Best IT Certificates Houston, TX: Find Courses & Onsite Training

Learn More About Houston IT Certificates

What is IT?

Commonly known as IT, the field of information technology refers to the computer systems, hardware, software, and networks related to the processing and distribution of data. The umbrella of IT also covers things like networking hardware (servers and routers) and applications that allow communication over a variety of networks and the internet.

The term “information technology” was originally used in a 1958 publication of the Harvard Business Review, which divided IT into the following three categories: techniques for processing, the use of statistical and mathematical methods to make decisions, and the simulation of higher-order thinking through computer programs. Enterprises devote entire departments to information technology.

Data processing plays a significant role in a variety of business practices including product development and design, marketing and market research, sales and invoicing, customer development and retention, accounting and taxes, human resources and payroll, and

regulatory compliance. IT has become an essential part of nearly every modern industry, so it is a wise choice to become an expert in information technology.

Why Become Certified in IT?

Acquiring certification in information technology has several benefits. An IT certification is a recognized credential within the field of IT. It signifies your dedication, motivation, and proficiency in the subject matter. Preparations for certification exams, training, and fees cost time and money, further confirming your commitment to the field.

Being able to prove your dedication and proficiency can help you stand out from other job applicants. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be around 377,500 job openings in IT each year from now until 2032. And, with the median salary sitting well above the national average at $100,000, you can expect a healthy salary in most of these open roles.

It is fairly common for companies to require ongoing certifications, especially within the field of information technology. If you currently work in IT and want a promotion, enrolling in a certification course can be a great way to prove you deserve that higher-paying, higher-ranking job. Cisco’s recertification requirements, for example, include earning continuing education credits, taking an exam, or attending training during each three-year cycle. If your employer makes ongoing training mandatory, there’s a high probability they will help pay for your certification, so make sure to check with them before enrolling.

IT professionals often have the added benefit of being able to work from anywhere they choose. Online work offers more flexibility for IT experts, allowing you to assist fellow employees or clients via email, video chat, or by taking over their desktops. You’re no longer tied to living in cities with high living costs and are often only required to work within a specific time zone.

High pay, ample career opportunities, and the ability to choose where you work are only a handful of the perks of working in information technology. Getting certified in IT is the quickest way to make your dream career a reality. Keep reading to discover more about what you’ll learn in a training program and how to choose the right certification for you.

What You’ll Learn While Becoming IT Certified

Information technology is a diverse field that requires professionals who are knowledgeable in a variety of tools and techniques. Below is a list of the most common skills you’ll gain in a certification program, so that you know what to look for when you’re researching potential training courses. It’s important to note that there are several other hard and soft skills that you’ll want to master, especially collaboration, effective communication, and problem-solving. (And if you’ve already mastered some of the below, consider yourself ahead of the game.)

Security

Security is an important piece of an IT department. Starting in a help desk, networking, or system administration role can introduce you to fundamentals that are helpful to know for security purposes, but most training programs will cover the basics of security, which can include familiarity with physical, network, and software security, installing firewalls and routers, data encryption, risk mitigation strategy and threat analysis, knowledge of compliance regulations and standards like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and CCPA, and ethical hacking and penetration testing.

Programming

If you wish to develop software, web applications, and websites, knowing how to program will be crucial. Commonly used languages are Python, C++, JavaScript, Ruby, and PowerShell. Being familiar with at least two is recommended to adequately troubleshoot any errors you may encounter on the job.

Data Analysis

Troubleshooting problems and improving systems and networks means you’ll need to know how to properly dissect and analyze data. Monitoring performance data can help you find security threats or coding errors or see where inefficiencies exist in the overall operation. Having a foundational understanding of SQL and statistics will go a long way when analyzing data.

Networks and Systems

Two typical job titles for an IT professional are System Administrator and Network Administrator. Managing and improving computer systems and networks is central to the work of an IT team. IT work will often require you to administer diverse operating systems like Windows, Linux, or Mac, install and configure computer hardware and software, cloud administration, and applications, maintain local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), storage area networks (SAN) and virtual private networks (VPNs), and troubleshoot and help employees with technical issues.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing skills are highly sought after within the IT industry. By conducting delivery of on-demand computing resources like hardware, storage, databases, networking, and software, cloud computing lets companies access and store information without managing their own physical devices or IT infrastructure. Its scalability, flexibility, and cost savings have helped it grow in popularity across a variety of industries.

IT Industries in Houston

Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States, so it’s not surprising that the city boasts a variety of thriving industries. Aerospace and aviation is arguably the top industry in the region, featuring more than 500 related enterprises and over 23,000 employees. Dallas is also home to two international airports, which handled 59.5 million passengers in the 12 months ending October '23. Plus, the Texas Space Commission awarded $200 million to Texas A&M University for the construction of a research and training facility next to NASA's Johnson Space Center, showing that Houston continues to be a driving force in the new Space Economy by joining together NASA, private sector companies, global space agencies, and a diverse talent pool.

A central location between the rest of the United States and Central and South America, Houston is an ideal location for a robust manufacturing industry. Ranked second in the U.S. for highest manufacturing GDP and sixth for the largest industrial market, 223,000 Houston residents are employed within the industry’s more than 7,000 companies. Manufacturing in Houston grosses $75.1 billion annually, thanks to a long list of notable employers like Frito-Lay, General Electric, and Goya Foods.

Houston is the headquarters location for almost every segment of the energy industry including exploration, production, transmission, marketing, supply, and technology. The city employs nearly a third of the nation's jobs in oil and gas extraction (237,000 professionals) and is the chosen home for 4,700 energy-related firms. Processing more than 2.6 million barrels of crude oil and boasting the 4th largest concentration of engineers, Houston is the place to be if you want to work in the energy industry.

Each of these industries, and countless others, relies on IT professionals to maintain their systems and networks on hard drives, remote servers, and the cloud. Information technology experts are also needed to help troubleshoot issues both on the back end and with employees or other personnel. With such high need across a variety of enterprises, there are plenty of roles for you to pursue, several of which are covered below.

IT Careers in Houston

There are several potential job titles for someone certified in information technology. You could become a Systems Architect. This role involves devising, configuring, operating, and maintaining computer and networking systems. Systems Architects analyze desired processes and outcomes. Then, they advise on the right pathway to achieve specific business, department, team, or functional goals. In Houston, you can expect to make $155,000-$181,000 as a Systems Architect.

You could also become a Computer and Information Systems Manager. These professionals are responsible for overseeing the computer and data-related infrastructure for the organization. You would likely be in charge of running an entire information technology department if working at a small company. However, in larger firms, these professionals may focus on a specific area, such as cybersecurity. In Houston, you could make around $124,000-$163,000 in this role.

Another option is to become a Cloud Security Engineer. You would plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. You’d also lead system assessments for vulnerabilities, monitor for and protect against security risks, and ensure appropriate security controls are in place that can safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. Salaries for this role in Houston range between $92,000-$130,000.

As you can see, there are several roles you can pursue within IT depending on your interests. With salary ranges well above the U.S. average of $60,000, you can have a successful and lucrative career in IT no matter your job title.

Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification

While these two terms might seem similar, they are quite different regarding training programs. Gained through an assessment or a professional training program, a certification is a professional credential that regularly culminates in a final exam or test. Many jobs require certain certifications for promotions and career advancement. These can lead to increased pay, potential promotions, and enhanced professional expertise. Several professions demand certifications to be renewed at regular intervals. Some companies may even cover the cost of certification, as these credentials bring value to the workplace.

Often thought of as continuing education, a certificate is given to signify your successful completion of a course or training. Mid-career professionals pursue certificates to enhance or develop high-demand skills in their industry, while novices use them to carve out new career paths. These are noncredit programs sponsored by educational institutions, so you won’t earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree by completing them. A certificate can definitely add value to your resume, but it’s important to remember that it doesn’t carry the same weight as degrees, which are commonly required for many jobs.

If your goal is to change career fields entirely or learn as much about a new industry as possible, then a certificate could be the right choice. A certification course is probably the right route if you are established in your career and looking to gain a new title or increase your pay.

You’ll also want to consider how much time and money you can commit to your training. If your company requires a certification for you to advance in your career, it's possible they will pay in full or offer financial assistance. If they don’t, you’ll want to be mindful of your budget, as these training programs can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Both certificates and certifications can vary in length, from a few days to several months. So you'll want to consider how long the program will take you to complete, as well as how much time you can commit on both a daily level and overall for the length of the program.

Regardless of which route you choose, both can give you an upper hand in your professional development and expand your skill set, making you highly desirable within your current field or a new one.

Top IT Certificate Programs in Houston

Houston’s various thriving industries and ever-growing economy make it the perfect place to study information technology. Below are listed some of the top trainings available, both online and in-person in Houston, which can help you launch your next career and prepare for various certificate exams. Keep reading to learn more about your educational options and how to get one step closer to your dream career in information technology.

Online CompTIA A+ Training Course

Students can take their careers to the next level with this course from the University of Houston. Held entirely online, this course offers two paths: a self-paced immersive program that takes anywhere from 6-18 months, or a live 1-week introductory bootcamp. Both courses are designed to prepare one for the CompTIA A+ Certification, a standard that is supported by companies like Intel, Dell, and HP. The foundational skills that the certification covers and its introductory focus make it the most popular certification among entry-level IT job openings today.

The self-paced program provides access to an expert instructor via email, while the live online bootcamp offers 1-on-1 instruction and 12-month access to the Infosec Skills Library. The self-paced program is ideal for those who have limited availability for studying (i.e. in the evenings or on the weekends), while the bootcamp is best for those who have the time and flexibility to study full-time for one week.

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

This in-depth course from the University of Houston-Downtown covers the eight CISSP domains: security and risk management, asset security, security engineering, communications and network security, identity and access management, security assessment and testing, security operations, and software development security.

You have one year to complete this self-paced course and it’s recommended that students have a CompTIA Security+ certification or equivalent knowledge. CISSP is an advanced security certification that requires 5 years of experience in the field. If students want to enhance their current skill set in security and prove their competency in many areas, the CISSP certification is a good choice.

Healthcare Certified Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPP)

This online instructor-led course is also offered by the University of Houston-Downtown. Students will learn to implement, manage, and assess security and privacy controls to protect healthcare organizations using policies and procedures established by the cybersecurity experts at (ISC)2®. This course covers key topics including how to identify applicable regulations, compliance frameworks, privacy principles, and policies to protect information security.

Students will also learn the relevant legal and regulatory requirements regarding healthcare information, describe security and privacy concept principles, identify how organizations manage information risk, establish what security and privacy governance means for that information. They will be able to describe risk assessment and the risk assessment practices and procedures for an organization, identify concepts for managing third-party relationships, and conceptualize the diversity in the healthcare industry.

The HCISPP certification has specific requirements, as established by (ISC)2, so students should research those prerequisites before enrolling. Students have one year to complete this course.

Cloud Computing with AWS

Offered by Noble Desktop, this course offers practical knowledge on AWS, the most popular digital platform for cloud computing. Available both online and in-person in New York, this class teaches all the best practices for AWS. Students learn how to build and secure an enterprise-level cloud environment, including how to navigate cloud infrastructure, networking, and databases. Composed of 18 hours of hands-on learning, this course involves project-based training from experts in the industry.

There are supplemental materials to assist both during and after the course, as well as a one-year free retake policy, which allows students to retake any part of the course or program for free to refresh the materials and gain additional practice. You’ll receive a certificate of completion to verify your accomplishment at the end of the course.

Linux Operating System & Bash Scripting

Held live online or in-person in NYC, this course from Noble Desktop will train you on one of the most popular open-source software: Linux. You’ll learn to master its operating systems, navigate directories, and use major Linux distributions for cybersecurity, including Kali, NodeZero, and BlackArch. This course will also cover topics like how permissions work and how to decipher them; bash scripting; creating, renaming, moving, and deleting directories; and listing, reading, creating, editing, copying, and deleting files.

This course is open to beginners and requires no prior experience with Linux, Bash scripting, or coding. Tuition includes a one-year free retake policy, allowing you to retake any part of the course for free to refresh the materials and gain additional practice. You’ll receive a certificate upon completion of the course that you can add to your resume or LinkedIn.

Information Security Training

Also offered by Learning Tree International, this course covers the foundational knowledge and skills needed to analyze and assess network risks and then select and deploy appropriate countermeasures. Through multiple hands-on exercises, students learn to evaluate methods for strong authentication, search for possible vulnerabilities in operating systems, reduce an organization’s exposure to dangers in enterprise-wide and virtual private networks (VPNs), analyze its exposure to security threats, protect that organization's systems and data, and deploy firewalls and data encryption to minimize threats.

They will also master assessing alternative user and host authentication mechanisms, managing risks originating from inside the organization and from the internet, and leveraging continued support with after-course 1-on-1 instructor coaching and computing sandbox. Held over four days via online instruction, 1-on-1 coaching is included in the cost of tuition.

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Key Insights

Learn More About Houston IT Certificates

What is IT?

Why Become Certified in IT?

What You’ll Learn While Becoming IT Certified

Security

Programming

Data Analysis

Networks and Systems

Cloud Computing

IT Industries in Houston

IT Careers in Houston

Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification

Top IT Certificate Programs in Houston

Online CompTIA A+ Training Course

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Healthcare Certified Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPP)

Information Security Training

Houston IT Courses by School

Cybersecurity Analytics Bootcamp (Full or Part Time) (Online)

Cybersecurity Bootcamp

Cybersecurity Part-Time

Cyber Defense Analyst Bootcamp

Houston IT Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Houston Careers & Salaries Related to IT

Houston IT
Corporate & Onsite Training