Which IT Certifications Are Worth Getting?

There are a lot of certifications and educational options available right now. Which ones might be the most lucrative in both the short and long term? Clearly, courses in COBOL programming or supporting Alpha VMS-based systems are not likely to take anyone to the top of the headhunter’s candidate list. So, what learning paths should people favor?

The annual Top Paying IT Certifications list from Global Knowledge offers some answers. This list indicates where money is to be made, but it also showcases the most problematic areas within the technology landscape.

After all, people aren’t always paid well because they can facilitate higher revenue for the business. Often, higher salaries indicate that workers are needed to address serious challenges that are reducing profits and service levels.

Read more: 7 Best IT Certifications for 2022

Cloud Certifications Top the List

It is perhaps no surprise that cloud certifications top the list, taking the first three spots. Further, cloud certs in Google and Amazon platforms are the most in demand — again, not surprising. These platforms continue to be “cool.” Microsoft, on the other hand, suffers from the view that it exploits a monopoly in many areas. Of course, the same could be said of Google and Amazon.

Nevertheless, these Google and Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud certifications are the highest rewarded:

• Google Certified Data Engineer
• Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

Anyone trained in these systems can look forward to an accelerated career path.

Security Certifications Score High

The old music hit parade used to highlight songs that entered the top 40 charts rapidly by putting a bullet beside the song: “In at number 15 with a bullet is…” This indicated the song was expected to rise close to the top in a very short time.

That designation, therefore, could be placed beside the next items on the list of top certifications. In with a bullet at positions 4, 5, and 6 are:

• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

These highly sought-after credentials can open doors to successful IT careers. A CRISC cert already earns an average pay of more than $150,000 per year, and its value is rising fast. Global Knowledge explained some of the reasons why this cert has become so popular, is so remunerative, and is rising steadily up the certification charts.

The obvious reason is that the drastic increase in security breaches worldwide created intense demand for professionals who understand IT risk and how it relates to computing infrastructure.

Earning a CRISC gives a person some tools to use when planning and implementing control and security measures. Such a qualification is often a passport to promotion in such roles as security manager, security director, security engineer, security analyst, and security architect.

That said, CRISC certification is no walk in the park. Those applying should already be well grounded in IT, the cloud, information systems in general, and security technology. Thus, earlier certifications are usually necessary.

Top Paying IT Certifications Signal Skills Shortage

After the security certs comes another batch that are quite lucrative. These include project management, Nutanix cloud, information systems auditor, VMware and Citrix virtualization, Windows Server, Microsoft Azure administration, and Cisco networking. As you can see, the cloud continues to be a hot area in professional development. So, too, is virtualization.

Part of the reasoning behind the high pay for these certifications is scarcity. There are not that many people around with these qualifications, skills, and experience. Therefore, organizations will pay top dollar to acquire them.

As such, mapping out a career path that includes the achievement of some of these certifications is a wise move for anyone seeking to move up in the organizational chart.

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