Start from the job, not the exam
Look at a few job posts for the role you want and note the certifications they mention. The paths here follow what employers ask for most in each field.
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Which IT certification should you get?
Tell us what you want to do and where you’re starting. Get the certifications to take, in order, with the role each one opens up and links to every exam.
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Answer the questions to see your certification path.
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OpenpassAI has lessons, practice exams, labs and a readiness score for every certification on these paths, so you know when you’re ready to book.
Guide
How to choose your first certification
Foundations first
If you’re new, start with a vendor-neutral foundation such as CompTIA A+ or ISC2 CC. Everything after it builds on the same ideas, so the next exams come faster.
Vendor-neutral, then vendor-specific
Vendor-neutral certifications (CompTIA, ISC2, PMI) prove the concepts. Vendor certifications (Cisco, AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Databricks, NVIDIA) prove you can do them on a platform employers use.
One at a time
Pick the first step, set an exam date and make a plan. Our Study Plan Generator turns that date into a week-by-week schedule.
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FAQs
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers.
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What’s the best IT certification for beginners?
CompTIA A+ for IT support, ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) for security, AWS Cloud Practitioner or Microsoft Azure Fundamentals for cloud, and PMI CAPM for project management. None needs experience.
Do I need A+ before Security+?
No, there are no prerequisites. But Security+ assumes networking and IT basics, so most people without IT experience do better with A+ or Network+ first.
Which cloud should I learn: AWS, Azure or Google Cloud?
Check the job posts where you live. AWS has the largest share overall, Azure is strong in companies that run Microsoft 365, and Google Cloud in data and AI. The concepts carry over between them.
Databricks or NVIDIA: which suits a data or AI career?
Databricks if you work with data: pipelines, analytics and machine learning on its lakehouse. NVIDIA if you build generative AI apps and agents, or run the infrastructure behind them. Both start with Associate exams.
Which Salesforce certification should I get first?
Platform Foundations if you’re new to Salesforce, then Platform Administrator: the core certification for running the platform, and the prerequisite for the consultant exams. Developers go on to Platform Developer.
Which ServiceNow certification should I get first?
Certified System Administrator (CSA): every other ServiceNow certification builds on it. Developers add Certified Application Developer, and implementers go on to the Implementation Specialist exams, some of which need CIS – Data Foundations first.
Are these paths official?
They’re our recommendations, built from each vendor’s certification levels and prerequisites. Every step links to the certification’s details on our vendor pages.
