Website design By BotEap.comChoice of certification path

Website design By BotEap.comThe good thing about IT certifications is that it is not that difficult to obtain them from various providers. Just because you start with a certification from one provider, doesn’t mean you’re stuck with that provider. Sure, some of the more advanced ones require prior certification from that provider, but many of them simply have experience requirements.

Website design By BotEap.comAnother reason there is a good selection of certificates in the IT industry is that there are several certifications for a particular technology. You are not limited to one certificate if you are a software developer. Network engineers have various certifications they can earn, as do information security experts, database administrators, and support staff.

Website design By BotEap.comFor these reasons, I believe there are a wide variety of paths you can take, for whatever role in the IT industry you find yourself in.

Website design By BotEap.comShould I keep a provider’s certification paths?

Website design By BotEap.comThere are many certificate providers in the IT industry. CompTIA, Microsoft and Cisco are some of the big players in this area. Each offers many certifications that appeal to all types of IT professionals. They also allow you to follow the certification path that they establish and recommend.

Website design By BotEap.comFor example, Microsoft’s recommended certification path involves an MCTS, an MCITP, and possibly an MCM. This may have changed with the recent introduction of MCSE and other certifications, but in general there is a hierarchy and path to Microsoft technologies. Alternatively, Cisco offers a similar certification path, starting with CCENT, then CCNA, CCNP, and possibly CCIE.

Website design By BotEap.comOf course, there is more to it than just these three or four certifications for each provider. They each have their own technology specialties, which means that even if you want to stick with the single certification provider, you have plenty of options. There are many technologies that Microsoft provides certification for, as does Cisco.

Website design By BotEap.comMore specialized companies also offer a certification path and a variety of certifications. Oracle and Red Hat offer valuable certifications for Linux and database professionals, respectively.

Website design By BotEap.comObtain certifications from various providers

Website design By BotEap.comA common path for people in the IT industry is to get certifications from different vendors. This is possible and in some cases is recommended by those who have the certifications. For example, a common certification path for those in the networking field is to earn the A+ and Network+ certifications from CompTIA and then earn the CCNA from Cisco. This combination works well together and is a great way to start a networking career.

Website design By BotEap.comHowever, it is not always possible. Many of the higher level certificates require certification prior to earning. Many of Microsoft’s MCITP certifications require an MCTS. CCIE certifications generally require a CCNP. Don’t let this stop you, though: Earning certifications from multiple vendors is a good way to improve your knowledge on a subject and improve how you do work in that field.

Website design By BotEap.comWhich certification path is for me?

Website design By BotEap.comWe have summarized a few points about the certification paths and how the different providers work. Now, you may be wondering, which one is for you? We can answer this by answering a few questions:

Website design By BotEap.comWhat field of IT are you in or what field would you like to enter? This will determine, or at least narrow down, your certification options and resulting path.

Website design By BotEap.comWhat is your experience level? Some certifications are geared toward beginners, others are geared toward experts, with many in between.

Website design By BotEap.comHow far do you want to go with certification? Some IT professionals want to get as many certifications as they can, and that could be as many as 20. Others settle for just one or two. This will determine which path you want to take.

Website design By BotEap.comAnswering these questions about yourself and your IT career will help you understand which certification path is for you.