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Undergraduate
Graduate
Industry Certification & License Prep
Emergency Management
Information Technology
Teaching and Learning
Colorado State University Global
Undergraduate
Graduate
Industry Certification & License Prep
Emergency Management
Information Technology
Teaching and Learning
Blog
Earning your degree is a major milestone and can open countless new doors to success. And with IT jobs growing at rates topping 26% (much faster than the national average), the time may be right for you to pursue a certificate or degree in Information Technology.
However, setting yourself apart from the competition — and maximizing your learning outcomes — involves more than earning your degree. When you choose to pursue one of the many IT certifications available through companies like CompTIA and Microsoft, you’ll be able to show off your IT skills and knowledge and give yourself a leg up on the competition. Obtaining a professional certification is a signal to employers that you’ve got expertise in your chosen field, and getting certified can help IT professionals of all experience levels.
With all the options for certification out there, which one should you choose? Some will give you a bigger boost if you’re just starting out in the field, while others are geared more toward enhancing a working professional’s resume and priming him or her for a promotion.
We’ll explore several IT certification options so you can choose the one that’s right for you and your career.
CompTIA A+
This certification is perfect for support specialists, field service technicians, desktop support analysts, and more. While it can enhance any professional’s resume, CompTIA A+ can help qualify those just starting out in their IT careers.
Skills you’ll master and validate:
With this certification, you’ll gain a holistic understanding of IT issues and troubleshooting methods of all kinds.
CompTIA Network+
If you’re pursuing a career as a computer technician, network field technician, network analyst, or system engineer, this certification can help push you to the top of the pile. You’ll be tested on a variety of skills that will help employers see your proficiency in designing and implementing functional networks, identifying potential areas of network improvement, troubleshooting network problems, and more. CompTIA Network+ is applicable to both experienced and entry-level professionals.
Skills you’ll master and validate:
CompTIA Security+
A CompTIA certification in Security+ can give you a boost in landing a wide range of exciting jobs. Security engineers, security specialists, network administrators, and system administrators are just a few of the occupations that benefit greatly from this type of certification.
Skills you’ll master and validate:
The focus of this exam is to verify that job candidates possess the necessary skills to excel in (often intense) security roles that require high degrees of proficiency and risk management.
CompTIA Project+
The previous certifications we’ve focused on are best suited for the pure IT professional. The CompTIA Project+ certification, however, is relevant to business professionals both inside and outside of the IT world. This certification program is versatile and covers essential project management concepts, helping professionals efficiently and effectively manage small- to medium-sized projects.
Skills you’ll master and validate:
This certification can provide business analysts and managers of all kinds a greater degree of credibility, no matter which industries they’re in.
Microsoft SQL Server Certifications
Microsoft offers a host of certifications that aid IT professionals at every level. Here are just a few of the certifications available:
Learn to drive strategies, gain faster insights on data, design solutions for SQL servers, and more with these certifications.
All of these certifications give you the power to showcase your skills and expertise to potential, or current employers. Technology will continue to evolve and adapt — it’s your job to concretely demonstrate that you’re adapting with it. Once you do, you’ll reap the rewards in your career.
We partner with CompTIA to bring discounted rates to CSU Global students obtaining their certifications. Setting yourself apart from the competition has never been within easier reach.
