Certifications Mantra

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certifications will be the next step on your Cisco certification journey after you earn your CCNA. With CCNP, you can choose to be certified in enterprise, data center, security, service provider, collaboration, CyberOps or DevNet. You’ll need to pass an exam at the CCNP level to move on to the final expert level of certifications. It’s recommended to have at least three to five years of experience in any certification path you choose.

Average annual salary: $95,000

Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)

The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification is the highest level of certification you can reach in Cisco’s program. The expert-level certifications are offered in specialty areas including enterprise infrastructure, enterprise wireless, data center, security, service provider and collaboration. Once you have passed your CCIE exam in your topic of choice, you will have reached the highest level of Cisco certification currently available. Before you can earn your expert-level certification, it’s recommended to have at least five to seven years of experience in the certification subject.

Average annual salary: $126,000

Oracle Certified Professional (OCP)

Oracle offers several Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) certifications in database administration, big data, application development, analytics, data warehousing and more. You’ll need to earn your Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) certification in your chosen path or subject before you can move onto earning your professional-level OCP certification. Oracle offers a large selection of IT certifications so if you already use Oracle products or want to work for a company that does, you will most likely find a certification that fits your needs.

Average annual salary: $107,000

CompTIA A+

The CompTIA A+ certification is designed for support specialists, field service technicians, desktop support analysts and help desk support. It’s an entry-level certification that certifies your ability to troubleshoot and solve problems with networking, mobile devices, operating systems and security. The certification covers nine important IT skills such as hardware, networking, mobile devices, Windows operating system, hardware and network troubleshooting, operating system technologies, software troubleshooting, security and operation procedures.

Average annual salary: $61,000

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification is offered in several specializations, including security, wireless, routing and switching, industrial, IoT, data center, cyber operations, collaboration and cloud. The exam covers network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals and automation and programmability. You’ll need at least one year of experience working with Cisco products and services, basic knowledge of IP addressing and a strong understanding of network fundamentals to pass the exam.

Average annual salary: $78,000

Certified ScrumMaster

The Scrum Alliance offers a ScrumMaster certification that will certify your knowledge of the Scrum Framework and your ability to apply it in the workplace. It’s a certification best suited for project managers, technical project managers, Scrum masters, program managers, project leads and product developers. Once you pass your certification, you’ll also receive a two-year membership with the Scrum Alliance, which will give you access to local and online networking events.

Average annual salary: $105,000

Certified Ethical Hacker

Offered through the EC-Council, the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification demonstrates your ability to find vulnerabilities in computer systems and to prevent hacking. As an ethical hacker, you’re someone who uses the same skills, techniques and knowledge as a malicious hacker to help establish better security measures to prevent future attacks. Ethical hackers are responsible for finding weaknesses in the organization’s networks and systems, and then use that knowledge to protect the company against potential threats.

Average annual salary: $81,000

AWS Certified Solutions Architect

Amazon offers a long list of AWS certifications, but the AWS Certified Solutions Architect is one of the most popular cloud computing certifications you can earn. AWS is widely used at companies large and small, so whether you already work for a company using AWS or plan to in the future, it’s a good choice for your resume. The certification focuses on your ability to design and deploy scalable systems on AWS with a focus on keeping it cost effective without sacrificing on security, reliability and quality.

Average annual salary (according to PayScale): $113,000

Project Management Professional (PMP)

The PMP certification is offered through Project Management Institute and is targeted at advanced project management professionals. The certification covers the fundamentals of project management, including the five main stages of a project’s life cycle: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, and controlling and closing. To take the exam, you’ll need at least a four-year degree and three years of experience in project management, 4,500 hours of leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education. If you have a secondary degree, you’ll need five years of experience, 7,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education.

Average annual salary: $106,000

5 Benefits of Professional Certifications

1. Gain a Competitive Advantage
2. Increase Efficiency
3. Increase Earning Potential
4. Expand Knowledge and Skills
5. Build Professional Credibility

IT certifications can help you quickly gain and validate valuable skills and know-how in a domain that will further your career. Here are the most popular IT certs today.

15 most in demand certifications for 2020

AWS Certified Solutions Architect
Certified Data Professional (CDP)
Certified Ethical Hacker
Certified ScrumMaster
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
CompTIA A+
Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC)
Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
Oracle Certified Professional (OCP)
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Salesforce Certified Development Lifecycle and Deployment Designer