Top 10 IT Certifications

The IT industry is very competitive and to make yourself valuable, you need to have experience, knowledge and have either one or two of the top IT certifications. Obtaining a worldwide and recognized professional certification makes one be proficient with the technology and also stand a better chance of landing jobs related to IT.

The IT field is rapidly advancing and one needs to keep track of the latest technological changes. Having been certified also puts you ahead of competition especially if you are still a fresher looking for a job as that will make recruiters feel that you have the skills they are looking for when recruiting candidates.

Getting certified on security, networking or cloud computing courses may help you advance IT career and increase your chances of getting better pay. However, while there are several certifications out there, not all would help you, therefore, it would be suitable to choose the ideal certifications for you according to your skills, experiences, education qualification and interest. How do you know the suitable certifications for you? Continue reading as we list the top 10 certifications in 2018.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect Certification

If you want to pursue a career in the cloud architecture, then Amazon Web Services would be your suitable certification. The AWS solutions architect evaluates your skills and knowledge required for designing, deploying and managing on AWS architecture. To earn this certification, you must have 1-year practical experience on AWS coupled with proficiency in some high-level programming language. The average base pay for an AWS certified solutions architect is $122,290 per year.

Microsoft Azure Certification (MAC)

MAC is an internationally recognized standard for IT experts and the cloud for current business. Microsoft Azure Certifications encompasses databases, computing, networking, cloud storage and the web for seamless business operations, great productivity and cost saving. Once you become a Microsoft Azure Certified Specialist, you increase your professionalism in the IT career since you will be capable of automating, executing and monitoring Azure Services.

Microsoft Azure courses are:

– Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate(MCSA)

– Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)

– Microsoft Certifies Solutions Developer (MCSD)

– Microsoft Azure Certification- Architecting Microsoft on Azure.

– Microsoft Azure Certification- Developing on Microsoft Azure.

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

The CISSP is a certification is ideal for individuals dealing with analysis, system engineers, and auditors. There has been news about data breaches of late which can attack and cost businesses a huge amount of money and ruin their trust. Having a CISSP certification, makes business get acknowledged that you are competent and have the skills and knowledge to keep the wide range of cyber attacks at bay. The Certified Information Systems Security Certification is globally recognized.

Once you pass the test that needs a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, you can expect to earn an average base pay of $111, 475 per year. Note that learning does not end with getting the certification as you will need to further your education credits every year so that you can keep your qualifications.

Project Management Professional Certification

The Project Management Professional Certification was introduced and is offered by the Project Management Institute and is a reputed project management certification. This certification is ideal for people looking to get into the leadership role or enhance their leadership experience. The PMP tests, evaluates 5 years’ experience relevant to the life cycle of a project which includes instigating, planning, implementing, monitoring and controlling, and terminating. Individuals who are project management certified can expect to earn an average base pay of $91,000 per year.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate

The AWS Certified Developer is the latest certification in 2018. The certification test evaluates your technical expertise on matters of creating and sustaining solutions on AWS. Individuals who are AWS Certified Developers are capable of using AWS SDKs to work together with solutions and develop codes that augment AWS platform performance. To obtain the AWS Developer certification, you need to have some practical experiences coupled with knowledge of one or more programming languages alongside with AWS. Once you obtain this certification, you can expect an average of $114,148 per year.

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

The Certified Information Security Manager Certification is ideal for professionals with 5 years hands-on proficiency in IS. This certification was introduced for the purpose of information security management. The duties of a CISM professional are to develop and plan security practices and govern an organization’s security. The exam takes 4 hours and contains 150 multiple questions where you are tested on Information Security Governance, Information Security Program Development & Management, Information Risk Management, and Information Security Incident Management. Once you become a CISM professional, you can expect an average salary of $108,043 per year.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The CEH certification’s main focus is on the growing data breaches and cybersecurity threats experienced by companies and organizations. Individuals who are auditors, security offices and others who are looking to become proficient in data security and networks can take this certification.

The certification exam consists of 125 multiple questions tested for 4 hours and covers areas like Scanning networks, system hacking, hacking web services and applications, cloud computing, malware threats session hacking and more. A successful CEH can expect to take home an average salary of $106,375 per year.

Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP) Routing and Switching

The CCNP Routing and Switching is a high-level certification that equips system administrators and network engineers with the skills to plan, execute, asses, and troubleshoot local and wide area networks. The need for Cisco Certificate professionals is booming and individuals looking to gain this certification needs to be a Cisco Certified Network Associate-Routing and Switching or be a holder of any other relevant accreditation.

You will also need to have 1-year practical experience in networking plus the ability to deal with sophisticated network solutions without supervision. Once you are Cisco Certified Network Professional, you can expect to earn an average salary of $99,402 per year.

Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

The Certified Risk and Information Systems Control is a certification that evaluates areas such as assessment, mitigation, and identification. This certification is administered by ISACA and is meant for IT professionals, project managers and other professionals tasked with identifying, managing and accessing business risks using applicable Information Systems IS practices.

This certification was launched in 2010 for the purpose of encompassing the entire system life cycle starting from inception to continuing maintenance. If you obtain this certification, you can expect an average salary of $111,049 per year.

Certified Scrum Master

Our tenth certification in the list is the Certified Scrum Master which is a recognized certification in project management. This certification was introduced with a focus to software development; however, it has been recently applied to several areas outside development. To get certified you need to attend a 2-day workshop course and then take about 30 exam questions. Once you successfully pass the exam, you can expect to earn an average of $106,938 per year.

Conclusion

This list is not comprehensive. There are still several IT certifications out there to help you advance your career in the IT sector. It is worth noting that, an individual looking to take any IT certification should find out whether or not the certification has a better pay and opportunities.