The 10 best IT certifications: 2012
1;MCITP: stands
[microsoft information technology professional]
Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008
MCITP Overview
The Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification helps validate that an individual has the comprehensive set of skills necessary to perform a particular IT job role, such as database administrator or enterprise messaging administrator. MCITP certifications build on the technical proficiency measured in the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications. Therefore, you will earn one or more MCTS certifications on your way to earning an MCITP certification.
MCITP certifications will not be updated for future versions of Microsoft products. In most cases, as an MCITP, you will be eligible for special upgrade paths to new Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certifications. Microsoft Certified Solution Expert (MCSE) is focused on an experienced professional’s ability to design and build technology solutions in the cloud and on premise.
Your MCITP certification will remain valuable as long as companies are using the technology on which it certifies.
MCITP candidate profile
MCITP candidates are IT professionals capable of deploying, building, designing, optimizing, and operating technologies for a particular job role. They make the design and technology decisions necessary to ensure successful technology implementation projects.
Why get certified?
Earning a Microsoft Certification helps validate your proven experience and helps you build your career, whether you are new to technology or a seasoned professional. The benefits you receive after earning a Microsoft Certification provide you with opportunities to connect with a vast, global network of Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs). Research shows that certification is a value to you and your organization:
According to sources on the internet the average salary for someone with a MCITP certification in the year 2011 was USD$77000. Depending on the individual MCITP specialization, this figure can vary greatly from USD$91000 on the high side to USD$64000 on the low end of the scale.
The average MCITP salary for each of the MCITP certifications in order of salary are as follows:
•Enterprise Messaging Administrator: $91000
•Database Administrator: $84000
•Enterprise Administrator: $79000
•Server Administrator: $75000
•Enterprise Desktop Administrator on Windows 7: $75000
•Enterprise Desktop Support Technician on Windows 7: $68000
•Enterprise Support Technician: $64000
2 ;MCTS
[microsoft certified technology specialist]
MCTS Overview
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications are designed to validate your skills on the features and functionality of Microsoft technologies. You can show your depth of knowledge in one specific technology, earn multiple MCTS certifications to show breadth across different products, or build on the MCTS to earn a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) or Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certification.
Note MCTS certifications are no longer in development. However, your MCTS certification will remain valuable as long as companies are using the technology on which it certifies. Please visit the news and announcements page for more information about certifications for future Microsoft products and technologies.
MCTS candidate profile
MCTS candidates are capable of implementing, building, troubleshooting, and debugging a particular Microsoft technology.
Why get certified?
Earning a Microsoft Certification validates your proven experience and knowledge in using Microsoft products and solutions. Designed to be relevant in today's rapidly changing IT marketplace, Microsoft Certifications help you utilize evolving technologies, fine-tune your troubleshooting skills, and improve your job satisfaction.
Whether you are new to technology, changing jobs, or a seasoned professional, becoming certified demonstrates to customers, peers, and employers that you are committed to advancing your skills and taking on greater challenges. In addition, certification provides you with access to exclusive Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) resources and benefits, including opportunities to connect with a vast, global network of MCPs.
Employees with a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) Certification
Salary Ranges
by Job Job Title National Salary Data (?
XAll compensation data shown are gross, national 10th to 90th percentile ranges. Pay can vary greatly by location. To view local data, take the PayScale survey.
) $0 $60K $120K
Systems Administrator $34,779 - $73,522
Information Technology Specialist $30,789 - $73,993
Sr. Software Engineer / Developer / Programmer $65,939 - $119,945
Senior Systems Administrator $51,456 - $100,939
Information Technology (IT) Consultant $35,479 - $117,824
Country: United States | Currency: USD | Updated: 18 Jul 2012 | Individuals Reporting:
3 ;VCP
[Vmware certified professional]
As the demand for IT professionals with datacenter virtualization skills increases, it is essential to distinguish yourself in the market with a certification that validates your technical capabilities. Becoming a VMware Certified Professional does just that.
This industry-recognized certification requires completion of a VMware-authorized training course and hands-on experience with VMware technologies. Achieving the VCP certification confirms that you have the education needed to successfully install, deploy, scale and manage VMware vSphere environments, as well as the skills obtained by a minimum of six months experience with VMware infrastructure technologies.
Average Salary of Jobs with Related Titles
In USD as of Jul 25, 2012 55k 110k 165k
Senior Infrastructure Virtualization $94,000
Server Team Lead $102,000
Tier Linux Engineer $63,000
Systems Engineer Vmware $66,000
Microsoft Consultant $93,000
Vmware $101,000
Cisco UC Engineer $149,000
Vmware Systems Engineer $92,000
Account Executive Unified Communication $63,000
Vmware Windows Engineer $92,000
Emc Storage Engineer Emcie $149,000
Vmware Admin $84,000
Virtualization Engineer $97,000
Vmware System Administrator $87,000
Information Dissemination Manager $88,000
4;CCNA
[cisco certificate network associate]
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size route and switched networks,
including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN.
CCNA curriculum includes basic mitigation of security threats, introduction to wireless networking concepts and terminology,
and performance-based skills. This new curriculum also includes (but is not limited to) the use of these protocols: IP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay, Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2),VLANs, Ethernet, access control lists (ACLs).
Cisco Career Certifications are IT Professional certifications for Cisco Systems products.
The tests are administered by Pearson VUE. The five levels of certification are:
Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert, and Architect along with targeted certifications for Specialist and Technician. These are available in seven different subject areas:
Routing & Switching, Design, Network Security, Service Provider, Storage Networking, Voice and Wireless.
Employees with a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certification
Salary Ranges by Job Job Title National Salary Data (?
XAll compensation data shown are gross, national 10th to 90th percentile ranges.
Pay can vary greatly by location. To view local data, take the PayScale survey.
) $0 $60K $120K
Network Engineer $42,804 - $88,149
Sr. Network Engineer $61,686 - $113,475
Information Technology (IT) Manager $49,465 - $110,699
Network Administrator, IT $35,126 - $73,307
Systems Engineer (Computer Networking / IT) $40,546 - $96,513
5;CSSA
[certified system senior architect]
It is well known that Pegasystems CSSA certification training is experiencing a great demand in IT industry area.
In recent years, the CSSA Certification has become a global standard for many successful IT companies.
The Certified Senior System Architect (CSSA) Professional Certification Path is for Certified System Architects
that wish to increase their PRPC skills.
This certification validates your ability to use PRPC to design and build for reusability across multiple lines of business.
6;PMP
Project Management Professional Certification (PMP®)
First of all let us explain what the PMI is and its history. PMI was founded in 1969 and first started offering the Project Management Professional certification exam in 1984.
PMI is accredited as an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards developer and
also has the distinction of being the first organization to have their certification program attain International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 recognition.
PMI boasts a worldwide membership of over 100,000, with members from 125 different countries.
Local PMI chapters meet regularly and allow project managers to exchange information and learn about new tools and
techniques of project management or new ways to use established techniques.
I encourage you to join a local chapter and get to know other professionals in your field.
PMI is the leader in project management practices and is the most widely recognized organization and certification in the field. PMI strives to maintain and promote standards and
ethics in this field and offers publications, training, seminars, chapters, special interest groups, and colleges to further the project management discipline
7;CISSP
Certified Information Systems Security Professional
CISSP Certificate is issued by the (ICS)2 organization.
This is surely one of the best recognized and desired on the whole world certificate confirming security skills.
CISSP Certification is not only the first recognized and accredited certificate (in the area of information security) by the iSO/IEC organization (is meets ISO/IEC 17024 notms and regulations) but is also officialy adopted by such organizations like
U.S. Department of Defence or U.S. National Security Agency (NSA).
The attitude of the (ISC)2 organization to the CISSP certification generates a lot of profits for employees and for employers.
For employees because they are all the time improving their skills by attending professional CISSP courses, they document their professional experience etc.
For employers because they can expect high level of competences from their employees in the area of information security.
8;ACSP
There’s more to the energy surrounding Apple than pleasant tablet devices, intuitive smartphones, and a stunning stock price.
The company continues chewing up market share and shipping computers at rates 10 to 12 times greater than PC manufacturers.
The ACSP (Apple Certified Support Professional) designation helps IT pros demonstrate expertise supporting Mac OS X clients. Engineers, particularly Windows support pros and administrators increasingly encountering Macs, will be well served completing
Apple’s certification rack for technical support personnel. Benefits include not only another bullet for the resume but an understanding of Apple’s official processes for installing, setting up, troubleshooting, and maintaining Mac client machines.
9;network+ /A+
Yes, CompTIA’s Network+ and A+ designations are, technically, two separate certifications. But they’re both critical certs that test absolute fundamentals that every IT pro needs to completely understand.
In fact, there’s an argument to be made that all IT pros should have both of these accreditations on their resumes.
CompTIA is a well-respected, vendor-neutral (though vendor-supported) organization that continually develops and administers relevant certifications. The network, hardware, and software skills tested on the
Network+ and A+ exams are basics that every self-respecting tech professional should master, whether they’re performing budgeting tasks, deploying client machines, managing site-wide migrations, overseeing security,
or administering networks and servers.
10;Comptia HEALTH care IT technician
The CompTIA Healthcare IT Technician certification covers the knowledge and skills required to implement, deploy, and support healthcare IT systems in various clinical settings.
The CompTIA Healthcare IT Technician certification exam covers:
•Regulatory requirements
•Organizational behavior
•IT operations
•Medical business operations
•Security
Potential candidates should possess a basic understanding of practice workflow while adhering to code of conduct policies and security best practices.
The exam is intended for IT professionals who are CompTIA A+ certified or have 500 hours of hands-on IT technical experience in the lab or field, plus the knowledge/skills necessary to deploy and support healthcare
IT systems in clinical settings.
