The trend toward remote and hybrid teams has created extra responsibilities for the IT departments that often need to expand to support them. As a result, the tech hiring market is hotter than ever, with 91 per cent of Canadian technology leaders reporting challenges finding skilled talent.When tech recruiters evaluate your resume, they often start by looking at your certifications. Why? They want candidates with up-to-date knowledge, and IT certifications quickly show them a person’s mastery of a particular technology or practice — from help desk basics to mastery of complex cloud environments.“But what certifications should I get for IT?” you might ask. Below we provide a curated list of the best information technology certifications and the associations that administer them, based on the 2025 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half and other sources, followed by our own guidance for when and why to apply for them.For insights into the challenges Canada’s technology leaders are facing and the skills gaps they’re looking to fill, check out our report – newly updated for 2025 – on the Canadian technology sector’s hiring challenges: Building Future-Forward Tech Teams.
The most in demand IT certifications 2025 technology professionals should look for
Just starting out in the IT field? The following are some of the best introductory certifications to help you get your first IT job:AWS Cloud Practitioner:A good starting point for professionals with no prior IT or cloud experience, this certification indicates to employers that you possess a foundational, high-level understanding of AWS Cloud, services, and terminology.Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP): Administered by ICS2, the CCSP indicates that you have the technical skills and knowledge to design, manage and secure data, applications and infrastructure in the cloud using best practices, policies and procedures followed by cybersecurity experts around the globe.Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST): Cisco’s entry-level certifications include its signature Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), which we discuss in more detail below. Its three CCST certifications, meanwhile, validate your skills and qualifications for entry-level roles in cybersecurity, networking, and IT support.CompTIA A+: CompTIA issues certifications for a variety of technologies and platforms, but this one stands above the rest in terms of value to IT pros, covering hardware, technical support and troubleshooting best practices across security, networking, mobile devices and multiple operating systems.Google Cloud Digital Leader: Similar to AWS Cloud Practitioner, the foundational Google Cloud certification indicates your ability to articulate the capabilities, benefits and common business use cases of core Google Cloud products and services.Microsoft Fundamentals Certifications: Microsoft’s eight Fundamentals certifications cover a range of platforms and uses including Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 (both CRM and ERP) and Azure Data, which is ideal for data engineers. These replace the MTA (Microsoft Technology Associate) certification, which the company retired in 2022.
Best IT certifications for midlevel users
Once you have some more experience under your belt, earning any of the below IT certifications can help your IT resume stand out and provide an excellent path to growing your career.AWS Associate Certifications: Amazon offers five of these role-based certifications for professionals with established cloud and/or on-premises IT experience, covering systems operations, developer, solutions architecture, data engineering and machine learning.Google Associate Certifications: Google’s three certifications for IT professionals ready for the next stage of their career cover engineering, administration and data management.Microsoft Associate Certifications: Microsoft offers a staggering 47 certifications at this level, also covering a range of platforms and uses including Microsoft 365, Azure, Dynamics 365 (both ERP and CRM), and Power Platform. Similar to its Fundamentals certifications, these replace the Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), which the company retired in 2021.
Best IT certifications for networking
As Cisco is a leading provider of infrastructure products, a certificate from this company confirms that you’re versed in the latest developments and best practices in networking. We mentioned the company’s CCST certification above, but once that’s under your belt the most essential are:Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): This entry-level certification (though we recommend the CCST for professionals just starting their careers) validates a wide range of fundamental IT skills – from networking technologies, to security, to software development – indicating to Canadian employers that you have the experience they need to meet market demands.Cisco Certified DevNet Associate: This certification indicates your ability to implement network applications built on Cisco platforms and automate IT processes across network, security, collaboration, and computing systems.Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP): After the associate level, the CCNP is a more advanced IT certificate in one of five specialty areas: enterprise, data centre, security, service provider or collaboration.
Best IT certifications for security
Hacking and cyberattacks continue to be a challenge for many Canadian businesses, with a growing demand for a limited supply of skilled cybersecurity candidates leading to a skills gap that companies are eager to fill.A professional organization devoted to IT security and governance, ISACA manages a number of global certification programs, including:Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA): ISACA’s cornerstone certification is aimed at professionals who monitor, control and assess a company’s IT or business systems and requires at least five years of professional experience in the field.Certified Information Security Manager (CISM): Designed for people who design, build and manage information security programs, this certification requires professionals to have at least five years of information systems and three years of security management experience.Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC): The CRISC accredits professionals and project managers responsible for information security and its overall impact on the enterprise. It covers risk identification, risk assessment, risk response and mitigation, and risk control monitoring and reporting.Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT): The CGEIT demonstrates your understanding of enterprise IT governance principles and practices. It is one of the most sought-after certifications in IT, commanding some of the highest salaries.Cybersecurity Nexus Practitioner (CSX-P): In a time of constantly evolving cybersecurity threats, the CSX-P certification demonstrates that you are up to date on security standards and risks.Other valuable IT certifications for security include:Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): The EC-Council offers several certification programs, and one of the most popular is the CEH. Professionals with this certification specialize in penetration testing, which is why it’s often a prerequisite for positions like cyber forensics analyst, cybersecurity engineer and applications developer.Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): This is another cybersecurity certification in high demand. Designed for experienced IT professionals, CISSP holders understand vulnerabilities in networked systems and create policies to safeguard systems and minimize risk.Cisco Certified Cybersecurity Associate: With a Cybersecurity Associate certification, you’ll prove your expertise in essential cybersecurity skills, concepts, and technologies, including understanding IT infrastructure, operations, and vulnerabilities.Global Information Assurance Certifications (GIAC): All about information security, the GIACs come in several categories, including cloud security, cyber defense, digital forensics, industrial control systems, and offensive operations. The highest level is the GIAC security expert (GSE).
Best IT certifications for cloud computing
Many cloud certifications are specific to individual vendors, such as Salesforce, Microsoft and Amazon. There are also a few certifications that focus on more general practices. Top certifications include:CompTIA cloud+: CompTIA cloud+ covers all major elements of cloud computing, including configuration, deployment, security, management and troubleshooting.AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Professional: Amazon is the largest provider of cloud computing services, and this certification affirms your ability to design and deploy cloud environments using Amazon Web Services.Microsoft Azure Fundamentals: As the second-largest provider of cloud computing services, Microsoft’s Azure Fundamentals certification is a must-have for many cloud computing professionals. Depending on the role, the company's Associate- and Expert-level Azure certifications can be equally valuable.Salesforce Certified Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect: Canadian employers are desperate for high-end specialists in this cloud-based CRM. This certification is the first step toward becoming a Salesforce certified systems architect.
Best IT certifications for project management
Project management is indispensable to IT operations. And because it involves planning, scheduling, budgeting and execution, certification can be a key stepping stone to managerial positions.Certified associate in project management (CAPM): Offered by the highly respected Project Management Institute (PMI), the CAPM is an ideal entry-level management credential.Project management professional: Also offered by PMI, the PMP credential is among the most prestigious in the profession. A number of subspecialty certifications are also available.Certified ScrumMaster: The entry-level CSM certification is offered by the Scrum Alliance. It is an excellent way to show your knowledge of the Scrum framework and its associated Agile management practices.Advanced Certified ScrumMaster: The next level of CSM certification indicates your knowledge of advanced Scrum management skills and techniques, including facilitation and scaling.Certified Scrum Professional ScrumMaster: The third and final level of CSM certification indicates a top-tier Scrum master capable of launching new Scrum teams, scaling Scrum initiatives across teams and organizations, and coaching all levels of an organization to be more agile.
Best IT certifications for help desk
Many IT professionals begin their careers in technical support and help desk roles. And to give students a leg up, schools are increasingly offering courses that prepare students to acquire help desk certifications. You can certify in either the help desk functions as a whole or concentrate on a specific vendor’s platforms and products.HDI Certifications: Formerly called the Help Desk Institute, HDI offers certifications that range from the entry-level HDI desktop support technician to the HDI support centre director. The HDI technical support professional certification is particularly popular with Canadian hiring managers. HDI also offers credentials for support center analysts, team leaders and customer service representatives.ITIL: The UK organization AXELOS is charged with promoting best practices for IT service management. ITIL, formerly an acronym for Information Technology Infrastructure Library, is the registered name for a widely accepted framework for managing IT service delivery. There are five ITIL certifications, ranging from foundation to master.Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP): You can demonstrate your expertise with macOS support essentials with the ACSP.
Best IT certifications in database, analytics and other data technologies
Database technologies remain foundational to IT operations, while growth in big data and analytics initiatives is driving new career opportunities.Certifications tend to be built around a single provider’s platform, including:AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate: This indicates skills and knowledge in core data-related AWS services, including the ability to ingest and transform data, orchestrate data pipelines, design data models, manage data life cycles and ensure data quality. It largely replaces the AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty certification, which Amazon retired in 2024 and itself had replaced the AWS Certified Big Data – Specialty certification, which the company retired in 2020.CCIE Data Centre Certification: This Cisco certification demonstrates expert-level skills required to plan, prepare, operate, monitor and troubleshoot complex data centre networks.Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP): Data Management Association International (DAMA) offers one of the most comprehensive certifications for data professionals. The CDMP is offered in four tiers: Associate (requiring six months to five years of experience), Practitioner (2 - 10 years' experience), Master (10 years or more experience) – and Fellow (25+ years of experience), of which there are only three as of this writing.Cloudera Data Engineer: This certification indicates proficiency designing, developing and optimizing data workflows using Cloudera tools.Google Professional Data Engineer: This certification indicates your expertise in using Google Cloud to design data processing systems, prepare and use data for analysis, and maintain and automate data workloads.IBM Data Engineering Professional Certificate: This certificate indicates a candidate has developed enough career-ready skills in data engineering to create a portfolio of labs, projects and data warehouses using a mix of NoSQL and relational databases, coding languages such as SQL and Python, and business intelligence platforms such as Hadoop and Spark.Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Associate: Power BI data analysts work closely with business stakeholders, analytics engineers and data engineers to identify and acquire data relevant to their employers. This certification demonstrates a user’s ability to use the platform to model, visualize, and analyze that data.Oracle Certifications: Oracle, the world’s leading database provider, offers certifications in a range of database professions, from database administration and database application development to analytics, data warehousing and big data.SAP Certified Associate – Database Administrator: This certification indicates your proficiency with database administration skills in SAP HANA Cloud and SAP HANA. It replaces the SAP Certified Technology Associate certification, which SAP retired in 2024.SnowPro Advanced – Data Engineer: Recommended for professionals with at least two years of hands-on data engineering experience in a production environment, this certification indicates advanced knowledge and skills in using Snowflake to source, transform, replicate, and share data across cloud platforms, design end-to-end near real-time streams and scalable compute solutions for data engineer workloads, and evaluate performance metrics.
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