IT Certifications and Certificates

If you’re looking for a way to demonstrate your skills in IT, you might be overwhelmed by the different certifications and certificate programs available. You might also have many questions about which certificates will get me hired? Which certificates are trusted? What is the difference between a certificate and a certification? How do I earn a certificate or certification? This article aims to answer these questions so you can efficiently choose the right path toward an IT certification. Keep reading to find out more.

What is IT?

IT stands for Information Technology. IT is an umbrella term for many job roles that combine business with technology. People who work in IT use computers and technology to solve business problems, make business decisions, and keep businesses running smoothly. 

Many companies have IT departments that manage computers, networks, software applications, and other technical aspects of running a successful business. The IT department could include providing technical support to employees, server maintenance, network security, software development, data analytics, or maintaining hardware and network infrastructure. 

People often think of IT as a support role. While support is a role within IT, IT has many subcategories beyond support, including data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, DevOps, and blockchain. IT professionals might ensure the network is secure, analyze data to help make business decisions, or develop a new software product. 

Jobs requiring IT skills are in high demand, with growth expected to continue at around 15% until 2029. IT can also be a lucrative career path: the average salary for IT professionals is around $100,000. Some IT subfields, such as cybersecurity, have a 0% unemployment rate. Training in IT could lead to an exciting career with an excellent salary.

Read more about what IT is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with IT?

IT describes jobs that combine technology with business, which makes it a huge field with no single job role or learning path. You’ll need verifiable technical training to become an IT professional. However, the size of IT adds a lot of flexibility to its career options and increases the number of opportunities. 

Being knowledgeable about technology is critical for working in IT. You’ll need a combination of intuitive and learned tech skills to excel, especially if you choose a role that requires troubleshooting, such as a support role or cybersecurity. People often underestimate the soft skills necessary in IT jobs, such as logical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, or critical-thinking skills.

IT skills are also highly prized because they improve your work process. Some of the most in-demand IT skills include cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics and data science, networking, software development, machine learning, and project management. Skills in these areas can get you hired in almost any industry.

Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?

IT is a skills-based job field, which means that skills are typically more important than formal education in the hiring process. You will need a way to demonstrate your IT skills to potential employers: certificates and certifications are a great way to do that. 

Certificates and certifications are the industry-standard for IT professionals. According to Skillsoft, 92% of IT professionals have at least one certificate or certification. IT professionals with certificates and certifications earn around 33% more than their non-certified counterparts: the average annual salary for IT professionals with a certificate or certification is around $120,000; without certification, it is around $100,000. 

There are differences between certificates and certifications. A certification is typically earned by passing an exam administered by a third party. For example, CompTIA’s IT Fundamentals is one of the most widely-held certifications for IT professionals and demonstrates an entry-level professional understanding of IT skills.

A certificate is typically earned through completing a training program. For example, graduates of Noble Desktop’s Full-Stack Web Development Certificate earn a New York State Licensed Certificate. 

Top Certifications & Certificates for IT

Certifications and certificates are highly recommended for people serious about a career in IT. Major tech companies, such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Cisco, offer some certifications. Professional IT organizations offer some certifications, such as Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) or the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). 

These are some of the most popular types of IT certifications worldwide offered by major companies or organizations:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) 
• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
• AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
• AWS Certified Developer
• AWS Certified Data Analytics
• CompTIA
• A+ (hardware)
• Cloud+ (cloud services)
• Security+ (cybersecurity)
•  Cisco
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
• Microsoft 
• Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert (MCSA)
• Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
• Microsoft 365 Certified
• Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate
• Google
• Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect
• Google IT Support Certificate
• Google Cloud Certificate
• Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

Other popular certifications include Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDP). Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE), Oracle MySQL Database Administration, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), Salesforce Certified Development Lifecycle and Deployment Designer, and Certified Scrum Master (CSM). 

Certificates are typically earned by completing IT training from a respected source. Noble Desktop is a highly-rated business, coding, and design school that offers IT courses live online or at its state-of-the-art campus in Midtown Manhattan. New York State licenses Noble Desktop and graduates of their certificate programs earn a New York State Licensed Certificate. 

Aspiring IT professionals can select the certificate program that most aligns with their career goals. Noble Desktop offers certificate programs in many hot IT career paths, including full stack development, cybersecurity, and data. 

Glassdoor lists Full Stack Developer as a top 10 job in the U.S. The average salary for a Software Developer is around $110,000 annually. Noble Desktop’s Full-Stack Web Development Certificate prepares students to become professional Full Stack Developers. Full Stack Developers work on both the front end (what you see) and the back end (what makes it run) of a website or application. Topics covered include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git, React, and working with databases. Graduates earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in Full Stack Development.

Cybersecurity is a very hot career path: people with cybersecurity training have had a 0% unemployment rate for the past several years. Noble Desktop’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp provides comprehensive training to launch a new career in cybersecurity. Students are guided through hands-on, real-world projects to develop skills in security tools, network security, penetration testing, Security Operations Center (SOC) protocols and tools, recognizing attacks, alert monitoring, Python, digital forensics, and cloud computing with AWS. Graduates earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in Cybersecurity. 

Data is another very hot IT career path with lucrative salaries and high demand. Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate provides graduates with hands-on training in extracting and analyzing data to make strategic business decisions. Topics covered include using Excel for data, cleaning and analyzing data using Python, SQL and database interactions, data interpretation, data visualization, and Tableau. Graduates earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in Data Analytics.

Should I Get Certified in IT?

IT is a large job field. Because of this, requirements vary depending on your chosen industry and career goals. It is typically recommended that aspiring IT professionals pursue certification or a certificate. Especially since 92% of IT professionals have a certificate or certification. 

Certificates and certifications are recommended for those just starting in IT or planning to transition into a new job role. They are also recommended for those who plan to work in specific IT subfields, such as cybersecurity, coding, cloud services, and data. 

How to Get Certified in IT

If you have decided to pursue IT as a new career path, earning a certificate or certification could be the critical factor that gets you hired. 

You’ll want to choose a bootcamp with a certificate of completion or a certificate program, such as Noble Desktop, which awards graduates a New York State Licensed Certificate. For example, it is highly recommended that Cybersecurity Analysts get certified and graduates of Noble Desktop’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in Cybersecurity. 

Learn IT with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

IT is a large job field with many career paths and nearly limitless opportunities. There are many paths to working in IT. However, there are recommended training paths based on your goals. 

To become an IT professional, you’ll need verifiable job skills. Many tech and coding schools offer IT training, but you’ll want to choose one that focuses on technology and business since IT demands skills in both. Bootcamps are highly recommended for launching a new career in IT or pivoting to a different job role because they offer comprehensive technical training in the least amount of time. 

Many bootcamps offer a live online training format which is an excellent option if there are no in-person IT courses in your area. Because the class is live, it works like an in-person class. You can ask questions and interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time. You can collaborate with classmates or receive direct feedback on your work using screen-sharing software. One advantage of live online classes is that they give you the interaction of an in-person classroom without any commute time. You can train in IT skills from your home or from anywhere.

Noble Desktop is a coding, business, and design school that offers live online bootcamps and certificate programs in some of IT’s hottest career paths, including data analytics, full stack development, and cybersecurity. All their classes have guaranteed small class sizes, so you get extra guidance from an expert instructor. Noble Desktop uses a unique approach in all its classes: instructors teach a “micro-lecture” and immediately guide students through applying the concept they’ve just learned. They also have a “learn the skills guarantee,” which includes a “free retake” option in which graduates can retake a course for free to continue developing their skills. 

Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate provides comprehensive training in data analysis, data visualization, business intelligence, and databases. Data Analysts use data to help businesses make good decisions. Students are guided through real-world, hands-on projects to develop skills in using Excel for data analysis, working with Python, SQL and database operations, data interpretation, business forecasting, machine learning, and using Tableau for data visualization. Graduates earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in Data Analytics which is shareable on Linkedin. 

You can earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in Cybersecurity by taking Noble Desktop’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp. Students work with an expert instructor to develop skills in network security tools, evaluating network security using penetration testing, Security Operations Center (SOC) principles and practices, understanding attackers, security monitoring and logging techniques, information gathering techniques, and understanding application vulnerabilities. 

Full Stack Developer is listed as a Top 3 Job in the US by Glassdoor. Noble Desktop’s Full Stack Web Development Certificate provides comprehensive training for becoming a Full Stack Developer who creates both the front end (what you see) and the back end (how it runs) of websites and applications. Students learn to create layouts using HTML and CSS, program in JavaScript, create web applications using Node.js, use MongoDB to work with databases, API development using Express.js, work with Git to track changes, and use JavaScript libraries. 

Key Insights

• Certificates and certifications are highly recommended in IT. 
• 92% of IT professionals have at least one certificate or certification.
• Some of the most popular IT certificates and certifications come from Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Cisco.
• Certificate programs combine training with certificates to streamline the job training process. 
• You can receive comprehensive IT training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.