{"id":165,"date":"2016-05-17T10:30:15","date_gmt":"2016-05-17T15:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/?p=165"},"modified":"2024-08-09T16:30:05","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T20:30:05","slug":"recommended-it-certification-courses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/recommended-it-certification-courses\/","title":{"rendered":"Recommended IT Certification Courses"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re here at the beginning of your IT career odds are you\u2019re already asking yourself, \u201cWhat certification should I get?\u201d\u00a0 With so many vendors and certifying bodies all vying for your time and money, it is important to understand what you should, and should not prioritize.<\/p>\n

A word on who this article is NOT for:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This article is not for anyone with years of experience in IT.\u00a0 You already know what certification you need next.\u00a0 If your company just dropped $400,000 to replace their aging Cisco equipment with Juniper, obviously you should get Juniper certified.\u00a0 If your only Linux administrator is about to retire, Red Hat certifications are great!<\/p>\n

For those of you still reading, I highly recommend that your first certification is an entry level vendor neutral certification.\u00a0 A great example is CompTIA’s A+ certification<\/a>.\u00a0 CompTIA’s certifications are widely held and recognized by employers worldwide.\u00a0 The certification itself consists of two tests that cost $199 each.<\/p>\n

Why Start with Vendor-Neutral? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Consider the following, Dick is looking to enter the IT field and wants to specialize in networking.\u00a0 He spends one year formally training to become a Cisco Certified Network Associate<\/a> (CCNA).\u00a0 However, when Dick earns his certification and start applying for jobs, he finds that most employers require 5 or more years of IT experience for network administration roles.\u00a0 When Dick finds an available position, he\u2019s often competing against people who hold the same certification he does, but have years of experience.<\/p>\n

Jane is also looking to begin an IT career and also believes that she would like to work in networking.\u00a0 Rather than starting with a CCNA, she chooses to spend a few weeks training for an A+, and invests in test preparation courses. Afterward, Jane finds several entry-level jobs available in her local job market.\u00a0 While on the job, she works closely with the networking team.\u00a0 Her employer\u2019s education reimbursement program pays for her test preparation and exams for the CCNA.\u00a0 Once she\u2019s certified, Jane\u2019s experience makes her the natural choice to promote to the next opening on the networking team.<\/p>\n

\"this-is-jane-it-certification-onlc\"<\/p>\n

When to Consider Vendor-Specific Certifications<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Starting with vendor-neutral certifications is a fantastic way to get a leg up on other entry level candidates.\u00a0 Once you have some experience, know where you want your career to go, and understand the career demand in your area, then it’s time to go for vendor-specific certifications.<\/p>\n

When else should you consider gong vendor-specific?<\/p>\n