To get an IT certification, decide on one, prepare for the exam, take it, update your resume, and stay on top of renewing it.

Knowing what job interview questions you might be asked is essential - that way, you can craft your answers well in advance and feel confident in your responses when the pressure is on.

People often think working in information technology, or IT limits you to working for a tech company in a fancy office in a big city. But nowadays, IT roles can be found across varying industries in organizations of all shapes and sizes. Because of this, careers in IT are gaining popularity, and there are several paths from which you can choose.

Computer Science and Information Technology differ because computer scientists design and develop the software programs that IT professionals use and maintain. IT specialists apply what they've learned about computers to businesses across all industries.

With the acceleration in cloud technology adoption, knowledge of working with the cloud is poised to become a valuable asset for IT professionals. Cloud certifications to consider come from several different cloud service providers.

Certifications help IT professionals demonstrate applied skillsets in niche subjects and build concrete evidence of their growth-oriented goals. If you’re interested in building out a plan for your future technology career, review this sample IT certification roadmap and learn how a certification strategy helps you round out both IT and leadership skills.

CompTIA A+ certification is earned by passing two exams – created by IT industry professionals – that validate skills needed for entry-level IT jobs. That said, CompTIA A+ is not just about PC repair. CompTIA A+ candidates are better prepared to troubleshoot and problem-solve various issues, ranging from networking and operating systems to mobile devices and security.

If you’ve studied computer science, you will have gained many technical and non-technical skills highly valued by employers, from leadership to programming. The increasing scope of computer science means you have plenty of choice in a wide variety of highly specialized areas.

Network certifications are credentials you can earn to demonstrate your ability to work with networks in the information technology (IT) field. They can be vendor-specific—focusing on the technology from one company, like Cisco or Microsoft—or vendor-neutral, meaning the things you learn should be applicable across different networking technologies.

Whether you’re just starting or are established in your career, IT certifications have their benefits. Here are ten main entry-level IT certifications.

Learn more about what it takes to earn a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity and related fields and whether you need one to begin a career in this in-demand field.

What does a security engineer do? As a security engineer, it's your job to keep a company's security systems up and running. This might involve implementing and testing new security features, planning computer and network upgrades, troubleshooting, and responding to security incidents.