Which tech certification is right for you?

Certifications are not only important in terms of learning, but also for career enhancement. Chose from the list.

It is commonly debated that certifications are overrated & that experience always tops certifications. However, despite this never ending argument, Job descriptions often contain a list clear mandatory certifications required for almost vacancies. While a certification is definitely no proof of experience & level of industrial competency, it definitely adds value in terms of a candidate being recognized by a product company or a vendor-neutral institution.

There are hundreds of programs in todays certification landscape. How can you tell which one is the best fit for you, which ones are most in demand? This being said, every professional must perform a careful analysis of the market, reality checks against current classified employment ads and job postings.

The below certification are in no particular order of importance, popularity or difficulty.

Best Hands-On Programs

These certifications not only test professionals against practical real-world scenarios but also for deep theoretical knowledge. These exams are performance based and contain laboratory curriculum. It is impossible to clear these exams unless youve really got your hands dirty.

Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE): This certificate has the least number of certified professionals. This vendor based certification has no other parallel in the networking world today. The exam includes a challenging, one-day lab exam, which also requires travel expenses for those who dont live within driving distance of one of the 10 lab test centers around the globemore than once to get certified. While neither cheap nor easy, the CCIE remains a valued prize as certifications go, which explains why it appears at or near the top of lists of the most desired or most valuable IT certifications.

Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE): The RHCE exam is almost a daylong affair. Candidates are required to install, configure or troubleshoot Red Hat servers and related network protocols and services. Highly regarded as representative of real-world situations and circumstances, these challenging exams also get high marks from certified professionals and their employers alike. The Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT) exam is also performance-based and gets many of the same accolades.

Oracle DBA Certified Professional (OCP): With the new Oracle DBA program, Oracle also additionally needs all candidates to complete a practical course that involves problem-solving & analysis, along with the standard multiple-choice exams. This has made this program more practical in nature.

Cisco Career Certifications (Associate, Professional and Specialist): Most Cisco certifications beneath the CCIE do not require a lab exam. However require professionals to go through an extensive use of simulation technology. This makes the CCNA & CCNP programs worthy of mention as the last item in this list.

Best Vendor-Neutral Credentials

These programs are not only vendor-neutrality, but also deal openly and fairly with both pros and cons of specific solutions. They cover a realistic range of domains, and are more prevalent in certification program descriptions than in actual practice. These programs maintain vendor-neutrality as well as claim that perspective. Since neutrality is a hallmark of academia, many leading contenders also have strong academic roots and relationships.

Project Management Institute (PMI): PMI is best known for its Project Management Professional (PMP) credential. The PMP embodies the kinds of strong credentials and broad acceptance that powerful alliance between academia and industry can create. Numerous undergraduate and graduate programs in computer science, engineering, MIS, IT and similar disciplines routinely offer curriculum elements that can lead to PMI certifications.

Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA): Parent to the large and popular Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) program and to the recently released Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) program, ISACA has already certified more than a large number of information security & accountancy professionals globally. Its credentials are highly regarded for their even and open-handed approach to tools, technologies, policies, principles and practices.

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA): A leading proponent of and source for vendor-neutral certifications, CompTIA is a consortium that involves individuals, businesses and government players at all levels and also includes significant academic and research institutions. Its certifications seek to meet broad industry knowledge and skills needs and are vendor-neutral to serve the biggest possible audience.

ASIS International: Formerly known as the American Society for Industrial Security, ASIS International now serves a global audience. This organizations Physical Security Professional (PSP), Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and Professional Certified Investigator (PCI) credentials impose strict experience requirements on candidates, as well as involving large amounts of complex, detailed subject matter. These are capstone certifications for those seeking to specialize in physical security, general security strategy and implementation or security-related investigations.

NACSE: This organization offers multiple certification ladders of three or more levels across numerous topics of interest to communications engineers and telecommunications professionals. For more information, see the discussion in the preceding vendor-neutral certifications section. Here, it suffices to say that programs are both broad and deep, and the highest-level credentials are quite technically advanced.

NARTE: This organization offers several deeply technical certifications of interest to radio and telecommunications professionals and engineers. For more information, see the discussion in the preceding vendor-neutral certifications section. The credentials require broad and deep knowledge, and the highest-level certifications are quite technically advanced.

(ISC)2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): By itself, the CISSP imposes a pretty serious technical burden on certification candidates. The CISSP concentrationsincluding the Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (ISSAP), Management Professional (ISSMP) and Engineering Professional (ISSEP)permit CISSP-certified professionals to further concentrate in the areas of security architecture and design, security management and national-security-oriented engineering. As such, they raise the technical bar higher and present formidable technical challenges to candidates.

SANS GIAC Security Expert (GSE): A daunting set of five intermediate-level GIAC certificationseach of which must also be kept current to remain certified as a GSEare the prerequisites that GSE candidates must first complete. They must qualify for honors in at least one of these areas, then sit for the GSE exam and complete a research project. The effort is intense, the amount of material enormous and the cost fairly high.

Senior Protocol Analysis Certifications: These include Sniffer Technologies Sniffer Certification Program, the Pine Mountain Groups Certified NetAnalyst program and Wildpackets Network Analysis Expert program. Protocol analysis requires deep and thorough knowledge of networking, protocols, messaging, services, security and more. All of these credentials require years of experience, cover a huge amount of territory and require intense study and effort.

Best vendor-based supporting certifications

Based on your profession within IT, you may find these as relevant certifications. They are good to support your skills on your resume. Look for the vendor orientation in your existing organization or the organization you plan to join & take up these certification programs to support your years of experience with a certificate. Look at their websites for more information.