Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure for details.

Best entry level IT certifications 2025: a buyer’s guide for your first real IT credential

The best entry level IT certifications 2025 are the ones that get you hired fast, not the ones with the fanciest logo. In 2025, 53% of employers have dropped degree requirements, 87% of tech leaders say certified candidates deserve higher pay, and the IT training market is still growing from $80B in 2024 toward $104.4B by 2033. That’s a giant clue: skills-first hiring is real, and the right cert can open doors faster than a resume full of “self-taught” claims.

If you’re a career changer aiming for help desk, desktop support, networking, security, or cloud support, this guide is for you. The goal is simple: buy the first certification that gives you the best shot at interviews without wasting money on the wrong starting point.

Learn more in our best cloud certifications 2026 guide.

Learn more in our best cloud certifications 2025 guide.

In my experience, the people who move fastest are the ones who match one cert to one job title. That’s the major advantage.

Which beginner IT certifications are actually worth buying first in 2025?

If you want the safest all-around starter, CompTIA A+ is still the default choice. It’s built for true beginners, comes in two exams, and covers the stuff employers actually expect on day one: hardware, Windows, mobile devices, basic networking, and troubleshooting. That’s why help desk teams, desktop support groups, and MSPs still treat it as a solid first buy.

For more on this topic, see our guide on best google cloud certifications for beginners.

For more on this topic, see our guide on best it certifications for beginners 2025.

For more on this topic, see our guide on it certifications for remote jobs.

Learn more in our best aws certifications for beginners guide.

For more on this topic, see our guide on cloud certifications.

For more on this topic, see our guide on it certifications.

If you want the cleanest low-barrier cybersecurity entry point, ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) is the smarter pick. It’s vendor-neutral, signals security awareness, and fits junior SOC, security support, and internship roles better than a generic “I watched a few videos” claim. You don’t need years of experience to make it useful.

If you want a softer on-ramp, Google IT Support Professional Certificate is a good confidence builder. Honestly, this one is more of a stepping-stone than a long-term technical credential, but it helps career changers get moving without the shock of a harder exam track.

Build a quick comparison table before you spend on exam vouchers

Before you buy anything, compare the basics side by side. A quick table keeps you from getting sold on hype.

Cert	Cost	Exam count	Difficulty	Best target job	Renewal	Hiring signal
CompTIA A+	Mid-hundreds total	2	Beginner-friendly, but broad	Help desk, desktop support, MSP	CEUs + AMF	Very strong
ISC2 CC	Low cost	1	Easier entry	Junior SOC, security support	Ongoing maintenance rules apply	Strong for security
Google IT Support	Subscription or course-based	1 program	Easy to start	Entry IT, career switchers	No formal cert renewal like pro certs	Helpful, but lighter

Add a value column too. That matters because certified professionals earn 25% to 40% more on average, and Robert Half’s 2026 tech salary data says 87% of tech leaders pay certified candidates more. That means the right first cert can pay back fast if it lands you in the right role.

Pick the cert that matches your first résumé keyword

Use A+ if your target role says help desk, desktop support, IT support specialist, or field service. That’s the cleanest match.

Use ISC2 CC if you want cybersecurity support, junior SOC work, or a security internship. It gives recruiters a quick security signal.

Use Google IT Support if you need a gentle ramp before a harder test. It’s a nice confidence builder, but don’t stop there if you want real momentum.

Which certification fits the IT job you want next?

Once you know your target role, the choice gets easier. You do not need to collect random badges. You need the one that matches the next job post you want to get past the resume screen.

CompTIA Network+ is the best next step for NOC, junior network admin, and sysadmin support roles. It’s vendor-neutral, more concept-heavy than A+, and a smart bridge if you may later pursue Cisco or cloud networking.

Microsoft AZ-900 is the easiest cloud fundamentals pick for Azure-heavy employers. It’s ideal for support, operations, and generalists who need cloud vocabulary without deep coding or architecture knowledge.

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is the AWS version of a starter cloud cert. Buy it if your local job market lists AWS more often than Azure, especially for support, sales engineering, and cloud-adjacent operations.

Cisco CCST Networking or IT Support can pay off in Cisco-centric shops. It’s a practical choice if you want to move toward CCNA later and you want to show you understand real enterprise gear.

ITIL 4 Foundation is not a technical cert, but it’s useful for help desk and service desk candidates. It teaches incident, change, and request language that hiring managers recognize fast.

Use a role-based list to narrow the shortlist fast

Here’s the fastest way to decide:

• Help desk or desktop support: A+ first, then ITIL 4 Foundation if the employer is process-heavy.
• Networking track: Network+ first, then Cisco CCST or CCNA later if you want vendor depth.
• Cloud support: AZ-900 or AWS Cloud Practitioner first, then a role-specific cloud cert once you’re hired.
• Cybersecurity path: ISC2 CC first, then a hands-on security cert once you have basic IT experience.

Decide early whether you want vendor-neutral or vendor-specific

This choice matters more than most beginners think.

Vendor-neutral certs like A+, Network+, and ISC2 CC are usually better for beginners because they widen your options across employers. You’re not locked into one product stack.

Vendor-specific certs like AZ-900, AWS Cloud Practitioner, and Cisco CCST can be better if a target company already runs one ecosystem and you want faster job-market relevance. If the jobs in your area mention Azure, AWS, or Cisco every day, that’s a strong signal.

How do exam formats, maintenance fees, and renewals really work?

You might also be interested in our guide on entry level it certifications that pay well.

You might also be interested in our guide on best it certifications of 2025.

You might also be interested in our guide on entry level it certifications.

This is where a lot of new buyers get burned. The exam fee is only part of the cost.

CompTIA exams often include performance-based questions (PBQs), especially on A+ and Network+. That means you’re not just memorizing definitions. You’re solving real tasks. Labs and practice tickets are worth your time because they train you for the hands-on part.

You also need to know the upkeep. Many certs use CEUs (Continuing Education Units), annual fees, or an AMF (Annual Maintenance Fee). CompTIA uses CEUs plus an AMF for many certifications. ISC2 credentials also come with ongoing maintenance rules. Microsoft and AWS have their own renewal patterns, and they’re not all the same.

And yes, cascade renewal can save you money. In some ecosystems, a higher cert renews lower ones for you. That matters if you plan to stack credentials over time instead of buying one-off badges forever.

Add a maintenance table before recommending any cert

Use a quick upkeep chart before you spend. Here’s the kind of table that saves you from surprise costs:

Vendor	Typical upkeep	Notes
CompTIA	CEUs + AMF	Higher CompTIA certs may renew lower ones in a cascade
ISC2	CPEs + annual maintenance rules	Check the ISC2 candidate and member policies
Microsoft	Often no renewal for fundamentals	Higher role-based certs may have renewal exams
AWS	Usually renews on a cycle	Check the official AWS certification page
Cisco	Varies by cert level	Vendor-specific tracks often need periodic renewal

The big idea is simple: the exam is not the full price. Renewal costs, study materials, and your time all count.

Explain the test style so beginners do not panic on exam day

Entry-level exams are usually a mix of multiple choice and PBQs. That’s much more predictable than advanced security exams like CISSP, which uses CAT (Computer Adaptive Testing) and feels very different.

CompTIA also uses scaled scoring, so the number you see is not just raw right-or-wrong math. Don’t obsess over that part. Focus on getting solid with labs, flashcards, and timed practice exams.

If you want better pass rates, use cert-focused tools like Boson or CBT Nuggets instead of random generic videos. From what I’ve seen, general study content is fine for background, but cert-focused practice is a strong option when you need to pass on the first try.

What should you avoid before you buy training or book your exam?

First myth: you need experience before getting certified. That’s false. Entry certs like A+, Cloud Practitioner, and ISC2 CC are made to create your first foothold. The fact that 53% of employers dropped degree requirements in 2025 is more proof that skills-first hiring is opening doors.

Second myth: certifications guarantee a job. They don’t. But they do help with resume filters, interview access, and salary leverage. If certified candidates really do earn 25% to 40% more on average, then the right cert can make a real difference once you get in front of a hiring manager.

Third myth: one certification is enough. Also false. The highest earners stack complementary certs. A smart combo might be Security+ + AWS + CISSP for cloud security later on. You don’t need that on day one, but you should know where the path can go.

Turn the article into a simple buying checklist

Before you pay, check these items:

• What job title are you aiming for?
• What do local job postings ask for?
• What is the exam fee?
• What is the retake policy?
• What are the renewal costs?
• Does the employer prefer vendor-neutral or vendor-specific certs?

Then choose the cert that unlocks the most interviews for the lowest total cost. Not the biggest brand name. Not the flashiest training bundle. The one that fits your first real job target.

Show the smartest first-credential path for different budgets

If your budget is tight, you have options.

• Lowest-budget path: Google IT Support or ISC2 CC if you want to prove commitment quickly.
• Best value path: CompTIA A+ for broad help desk access, then Network+ or AZ-900 depending on the first job target.
• Career-switcher path: a starter cert plus one proof-of-work project, because hiring managers want both a signal and evidence that you can do the work.

That proof-of-work can be a home lab, a cloud sandbox, or a ticket-simulation portfolio. A simple Windows troubleshooting lab in VirtualBox or a small Azure free-tier setup can make your resume feel much more believable.

Best entry level IT certifications 2025: the practical takeaway

The best entry level IT certifications 2025 are not one-size-fits-all. You should pick based on the first job you want, the employer ecosystem you’re targeting, and the total cost of ownership, not just the exam fee.

If you want broad IT support, start with A+. If you want networking, start with Network+. If you want security, start with ISC2 CC. If you want cloud, choose AZ-900 or AWS Cloud Practitioner based on what your local market asks for. Use vendor-specific certs only when they match a real job need.

That’s the simplest buying strategy. It’s also the safest one.

Recommendation matrix: A+ for broad IT support, Network+ for networking, ISC2 CC for security, AZ-900 or AWS Cloud Practitioner for cloud, and vendor-specific certifications only when they map to the jobs you’re actually applying for.