Best IT Certifications for 2024

Earning specialized certifications is a surefire way to advance your career in the IT field, regardless of industry or current career level. The right certification validates your skills and knowledge, which makes you more desirable to future employers who want to attract and retain the best employees. Below, we’ll explore the top IT certifications and share how to examine your goals to choose the right path forward. 

We’ve narrowed IT certifications into specific categories to help IT professionals assess what’s available and pursue the best certifications to show their willingness to learn and develop the in-demand career skills employers want.

Database platforms have changed greatly over the years, but database technology remains important for various applications and computing tasks. Available certifications for IT professionals include those for database administrators (DBAs), database developers, data analysts and architects, business intelligence, and data warehousing specialists, and other data professionals.

Obtaining database certifications demonstrates an understanding of database concepts, design, implementation, administration and security. This can boost your credibility in the job market and show potential employers that you have the skills needed to work with databases. The best database certifications include the following:

SAS is one of the world’s leading firms for business analytics, data warehousing and data mining. Today, the SAS Global Certification Program offers 23 credentials across categories including foundation tools, advanced analytics, business intelligence, data management and administration.

SAS programmers remain in high demand, with a quick search of job boards showing thousands of open positions. Obtaining SAS certification shows employers that you are proficient in the company’s popular suite of tools. Some of SAS’s certification programs include the following: 

Many professionals earn certifications to help navigate their career paths. According to the IT Salary Report, 92 percent of information technology professionals have at least one certification.

Cisco Systems is a market leader not only in networking and communications products, but also storage networking and solutions for data centers. Cisco offers a variety of certifications for IT professionals, ranging from entry level credentials to expert-level exams. 

These certifications prepare professionals for Cisco-related careers. A search of job boards reveals thousands of open positions for Cisco experts, underscoring the continued relevance of these skills. Some of Cisco’s certifications include the following:

Dell Technologies remains one of the world’s leading computing companies. In addition to its well-known hardware lineup, Dell also offers solutions for networks, storage, servers, gateways and embedded computing, as well as a broad range of IT and business services.

Becoming certified in Dell products can help make IT professionals competitive in engineering roles for server, virtualization, networking, systems, integration and data security. Additional roles include consultants, account executives, system administrators, IT managers and deployment managers.

In the mobile era, it has become increasingly important for network engineers to support local, remote and mobile users, as well as provide proper infrastructure. The focus on application and app development now leans more toward mobile environments, requiring security professionals to thoroughly address mobility from all perspectives.

Due to the fast-changing nature of mobile technology, not many mobility certifications have become widely adopted. However, a few of the top mobility certifications can help IT professionals stand out in this rapidly evolving field. 

If part of your job includes selling and implementing an IT solution, you may want to pursue the best sales certifications. You’ll show your organization that you’re willing to go above and beyond to reach sales targets.

As remote and computer-based work has become more common, it’s more important than ever that businesses and individuals be able to maintain their hardware. While discussions about potential computer-related jobs often revolve around software work and coding, jumping into the IT field by becoming a computer technician is an excellent starting point.

Today, thousands of hardware technician jobs are available across the country. Entering this industry becomes more accessible for those who acquire computer hardware certifications. These certifications can showcase your expertise and proficiency in the upkeep of computers, mobile devices, printers and other hardware components.

IT pros with solid cloud computing skills continue to be in high demand as more companies adopt cloud technologies. Today, Google Cloud is one of the market leaders in the cloud computing space. 

Regardless of where you are in your IT career, engaging with certification programs can demonstrate your willingness to keep on top of rapidly evolving cloud technologies. To that end, Google has introduced a host of certifications for its cloud platform, including the following: 

In the fast-changing world of technology, it can help to focus on certifications that have stood the test of time. “Evergreen” refers to certifications that remain popular year after year. 

The top evergreen certifications are based on recent pay surveys in IT, reports from IT professionals about certifications they want or pursue the most, and those that appear most frequently in online job postings. Obtaining these credentials is one step toward ensuring that your skills remain relevant for a long time: 

IT governance provides structure for aligning a company’s IT with its business strategies. Organizations faced with compliance rigors always need experienced IT pros who can see the big picture and understand technology risks. This means certified IT governance professionals are likely to remain in high demand.

Earning one of the following certifications proves a commitment to understanding the role of IT governance and its position in a company’s current and future success. Getting certified can validate your expert knowledge and lead to advanced career opportunities.

An IT system administrator is responsible for managing and maintaining the information technology infrastructure within an organization. The position demands sought-after career skills, ranging from configuring and maintaining servers and clients to managing access controls, network services, and addressing application resource requirements.

If you’re in charge of managing modern servers, there’s a long list of tools and technologies that system administrators must master. Obtaining some of the most prominent system administrator certifications can demonstrate your mastery to potential employers. 

ITIL, or Information Technology Infrastructure Library, was developed to establish standardized best practices for IT services within government agencies. Over the ensuing four decades, businesses of all types embraced, modified, and extended ITIL, shaping it into a comprehensive framework for managing IT service delivery. 

The ITIL framework remains the benchmark for best practices in IT service and delivery management, offering certification programs that cater to IT professionals at all levels. These training and certification courses ensure that IT professionals stay well-prepared for the ongoing evolution in IT service delivery management. There are four certifications in the ITIL certification program:

An IT enterprise architect is responsible for designing and managing the overall structure and framework of an organization’s information technology system. Enterprise architect certifications are among the highest that an IT professional can achieve; fewer than 1 percent ultimately reach this level. 

Enterprise architects are among the highest-paid employees and consultants in the tech industry. These certifications can put IT professionals on a path to many lucrative positions. The average worker earns over six figures annually. Some top enterprise architect certifications are listed below:

To become an enterprise IT architect, you’ll need knowledge of systems deployment, design and architecture, as well as a strong business foundation.

CompTIA is a nonprofit trade association made up of more than 2,000 member organizations and 3,000 business partners. The organization’s vendor-neutral certification program is one of the best recognized in the IT industry. Since CompTIA developed its A+ credential in 1993, it has issued more than two million certifications.

CompTIA certifications are grouped by skill set and focus on the real-world skills IT professionals need. Armed with these credentials, you can demonstrate that you know how to manage and support IT infrastructure. 

A longtime leader in database software, Oracle also offers cloud solutions, servers, engineered systems, storage, and more. The company has more than 430,000 customers in 175 countries. 

Today, Oracle’s training program offers six certification levels that span 16 product categories with more than 200 individual credentials. Considering the depth and breadth of this program — and the number of Oracle customers — it’s no surprise that Oracle certifications are highly sought after. 

Vendor-specific certifications address a particular vendor’s hardware and software. For example, you can pursue Oracle certifications and Dell certifications to become an expert in those companies’ environments.

Business continuity and disaster recovery keep systems running and data available in the event of interruptions or faults. These programs bring systems back to normal operation after a disaster has occurred.

Business continuity and disaster recovery certifications are seeing a healthy uptrend as new cloud-based tools grow in popularity. While business continuity planning and disaster recovery planning have always been essential, they’re becoming more critical than ever — and IT certifications are following suit.

How Are HP/HT Reservoirs Developed?

In the past, the challenging environments of High Pressure/High Temperature (HP/HT) wells were considered uneconomic, but as technologies and experiences evolve, tapping these reservoirs has become a reality.

An HP/HT well is considered so when the conditions of the well are hotter or more pressurized than typical wells. In HP/HT wells, the botomhole temperature, or the temperature at the total depth of the well, is higher than 300 degrees Fahrenheit (149 degrees Celsius) and pore pressure reaches at least .08 psi per foot.

Being able to develop and produce from HP/HT wells is a relatively new concept for the upstream industry. Typically, HP/HT wells were not considered economically viable until the mid- to late-1990s. In fact, the term HP/HT was only first coined within the industry in the mid-1980s.

Typically found offshore in the North Sea, deepwaters of the Gulf of Mexico and China, wells with HP/HT characteristics are a small number of wells drilled and completed every year, but that number is growing. Because operators are continually pushing the boundaries in order to replace more easily obtained reserves, service companies have formulated innovative solutions to develop these formally marginal fields.

By their very nature, high-pressure fields contain more hydrocarbons than those with normal conditions. As long as the fields boast large enough reservoirs, the development of HP/HT wells is economical.

In addition to being expensive to overcome, HP/HT conditions are extremely dangerous and add exorbitant risk to drilling, completion and workover operations. The most extreme risk, HP/HT conditions can cause blowouts.

Designed to close off a well before a blowout occurs, a Blowout Preventer (BOP) with a rating that exceeds 10,000 psi is required on all HP/HT wells now. BOPs comprise a series of large valves on the surface of the well that recognizes predictors called "kicks,"or changes in formation fluid flow, and acts immediately to thwart blowouts. Usually comprised of a number of different BOPs, called a BOP stack, BOPs can be either be annular or ram preventers, which describe the way that the well is sealed from the forming kick. While ram preventers create a seal across the end of the pipe, ram preventers cork the wellbore.

Furthermore, HP/HT conditions wreak havoc on equipment designed for less extreme environments. The high-pressure, high-temperature settings add stress to components, and over time and increased exposure, this stress is compounded.

Historically, engineers and drillers working on HP/HT wells enclosed equipment within HP/HT-resistant flasks to overcome the elements, but as wells have become more challenging, new techniques and equipment had to be developed. There are a number of propriety solutions that oil service companies offer operators working in HP/HT environments, and more revolutionary technologies are being developed every day.

Across the Americas, 2 Master Sommeliers were named in 2023. One works in Phoenix

Instead of pursuing his doctoral degree, he took a job at a natural grocery market which set him on a years-long journey in pursuit of his Master Sommelier certification. On Sept. 6, 2023, Guillaudeu became Arizona’s only working Master Sommelier, joining a small and elite group of wine experts around the world.

The Master Sommelier exam consists of three parts: oral theory, deductive blind tasting and practical service. One of the wine world’s most challenging certifications, the average pass rate is less than 10%. To date, there are only 273 Master Sommeliers worldwide.

During this year’s exam, 34 candidates from 16 states and three countries passed the oral theory examination before attending the practical and tasting portions in Houston on Sept. 4 and 5. Guillaudeu was one of just two people to meet all the Master Sommelier qualifications in 2023.

With this new accomplishment, Guillaudeu notes that his day-to-day responsibilities at the Wrigley Mansion won’t change much. With the evergreen objective of “making an exceptional experience for our guests,” Guillaudeu is investing in his staff by teaching weekly theoretical and tasting classes to “guide guests to the best experience possible through taste.”

Mark Guillaudeu allocates weekly time for staff members to take theoretical and wine tasting classes.

Wrigley Mansion

Originally hired as a store associate, fate stepped in almost instantly for Guillaudeu when the beverage director walked out 15 minutes before the store closed on its opening day.

“I had just left grad school, and was used to reading three to five books per week,” Guillaudeu explains. “I was like, ‘I don't know anything about wine right now. But I've just come out of doing a lot of reading and a lot of research. I'm sure it won't take me that long to figure it out.’”

While Guillaudeu admits that line of thinking was “naive,” the challenge invigorated him. Within a few months, he had completed his first WSET 2 class, a beginner- to intermediate-level qualification exploring wines, and continued to take additional courses.

“I started to settle on a goal. I said, ‘I want to be the best,’” Guillaudeu says.

He ultimately set his sights on becoming a Master Sommelier and moved to San Francisco in pursuit of mentorship opportunities. Guillaudeu became the beverage director at Commis, a two-Michelin Star restaurant. There, he helmed an award-winning beverage program while competing in multiple wine competitions around the globe and studying for the Master Sommelier exams.

By the time Guilladeu came to the Wrigley Mansion in March 2023, he had already passed the theory and service portions of the exam, leaving only the tasting element. Now, six months later, he can bask in the emotions of winning his long-sought-after certification.

Of the moment he heard the good news, Guillaudeu says he “was crying out of relief.”

“My partner, who’s also a sommelier, was waiting in the other room,” he explains. “For the first time, I didn't have to tell her that I hadn't done the thing. I was overjoyed that I had good news to give her.”

Mark Guilladeu samples a wine inside the Wrigley Mansion's wine cellar. He is the Mansion's head sommelier.

Wrigley Mansion

“Basically, a philosophy degree is researching, analyzing, breaking down and reconstructing complex systems. Although it sounds like a highly specialized skill, it's one of actually the most general,” Guillaudeu says. “That element definitely helped with wine because there is so much detail and nuance: having to figure out connections and etymologies, and how this one word transforms across languages and places.”

Guillaudeu’s decision to pursue a career in the wine world was also heavily influenced by his religious studies. Originally thinking of becoming a master cicerone — a designation for beer experts — he decided to change his course after discussing grape altitudes with a former colleague.

“He gave me this whole mini-lesson on how every single decision, from the soil to the angle of the vine row, would have concrete, perceivable influences on the wines’ ultimate flavor,” Guillaudeu says. “All these little details and choices would lead to a different taste.”

“As I moved through my Buddhist Studies program, and eventually became Buddhist myself, I (learned about) the idea that an examined life, in the sense of a life paid attention to, is always going to be a richer experience than a life that passes one by,” Guillaudeu says. “And so I thought, ‘I'm gonna have so much more success, getting people to actually stop and pay attention to their lives, if I'm putting something so exceptional in their glass when there's something so exceptional on their plate.’”

While working as a sommelier, Guillaudeu has seen this happen “hundreds of times,” he says. A guest receives a perfect combination of sip, bite, sip, and time temporarily stops. Guillaudeu says he can tell by the taster's expressions and mannerisms that everything else happening in their life takes a temporary backseat to the current moment.

“That’s the particular way by which a sommelier helps make the world a little bit of a better place,” Guillaudeu says. “We have the knowledge and skill to facilitate those perfect moments in a deeply intentional way.”