Certifications can validate your IT skills and experience to show employers you have the expertise to get the job done. You can get certified in skills you already have or skills you’d like to put to use in your career. According to the 2022 IT Salary report from Robert Half, these are some of the most valuable certifications IT professionals can hold in the current year.
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification is an entry-level exam for cloud professionals who want to prove their understanding of cloud computing, specifically using Amazon Web Services. Cloud concepts, security and compliance, technology, billing, and pricing will all be put to the test. The exam consists of 64 multiple-choice or multiple-response questions, and it is recommended that candidates have at least six months of AWS Cloud experience before taking the exam.
Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
The Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) certification is offered through the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)². It is designed for individuals involved in cloud-based technologies, such as enterprise architects, security administrators, systems engineers, security architects, or consultants, engineers, or managers. Even though it is not a requirement, the (ISC)2 recommends having at least five years’ experience in IT, including three years’ experience in information security and one year within one of the six domains found in the CCSP CBOK.
Certified Data Professional (CDP)
Available from the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP), the Certified Data Professional (CDP) certification offers several learning paths. Among the domains available to CDP candidates are business analytics, data analytics and design, data governance, data integration and interoperability, data management, data warehousing, enterprise data architecture, information systems and IT management, among others. CDPs are offered at four levels: foundation, associate, mastery, principal, and executive management.
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Developed by the Project Management Institute, the PMP certification is designed for advanced project managers. As part of the certification, participants will learn the five stages of a project’s life cycle: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing. Applicants for the PMI-ACP certification must have a four-year degree, three years of project management experience, and 35 hours of education in project management. If you have a secondary degree, you will need five years of experience, 7,500 hours (about 10 and a half months) of leading and directing projects, and 35 hours of project management education.
Salesforce Certified Development Lifecycle and Deployment Designer
The Salesforce Certified Development Lifecycle and Deployment Designer certification falls under Salesforce’s architect certification track. As part of the Certified Systems Architect path, you can take this specialization exam. This certification is designed for IT professionals responsible for assessing the company’s architecture environment and requirements and for demonstrating their ability to implement management solutions on the Salesforce platform.
