Choosing your first certification is the hardest step. There are dozens of acronyms, and every forum has a different opinion. The good news: for most people the right starting point depends on just two things, which field you want to work in and how much experience you already have.
Here’s how we guide students through it.
If you want to work in networking
Start with CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA.
- Network+ (N10-009) is vendor-neutral. It covers networking concepts, implementation, operations, security and troubleshooting. It’s a great first step if you’re new to IT or coming from a help-desk role.
- CCNA (200-301) is the industry’s foundational networking certification. It covers network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability. It has no formal prerequisite, but basic IT knowledge helps.
Next step: once you hold CCNA-level skills and a few years of experience, CCNP Enterprise (350-401 ENCOR plus a concentration exam) opens senior networking roles and usually a significant salary jump.
If you want to work in cybersecurity
Start with CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701). It’s the entry point into security for IT and networking professionals, and a baseline requirement for many SOC and analyst roles. Network+ and around two years of IT experience are recommended first.
Where to go next depends on your direction:
- Senior or architect roles: CISSP (ISC2), the most sought-after senior security certification.
- Management and leadership: CISM (ISACA), the premier management-track security certification.
- IT audit and compliance: CISA (ISACA), the gold standard for IT audit.
- Cloud security: CCSP (ISC2), a specialist certification for AWS, Azure and GCP security.
Each of these has experience requirements for full certification, usually around five years, with waivers or associate paths available.
If you want to lead projects
- New to project management? Start with CAPM (PMI). It needs a secondary diploma and 23 hours of PM education.
- Already leading projects? Go for PMP (PMI), the world’s most recognised project management certification. It requires a degree plus 36 months leading projects and 35 hours of education, or 60 months without a degree.
PMP also pairs well with any technical track. Many network and security engineers add it when they move into lead roles.
A quick decision guide
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| New to IT, interested in networks | Network+ |
| Some IT experience, want networking | CCNA |
| Hold CCNA, want to grow | CCNP Enterprise |
| In IT, want to move into security | Security+ |
| Hold Security+, aiming senior | CISSP, CISM or CCSP |
| New to project management | CAPM |
| Leading projects already | PMP |
How we help you pass
All our certification training is online and 1-on-1, built around the official exam objectives, with high-yield practice and full mock exams. Your trainer personally holds every certification he teaches.
Not sure which track fits you? Book a FREE 1-day trial class and we’ll help you choose.
Exam codes and objectives were current at the time of writing. Vendors update their exams periodically, so always check the official exam guide before booking.