Our Methodology

Transparency matters. Here's how we collect, process, and present certification data.

Salary Data

Salary figures represent US-based median compensation for professionals holding the specific certification. We aggregate data from job postings, salary surveys, and self-reported data. All figures are updated quarterly and represent total compensation (base + bonus) where available.

Job Demand

Job listing counts are based on active postings across major job boards that explicitly mention the certification. We track month-over-month and year-over-year trends to identify growing and declining certifications.

Pass Rates

Most certification providers don't publish official pass rates. Our estimates come from community surveys, training provider data, and self-reported results. We clearly label these as estimates.

Difficulty Ratings

Our 1-10 difficulty scale considers prerequisite knowledge required, exam length and format, community-reported difficulty, and breadth of topics covered. These ratings are relative within the IT certification space.

Study Time

Study hour estimates represent the median preparation time reported by successful candidates. Individual times vary significantly based on prior experience.

Comparisons

When comparing certifications, we use the same data points for each cert to ensure fair comparison. Our verdicts are based on the data, not subjective preferences.

Updates

Each page shows its last update date. We aim to review and update all pages at least quarterly, with more frequent updates when certification details change (new exam versions, price changes, etc.).