9 Major IT Certifications for Beginners and What Each Covers

If you’re climbing the first few rungs in your career ladder, the right IT certification can help beef up an IT resume short on real-world experience. Some people overlook the first real certification test, however: Figuring out what it is you really want to do. The first thing tech professionals should do is think about their end goal and the reasoning behind getting a certain certification. IT is a big field, so not all certifications make sense. It depends on what you’re most interested in. So if you’re considering a certification to help you get your foot in the door – or to give yourself a boost in the early stages of your career – thinks about your long-term goals. Don’t just think about how a particular certification might help you land your first (or next) job, but how it might lead to the job you aspire to in the future. IT certifications are credentials offered by leading IT giants that validate a professional’s skills in a particular field. Earning this credential mostly requires you to clear a written exam, either physically or online, demonstrating your capabilities in the domain. IT certifications give credibility to those looking for a career in the IT field. By earning one or more IT certifications, you’ll stand out and be more likely to climb the ranks of the workforce. When combined with specific work experience, IT certifications communicate to hiring managers, companies, and businesses that a candidate has the skills and capacity to handle expectations and needs several specific employment in the field of information technology. Furthermore, obtaining relevant IT certifications helps those in the IT field stay abreast of evolving trends in information technology while enhancing their skills. Information technology certifications can also be valuable in helping employees seek promotion or consider other senior positions in similar IT fields. Finally, gaining any of the required IT certifications can also lead to an increase in an employee’s current salary. These are the reasons to get the best IT certification for beginners.

The IT sector is arguably one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and starting a career in this sphere is definitely a pathway to a successful life. There are huge opportunities waiting to be tapped into by discerning individuals looking to create a niche for themselves in the IT world. However, just like every other career path, there is a need to understand the rudiments and develop skills that will make you function effectively in the industry. Therefore, earning a certification is very crucial in starting you off in this career path. When talking about an IT certificate, we refer to an independent endorsement that indicates that you have the necessary skills required to perform in the task that will be committed into your hands. Many IT positions have to do with specific technical software and procedure. Obtaining a credential in a specialized area therefore confirms to your manager that you have the clear-cut skills needed to perform optimally on the job if hired. Getting an IT certification does not have anything to do with your academic background. This is one of the interesting things about starting a career in IT. Your academic background is not a requirement to getting a certification in Information Technology. You also do not need any prerequisite exams to qualify to enroll for the credential. In addition, you need little or no experience or theoretical background to enroll. Studying period for the certificate is also short. There is also the least volume of study materials to deal with when preparing for your certification tests. To make the process easier for you, we have detailed some of the top certifications that you can enroll in to kick start your career in the IT sector. You can trust our recommendations as we have used real-time software to identify over four hundred thousand entry level jobs in the IT sector job posted within the last twelve months. The purpose of this exercise is to identify the top IT certifications that employers are looking for when hiring candidates and this is the bedrock of the certificates that have been put together. Are you ready to explore the world of the Information Technology sector? We invite you to look through some of the top certifications in the industry. We will like to reiterate that these credentials are some of the best IT certifications that are perfect for anyone with little or no experience looking to start a ground breaking career in the world of IT.

Major IT Certifications for Beginners

We enlisted the major IT certifications that can help the beginners commence their IT career.

CompTIA Network+

Network+ is a globally recognized certification. This certification validates one’s ability to manage, design, and troubleshoot various wireless and wired networks. You are required to pass a 90-question test on the configuration of wireless and wired networking devices, as well as other emerging technologies, in order to be certified. The CompTIA Network Model + certificate course validates the knowledge and capabilities needed to troubleshoot, configure, and administer wired and wireless networks in businesses worldwide. It further verifies the receiver understands of emerging technologies, such as the cloud and virtualization. This is also a good IT certification for beginners. Network+ is a beginner-level certification that encompasses networking concepts, operations, security, troubleshooting and tools along with IT infrastructure. This credential has been designed for network field technicians, junior network administrators, InfoSec consultants, network field engineers and junior system engineers. The industry recommends that you should have about 9 to 12 months of work experience and a CompTIA A+ certification before you give the Network+ exam. The Network+ certification exam tests your understanding of configuration, management and maintenance of network devices, implementation and designing of functional networks, network security and troubleshooting.

CompTIA+ IT Fundamentals (ITF+)

The CompTIA+ Certificate IT Fundamentals (ITF+) model is designed for IT beginners. The ITF+ is the only pre-starter credential that can help students and career changers determine if they have the IT capabilities and if Information Technology is the right career path for them. ITF+ is the only certification that covers all areas of the IT foundation, making it possible for non-technical people to understand IT. The certification exam for CompTIA ITF+ verifies your learnings and foundational knowledge of IT and allows you to see what you will feel like working in the domain. It encompasses all the fundamental skills of the IT domain which includes working with the features and functionalities of popular operating systems, setting up network security, identifying software applications, best practices and identifying common applications for software. The CompTIA ITF+ certification exam includes infrastructure, networks, applications, software, IT terminology, IT concepts, security, software development and database basics. It is the right starting point for individuals who wish to continue along the CompTIA certification path but is not a prerequisite for any of them.

CompTIA A +

The CompTIA A+ model is one of the best IT certifications for beginners. This certification is for people who want to work at a helpdesk, a support service center, or as a network technician. The applicant’s knowledge of PC and tablet hardware, software installation, computer, and mobile operating system installation will be assessed. A+ also assesses a candidate’s basic security, troubleshooting, and networking abilities. It can serve as a stepping stone towards CompTIA security or networking certification. The A+ certification requires you to clear two exams. One exam covers networking technology, mobile devices, virtualisation, cloud computing and troubleshooting as well as mobile devices. The second exam covers installation and configuration of operating systems, security of expansion, troubleshooting software and procedures for operations. The credential validates your skills to solve problems by troubleshooting networks, mobile devices, security and operating systems. Its main focus is the validation of 9 key IT skills which are

• Hardware systems
• Software systems
• Networking
• Software troubleshooting
• Hardware and network troubleshooting
• Mobile devices
• Virtualization and cloud computing
• Procedures for operations
• Operating systems

CompTIA Security+

In any organization today, understanding the basic concepts of security is mandatory. There is a high demand for security professionals and experts, so it will benefit you professionally to earn the Security+ credential at the beginner level. This certification is designed for system, security and network administrators, junior IT auditors and security consultants, engineers and specialists. Earning the Security+ credential gives you expertise regarding attacks, vulnerabilities, threats, architecture, infrastructure design, risk management, cryptography, access management and security tools. It shows your potential employers that you are equipped with the skills and knowledge to configure and install systems that will keep apps, devices and networks secure and compliant with industrial laws. CompTIA Security+ is a fundamental IT certification that validates the fundamental skills needed to fulfill critical security responsibilities and pursue a career in IT security. The CompTIA Security+ certification is the first of its kind for IT professionals. It lays the groundwork for any cybersecurity business and serves as a stepping stone to entry-level cybersecurity positions. It goes on to say that the successful candidate has the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate the security function in an enterprise facility and recommend and implement effective security solutions.

CAPM - Certified Associate in Project Management

The Certified Associate in Project Management certification by the Project Management Institute is widely recognized as a beginner-level credential for project managers. You don’t need to already be a project manager before applying for this credential, neither is project manager the only role you can apply for. There are several job roles both in the IT industry and outside it where project management capabilities are required for technical projects. CAPM as a course has been designed to prepare IT professionals for a certification exam that will test your understanding of the fundamentals of project management as well as the skills that you will require for the role of a project manager. The Certified Contributor Model in Project Management is one of the Project Management Institute’s (CAPM) best-known certifications. CAPM is in high demand worldwide. The CAPM certification is for project managers whose jobs require them to work on multiple project teams. This entry-level IT certification is for those who aspire to work in the field of project management but do not have a lot of project management expertise.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The Certified Ethical Hacker Model (CEH) is a cybersecurity certification that provides security professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and exploit vulnerabilities. The CEH certification is intended to assist security engineers in researching similar tools and hackers. Through the use of various penetration testing methods, an ethical hacker can locate, assess, and resolve any existing device issues. Cybercriminal tools are used to combat cybercriminals in ethical hacking. There are three levels of the Certified Ethical Hacker exam: Central, Intermediate, and Expert. This is one of the best IT certifications for beginners.

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

The Cisco CCNA Certificate Model is an entry-level certification that teaches you how to install, configure, and operate enterprise-class routers and switches. Cisco Certified Network Associations are also capable of detecting and resolving common network problems. They may specialize in wireless, security, or voice networks. This entry-level certification can open many doors for you in the IT world as many employers are looking for this specific certification at the entry-level job level. To become CCNA certified, you need to pass a 90-minute written exam (200-125). There are 50 to 60 questions in the test. Registration costs around $295. This is the first best IT certification for beginners on this list.

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

ISACA offers a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification to demonstrate your expertise in IS/IT audit, control and security and to distinguish you as one of the most qualified in the industry. This certification equips professionals with the ability to manage all stages of the audit process. CISA is globally recognized as the primary credential for information security assessment controls. If you work in auditing, security, or information systems control, this certificate may be right for you.

Linux Essentials Professional Development Certification

Do you fancy yourself as a rebel? Then you might enjoy picking up an entry-level Linux certification. Linux is a free, open-source, and community-based operating system used for both desktop and server computing, and skilled Linux professionals have always been in great demand. The Linux Essentials PDC certification is designed to give students a birdseye view of how the Linux operating system works, without assuming any previous knowledge. Starting with an overview of open-source software, the PDC takes you by the hand and walks you through the history of how Linux came to be, and then proceeds to explain basic usage of the various Linux tools and components. Be warned: this certification does assume at least some natural aptitude for working with computers, but if you're looking for the easiest stepping stone toward mastering Linux, this is it.

Not sure which one to start with? Read our full guide to CompTIA Security+, or browse CertOcean certification programs — every one is backed by our pass-or-full-refund guarantee. Talk to our team about which fits your background.