10 best Information Technology certifications in the industry
IT certifications boast numerous benefits. They bolster resumes, encourage
higher salaries, and assist in job retention. But which IT certifications are
best?
Technology professionals generate much debate over just that question. Many
claim vendor-specific programs best measure a candidate’s skills, while others
propose vendor-independent exams are the only worthy way of measuring real-world
expertise. Still other observers believe the highest-level
accreditations—Microsoft’s MCSE or new Architect Series certification, Cisco’s
CCIE, etc.—are the only credentials that truly hold value.
The best IT certification for you, after all, is likely to be different from
that for another technology professional with different education, skills, and
goals working at a different company in a different industry. For that reason,
when pursuing any professional accreditation, you should give much thought and
care to your education, experience, skills, goals, and desired career path.
Once a career road map is in place, selecting a potential certification path
becomes much easier. And that’s where this list of the industry’s 10 best IT
certifications comes into play. While this list may not include the 10 best
accreditations for you, it does catalog 10 IT certifications that possess
significant value for a wide range of technology professionals.
1. MCITP
The new-generation Microsoft Certified IT Professional credential, or
MCITP for
short, is likely to become the next big Microsoft certification. Available for a
variety of fields of expertise—including database developer, database
administrator, enterprise messaging administrator, and server administrator—an
MCITP validates a professional’s proven job-role capabilities. Candidates must
pass several Microsoft exams that track directly to their job role before
earning the new designation.
As with Microsoft’s other new-generation accreditations, the MCITP certification
will retire when Microsoft suspends mainstream support for the platforms
targeted within the MCITP exams. By matching the new certification to popular
job roles, as has been done to some extent with CompTIA’s Server+ (server
administrator) , Project+ (project manager), and A+ (desktop support)
certifications, Microsoft has created a new certification that’s certain to
prove timely, relevant, and valuable
2. MCTS
The new-generation Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) helps IT
staff validate skills in installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting a specific
Microsoft technology. The MCTS certifications are designed to communicate the
skills and expertise a holder possesses on a specific platform.
For example, candidates won’t earn an MCTS on SQL Server 2008. Instead, they’ll
earn an MCTS covering SQL Server business intelligence (MCTS: SQL Server 2008
Business Intelligence) , database creation (MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Database
Development) , or SQL server administration (MCTS: SQL Server 2008,
Implementation and Maintenance) .
These new certifications require passing multiple, tightly targeted exams that
focus on specific responsibilities on specific platforms. MCTS designations will
expire when Microsoft suspends mainstream support for the corresponding
platform. These changes, as with other new-generation Microsoft certifications,
add value to the accreditation.
3. Security+
Security continues to be a critical topic. That’s not going to change. In fact,
its importance is only going to grow. One of the quickest ways to lose
shareholder value, client confidence, and sales is to suffer a data breach. And
no self-respecting technology professional wants to be responsible for such a
breach.
CompTIA’s Security+ accreditation provides a respected, vendor-neutral
foundation for industry staff (with at least two years of experience) seeking to
demonstrate proficiency with security fundamentals. While the Security+
accreditation consists of just a single exam, it could be argued that any IT
employee charged with managing client data or other sensitive information
should, at a minimum, possess this accreditation. The importance of ensuring
staff are properly educated as to systems security, network infrastructure,
access control, auditing, and organizational security principles is simply too
important to take for granted
4. MCPD
There’s more to information technology than just administration, support, and
networking. Someone must create and maintain the applications and programs that
power organizations. That’s where the new-generation Microsoft Certified
Professional Developer (MCPD) credential comes into play.
The MCPD accreditation measures a developer’s ability to build and maintain
software solutions using Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.
Split into three certification paths (Windows Developer 3.5, ASP.NET Developer
3.5, and Enterprise Applications Developer 3.5), the credential targets IT
professionals tasked with designing, optimizing, and operating those Microsoft
technologies to fulfill business needs.
A redesigned certification aimed at better-measuring real-world skills and
expertise, the MCPD will prove important for developers and programmers. Besides
requiring candidates to pass several exams, the MCPD certification will retire
when Microsoft suspends mainstream support for the corresponding platform. The
change is designed to ensure the MCPD certification remains relevant, which is
certain to further increase its value.
5. CCNA
The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) accreditation captures most of
the networking company’s certification glory. But the Cisco Certified Network
Associate (
CCNA) might prove more realistic within many organizations.
In a world in which Microsoft and Linux administrators are also often expected
to be networking experts, many companies don’t have the budgets necessary to
train (or employ) a CCIE. But even small and midsize corporations can benefit
from having their technology professionals earn basic proficiency administering
Cisco equipment, as demonstrated by earning a CCNA accreditation.
As smaller companies become increasingly dependent upon remote access
technologies, basic Cisco systems skills are bound to become more important.
Although many smaller organizations will never have the complexity or workload
necessary to keep a CCIE busy, Cisco’s CCNA is a strong accreditation for
technology professionals with a few years’ experience seeking to grow and
improve their networking skills.
6. CompTIA A+
Technology professionals with solid hardware and support skills are becoming
tougher to find. There’s not much glory in digging elbow-deep into a desktop box
or troubleshooting Windows boot errors. But those skills are essential to
keeping companies running.
Adding CompTIA’s A+ certification to a resume tells hiring managers and
department heads that you have proven support expertise. Whether an organization
requires desktop installation, problem diagnosis, preventive maintenance, or
computer or network error troubleshooting, many organizations have found
A+-certified technicians to be more productive than their noncertified
counterparts.
Changes to the A+ certification, which requires passing multiple exams, are
aimed at keeping the popular credential relevant. Basic prerequisite
requirements are now followed by testing that covers specific fields of
expertise (such as IT, remote support, or depot technician). The accreditation
is aimed at those working in desktop support, on help desks, and in the field,
and while many of these staffers are new to the industry, the importance of an
A+ certification should not be overlooked.
7. PMP
Some accreditations gain value by targeting specific skills and expertise. The
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a great example.
The Project Management Institute (PMI), a nonprofit organization that serves as
a leading membership association for project management practitioners, maintains
the PMP exam. The certification measures a candidate’s project management
expertise by validating skills and knowledge required to plan, execute, budget,
and lead a technology project. Eligible candidates must have five years of
project management experience or three years of project management experience
and 35 hours of related education.
As organizations battle tough economic conditions, having proven project
scheduling, budgeting, and management skills will only grow in importance. The
PMI’s PMP credential is a perfect conduit for demonstrating that expertise on a
resume.
8. MCSE / MCSA
Even years after their introduction, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (
MCSE)
and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (
MCSA) credentials remain
valuable. But it’s important to avoid interpreting these accreditations as
meaning the holders are all-knowing gurus, as that’s usually untrue.
In my mind, the MCSE and MCSA hold value because they demonstrate the holder’s
capacity to complete a long and comprehensive education, training, and
certification program requiring intensive study. Further, these certifications
validate a wide range of relevant expertise (from client and server
administration to security issues) on specific, widely used platforms.
Also important is the fact that these certifications tend to indicate holders
have been working within the technology field for a long time. There’s no
substitute for actual hands-on experience. Many MCSEs and MCSAs hold their
certifications on Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 platforms, meaning they’ve
been working within the industry for many years. While these certifications will
be replaced by Microsoft’s new-generation credentials, they remain an important
measure of foundational skills on Windows platforms.
9. CISSP
As mentioned with the Security+ accreditation earlier, security is only going to
grow in importance. Whatever an organization’s mission, product, or service,
security is paramount.
(ISC)², which administers the Certified Information Systems Security
Professional (CISSP) accreditation, has built a respected, vendor-neutral
security certification. Designed for industry pros with at least five years of
full-time experience, and accredited by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI), the CISSP is internationally recognized for validating
candidates’ expertise with operations and network and physical security, as well
as their ability to manage risk and understand legal compliance responsibilities
and other security-related elements.
10. Linux+
While pursuing my first Microsoft certification 10 years ago, I remember
debating the importance of Linux with several telecommunications technicians.
They mocked the investment I was making in learning Microsoft technologies.
These techs were confident Linux was going to displace Windows.
Well, didn’t happen. Linux continues to make inroads, though. The open source
alternative is an important platform. Those professionals who have Linux
expertise and want to formalize that skill set will do well adding CompTIA’s
Linux+ certification to their resumes.
The vendor-neutral exam, which validates basic Linux client and server skills,
is designed for professionals with at least six to 12 months of hands-on Linux
experience. In addition to being vendor-neutral, the exam is also distribution
neutral (meaning the skills it covers work well whether a candidate is
administering Red Hat, SUSE, or Ubuntu systems).
Technology professionals almost always have strong reactions when debating
certification’s value. Listing the top 10 certifications leaves room, of course,
for only 10 credentials. That means many favorite and popular designations, such
as HIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) certifications, have been necessarily omitted.
Other important accreditations, including those for VoIP providers and from PC
manufacturers, Red Hat, and even Apple, have also been left out here.
