10 Top IT Certifications for Beginners to Launch Tech Careers

Updated May 2025

In information technology (IT), a degree alone may not be enough to land a job. A lot of employers prefer candidates with practical skills and experience, which you can show by earning the right IT certifications and certificates for beginners.

If you want to break into the IT space, you’re not alone. According to research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer and IT occupations are expected to grow much faster than average from 2023 to 2033, with a projected 356,700 job openings annually.

With the tech world ever expanding, there are always new tools and processes to learn and changes to the industry that professionals in these fields must keep up with. Having additional certificates or certifications will highlight your skills and show that among all the individuals entering this industry, you’re one of the strongest candidates.

Certifications and certificates can help you:

Prove your skills and knowledge
Increase your earning potential
Stand out in a competitive job market

Here are some of the top entry-level IT certifications and certificates in fields like IT support, networking, and cybersecurity.

What are IT Certificates Versus Certifications?

Although they sound similar, IT certificates and IT certifications have some key differences. Certificates are typically awarded by an educational institution or organization once an individual has completed a specific course, program or training.

Meanwhile, certifications are gained through structured, formal processes offered by independent organizations or industry bodies where individuals demonstrate expertise in a particular profession or field. Earning a certification indicates that an individual has met industry or professional standards, typically by passing a rigorous exam.

Certificates usually cover broader topics and can be earned more quickly than certifications. Certifications require more preparation and testing—but this also means that they are often more recognized by employers and can indicate a higher level of expertise than a certificate.

What are the Benefits of IT Certificates and Certifications?

Taking the time to earn some entry-level IT certifications or certificates can offer various benefits, such as enhanced credibility and a competitive advantage over candidates, as well as career advancement and networking opportunities.

In addition to expanding your skillset and increasing your job security, you also have the chance to increase your earning potential. Findings from the BLS Current Population Survey show that both certificates and certifications can potentially boost your pay by as much as 30%.

Although IT certificates and certifications—even those for beginners—will still cost you time and money, the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term investment. By establishing yourself as a stronger candidate, you’ll have more job opportunities, leverage to negotiate higher pay, and valuable skills that cement your place in your IT role.

Which Entry-Level IT Certificate or Certification Should I Get?

This really comes down to your own interests and goals, as well as what career path you’d like to pursue. If you’re having trouble deciding on a future path right now, certain courses that teach the fundamentals can be a good starting point until you’ve chosen a desired field.

Though the CompTIA A+ and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certifications are widely recognized as some of the best IT certifications for beginners, each course teaches skills that will make you a strong candidate for entry-level IT roles.

Reading through our list can give you an idea of which entry-level IT certificates or certifications sound most enticing—but if you need additional help determining where to start, we recommend looking at job descriptions of roles that interest you and see which certificates or certifications are mentioned most often.

Top IT Certifications for Beginners

If you want to learn in-depth knowledge and become an expert in IT, these certifications for beginners can help you take the first steps toward your goal.

1. CompTIA A+

CompTIA A+ is a two-exam certification perfect for people just starting their IT careers. It encompasses essential IT skills—such as troubleshooting, networking, security, and mobile device support—and promotes practical learning through hands-on labs and exercises.

It’s also a great jumping-off point for pursuing more specialized certifications like CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ and entering other domains of IT,

This certification is for: Entry-level IT support and help desk professionals.
Prerequisites: Nine months to one year of hands-on IT experience (recommended)
Cost: $253- $4,000

2. CompTIA Network+

Network+ is an entry-level IT certification that tests foundational networking skills and knowledge. It’s vendor-neutral, which means it assesses general networking concepts rather than focusing on networking hardware from a particular vendor.

The exam covers everything from physical network installations and configurations to security protocols and the troubleshooting common network issues.

This certification is for: Entry-level network technicians, system administrators, help desk technicians, and other early-career IT professionals who want to master the basics of networking.
Prerequisites: Nine months to a year of networking experience (recommended)
Cost: $369 – $1,000

3. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

The CCNA is a beginner IT certification that demonstrates the ability to install, configure, and troubleshoot networks using Cisco technologies.

Since Cisco is one of the leading providers of networking hardware and software, this certification is highly regarded by employers and can lead to improved job prospects.

This certification is for: Entry-level network technicians, system administrators, and other IT professionals in the early stages of their careers.
Prerequisites: One year of implementing and administering Cisco solutions (recommended)
Cost: $300 (not including training materials or practice exams)

4. CompTIA Security+

This exam tests early-career security professionals on the fundamentals of cybersecurity and is considered one of the best IT certifications for beginners.

It covers foundational security terminology and concepts, how to respond to common threats, vulnerabilities, and incidents, how to monitor and secure hybrid environments, and more.

This certification is for: Entry-level security analysts and network administrators.
Prerequisites: Two years of IT administration experience and CompTIA’s Network+ certification (recommended)
Cost: $404 – $2,500

5. GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)

The GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) certification validates someone’s ability to demonstrate hands-on skills and knowledge of information security beyond simple terminology and concepts.

It covers areas like access control and password management, cloud operations, cryptography, incident handling, vulnerability scanning, and more.

This certification is for: Any entry-level security professional.
Prerequisites: None
Cost: $979 (not including practice tests and exam retakes)

6. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The CEH is an IT certification that teaches security professionals how to think like hackers and find system weaknesses before real bad actors can exploit them.

Some prior knowledge is required, so it’s not the best option for absolute beginners. It’s a better choice for security professionals with a couple of years of experience but are still early in their careers.

This certification is for: Ethical hackers, penetration testers, vulnerability analysts, or anyone charged with detecting weaknesses in an organization’s cybersecurity defenses.
Prerequisites: Two years of IT security experience (recommended)
Cost: Pricing for this certification depends on several factors, like whether you prefer online or in-person training, and whether or not you waive the actual training and simply take the exam.

Top IT Certificates for Beginners

If you’d prefer a quicker way to learn with absolutely no prior experience needed, these IT certificates can teach you some fundamentals of the tech world.

7. Google IT Support Professional

The Google IT Support Professional Certificate is a multi-part program designed to equip learners with the fundamental skills needed for a career in IT support.

People who enroll in the course will learn how to provide end-to-end customer support, use systems including Linux, Command-Line Interface, and Binary Code, and understand various networking protocols and security practices.

This certificate is for: Anyone looking to start a career in IT support or entry-level IT support employees seeking to validate their skills.
Prerequisites: None
Cost: The price to earn this certificate can vary depending on how long it takes to complete the five-course series, but Coursera indicates that most learners can finish it for $300 or less.

8. Google Cybersecurity Certificate

The Google Cybersecurity Certificate is an eight-course program designed to teach skills needed for an entry-level job in cybersecurity. By enrolling in this course, you’ll learn to use programming for security tasks (e.g. Python, Linux, SQL) and security information and event management tools (e.g. Chronicle and Spunk).

You’ll also learn about frameworks and controls that inform security operations, detecting and responding to incidents using an intrusion detection system, and using artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity.

This certificate is for: Anyone looking to gain skills in tools and platforms needed for entry-level cybersecurity jobs.
Prerequisites: None
Cost: The price to earn this certificate can vary depending on how long it takes to complete the eight-course series, but Coursera indicates that most learners can finish it for $300 or less.

9. Computer Science for Artificial Intelligence

This introductory program from Harvard University allows individuals to take the first steps toward understanding programming fundamentals and algorithms that comprise the foundation of modern AI.

In this two-course program, individuals learn common programming languages, the theory behind grap search algorithms and reinforcement learning, how to design intelligent systems, and how to use AI in Python programs.

This certificate is for: Individuals who are looking to gain expertise in AI principles and machine learning.
Prerequisites: None
Cost: $518

10. Information Technology (IT) Support PC

This seven-course program by IBM teaches IT support and fundamental topics that can help individuals master essential skills needed for IT help desk support, software engineering, data analysis, or data science jobs.

This course covers hardware, operating systems, software, system administration, programming, databases, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing, as well as essential skills like customer service and troubleshooting.

This certificate is for: IT beginners who want to develop technical knowledge and up-to-date computing skills.
Prerequisites: None
Cost: $393

Find Your Dream Job in IT with Insight Global

The IT job market is competitive, and candidates who can prove their skills with the right certifications are more likely to stand out from the competition. Which IT certifications or certificates for beginners will you go after?

Keep in mind that the right certification or certificate depends on your experience level, what area of IT you want to work in, what certifications/certificates you may want to pursue later in your career, and your overall long-term career goals.

Ready to apply now? Explore our job board today. Or if you need some extra help getting your resume application ready, download our free checklist to learn tips that’ll elevate your resume and ensure you’ve added all the necessary details.