The IT field is very vast and diverse by nature. The roots of this field get wider with each and every advancement and achievement. Today, I wanted to talk about the 10 Best Entry-Level IT Certifications for 2021 to jump-start your career. Let’s dive into these and discuss whether these are the right ones that will work for you.
According to an article from cio.com link, they suggested the below certifications which could help to jump-start your career:
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Cisco Certified Technician (CCT)
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+)
- Comp TIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
- Microsoft 365 Fundamentals
- Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
- PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
1.Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
I was totally surprised to see they mentioned CISSP as an entry-level certification to jump-start your career. Yes, there is an associate level of this exam which they clearly didn’t mention beforehand. There’s nothing about this certification that is entry-level.
One needs to have the fundamentals from many of the other certifications that are listed here, not only knowing the fundamentals of how an enterprise organization works; which is not entry-level. It takes years to figure out how enterprise environments operate and work in general so to put the CISSP as one of the 10 top entry-level certifications to jumpstart one’s career; is totally unacceptable.
Yes, it is an amazing certification to achieve at the associate level of the exam as an entry-level of your career, it will look good in your resume. But as you are still at the standpoint of your career, the certification does almost nothing because of the point that you have no idea how an enterprise and its security level works.
As for entry-level, what I’m surprised that we don’t see here is any cloud certifications in the CIO-provided list. I’m not saying that cloud is entry-level either by all means. Cloud is not necessarily entry-level but having those fundamentals of the cloud certifications is going to be very beneficial for one.
So, going and achieving something like AZ-900 or one of the AWS Associate certifications; are more entry-level and those are definitely going to help you stand out. One of those should have definitely made the top 10 here in the CIO list.
2.Cisco Certified Technician (CCT)
Next on the list, we have the cisco certified technician or the CCT. This is essentially cisco’s entry-level certification that they offer and from their website, cisco certified technicians have the skills to diagnose restore repair and replace critical Cisco networking and system devices at customer sites. So it’s very much networking-focused but is still a great entry-level certification.
3.Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Now, Cisco Certified Network Associate or CCNA. Definitely a shocker but yes, I still don’t feel the CCNA is entry-level but when it comes to networking, it definitely is an entry-level certification for sure. I’m okay with it being on this list. I’m okay with all of these other certifications that they have listed here except for CISSP.
4.CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+)
Next, we have CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+). I honestly feel this ITF+, by no means could jump-start your career. This certification will only look good on you but if you really want the best entry-level IT certification by far; it is the next one on this list which is the CompTIA A+. This is the most well-rounded certification out of this entire list that should really stand out. A+ is the go-to De Facto entry-level IT certification. So, this is one of the 10 Best Entry-Level IT Certifications for 2021.
5.CompTIA Security+
CompTIA SEcurity+ Certification enables you to pursue an IT security career. This the first certification an IT professional should get when building a career in IT Security. IT works the best with risk management, risk mitigation, and the ability to both identify and address any security threat.
7.Comp TIA A+
Next is CompTIA Network+, this exam falls in line with the A+. After this, CompTIA Sec+ is definitely very important and more so, an entry-level on-demand Security related certification. People need to know that you have knowledge in security especially with everything like security breaches that are going on in this world at this moment. Getting a Sec+ certification, you will definitely get noticed by people during getting a job and it’s a great way to learn security fundamentals.
7.CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Network+ Certification verifies that you are skilled to develop a career in IT infrastructure. Most of the Networking certification prepares you to work with that specific vendor. But CompTIA Network+ certification enables you to support any network regardless of platform.
8.Microsoft 365 Fundamentals
Then we have Microsoft 365 Fundamentals Certification. From the Microsoft website, we see that it’s actually a few different certifications that we can take under the Microsoft 365 umbrella. Here we have everything from Windows 10 Managing Modern Desktops, Microsoft 365 Identity, and Services, Microsoft 365 Messaging which was a recent release, Microsoft 365 Security Administration, and more to grab. These are all helpful to understand the windows 365 environment and related sort of an office structure and can assist you to get noticed.
9.Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
Next on the list, we have Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), there are multiple certifications in MTA to achieve and these are all necessary for grabbing attention at your career point. However, having a Microsoft certification is definitely something that will make you noticed. But again, these MTA certifications are going to be focused on something more specific. It’s not just the Fundamentals.
10.PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
The last one on the list of 10 Best Entry-Level IT Certifications for 2021 is a Certification from Project Management Institute (PMI), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). Now, there is confusion about whether this is an entry-level certification. At entry-level management, you will be managing projects; it’s not likely going to happen that much soon or often as one could think. But yes, there is a slim chance that you could manage one, and especially if you are looking to really jump start your career and really get out of your entry-level role much quicker; then having a certification like CAPM will be helpful for you.
As you surpass your more defined work definitions, you are more likely to handle tasks like projects where your CAPM comes in handy. A certification like this could help you in boosting your career.
Hope today, this article has helped to an extent to make your preferred choice while choosing your IT certification.
