Technology changes quickly, and it’s up to you to figure out which specialized skills will help you stay ahead in the competitive job market. Earning industry certifications in domains like IT, cloud, and cybersecurity is one way you can validate your knowledge and stand out to potential employers.
New findings from Skillsoft’s 2024 IT Skills and Salary survey uncover which certifications will be in-demand next year. The global survey features insights from over 2,000 IT professionals in the United States alone, and includes data about salaries across industries and roles, the top-paying industry certifications, the most popular certs, and more. If you’re new to the world of industry certifications, the IT Skills and Salary Report will help you understand the landscape so you can narrow down your options and goals.
Once you’ve picked a certification to pursue, check out our new test prep skill paths to start learning the key cybersecurity, IT, and cloud skills that you need to pass these certification exams. Test prep skill paths are included in your Codecademy Pro or Plus membership, so you don’t have to pay extra to work towards a certification.
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Here are the certifications that people want to pursue in 2025, with information on how to prepare for the industry exams.
1. CompTIA Security+
Best for: Building a cybersecurity foundation
CompTIA Security+ is one of the most widely held certifications, and it’s an excellent way to kick off your IT journey. Security+ gives you a lot of key foundational information about security, and helps you develop must-have skills like automation, zero trust, risk analysis, operational technology, and IoT.
In our skill path CompTIA Security+ SY0-701, you’ll get hands-on learning about threats, cryptography, governance, identity management, and more.
2. CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
Best for: Experienced cybersecurity professionals and business leaders
This is an expert-level certification geared at experienced cybersecurity professionals and business leaders who are looking to advance their careers. CISSP holders have an average of 18 certifications and tend to work in management roles like Security Consultant, IT Director, and Chief Information Security Officer. In the U.S., people with CISSP certification earn $168,060 on average, making it one of the highest-paying IT certs.
CISSP is one of the more challenging certifications to get — you need at least 5 years of paid, relevant work experience in 2 or more of the CISSP domains just to be eligible for the certification. However, our skill path Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Journey is designed with beginners in mind. The videos in the skill path are created by industry-leading experts and there’s a test simulation that mirrors the actual certification exam, so you know what to expect.
3. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Best for: Anyone curious about the cloud
Even if you don’t work directly in a cloud role, you can gain a solid understanding of AWS Cloud basics, security measures, and migration techniques by becoming an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner. The skill path AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 is our beginner-friendly introduction to the concepts you need to sit for this popular exam.
Need an overview of the cloud job market? Read this guide to cloud computing careers to learn more about how people break into this domain and some popular cloud certifications to consider getting.
4. CompTIA Network+
Best for: Network professionals early in their careers
Network Engineers are responsible for designing, setting up, and managing computer networks within a company. The CompTIA Network+ N10-008 certification validates that folks early in their careers have core hands-on and technical skills to manage networks. In our corresponding skill path, you’ll learn networking fundamentals, work through network operations, and gain experience with the networking troubleshooting methodology.
5. CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst)
Best for: Experienced cybersecurity professionals
The role of a Cybersecurity Analyst revolves around monitoring a company’s computer infrastructure and network to ensure that sensitive information stays secure. Part of that includes knowing how to respond during high-stakes cybersecurity scenarios. The CompTIA CySA+ certification proves that you’re adept at detecting malicious activity, identifying vulnerabilities, and responding to incidents. People with the CompTIA CySA+ certification can also go on to have careers as Incident Response Analysts, Security Architects, Cybersecurity Engineers, and Threat Hunters.
6. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Best for: Career switchers getting into IT
If you’re looking for an entry-level certification that’s relevant to a broad range of careers in IT, consider Cisco’s CCNA. It’s a smart choice for career switchers who are entering the IT field as well as IT pros who want further networking skills. Our skill path prepares you for the CCNA 200-301 certification exam, which covers concepts like network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, automation, and programmability.
7. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
Best for: Upskilling in cloud roles
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate is a highly valued credential, because it demonstrates your proficiency in AWS services and best practices. It’s best for people who are looking to advance their careers in cloud architecture and have at least a year of hands-on experience designing distributed applications and systems on the AWS platform. You can start learning concepts that are covered in this certification exam in our skill path AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate SAA-C03.
Hot tip: A programming background can give you a leg up on this AWS certification. Be sure to check out the catalog of our coding courses to refresh your knowledge.
8. CompTIA PenTest+ (Penetration Testing)
Best for: Pentesters and Cybersecurity Analysts with work experience
Pentesters, aka ethical hackers, help organizations identify vulnerabilities by attempting to breach their cybersecurity defenses. They use techniques like phishing and social engineering to test systems and uncover weaknesses. CompTIA PenTest+ is an exam that confirms you know the latest pentesting techniques for all attack surfaces, including the cloud, web apps, APIs, IoT, on-premises, and hybrid network environments.
If you want to learn some of the basics behind this exciting career, check out our free course Introduction to Ethical Hacking.
9. CompTIA A+
Best for: Starting a career in IT
CompTIA A+ was ranked one of the most common certifications people had in 2024, and it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most coveted in 2025, too. This is the industry-standard certification to launch a career in IT, and it proves that you’ve passed CompTIA’s two entry-level certifications, Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102). A comprehensive range of skills are covered in this certification, including hardware, operating systems, networking, troubleshooting, cloud computing, and security.
Ready to dive in? Explore the skill paths CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) and CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1102).
10. ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
Best for: Entry-level cybersecurity jobs
This is the beginner certification offered by ISC2, the cybersecurity professional organization that provides the CISSP certification. ISC2 CC is essentially like a stepping stone to other certifications, and it can set you up to apply for entry-level cybersecurity roles.
Get ready for certification exams
Whether you’re aiming to advance your career in cloud architecture, delve into the world of ethical hacking, or launch an IT career, we have well-defined paths and resources available to help you achieve your goals. Each certification offers unique benefits and skill sets that position you for success in today’s competitive tech landscape. Read this blog to learn more about how to choose the right certification for your goals. And when you’re ready, browse our catalog of new test prep skill paths to take the next step towards your IT, cloud, or cybersecurity career.