I.T. support certifications are training certifications that help I.T. and desk staff improve their skills and expand their knowledge. I.T. support certification recognizes specific experience, knowledge, and skills related to I.T. technologies and services often critical to career advancement. It can make all the difference for entry-level support professionals to differentiate themselves from the competition. According to a survey by CompTIA, 91% of employers believe that I.T. certifications play an essential role in the hiring process and serve as a reliable predictor of a successful employee.
Once in the I.T. support profession, I.T. support certification can help career advancement. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary is $57,910 per year or $27.84 per hour. More specifically, the median annual wage for a computer network specialist in May 2021 was $62,760, and for computer user support specialists $49,770 in May 2021.
Whether you want to jump-start or “reboot” your I.T. career or stay up-to-date on the skills and knowledge needed to work with changing technologies, security considerations, and the profession’s best practices, it’s essential that you pursue information technology. . (I.T.) Certification. Achieve the one that will have the most significant impact on your organization and your career.
This blog discusses the top-recommended I.T. support certifications and some insight into why they’re so influential.
1. Microsoft Certifications
Microsoft I.T. Support Certification helps new I.T. practitioners understand Microsoft products. This course is free; students can take it anytime using Microsoft’s website.
Microsoft certifications are exam-based certifications. Different levels of certification correspond to skill levels, and certifications may need to be earned in sequence. Microsoft usually offers certified training programs for free, and the typical cost for an exam is USD 165. This certification must be renewed annually to ensure current product knowledge.
Which Microsoft certifications should you choose?
Microsoft offers more than 250 certifications for different levels of expertise, but some of the most popular Microsoft certification courses to participate in include:
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate
- Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert
- MTA IT
- Microsoft Certified I.T. Professional
2. I.T. Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundation
The ITIL Foundation offers a variety of certifications based on difficulty, from entry-level to expert. It has been described as “the most widely adopted approach to I.T. Service Management (ITSM) in the world”. Created by the Cabinet Office, this I.T. support certification is based on a set of best practices from the public and private sectors worldwide. It provides training to the students on the basic concepts and various roles required of the help desk. It includes basic concepts such as how to communicate with customers, common troubleshooting issues, and software navigation programs. There are currently over 2,000,000 ITIL-certified professionals worldwide.
How do you get ITIL certification?
The ITIL Foundation certification is obtained through a set of exams, each with a different certification difficulty to administer. There are no prerequisites for taking the exam, but exam administrators recommend taking any of the ITIL training courses available on the website as preparation. The exam cost can range from USD 599 to USD 2,199 depending on the study material used and whether sections can be taken online.
3. CompTIA A+
The CompTIA A+ certification is an entry-level I.T. certification used by professionals to improve their help desk capabilities. This certification helps I.T. desk staff become better support technicians by teaching them how to install, maintain, and configure P.C.s, laptops, mobile devices, and printers. Using the skills gained in this certification, professionals can learn how to adjust and fix the operating systems of many versions of those devices, even those that are either old or custom-made for the company.
How do you get CompTIA A+?
Although this certification is good for entry-level, exam administrators recommend that students have at least 9-12 months of experience before working toward this certification. To complete the CompTIA A+ certification, students pass two exams that review virtualization, hardware, network, and mobile device skills. Each exam costs $219, including study materials and exam schedule.
4. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
The next most important certification is the CISSP certification. The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium Awarded CISSP is among the most respected and sought-after cybersecurity certifications. The CISSP provides training in critical areas, including security and risk management, identity and access management, security operations, and software development security. It also validates senior cybersecurity managers’ and I.T. support professionals’ knowledge, skills and experience. The CISSP is one of the core certifications that DoD Directive 8570.1m, which was ready to ensure cybersecurity professionals develop a baseline understanding of fundamental cybersecurity principles and practices. It remains a credential used/obtained by individuals in numerous cybersecurity positions. According to the Global Knowledge 2020 I.T. Skills and Salary Report, it is the second most common certification choice by I.T. professionals looking to advance their careers.
How do you gain CISSP certification?
The process of obtaining CISSP certification requires both exam and experience components:
- The professional must first acquire considerable experience in cyber security and I.T. security management
- This experience requirement must be verified by others in the industry who hold the CISSP
- The professional must pass the CISSP exam
5. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
CCNA training courses and exams teach networking fundamentals, I.P. services, security fundamentals, automation, and programmability. Having a CCNA verifies that you have the professional skills and expertise to manage and optimize today’s most advanced networks. The certificate offers a variety of courses covering cyber ops, collaboration, data centre, security and other topics. I.T. professionals say these courses are essential for those who use Cisco products.
Once you complete the CCNA certification, you can take a variety of additional certifications with more specialization at the professional and then expert levels. These advanced I.T. support certifications typically require completing a core and at least one concentration exam.
How do you get CCNA certification?
To become CCNA certified, an I.T. support professional must earn a passing grade (80% or higher) on the 200-301 CCNA exam, which covers network fundamentals, network access, I.P. connectivity, I.P. services, security fundamentals, and proficiency testing. Covers. Did and automation and programmability. There are no formal prerequisites for the exam, but you should have one or more years of experience implementing and managing Cisco solutions. The cost of the CCNA exam is USD 300.
Benefits of I.T. support certifications
- Customer satisfaction
- Productivity enhancement
- Product quality improvement
Why Should I Get an I.T. Support Certification?
There are many reasons to get an I.T. support certification. One is the high demand and employment rate of computer support specialists. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 70,400 openings for computer support professionals each year, and overall employment of computer support specialists is expected to grow by at least 9 per cent through 2030.
If you want to enter an I.T. support career, I.T. support certification can offer an alternative to a standard college degree. I.T. support certification can give you a professional edge over your competition if you already have a college degree. For those already working in the I.T. profession, I.T. support certifications offer the most recognized form of career development to help advance your career and stay relevant in ever-changing technologies.
I.T. support professionals may have a variety of I.T. certifications to choose from, but one thing remains clear: working in the field means a commitment to lifelong learning and improvement. As technology evolves, gathering knowledge—whether from industry courses or personal experience—is critical for support professionals to move forward and keep their users productive and their organizations secure.
