Information Technology (IT) is a rapidly growing field, and the knowledge possessed by IT professionals cuts a wide swath. With so much information out there and technologies changing every day, getting certified is the best way to differentiate yourself from competing job candidates and prove your contemporary skills to employers.
While certifications don’t guarantee you a job, they often put a candidate’s resume over the top or gain you a decent pay premium over non-certified competitors. To get certified, you must pass one or more certification exams - typically a combination of multiple choice questions and simulated real-world challenges.
Benefits of IT Certification for Individuals:
- IT certifications make you stand apart from competing candidates in a competitive job market.
- Earning the latest IT certifications proves your skills are current in a rapidly changing field.
- 32% of IT professionals received a salary increase after earning a certification, and 56% of them got it within three months.
- Certified IT professionals earn respect and credibility among colleagues and employers.
- Independent consultants and analysts can leverage certifications to win new business.
- 63% of certified IT pros received or expected a job promotion after getting certified.
- Committing the time and resources to get certified proves your dedication to your IT career.
- Certified professionals gain access to a global community of like-minded professionals.
- IT certification increases your career options; some companies and employment sectors (such as the government cyber security sector) only hire certified pros.
Benefits of IT Certification for Businesses:
- 89% of IT decision-makers prefer to hire candidates who hold certifications.
- Companies can use IT certifications to invest in, retain, and promote their most promising employees.
- IT certifications allow businesses to quickly assess skill levels, saving time & resources during candidate evaluation.
- 79% of certified employees say their work quality improved, and 70% say they're more productive on the job.
- Certified technicians perform assigned tasks more consistently, increasing IT reliability and organizational execution.
In-Demand IT Certifications (by vendor):
- Adobe Certifications
- AWS Certifications
- Cisco Certifications
- CompTIA Certifications
- EC-Council Certifications
- Google Certifications
- IBM Professional Certificates
- ISACA Certifications
- (ISC)2 Certifications
- ITIL Certifications
- Microsoft Certifications
- Oracle Certifications
- PMI Certifications
- VMware Certifications
Comparing specific credentials? See our ranking of the best cybersecurity certifications, with salaries and exam costs.
Sources: Pearson VUE 2025 Value of IT Certification Candidate Report; Fortinet 2025 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report
Daniel Greenspan is an enterprise IT education specialist and the founder of ITCareerFinder. Working closely with IT professionals, world-class trainers and technology executives since 2007 has afforded him a unique perspective into the IT job market and the skills and credentials that tech professionals need to succeed.