The IT world is no stranger to certifications. These credentials recognize professionals in the space and spotlight their relevant skills and expertise in their career field. Earning an IT certification demonstrates your knowledge, skills, commitment to your craft and dedication to continued learning and improvement throughout your professional journey. The letters in the certification acronym following your name alert others in the industry to these positive attributes with just a glance at your title.
With so many potential benefits to earning a certification, is a pay increase among them? This article aims to answer that question, along with analyzing the importance of certifications and outlining the ways they can help your IT career.
Why Are Certifications So Important?
The purpose of an IT certification is not only to establish a fundamental understanding of certain industry topics, whether they are broad or very specialized, but also to display one’s knowledge and skills to others in the industry. Certifications alert other industry professionals to your experience, areas of expertise and dedication to your craft.
IT certifications also allow those who have a degree in an unrelated field or were unable to attend university a more cost-effective method of IT education. There are dozens of IT certification programs ranging from entry-level to highly advanced and covering a wide range of topics, including cybersecurity, risk management, ethical hacking, IT auditing, data analytics, cloud computing and more. ISACA offers a range of credentials, from the entry-level Information Technology Certified Associate (ITCA) for those looking to establish fundamentals of IT to several globally recognized certifications for professionals with more experience, covering areas such as assurance, risk management, governance, information security and privacy.
Not only do certifications showcase your knowledge, but they demonstrate a dedication to keep learning, which is key in an era of rapid digital transformation where the business landscape is constantly changing. New certifications are emerging alongside new areas of study and specializations in the IT world, like ISACA’s Certified in Emerging Technology (CET) certification, allowing you to continuously learn and improve your skills. It is essential to keep learning, but it is also important to keep applying what you have learned in order to keep your skills sharp.
“Having a college degree doesn’t mean you’re employable—the idea is, what have you done with it?” says David Foote, co-founder, chief analyst and chief research officer for IT labor analyst firm Foote Partners, LLC. “The same applies to certifications.”
Do Certifications Help Increase Salary?
Yes, IT certifications can help digital trust professionals qualify for a job with a higher salary across IT audit, cybersecurity, risk management, data privacy and related fields. IT certifications expand professional possibilities by providing recognizable credentials and opening up more job opportunities for which certifications are a requirement. Many companies will pay a bonus outside of salaries for certifications that are preferred for specific positions.
“Not so much an increase in salary, but certainly in total compensation,” says Foote. “Certifications have to be a minimum qualification for a job to be part of the salary. What’s much more common is many companies will pay you annual cash bonuses for certifications they believe are important to a particular job.”
According to the results of Skillsoft’s latest annual “IT Skills and Salary” survey, ISACA’s CISM is ranked number two on the list of the 15 top-paying IT certifications of 2022, and CISA is ranked number 11. The worldwide average salary of both CISM and CISA certification holders is US$149,000+, highlighting the financial benefits of investing your time and resources into learning about, preparing for and passing relevant certification exams.
How Can Certification Help My IT Career?
As working from home has increased over the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations have begun taking more precautions to adjust to their expanded security footprint both inside and outside of the traditional office setting. According to Foote Partners’ most recent data, 21 of the highest-paying IT certifications have to do with security. Certifications allow IT professionals to stay up to date on the latest cybersecurity trends and best practices, which means they will make your CV stand out against other applicants. Cybersecurity certifications can provide employers greater peace of mind knowing their peers have the knowledge to take the proper steps to protect their organization’s private information from the comfort of their homes.
If you are looking to make a switch in your career, like transitioning from general IT to cybersecurity, certifications allow you to exhibit your dedication to the new path you have chosen. A certification will signal to industry professionals that you are prepared to make the switch, and it will give you a competitive advantage over other applicants who are looking to do the same. As Foote observed, “Certifications can help your career transfer to other areas that you’re not currently working in right now.”
If you are looking to advance in your career to management-level positions in the security realm, Foote said that it can be quite difficult to do so without certifications like CISM or CISSP. Many professionals earn these certifications proactively because they want to be ready should a management position open up. IT certifications can help you cover new technical areas while reinforcing skills you already have.
Overall, certifications can provide you with credibility in your job field, showcase your dedication to learning, increase your total compensation, distinguish you from other job applicants and accelerate your career to management and executive positions. Relevant IT certifications are advantageous to your career path, whichever way it evolves.