IT certifications are an excellent way to demonstrate your dedication to your career. Having certifications assures your employers that you are reliable. Certifications can provide beginners with a lot of advantages. There are many certifications that you can choose as a beginner. The best way to succeed in the IT marketplace is to acquire experience and develop specialized skills. Let’s look at the best IT Certifications for beginners and some tips for passing certification exams.
A certification in a certain field can help you improve your career prospects. It will also demonstrate the skills employers are looking for. We have put together a list of some of the best IT certifications for beginners if you are new and are unsure about which certification to choose.
Information Technology is an ever-changing and dynamic industry. This results in new technologies being developed constantly. As a result, IT certifications are becoming more and more popular over time. There is a vast variety of options available to you as a beginner. How should you choose from these options to start your career in the IT field? Therefore, we have compiled a list of the top 5 IT certifications for beginners.
Top 5 IT Certifications for Beginners
- CompTIA A+ Certificatiom
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certification
- CompTIA Security+ Certification
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Certification
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Certification
We will go into more depth about the above-listed top 5 IT certifications for beginners. Additionally, we have also provided an overview of each certification. They will be helpful to you if you are a beginner taking the IT certification exams.
1. CompTIA A+ Certification
CompTIA A+ is an entry-level certification that focuses on a variety of technical processes. Any person wishing to pursue a career in the field of information technology should focus on this fundamental aspect.
CompTIA A+ candidates are more capable of troubleshooting and resolving a wide variety of issues, from networks and operating systems to mobile devices and security.
Practice tests and online courses are available to help candidates prepare for this exam. Upon successful completion of this certification, you will be able to find many IT support positions at the help desk and technical level. The average salary of a certified professional ranges between $38,000 and $75,000.
2. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certification
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certifications are available in a number of specializations, including security, wireless, routing, and switching, industrial, Internet of Things, data center, cyber operations, collaboration and cloud.
The test covers network basics, network access, IP connections, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability.
It is estimated that the average salary of an employee with CCNA certification is around $44,000 to $114,000. For beginners, however, a bit of hard work and good preparation is all they need to pass this test.
3. CompTIA Security+ Certification
The biggest concern for IT professionals across all fields is cybercrime.
It is clear that cybercrimes are on the rise each year, and there are new methods of perpetrating them. Security+ certification is a must for anyone joining the cybersecurity sector.
The tactics of cybercriminals are evolving on a daily basis, and they are proactive and astute. Once one vulnerability is fixed, they come up with a new way to infiltrate systems and networks.
Having this certification shows potential employers that you are capable of handling this constantly changing data. It is an excellent IT certification for beginners.
4. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Certification
The CISSP certification is a worldwide certification for professionals in the IT industry. In order to protect organizations from attacks, this certification is intended to validate participants’ information security skills.
The certification validates comprehensive management and technical skills necessary for managing and designing information security initiatives.
In order to earn the Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) credential, one must demonstrate competency in eight areas: asset security, security and risk management, identity and access management, communications and network security, security engineering, security assessment, security testing, and security operations. CISSP exams consist of 250 questions and take six hours to complete.
5. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Certification
ISACA offers the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification as a means of demonstrating your proficiency in IS/IT auditing, control, and security, and of setting yourself apart from the competition.
Professionals who earn this certification are equipped with the skills they need to manage all stages of the auditing process. CISA certification is the most widely recognized certification for information security audit controls.
This certification is a good fit for people working in information systems auditing, security, or control.
Tips on How to Pass IT Certifications
There are some certification exams that are difficult, especially those for expert- and professional-level credentials, and they require serious preparation and an organized approach. Here are some tips you can use to increase your chances of passing.
1. Become Familiar With Exam Objectives, Exam Questions, and Exam Format
You need to research both the exam objectives and the exam format to pass your next certification exam so that you have a clear target in mind. You will be more relaxed when taking the actual exam if you know what to expect. Learn what skills you need to develop to pass the actual exam. The objectives should be broken down into chunks to help you structure your learning and learn all the skills you need to know. Does the exam consist of multiple-choice questions, multiple-answer questions, or is performance based? How much does the passing score have to be? The duration of the exam?
2. Thorough Preparation Is Essential
To ensure you have enough time to study, make sure you create a daily schedule that suits your needs. Utilize effective study methods to help you retain all the information by studying in a calm and distraction-free environment. This will improve your results and increase your chances of passing the exam.
3. Make Use of Multiple Resources
Make sure all the resources you find are current and relevant to the latest changes in the technology you are trying to master. You might reduce your chances of success by relying solely on one source of information. The instructor-led training in this case is extremely beneficial since instructors have hands-on experience which enables them to provide up-to-date information in real time. You can ensure you are better prepared for your professional certification exam by combining formal training and studying from a variety of resources. You should carefully select your study material.
4. Develop a Study Plan
Are you a novice on the subject, or do you already have some experience? Approximately how much time do you spend studying each day?
Is there a lot of study material you need to get through? In order to prepare adequately, you must use the right exam preparation strategy. You should begin studying a few months before you take an exam if you work and prepare for an exam. Develop a daily and weekly study schedule. Spend a few hours studying at the beginning and then gradually increase your study time. You can get up-to-date information about exam requirements online if you want to earn a Microsoft certification, a CompTIA certification, a Google certification or a certification from another powerful brand.
5. Practice Will Make You Perfect
Hands-on training or practical experience is the best way to prepare for a professional certification exam since it’s the most effective way to gain a profound understanding of IT concepts. Having a solid understanding of techniques makes it easy to retain knowledge and recall it when needed. You should also research the older versions of the exam and take practice tests to see which topics and exam questions are always on it. Practice exams can help you identify any weak points you may have and address them later. Among the many communities of IT certification exam aspirants, ExamPirate offers IT Certification discussion forums, questions, and practice exams. You can take your free practice exams now and ace your next certification exam. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the testing procedure in advance.
6. Take Your Exams The Right Way
You must manage your time effectively when you are in a testing center with an exam in front of you. The more time you spend on some questions, the less time you will have for other questions. Take the total exam time and divide it by the number of questions on the exam to determine the average time you have to answer each question. Next, do all of the easier questions first, and then review the harder ones later. Don’t spend more than two to three minutes on each one. You need not worry about not being able to answer two or three questions, because most certification exams have a passing score that falls below 100%.
Depending on the question, you may have to read each one carefully to understand the meaning and identify key words. It will help you avoid spending too much time on certain questions, which could lead to you running out of time. Double-check your answers at the end of the professional certification exam if you have time.
7. When Exam Day Arrives
Make sure you arrive at the testing center at least half an hour before the test begins. Make sure you’re carrying the right form of identification (typically a passport or driver’s license). Make sure you’re relaxed and clear-headed before taking the test. The feeling of performance anxiety occurs when you are worried about whether you will perform at your best.
Keep in mind that your beating heart is a sign that you are ready to take on the challenge. Once you have completed all of the exam topics, gone through the practice questions, and studied hard – you should be capable of answering most of the questions.
Conclusion
Your career should not be defined by a single exam. It doesn’t matter if you pass or fail an exam, your next step is to keep working. Once you’ve passed your test, don’t just relax, take the next certificate in sequence, attend the next webinar, seminar, or training session, and always learn. If you fail an exam, determine what needs to be improved and go back to take it again.
