Most in Demand IT Certifications (November 2025)
By combining our globally-recognised expertise and the latest industry reports, we have identified the top five certifications for IT professionals.
What are IT certifications, and why are they so important?
IT certifications are professional designations that demonstrate to employers your knowledge and skills in a particular area.
IT courses solidify the skills on your CV or resume, and often also provide hands-on education and experience. However, with what seems like non-stop advancements in the IT sector, it can be difficult to identify which IT certifications are worth obtaining, and from which training provider.
This article is here to help you streamline this tricky selection process. I have pulled data from renowned recruiters, professional bodies and training providers across the global IT sector - as well as our own in-house expertise - to determine the most in-demand certifications.
Written by
Neil has been at Learning People in New Zealand working a specialist in helping people gain the skills, certifications, and confidence they need to land their dream roles in tech and project management for over 5 years.
Top Five IT Certifications
1. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner:
Best for: individuals with basic IT skills and fundamental networking knowledge who are looking to upskill
Jobs you can get with the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification:
- IT Support Specialist
- Cloud Sales or Purchase Manager
- Cloud Support Specialist
- Junior Cloud Engineer
- Cloud Operations Analyst
For those wanting to work in Cloud Computing, getting the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification is a great first step.
Covering the basics of Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud, becoming an AWS Certified Practitioner demonstrates to prospective employers your knowledge and skills related to AWS global infrastructure and architectural principles.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) are trusted by millions of organisations worldwide - AWS recently opened new data centres in Auckland, bringing 1,000 jobs and an estimated $10.8 billion to the New Zealand economy.
"A lot of people told me I would not be able to get a job with the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner on its own - but I had three job offers with that one single certification.
I turned down two of the offers and went for the role with Dataflexnet as a Junior Cloud Engineer, which is actually more like a DevOps role and I’m learning all the time. We use AWS a lot at Dataflexnet and I can definitely say that because I’ve done the AWS certification it’s been easy for me to come into the role."
Average salary after completing
You can earn an average of $140,000.00 a year
You can earn an average of $140,000.00 a year
2. PMI Project Management Professional (PMP):
Best for: existing Project Managers, Project Leaders, or Project Directors looking to solidify their knowledge and expertise
Jobs you can get with the PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification:
- Project Manager
- Project Coordinator
- Program Manager
- Project Consultant
- Product Owner
As an official PMI® Authorised Training Partner (ATP) with the Project Management Institute (PMI) - the world’s leading authority in project management - we intimately understand the value of this certification.
Ideal for existing Project Managers, Leaders or Directors, the PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification enables sector professionals to improve their understanding of the intricacies of project management. This certification proves to prospective employers your expertise in conflict resolution, collaborating with stakeholders, managing budgets, and more.
Hear from someone who's completed PMI Project Management Professional (PMP)
After relocating from Brazil to the UK, Guilherme completed the PMP® and AgilePM® Foundation with Learning People to validate the project management skills he gained running his own business.
Average salary after completing the PMP
You can earn an average of $150,000.00 a year
You can earn an average of $150,000.00 a year
3. CompTIA Security+ (Plus):
Best for: individuals with strong experience in computers and networking
Jobs you can get with the CompTIA Security+ (Plus) certification:
- SOC Analyst
- Security Analyst
- System Administrator
- Junior Penetration Tester
- Network Administrator
Designed for people with experience in computers and networking, the CompTIA Security+ (Plus) certification is focused on hands-on learning. Whether you’re a beginner looking to kick-start your Cyber Security career, or you’re a Cyber Security professional wanting to validate your knowledge and skills, this certification will help you stand-out in a competitive job market.
With Cisco - a leading global technology provider - recently reporting that the Asia-Pacific region experiences the highest global rate of ransomware encounters, IT professionals with CompTIA Security+ certification are highly-sought after by employers across Australia and New Zealand.
Hear from someone who's completed CompTIA Security+
After studying Graphic and Digital at university, Jamil decided to pivot into Cyber Security. He completed CompTIA Security+ and now works as a Service Desk Analyst for The Royal Household.
Average salary after completing CompTIA Security+ (Plus)
You can earn an average of $140,000.00 a year
You can earn an average of $140,000.00 a year
4. Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect:
Best for: individuals with at least two years working experience with Microsoft Azure
Jobs you can get with the Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect certification:
- Cloud Architect
- DevOps Engineer
- Cloud Engineer
- Solutions Architect
- Azure Developer
If you’re an experienced Cloud professional looking for a role where you can work with stakeholders to advise on secure, scalable, reliable cloud solutions, the Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect certification is the course for you.
This Cloud Computing certification covers designing cloud and hybrid solutions on Azure, including network, compute, monitoring, storage, and security.
With Architect roles being some of the most highly paid across Australia and New Zealand, securing the Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect certification at Associate and Expert level is bound to lead to high salaries.
Hear from someone who's completed Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect
After completing a range of Cloud Computing courses, including Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect, Petar landed a role as a Technical Support Engineer.
Average salary after completing
You can earn an average of $140,000.00 a year
You can earn an average of $140,000.00 a year
5. Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP):
Best for: experienced IT security professionals
Jobs you can get with the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) certification:
- Cloud Architect
- DevSecOps Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Security Architect
- Security Consultant
For experienced IT professionals wanting to hone-in on a career in Cloud Security, the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) certification is a necessity.
Offered through the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC²), this certification clearly shows employers your knowledge and abilities when designing, managing, and securing data, applications, and infrastructure in the cloud.
CompTIA, a world-renowned provider of vendor-neutral IT certifications, ranks Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) in its list of top nine IT certifications that will boost your pay.
Average Salary after completing
You can earn an average of $150,400.00 a year
You can earn an average of $150,400.00 a year
Final Thoughts: IT Certifications Are Non-Negotiable
With increasing cyber attacks, impactful cloud outages and sector-defying AI transformations, it’s now more important than ever to bolster and future-proof your career by obtaining reputable IT certifications.
Speak to one of our expert Career Consultants today to get advice on which top IT certifications are right for you.
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