In this blog post, we are listing best IT certifications that helps in your career growth. If you are in the software industry, attaining a industry standard certification is always a booster for your career growth. In the ever changing jobs demand, you have to stand out from the crowd. The only way is to pass the certifications that are in the high demand.
A certification is a great way to demonstrate your high-value skills to the employers.
Earning a certification can make a big difference in your job prospectus, and help you in the career advancement. The popular fields of information technology those are bringing up IT certifications are cloud computing, project management, big data, digital marketing, networking, and security.
We have already written about the AWS Jobs Trend, that might help you to get an idea about the current job market. If you are a fresher, definitely holding a certification would help you.
Top 10 IT Certifications 2024 in Greatest Demand
The IT certifications not only play an important role to advance the IT career but also help to earn a better salary. The choice of a right certification can give a raise of up to 20% of your pay. But while choosing a certification a number of questions may come to your mind like – What is the right certification for me? Which IT certifications are in great demand today?
To take you out from these questions, we’ve pinned the top 10 IT certifications that are most valuable and in greatest demand. In the below infographics, we have listed all the certifications with the salary range offered for those certified candidates.
1. AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Exam
One of the highly valuable IT certifications is AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Exam. AWS is the most popular public cloud platform, and there is a huge demand of AWS Solution Architects. This AWS associate certification exam is for those who have experience in designing distributed systems and applications on the AWS platform. For more exposure, you may also visit this – AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional course (AWS Labs) – The significant details of AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam are –
Exam Overview
- Certification Name – AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate
- Prerequisites for the Exam – None, but AWS Architect training and AWS Certification Exam Readiness workshop are recommended
- Exam Pattern – Multiple Choice and Multiple Answer Questions
- Number of Questions – 60
- Exam Duration – 80 minutes
- Exam Fee – $150
Exam Objectives
- Design and deployment of highly available, fault-tolerant, and scalable systems on AWS platform
- Access and submission of data to and from AWS
- Identification of AWS architectural best practices
- Estimation of AWS costs and identification of cost control mechanisms
- Lifting and shifting an existing application to AWS
- Section of AWS service on the basis of available data, database, figures, and security requirements
Average Salary
The average earning of an AWS certified professional is $120,000 per annum. Although the range of pay for entry-level to the top-level positions is $100,000 – $200,000.
2. Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
IT industry comprises of projects and thus even after not being among technical certifications, PMP certification is in great demand in IT companies. Project Management Professional certification is administered by the Project Management Institute. It is one of the IT certifications that is highly sought after among the IT professionals. This certification endorses your project management skills including management of time, team, and budget. This PMP Mock Exam checks one’s knowledge at various stages of the projects. The significant details and information about Project Management Professional certification exam are –
Exam Overview
- Certification Name – Project Management Professional
- Prerequisites for the Exam – None, but there are some requirements for the exam:
4-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent, 4500 hours project management experience, and 35 hours project management education from any R.E.P. of PMI
Or
Associate’s (Secondary) degree or equivalent, 7500 hours of project management experience, and 35 hours project management education from any R.E.P. of PMI
- Exam Pattern – Multiple Choice Questions (25 questions are randomly placed dummy/pretest questions)
- Number of Questions – 200
- Exam Duration – 4 hours
- Exam Fee – USD405 (for PMI members) and, USD555 (for PMI non-members)
- Maintenance – 60 PDUs (Professional Development Units) every 3 years
- Passing Score – 61%
Exam Objectives
The objectives of PMP certification exam includes various stages of the project lifecycle
- Initiation
- Planning
- Execution
- Monitoring and Controlling
- Closing
Average Salary
The average earning of a project management professional is $105,324 per annum. Although the range of pay for entry-level to the top-level positions is $80,854 – $139,000.
3. Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE8 Developer
Oracle Certified Professional Java SE8 Developer certification exam, popularly known as OCPJP8 is identified by the exam code 1Z0-809. This certification is one of the best IT certifications for Java professionals. This certification exam is intended for the individuals who have already passed the OCA Java (OCAJP8) certification exam.
OCPJP8 certification is a leading certification for Java professionals. It is the most important certification among the whole Java certification path, and valuable for both the entry-level and top-level Java professionals. The significant details and information about Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE Programmer Certification exam are –
Exam Overview
- Certification Name – Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE Programmer
- Exam Number – 1Z0-809
- Prerequisites for the Exam – OCAJP8
- Exam Pattern – Multiple Choice Questions
- Number of Questions – 85
- Exam Duration – 150 minutes (2.5 hours)
- Exam Fee – $245
- Passing Score – 65% (56 out of 5)
Exam Objectives
- Java class design
- Advanced Java class design
- Generics and collections
- Lambda built-in functional interfaces
- Java stream API
- Exceptions and Assertions
- Use Java SE Date/Time API
- Java I/O Fundamentals
- Java File I/O
- Java Concurrency
- Building Database Applications with JDBC
- Localization
Average Salary
The average earning of a certified Java professional is $102,158 per annum. Although the range of pay for entry-level to the top-level positions is $80,285 – $115,956.
4. Professional Scrum Master Certification
Professional Scrum Master (PSM) is one of the top IT certifications that is gaining popularity among software developers and project managers. Professional Scrum Master Certification is for the individuals who want to validate their in-depth knowledge of Scrum. There are three levels of the PSM certification, PSM I, PSM II, and PSM III. At each level, one needs to pass an assessment to get industry-recognized PSM certifications that will demonstrate his/her skills in Scrum.
You need to study hard to pass the PSM certification exam as with each level, the difficulty level of the exam also increases. Check the Scrum practice test for better preparation. The significant details and information about all the three levels of Professional Scrum Master (PSM) Certification exam are –
PSM I Exam Overview
- Certification Name – Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)
- Prerequisites for the Exam – None, but Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree or Equivalent with some experience in Scrum is recommended
- Exam Pattern – Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer, and True-False Questions
- Number of Questions – 80
- Exam Duration – 60 minutes (1 hour)
- Exam Fee – $150
- Passing Score – 85%
- Renewal – Not required
Exam Objectives
- The Scrum Framework
- Scrum Principles and Theory
- Cross-functional and Self-organizing teams
- Facilitation and Coaching
- Scrum at Large
PSM II Exam Overview
- Certification Name – Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II)
- Prerequisites for the Exam – None, but PSM I is the recommended certification
- Exam Pattern – Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer, and True-False Questions
- Number of Questions – 30
- Exam Duration – 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
- Exam Fee – $250
- Passing Score – 85%
- Renewal – Not required
Exam Objectives
- Facilitation and Coaching
- Scaling Fundamentals
- Self-organizing and Cross-Functional teams
- Product Backlog Management
- Maximization of Values
- Scrum Framework – Rules and Roles
- Scrum Principles and Theory (PSM II)
- Scrum Values and Agile Principles
PSM III Exam Overview
- Certification Name – Professional Scrum Master III (PSM III)
- Prerequisites for the Exam – None, but PSM I and PSM II are the recommended certifications
- Exam Pattern – Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer, True False Questions, and Essay Type Questions
- Number of Questions – 30
- Exam Duration – 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Exam Fee – $500
- Passing Score – 85%
- Renewal – Not required
Exam Objectives
- Facilitation and Coaching
- Self-organizing and Cross-Functional teams
- Scrum Framework – Rules and Roles
- Scrum Principles and Theory (PSM III)
Average Salary
The average earning of a professional scrum master is $100,000 per annum. Although the range of pay for entry-level to the top-level positions is $73,000 – $126,000 per year.
5. CompTIA Linux+ Certification
Linux has become a leading software and service delivery platform for industries. CompTIA Linux+ is one of the extra-ordinary IT certifications popular among Linux professionals. This certification is offered by Linux Professional Institute (LPI). To earn CompTIA Linux+ accreditation, the candidate is required to pass two exams – LX0-103 and LX0-104. First, you need to pass the LX0-103 exam, only then you can apply for the LX0-104 exam. The Linux+ certification also acts as a prerequisite for the LPIC-1 certification. So, if you are looking for Linux training and certification, this is one of the valuable tech certifications for Linux professionals. The significant details and information about both the exams of Linux+ Certification (LX0-103 and LX0-104) are –
LX0-103 Exam Overview
- Certification Name: CompTIA Linux+ LX0-103
- Prerequisites for the Exam – None, but at least 6 months of experience as Linux Administration is recommended
- Exam Pattern – Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Answer Questions, Fill in the Blanks
- Number of Questions – 60
- Exam Duration – 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
- Exam Fee – $200
- Passing Score – 500 (from a scale of 200-800)
Exam Objectives
- System Architecture
- Installation and Package Management
- GNU and Unix Commands
- Devices and File Systems
- Standard File System Hierarchies
LX0-104 Exam Overview
- Certification Name – CompTIA Linux+ LX0-104
- Prerequisites for the Exam – LX0-103
- Exam Pattern – Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Answer Questions, Fill in the Blanks
- Number of Questions – 60
- Exam Duration – 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
- Exam Fee – $200
- Passing Score – 500 (from a scale of 200-800)
Exam Objectives
- Command Shells
- Scripting and Data Management
- User Interfaces and Desktops
- Administrative Tasks and Activities
- Basic System Services
- Networking Fundamentals
- System Security
Average Salary
The average earning of a certified Linux+ professional is $95,000 per annum. But the range of pay for entry-level to the top-level positions is $75,000 – 120,000 per year.
6. Cloudera Certified Associate Administrator (CCA131) Certification
Cloudera Certified Associate Administrator (CCA131) Certification exam is firsthand practical exam that is based on Cloudera technologies. A large number of companies and organizations are deploying Cloudera these days. So, this certification is intended for those who have a considerable experience as IT managers and system administrators. The considerable knowledge of cluster administration is required for this certification exam. The significant details and information about Cloudera Certified Associate Administrator (CCA131) Certification exam are –
Exam Overview
- Certification Name – Cloudera Certified Associate Administrator (CCA131) Certification
- Prerequisites for the Exam – None, but an experience in system administration is recommended
- Exam Pattern – Performance-based (Scenario-based) Questions
- Number of Questions – 8-12
- Exam Duration – 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Exam Fee – $295
- Passing Score – 70%
Exam Objectives
- Knowledge of MapReduce, YARN, and HDFS
- Cluster deployment and configuration
- Determination of hardware and infrastructure for cluster
- Configuration of FairScheduler for service level agreements
- Diagnosing, troubleshooting, tuning, and solving issues in Hadoop
- Apache Hadoop preparation and maintenance practices in production
- Loading data into cluster from RDBMS using Sqoop, and from dynamically-generated files using Flume
Average Salary
The average earning of a certified Cloudera Administrator is $79,396 per annum. But the paycheck range may vary from $68,122 – $99,442 per year.
7. Certified Digital Marketing Master Course
There is a boom of digital marketing certifications in IT industry. The Certified Digital Marketing Master Course is thus one of the IT certifications in great demand. This certification course provides you a basic as well advance understanding of digital marketing landscape. There is no prerequisite for the digital marketing certification, so anyone who is interested to build a career in digital world, can go for this certification course. The significant details and information about Certified Digital Marketing Master Course are –
Exam Overview
- Certification Name – Certified Digital Marketing Master (CDMM) Exam
- Prerequisites for the Exam – None, but an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree is recommended
- Exam Pattern – Multiple Choice Questions
- Number of Questions – 50
- Exam Duration – 60 minutes (1 hour)
- Exam Fee – $785 (includes course training and internship fees)
- Passing Score – 70%
Exam Objectives
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
- Social Media Marketing (SMM)
- Email Marketing
- Inbound Marketing
- Web Analytics
Average Salary
The average earning of a Certified Digital Marketing Master (CDMM) is $96,214 per annum. But the paycheck range may vary from $82,687 – $118,639.
8. Puppet Certified Professional (PCP) Certification
Puppet is used worldwide by more than 35,000 companies and thus the demand for IT professionals who have a great knowledge and experience in puppet is high. The puppet certified professional certification validates your experience as a system administrator, adds a credential to your resume, and brings more job opportunities. The puppet certification is to demonstrate one’s proficiency in puppet as a system administrator. The name of the exam is Puppet 205 – System Administration Using Puppet. To become a certified puppet professional, you need to pass this puppet certification that is offered by Pearson VUE and valid worldwide. The significant details and information about puppet certification are –
Exam Overview
- Certification Name – Puppet Certified Professional (PCP) Certification
- Exam Code – (PPT-205)
- Prerequisites for the Exam – None
- Exam Pattern – Multiple Choice Questions
- Number of Questions – 60
- Exam Duration – 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
- Exam Fee – $200
Exam Objectives
- Language
- Modules
- Using Puppet
- Puppet Internals
- Classification
- Console
- Ecosystem
Average Salary
The average earning of a puppet certified professional exam is $107,500 per annum. But the paycheck range may vary from $89,089 – $140,000 per year.
9. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C01)
The AWS Cloud Practitioner exam is for a new basic-level exam to validate one’s overall understanding of AWS Cloud. This exam is independent of other role-specific technical AWS certifications (such as Associate Developer, Amazon Certified Solutions Architect Associate, Amazon CI, AWS DevOps or AWS SysOps Administrator Associate) so anyone who wants to demonstrate his AWS Cloud knowledge can take this exam. This AWS online Course & certification exam validates one’s ability to work on AWS platform implementing AWS cloud. So, if you are in working in AWS cloud and want to validate your skills, this is one of the best IT certifications for you. The significant details and information about AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam are –
Exam Overview
- Certification Name – AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- Exam Code – (CLF-C01)
- Prerequisites for the Exam – None, but at least six months experience in AWS Cloud is recommended
- Exam Pattern – Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Answer Questions
- Exam Duration – 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
- Passing Score – 700 (As a scaled score from 100 through 1000)
- Exam Fee – $100
Exam Objectives
- Cloud Concepts
- Security
- Technology
- Billing and Pricing
Average Salary
The average earning of an AWS Certified Practitioner is $143,091 per annum. But the paycheck range may vary from $121,510 – $162,560 per year.
10. 70-534 Certification: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions
Microsoft Azure is the cloud computing platform for modern businesses. Azure certification recognizes one as a Microsoft Azure Specialist. The Microsoft Azure 70-534 – Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions exam is one of the popular IT certifications for Azure cloud architecture. This certification demonstrates your knowledge of system design. On learning how to design systems, it will be easier for one to implement those systems. So, passing this exam can make you pass other exams easily.
Exam Overview
- Certification Name – 70-534: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions
- Prerequisites for the Exam – None
- Number of Questions – 40 (3-6 questions are case studies)
- Exam Pattern – Multiple Choice Questions, Scenario-based case studies
- Exam Duration – 150 minutes (2.5 hours)
- Passing Score – 700/1000 (As a scaled score from 100 through 1000)
- Exam Fee – $115
Exam Objectives
- Designing Microsoft Azure infrastructure and networking
- Secure Resources
- Designing an application storage and data access strategy
- Designing an advanced application
- Designing websites
- Designing a monitoring, management, and business continuity strategy
Average Salary
The average earning of a Microsoft Certified Azure Architecture Specialist is $112,764 per annum. But the paycheck range may range from $95,000 – $165,000 per year.
Bottom Line
The IT industry is an ever-changing and growing field. Technologies keep on changing and then comes new certifications. The IT certifications validate your skills and expertise in different fields. After a keen research on market and pay scale, here is the list of IT certifications that will not only help you boost your career but will also raise your salary. What you need to do is just choose the one as per your skills, pass it, and stand out of the crowd.
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Excellent one, Thanks for sharing.
Insightful article! Great to know about some of IT courses and its benefits.
Nice one