure Library, was developed to establish standardized best practices for IT services within government agencies. Over the ensuing four decades, businesses of all types embraced, modified, and extended ITIL, shaping it into a comprehensive framework for managing IT service delivery. 

The ITIL framework remains the benchmark for best practices in IT service and delivery management, offering certification programs that cater to IT professionals at all levels. These training and certification courses ensure that IT professionals stay well-prepared for the ongoing evolution in IT service delivery management. There are four certifications in the ITIL certification program:

• ITIL 4 Foundation
• ITIL 4 Managing Professional 
• ITIL 4 Strategic Leader
• ITIL 4 Extension Modules

Best enterprise architect certifications 

An IT enterprise architect is responsible for designing and managing the overall structure and framework of an organization’s information technology system. Enterprise architect certifications are among the highest that an IT professional can achieve; fewer than 1 percent ultimately reach this level. 

Enterprise architects are among the highest-paid employees and consultants in the tech industry. These certifications can put IT professionals on a path to many lucrative positions. The average worker earns over six figures annually. Some top enterprise architect certifications are listed below:

• AWS Certified Solution Architect
• CTA: Certified Technical Architect
• ITIL Master Certificate – IT Service Management
• TOGAF 9
• Zachman Certified – Enterprise Architect 

Best CompTIA certifications

CompTIA is a nonprofit trade association made up of more than 2,000 member organizations and 3,000 business partners. The organization’s vendor-neutral certification program is one of the best recognized in the IT industry. Since CompTIA developed its A+ credential in 1993, it has issued more than two million certifications.

CompTIA certifications are grouped by skill set and focus on the real-world skills IT professionals need. Armed with these credentials, you can demonstrate that you know how to manage and support IT infrastructure. 

• CompTIA Security+ 
• CompTIA Network+
• CompTIA ITF+

Best Oracle certifications 

A longtime leader in database software, Oracle also offers cloud solutions, servers, engineered systems, storage, and more. The company has more than 430,000 customers in 175 countries. 

Today, Oracle’s training program offers six certification levels that span 16 product categories with more than 200 individual credentials. Considering the depth and breadth of this program — and the number of Oracle customers — it’s no surprise that Oracle certifications are highly sought after. 

• Oracle Cloud certifications
• Oracle Database certifications
• Oracle Middleware certifications
• Oracle Operating System certifications 
• Oracle Virtualization certifications

Best business continuity and disaster recovery certifications

Business continuity and disaster recovery keep systems running and data available in the event of interruptions or faults. These programs bring systems back to normal operation after a disaster has occurred.

Business continuity and disaster recovery certifications are seeing a healthy uptrend as new cloud-based tools grow in popularity. While business continuity planning and disaster recovery planning have always been essential, they’re becoming more critical than ever — and IT certifications are following suit.

• CBCI: Business Continuity Institute’s Certification of the BCI
• CBCM: Certified Business Continuity Manager
• CBCP: DRI International’s Certified Business Continuity Professional
• C/DRE: Mile2’s Certified Disaster Recovery Engineer
• EDRP: EC-Council’s Disaster Recovery Professional

The pros and cons of getting an IT certification

These are some of the benefits of IT certifications: 

• IT certification validates your knowledge and skills. 
• IT certification can expand your career options and make you more attractive to hiring managers. 
• IT certifications show your employers that you’re willing to learn and invest in your education.
• IT certifications help a hiring company assess a candidate’s skills and knowledge. 
• IT certifications save a hiring company time and resources when evaluating candidates.
• IT certifications support professional development. 

On the other hand, the downsides of IT certifications include the following: 

• IT certifications can be pricey with expenses like study materials, training, classes and exam fees.
• IT certifications require an enormous time investment. 
• IT certifications may be retired, so you’ll have to get a more relevant one later on. 

Choosing to pursue an IT certification is a personal decision. However, investing in your career and future can be incredibly rewarding to you and the organizations you work with.

How to choose the best IT certification for you

With the massive number of IT certifications available across a wide swath of disciplines, choosing the best IT certification for you can be challenging. When deciding, consider the following questions: 

• What is your end goal? Decide what you want to accomplish. You may be looking for job security or a higher salary. You may have career aspirations, such as becoming a wireless engineer or an InfoSec specialist. You may want to change your career path, enter a new specialty, or refresh your current skills. Your employer may want you to fill a skills gap or knowledge gap to retain your position. Know what you want to achieve before evaluating your options.
• What are you passionate about? Pursuing IT certifications involves significant time and money, so you should care about what you’re studying to stay invested over the long term. Pursuing certifications in areas of interest is never a bad idea, even if you don’t need those skills immediately.
• What is your current level? If you’re an entry-level IT professional, pursue certifications that teach industry basics. As you advance in your career, pursue specific certs that fulfill career requirements or personal interests.
• What certifications are in demand in your field? If the companies that interest you specify certain certifications in their hiring criteria, it makes sense to pursue those certifications.
• How much time do you have? With limited time, you may opt for a certification program you can complete quickly. If your time is less limited, you can invest in a long-term certification process. 

When you have the answers to these questions, it’s time to do your homework and research the IT certifications that can best enhance your career. 

Rapid IT advancements require new knowledge and skills

Technology continues to advance rapidly, and employers know that to stay on top they must hire individuals committed to gaining new knowledge and skills. Take the time to review your desired career path and explore the best IT certifications for your goals. Doing so proves to future employers that you’re willing and able to expand your capabilities in the field, and can help lead you to new opportunities and a higher salary.

Ed Tittel also contributed to this article.