Best IT Certifications for Beginners in 2025
Starting an IT career? The right certification can accelerate your job search, boost your starting salary, and give you a structured learning path. We analyzed salary data, pass rates, exam costs, and job demand to rank the 10 best entry-level IT certifications for 2025.
Quick Picks by Goal
CompTIA Security+
$95K average salary with 38K+ job listings. The gold standard for breaking into cybersecurity. DoD-approved and universally recognized.
Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
95% pass rate with only 30 hours of study. Free training available from Microsoft. Perfect first step into cloud computing.
AWS Cloud Practitioner
$100 exam fee, $92K avg salary, 90% pass rate. Unbeatable ROI for career changers entering cloud computing.
Full Comparison Table
| # | Certification | Category | Avg Salary | Pass Rate | Exam Cost | Study Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CompTIA Security+ | cybersecurity | $95K | 82% | $404 | 80h |
| 2 | AWS Cloud Practitioner | cloud | $85K | 90% | $100 | 40h |
| 3 | Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) | cloud | $80K | 92% | $99 | 25h |
| 4 | CompTIA A+ | cloud | $75K | 80% | $358 | 120h |
| 5 | CompTIA Network+ | networking | $75K | 78% | $358 | 80h |
| 6 | CompTIA Data+ | data-analytics | $72K | 78% | $358 | 80h |
| 7 | ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) | cybersecurity | $65K | 80% | $0 | 30h |
| 8 | ITIL 4 Foundation | pm | $95K | 83% | $383 | 40h |
| 9 | Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate | data-analytics | $65K | 90% | $49 | 180h |
| 10 | CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ (CLO-002) | cloud | $70K | 85% | $139 | 25h |
All 10 Beginner Certifications — Detailed
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) is the most widely recognized entry-level cybersecurity certification. It validates foundational security skills and is approved by the US Department of Defense for IAT Level II roles.
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) is the entry-level AWS certification designed for non-technical and technical professionals who want to validate their foundational understanding of AWS cloud concepts, services, and terminology.
Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) is Microsoft's entry-level cloud certification that validates foundational knowledge of cloud concepts, Azure services, security, privacy, compliance, and pricing. It's designed for anyone beginning their cloud journey.
CompTIA A+
CompTIA A+ is the industry-standard certification for establishing a career in IT. Covering Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102), it validates foundational skills in hardware, software, networking, and troubleshooting across modern operating systems and devices.
CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) validates the essential skills needed to establish, maintain, troubleshoot, and secure networks in any environment. It covers network architecture, security, troubleshooting, and industry standards across wired and wireless networks.
CompTIA Data+ (DA0-001) validates the skills required to transform business requirements into data-driven insights. It covers data concepts, environments, analysis techniques, visualization, and governance, making it ideal for aspiring data analysts and business intelligence professionals.
The ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) is a free entry-level certification designed for individuals starting their cybersecurity career. It covers foundational security concepts and is backed by ISC2, the same organization behind CISSP, making it an excellent stepping stone into the field.
ITIL 4 Foundation is the entry-level certification in the ITIL framework, covering the fundamentals of IT Service Management (ITSM). It introduces the ITIL service value system, guiding principles, and four dimensions of service management used worldwide.
The Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate is a self-paced program on Coursera designed to prepare learners for entry-level data analytics roles. It covers the entire data analysis process — from asking the right questions to cleaning data, analyzing with spreadsheets, SQL, and R, and presenting findings through Tableau visualizations. No prior experience is required.
CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ validates the foundational knowledge needed to make informed cloud service decisions from a business and technical perspective. It is ideal for IT professionals, managers, and business analysts who need to understand cloud principles without deep technical implementation skills.
How to Choose Your First IT Certification
Pick Your Domain
Decide if you want to focus on cloud computing, cybersecurity, networking, data analytics, or project management. Each path leads to different roles and salary ranges.
Match to Your Experience Level
Complete beginners should start with foundational certs like AZ-900, AWS Cloud Practitioner, or ISC2 CC. If you have some IT experience, jump to Security+ or Network+.
Consider ROI
Compare exam cost vs. expected salary increase. Cloud certs like AWS Cloud Practitioner ($100 exam, $92K avg salary) offer exceptional ROI. Factor in free study resources — Microsoft, Google, and ISC2 all offer free training for their entry-level exams.
Plan Your Next Step
Your first cert is a stepping stone. After AZ-900, target Azure Administrator. After Security+, aim for CySA+ or CISSP. Each certification builds on the last, creating a clear career progression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest IT certification to get?
The ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) and Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) are among the easiest IT certifications. AZ-900 has a ~95% pass rate and requires only about 30 hours of study. The ISC2 CC is free to take and covers foundational security concepts. AWS Cloud Practitioner is another accessible option with a 90% pass rate and a $100 exam fee.
Which IT certification pays the most for beginners?
CompTIA Security+ leads with an average salary of ~$95K, followed by AWS Cloud Practitioner at ~$92K. Both are entry-level certifications with strong employer demand. The salary premium grows significantly as you stack additional certifications on top of these foundations.
How long does it take to get an IT certification?
Most entry-level IT certifications require 30-120 hours of study. Quick wins like AZ-900 or ISC2 CC can be completed in 2-4 weeks of part-time study. More comprehensive certifications like Security+ or Network+ typically take 2-3 months of dedicated study at 1-2 hours per day.
Are IT certifications worth it in 2025?
Yes. Certified IT professionals earn 10-25% more than non-certified peers on average, according to salary surveys from CompTIA and Global Knowledge. Entry-level certifications also improve hiring chances significantly — many job postings list specific certifications as requirements or strong preferences. The ROI is especially strong for career changers.
Should I get CompTIA A+ or Security+ first?
If you're completely new to IT, start with CompTIA A+ to build foundational knowledge. If you already have basic IT experience or a related degree, you can skip directly to Security+ for a faster path to higher-paying roles. Security+ has stronger salary outcomes ($95K vs ~$68K average).
Can I get an IT certification with no experience?
Absolutely. Many entry-level certifications have no prerequisites. AWS Cloud Practitioner, Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), ISC2 CC, CompTIA A+, and Google Data Analytics Certificate are all designed for beginners with no prior IT experience. These certifications include study materials that teach you from the ground up.
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Data Sources & Transparency
- Salary data — Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor, and job posting aggregates (US median, 2024-2025)
- Pass rates — Community-reported estimates from Reddit, TechExams, and certification forums
- Job listings — LinkedIn, Indeed, and Dice active postings (sampled Q1 2025)
- Cost data — Official vendor pricing as of April 2025