The Best Introductory Certifications for New IT Graduates

There are many types of IT certifications for students . If you don’t know what COMPTIA+ is or what other IT certifications mean, let’s find out with Quantrimang.com!

The certifications you achieve will add credibility to your resume and make you more visible to employers. For fresh graduates, having a reputable IT certification will help you stand out from other candidates and may even lead to higher salary offers.

As you get older in the industry, you may want to pursue advanced certifications to focus on your professional development. By then, you’ll have a better idea of ​​what specialties and skills you need to focus on for your career. However, as a fresh graduate, general certifications are more useful for IT students.

10 certificates new IT graduates should have

• 1. Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) Certification
• 2. Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) Certification
• 3. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing & Switching certificate
• 4. CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) Certification
• 5. CompTIA A+ Certification
• 6. CompTIA Network+ Certification
• 7. CompTIA Security+ Certification
• 8. Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Certification
• 9. Microsoft Certified Solution Associate (MCSA) Certification
• 10. PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Certificate

Here are the 10 best IT certifications for fresh graduates:

1. Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) Certification

Having a CCENT certificate means you can install, operate and troubleshoot networks of enterprise branches and small companies. Therefore, you should take the CCENT exam if you want to be recruited as a network support specialist or want to pursue a career in network system operations.

To earn the CCENT certification, you must complete the Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) course. This is a five-day, online or in-person course that covers the fundamentals of the networking layers involved in routing and switching. It also covers firewalls, basic network security, wireless controllers, and access points.

Upon completion of the course, you will be eligible to take the CCENT certification exam.

Exam fee 125 USD

2. Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) Certification

The CCT certification validates your ability to diagnose, restore, repair, and replace critical Cisco network and system equipment at customer (business or government) premises. There are two different types of CCT certifications: data center or routing and switching.

The CCT Data Center certification is awarded to engineers who can support and maintain Cisco Unified Computing systems and servers. The job of a CCT Data Center engineer is to go on-site to directly work with Cisco data center equipment and software systems.

You must take the Supporting Cisco Data Center System Devices (DCTECH) v2.0 course before you can take the CCT Data Center certification exam. The course covers data center networking fundamentals, field service, and equipment replacement, as well as how to identify Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) component models, cables, and accessory interfaces.

Meanwhile, the CCT Routing and Switching certification certifies your ability to support and maintain Cisco routers and switches in the field. In addition, you need to know how to evaluate the operating environment to make the best improvements and avoid equipment failure. CCT Routing and Switching engineers will have to provide technical support on site and cooperate with CCT Data Center engineers.

To take the CCT Routing and Switching exam, you must first complete the course Supporting Cisco Routing and Switching Network Devices (RSTECH). This online course covers networking fundamentals, Cisco switch and router models, Cisco IOS software operating modes, and the Cisco command-line interface (CLI).

Exam Fee: $125 per CCT certificate

3. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing & Switching certificate

The CCNA Routing & Switching certification is a great choice for those who want to pursue a career in networking. However, it is also suitable for those who want to apply for a basic help desk position. This certification exam tests your ability to identify Cisco router and switch models, cables, and interfaces. You also need to understand the operating modes of Cisco IOS software and Cisco CLI.

Of course, before taking the CCNA Routing & Switching exam, you need to take the Supporting Cisco Routing and Switching Network Devices course. The course is held online, includes up to 6 hours of on-demand training, and you can study for up to 1 year.

Exam fee: 299 USD

4. CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) Certification

The ITF+ certification is for students who want to pursue a career in IT after graduation or who are interested in changing careers. This certification validates your foundational knowledge of IT and gives you a better understanding of the IT industry.

On the exam, you will demonstrate your knowledge of networking, infrastructure, IT concepts and terminology, applications and software, security, databases, and software development. You can also take more advanced CompTIA certifications depending on your needs.

Exam fee: 119 USD

5. CompTIA A+ Certification

The CompTIA A+ certification is for support professionals, field service technicians, desktop support analysts, and help desk support. If you're interested in any of these fields, you should get your CompTIA A+ certification.

With CompTIA A+, you are certified to understand and resolve network, operating system, mobile device, and security issues. The certification focuses on nine key IT skills including hardware, networking, mobile devices, Windows operating systems, hardware and network troubleshooting, operating system technology, software troubleshooting, security, and operations.

Exam fee: 211 USD

6. CompTIA Network+ Certification

CompTIA Network+ is an entry-level certification that covers networking concepts, troubleshooting, operations, tools and security, and IT infrastructure. It is designed for entry-level network administrators, field network technicians, apprentice systems engineers, IT consultants, and field network engineers.

To take the CompTIA Network+ certification exam, you need to have knowledge of configuring, managing and maintaining network devices, deploying and designing functional networks, identifying and troubleshooting network problems, and security. If you decide to stick with the IT networking industry, CompTIA Network+ is a certification worth investing in, it will help you stand out from other candidates.

Exam fee: 302 USD

7. CompTIA Security+ Certification

Security is an important IT skill for any role, so having a CompTIA Security+ certification will give you a leg up on the job market. It is also suitable for those pursuing positions as network, systems and security administrators, security specialists, junior IT auditors, security consultants and security engineers.

The CompTIA Security+ certification exam will cover knowledge of threats, attacks and vulnerabilities, risk management, architecture and design, technologies and tools, encryption and PKI, identity and access management. With the CompTIA Security+ certification, employers will know you have the basic ability to install and configure systems to keep applications, networks and devices secure.

Exam fee: 330 USD

8. Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Certification

The MTA certification covers IT fundamentals like infrastructure, databases, and development. It is designed by Microsoft to be an entry-level certification for those new to the IT profession or those looking to change careers.

To pass the MTA exam, you need knowledge of databases, hardware, software, or infrastructure. This is what you need to know if you want to work as an IT Auditor or a system, network, or security administrator.

Exam fee: Depends on country and territory

9. Microsoft Certified Solution Associate (MCSA) Certification

MCSA is another entry-level Microsoft certification that validates your ability to design and create technology solutions across Microsoft software and services. MCSA is a little more advanced than MTA, but you don’t need to complete MTA before taking MCSA. However, you do need MCSA before you can take other Microsoft certifications like MCSE, MCSD, MCPS, or MCT.

Exam fee: Depends on country and territory

10. PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Certificate

CAPM is a widely recognized entry-level certification for project managers offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). However, even if you are not a project manager, you should still get a CAPM certification because many jobs in the IT field require project management skills to oversee technical projects.

To take the CAPM exam, you need at least 23 hours of project management training. You can complete this requirement by taking PMI's Project Management Basics course. The course is designed by PMI to prepare you for the CAPM certification exam and covers the fundamentals of project management and the skills you need to manage IT projects.

Exam fee: $225 for members, $300 for others.

Tuition: $350 for members, $400 for others.

11. Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP)

The Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) certification validates your ability to work as a help desk specialist, technical coordinator, or technical support specialist for Mac users. This certification is awarded to someone who understands the core functionality of macOS and can “configure key services, perform basic troubleshooting, and support multiple Mac users.” If you’re looking for entry-level IT support jobs, this is a solid certification that will show employers that you’re capable of managing Apple hardware and software.

Exam fee: 250 USD

12. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam offered by Amazon is an entry-level cloud certification that covers the fundamentals of IT services and how they are used in the AWS cloud platform. The exam covers topics such as coding, cloud architecture design, cloud security, troubleshooting, deployment, migration, load and performance testing, and business applications. While this is an entry-level certification, you should have six months of exposure to the AWS cloud and be knowledgeable about core AWS services, use cases, billing, pricing models, security concepts, and how the cloud impacts the business.

Exam fee: 100 USD

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