When choosing which IT certification to pursue, IT professionals usually consider their professional experience and their career goals. Geography can also play a role in the decision-making process, because employers in different locations may prefer different credentials. 

To ensure our programs equip our learners to achieve their career goals, we continually review the top certifications requested in job postings locally and nation-wide.

Top IT Certifications in Arizona

Based on the past 12 months of job postings, these were the top IT certifications requested in Arizona for 2021:

When we looked at the top Arizona IT credentials in 2020, IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) were the two most-requested certifications statewide. That didn't change in 2021.

So, what did change? This year we saw that demand for CompTIA Network + and CompTIA Security+ increased relative to other certifications: Network+ moved into the top 10 list and Security+ moved up to number three.

Top Credentials in Arizona by County

We also looked at the top tech credentials in Arizona by county. As we saw in 2020, each county's list of top IT certifications looked a little different. 

These were the top IT certifications requested in each county in the past year:

• CompTIA Security+ was the top certification requested in Pima, Yuma, and Cochise counties. The high demand for Security+ is likely related to the military installations in those areas: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson (Pima County), Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista (Cochise County), and the Marine Corps Air Station and Yuma Proving Ground in Yuma County. Security+ is one of the baseline certifications for DOD 8570, as required for many roles that perform IT work for the federal government.
• IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) was the top-requested certification in Maricopa, Coconino, and Yavapai counties.
• CISSP was the top IT certification requested by employers in Apache and Navajo counties. In Mohave county, CISSP tied with CISA for the top spot.

In addition to considering your experience, qualifications and goals, you can also explore local job postings to get a sense of which certifications are most in-demand.

IT Certifications and Training

If you want to add an IT certification to your resume, University of Arizona Continuing and Professional Education offers IT training and certification exam prep programs for many of the top Arizona IT certifications.

We can also provide custom group IT certification training in locations across Arizona, including the Phoenix, Tucson, Sierra Vista and Yuma areas.

Explore all IT certifications

What is Network+?

CompTIA Network+ is the sign of a competent networking professional. It is an international, vendor-neutral certification that proves an IT professional's competency in configuring, troubleshooting and managing networks. 

To earn the certification, you need to pass the Network+ certification exam. The 90-minute exam includes a maximum of 90 multiple choice and performance-based questions. There are at-home (online) and in-person testing options available.

Why should I get Network+ certification?

Network+ certification is highly in demand and can give you an edge in hiring and help you advance in your career. It is also one of the baseline certifications for DoD 8570, which is required for employment in federal government or contractor IT roles.

Because CompTIA certifications must be renewed every three years, an up-to-date CompTIA credential shows employers that your knowledge and skills are relevant and up-to-date. 

Are there any prerequisites for the Network+ exam?

There are no prerequisites to take the Network+ exam. However, CompTIA recommends that Network+ candidates have CompTIA A+ Certification and at least 9-12 months of networking experience. 

How much does the Network+ exam cost?

As of November 2021, a Network+ exam voucher cost $338. If you are taking a Network+ exam prep course, be sure to check if a free test voucher is included with your course registration. Many training providers include a free exam voucher.

How do I take the Network+ exam?

You can choose to take the exam online (from home or other location) or in person. If you want to take the exam in person, there are Pearson VUE test centers nationwide (and even internationally).

Can I get more advanced certifications after Network+?

Network+ is one of CompTIA's "core" certifications. After Network+, many IT professionals choose to pursue Security+, which is the next "core" certification in CompTIA's certification pathway.

If you are interested in cybersecurity, CompTIA offers several more advanced certifications in their Cybersecurity pathway, including Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) and CASP+.

If you are interested in infrastructure, CompTIA offers Server+, Linux+ and Cloud+ certifications in their Infrastructure pathway.

How do I prepare for the Network+ exam? 

Our intensive live Network+ Exam Prep courses are designed to get you ready to get your CompTIA Network+ certification in as little as one week.

Learn More

Quick Links

• CompTIA Network+ Overview
• Network+ Exam Details
• University of Arizona Network+ Training

More questions?

Contact Dr. John DeLalla at 520-626-6389 or jd@arizona.edu to learn more.

CompTIA certifications are widely recognized and highly in-demand. But which certification is right for you? It depends on your IT knowledge and experience, as well as your career goals.

Choose Your IT Career Pathway

CompTIA has two main certification "pathways": Infrastructure and Cybersecurity.

Both pathways start with "core skills" certifications: ITF+, A+, Network+, and Security+. Core skills certifications (particularly A+, Network+, and Security+) are relevant across a wide variety of IT careers.

Both pathways also allow you to earn more advanced, specialized credentials at each stage of your IT career. After earning your Security+ certification, you can choose to branch off into more specialized CompTIA certifications.

The CompTIA Cybersecurity Pathway

CompTIA offers core, intermediate, and advanced cybersecurity certifications. Learn more about each certification below.

Core Skills Certifications

Intermediate Certifications

Intermediate CompTIA certifications are designed for those who have the Core CompTIA certifications, plus 3-4 (or more) years of hands-on information security experience.

IT professionals often choose one Intermediate certification or the other

• PenTest+ focuses on "offense" via vulnerability assessment and penetration testing.
• CySA+ focuses on "defense" via incident detection and response.

Both skill sets are necessary and in-demand to protect against the ever-growing threat of cyber attacks.

Advanced Certification

CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) is the most advanced certification in CompTIA's Cybersecurity Pathway.

IT Career Planning Resources

• Explore CompTIA Certification Pathways
• Learn about jobs associated with each CompTIA certification
• Calculate how much you might earn with CompTIA's IT Salary Calculator

The office of Continuing & Professional Education knows different people learn differently. You might thrive in a classroom environment, where you can interact with an instructor and other learners. Or you might prefer to learn online at your own pace.

That's why we offer a variety of learning formats, to meet different learners' needs. Whether you prefer instructor-led training or self-paced training, we have a CompTIA training program for you.

Questions?

If you are not sure which CompTIA program will work for you, we are happy to help. Contact Dr. John DeLalla at 520-626-6389 or jd@arizona.edu to learn more.

Quick Links

• All instructor-led CompTIA Training
• All self-paced CompTIA Training

IT certifications show potential employers you have the knowledge and skills to get the job done. Certifications can make you stand out in the hiring process, and they may be required for employment, particularly in government IT jobs.

We crunched the numbers to see which IT certifications were most in-demand in the Phoenix Metro* area.

What Phoenix employers are looking for

In the past year, these were the top ten IT certifications in Phoenix-area job postings

1. IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Certification
2. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
3. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
4. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
5. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
6. Certified A+ Technician
7. SANS/GIAC Certification
8. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
9. CompTIA Network+
10. CompTIA Security+

Data Source: Burning Glass Labor Insight, last 12 months of Phoenix Metro area job postings, March 2021
* In addition to Phoenix, other cities including Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Gilbert are included in Phoenix Metro data. 
Image: Jerry Ferguson / CC BY

Ready to earn an in-demand IT certification?

We offer training programs for many of these top certifications. Most programs are fully online, so you can learn from the University of Arizona wherever you are.

We can also schedule custom IT training for groups in the Phoenix Metro area.

Browse IT Certification Training

CompTIA Security+ is one of the top IT certifications nationwide. It demonstrates that you have the real-world security skills employers need to confront an ever-growing number of security threats.

CompTIA refreshes its exams every few years to ensure that credential holders have the most up-to-date and in-demand skills. The new Security+ SY0-601 exam launched on November 12. 

What Is On the New Security+ Exam?

According to CompTIA, the new exam covers five domains:

1. Attacks, Threats and Vulnerabilities (24%)
2. Architecture and Design (21%)
3. Implementation (25%)
4. Operations and Incident Response (16%)
5. Governance, Risk and Compliance (14%)

If you've been studying for the old SY0-501, don't worry. You can still take the Security+  SY0-501 exam until July 31, 2021.

Get Ready to Pass the New Exam

Our intensive IT certification exam prep courses are continually refreshed to reflect exam changes and rapidly-evolving technology.

If you want to get the latest-and-greatest Security+ certification, register for a live intensive Security+ training course.

Learn More

Questions? Contact Dr. John DeLalla at 520-626-6389 or jd@arizona.edu to learn more.

After we crunched the numbers to identify the top tech credentials in Arizona job postings, we were curious to see how Arizona compared to nationwide job postings. Here's what we found.

ITIL and CISSP certifications grabbed the #1 and #2 spot nationwide, just as they did in Arizona. But there were some differences. For example, Certified Scrum Trainer made the top 10 list in Arizona, but is less in-demand nationwide.

These results underscore that there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to certification. In addition to considering your career goals, background and experience when choosing a certification, your local job market can also be a factor in your decision.

Ready to get certified? Explore all IT certification exam prep classes.

Considering adding an IT certification to your resume? The credential you choose will often depend on your background, work experience and career goals.

But geography can also play a factor. Employers prioritize different credentials in different locations. To help you choose the right certification, we analyzed the past 12 months of job postings data in Arizona.

These were the top IT certifications in Arizona job postings:

Digging a little deeper, we found that the top certifications even varied by county, reflecting different major employers and workforce needs in different locations:

(Counties without certifications listed had too few IT job postings to determine the top certification).

• CISSP is the top-requested certification in Pima and Pinal Counties
• ITIL is the top certification in Maricopa and Coconino Counties
• Yavapai and Mohave counties favor CompTIA A+ 
• CompTIA Security+ is the top certification in Cochise County
• CCNA is the most-requested certification in Yuma County

Interested in getting an IT certification? We offer certification exam prep classes for many of the top-requested IT certifications in Arizona. Explore all IT certification exam prep classes.

What is Security+?

CompTIA Security+ is a globally recognized vendor-neutral certification that shows employers you have the core security skills to be successful in an IT security role.

To earn the certification, you must pass the Security+ certification exam. The exam is timed, and it includes a maximum of 90 multiple choice and performance-based questions. There are online (at home) and in-person testing options available.

CompTIA released a new version of the Security+ exam (SY0-601) in November, 2020. Candidates can still take the old Security+ exam (SY0-501) through July 31, 2021.

Who should take Security+?

While not required, CompTIA recommends that Security+ candidates have two years of IT administration experience with a security focus before attempting the Security+ exam. Network+ certification is also helpful for Security+ candidates.

What are the benefits of Security+ certification?

Security+ certification is highly in demand in Arizona and across the country. In fact, many employers require Security+ certification for IT security roles. It is one of the baseline certifications for DoD 8570, as required for employment in a federal government or contractor role.

"The CompTIA Security+ certification has become the benchmark certification for being hired in an IT or cyber job. Without it, most employers won't even look at your resume. It's become a must-have." - Dr. John DeLalla, University of Arizona Continuing & Professional Education

Over 95,000 job postings asked for Security+ certification nationwide in the past year, and it is one of the top IT certifications in Southern Arizona job postings (#1 most-requested in Cochise County and Pima County).

Because Security+ certifications must be renewed every three years, an up-to-date certification also shows that your skills are still current and relevant.

How much does the Security+ exam cost?

As of March 2021, a Security+ exam voucher cost $370. Some Security+ Exam Prep courses will include a free test voucher with your course registration.

When and where can I take the Security+ exam?

The Security+ exam is offered year-round. Online (remote) and in-person testing options are available.

If you want to take the exam in person, you can do so at Pearson VUE test centers nationwide (and even internationally).

Are there opportunities for growth after getting Security+?

Yes. CompTIA certifications are "stackable," so you can earn additional credentials that reflect your increased knowledge, skills and experience.

After Security+, Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) certification is the next step for many cybersecurity professionals. This intermediate-level certification is designed for those with 3-4 years of hands-on information security experience.

CompTIA's most advanced cybersecurity credential, CASP+, is recommended for those with a minimum of ten years IT administration experience.

How do I prepare for the Security+ exam? 

You can learn the IT security skills you need with Security+ training from University of Arizona Continuing & Professional Education.

Our intensive live Security+ Exam Prep courses are designed to get you ready to get certified in as little as one week.

Learn More

Quick Links

• CompTIA Security+ Overview
• Security+ Exam Details
• University of Arizona Security+ Training

More questions?

Contact Dr. John DeLalla at 520-626-6389 or jd@arizona.edu to learn more.