1. Certification:Microsoft Certified IT Professional ( MCITP)
Company:Microsoft
Brief Description: Available for a variety of fields of expertise — including database developer,
database administrator, enterprise messaging administrator, and server administrator — an MCITP
validates a professional’s proven job-role capabilities.
2. Certification: Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)
Company: Microsoft
Brief Description: Helps IT staff validate skills in installing, maintaining, and
troubleshooting a specific Microsoft technology. The MCTS certifications are
designed to communicate the skills and expertise a holder possesses on a specific
platform.
3. Certification: Security+
Company: CompTIA
Brief Description: Provides a respected, vendor-neutral foundation for industry staff (with at least two years of
experience) seeking to demonstrate proficiency with security fundamentals. While the Security+ accreditation
consists of just a single exam, it could be argued that any IT employee charged with managing client data or other
sensitive information should, at a minimum, possess this accreditation. The importance of ensuring staff are
properly educated as to systems security, network infrastructure, access control, auditing, and organizational
security principles is simply too important to take for granted.
4. Certification: Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)
Company:
Brief Description: Measures a developer’s ability to build and maintain software solutions using Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5. Split into three certification paths (Windows Developer 3.5, ASP.NET Developer 3.5, and Enterprise Applications Developer 3.5), the credential targets IT professionals tasked with designing, optimizing, and operating those Microsoft technologies to fulfill business needs.
5. Certification: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Company: Cisco
Brief Description: Is a strong accreditation for technology professionals with a few years’ experience seeking to grow and improve their networking skills.
6. Certification: A+
Company: CompTIA
Brief Description: This requires passing multiple exams, are aimed at keeping the popular credential relevant. Basic prerequisite requirements are now followed by testing that covers specific fields of expertise (such as IT, remote support, or depot technician). The accreditation is aimed at those working in desktop support, on help desks, and in the field, and while many of these staffers are new to the industry, the importance of an A+ certification should not be overlooked.
7. Certification: Project Management Institute (PMI)
Company: PMI
Brief Description: Measures a candidate’s project management expertise by validating skills and knowledge required to plan, execute, budget, and lead a technology project. Eligible candidates must have five years of project management experience or three years of project management experience and 35 hours of related education.
8. Certification: Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)
Company: Microsoft
Brief Description: Hold value because they demonstrate the holder’s capacity to complete a long and
comprehensive education, training, and certification program requiring intensive study. Further, these certifications validate a wide range of relevant expertise (from client and server administration to security issues) on specific, widely used platforms.
| Also important is the fact that these certifications tend to indicate holders have been working within the technology field for a long time. There’s no substitute for actual hands-on experience. Many MCSEs and MCSAs hold their certifications on Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 platforms, meaning they’ve been working within the industry for many years. 9. Certification: Linux+ Company: CompTIA Brief Description: Linux continues to make inroads, though. The open source alternative is an important platform. The vendor-neutral exam, which validates basic Linux client and server skills, is designed for professionals with at least six to 12 months of hands-on Linux experience. In addition to being vendor-neutral, the exam is also distribution neutral (meaning the skills it covers work well whether a candidate is administering Red Hat, SUSE, or Ubuntu systems). 10. Certification: Network+ Company: CompTIA Brief Description: Foundational body of knowledge that will certify to manage, maintain, troubleshoot, install and configure basic network infrastructures
|
