University of Arizona Partners with ISACA to upskill Arizona IT employees
University of Arizona Continuing & Professional Education (CaPE) is now an ISACA® Accredited Partner.
CaPE will offer training and exam preparation courses for Certified Information Systems Auditor® (CISA®) and Certified Information Security Manager® (CISM®) to equip Arizona information technology and information systems professionals with in-demand certifications.
This collaboration provides Arizona information technology and information systems professionals with new opportunities to earn globally-recognized ISACA credentials. It also offers organizations a convenient pathway to upskill their current employees.
“Part of the mission of the land grant university is to serve the community,” says Dr. John DeLalla, University of Arizona Continuing and Professional Education Program Director. “With a growing demand for cybersecurity, providing the education and training locally allows our state residents to earn the in-demand certifications required to advance in their career. With ISACA credentials being one of the most sought-after certifications in the IT industry, this is a great benefit for Tucson, Sierra Vista, Yuma, and Phoenix residents to access our world-class training without leaving the area.”
About University of Arizona CISA and CISM Courses
Each ISACA exam preparation course includes
- High-quality, relevant, up-to-date training and preparation to earn top IT credentials
- Comprehensive exam review
- Live instruction from an ISACA Authorized Trainer
- ISACA membership
- Exam voucher
Classes will be offered at several University of Arizona locations throughout Arizona, including Tucson, Sierra Vista, and the Phoenix Metro area (Chandler).
To learn more about each certification and see upcoming class dates, visit the University of Arizona CISA and CISM pages.
Group discounts and custom training are also available for employers who need to train their teams to defend against the ever-growing threat of cyber attacks.
Contact Dr. John DeLalla at 520-626-6389 or jd@arizona.edu to learn more.
New Program: Business Analytics Certificate
Business analytics skills are in high demand. Employers need people who understand how to use data to solve problems, identify opportunities and improve business performance.
Now you can add core business analytics skills to your resume in just 10 weeks, with a University of Arizona Continuing & Professional Education Business Analytics Certificate.
What You Will Learn in the Course
You will learn:
- Business Analytics Fundamentals: Learn how data can help you solve problems, drive growth and influence decision-making.
- Data Modeling: Determine the data set for answering key research questions. Understand application workflows, design tables, determine primary keys and use the right data types effectively.
- Accessing Data with SQL: Retrieve and summarize data with SQL. Develop SQL queries and learn techniques such as filtering, working with joins and using aggregate functions.
- Data Visualization and Technology: Design research questions and select tools, techniques and visualization types to highlight insights, and get hands-on with Tableau.
- KPIs, Business Objectives, and More: Develop business objectives and articulate their relationship to business performance.
You will also be prepared to take the Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification Exam.
How the Business Analytics Course Works
The convenient online format allows you to learn in-demand business analytics skills from any location.
The ten-week Business Analytics Science Certificate course includes weekly online learning content such as videos and reading, plus assignments to reinforce your learning and give you hands-on practical experience. You can complete these learning activities on your own schedule each week.
You also have the option to attend weekly mentor-led live broadcasts once a week via Zoom. These sessions are an opportunity to ask questions, get feedback, and deepen your knowledge.
Classes start monthly. See upcoming class dates.
Who Can Take This Course?
This is a noncredit professional development program that is open to all learners. You do not need previous business analytics experience, and you don't have to be in Arizona or a student at the University of Arizona.
Top Ten 2021 Arizona Tech Credentials
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.
Top IT Certifications in the Phoenix Metro Area
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
- IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Certification
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Certified A+ Technician
- SANS/GIAC Certification
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- CompTIA Network+
- 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.
Stand Out from the Crowd with a Certification
Professional certifications show potential employers that you have the knowledge and skills to get the job done. They can even increase your chances of getting hired or promoted.
Holding an up-to-date certification is a great way to demonstrate that your knowledge is current and relevant (particularly important in rapidly-evolving fields like IT). Most certification programs require you to re-certify periodically or require that you complete continuing education activities to maintain your certification.
How Do You Get a Professional Certification?
There are many different certifications out there, but most of them require you to pass a comprehensive certification exam to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and abilities.
Some certifying organizations may have additional requirements, such as work experience and/or education.
Many certifications are also "stackable," so you can earn more advanced credentials as your knowledge and experience increase.
Popular Certification Programs
Here are some of the popular certification programs offered by Continuing & Professional Education.
Information Technology
IT certifications not only help you stand out in a crowd of other applications, they are actually required by many employers, particularly for government IT jobs.
Our CompTIA certification programs are particularly popular. CompTIA offers an internationally recognized vendor-neutral certification program for IT professionals.
The core certifications are CompTIA Network+ and Security+. From there, you can earn more advanced CompTIA credentials to continue to advance your IT career. Browse all CompTIA training or all IT certification training.
Not sure which certification is right for you? Check out the top IT certifications in Arizona and in the U.S.
Human Resources
Experienced Human Resources professionals who want to demonstrate their HR expertise can earn the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Certified Professional or Senior Certified Professional. The Human Resources (SHRM) Certification Exam Prep course combines expert instruction from a SHRM-SCP with the proven SHRM Learning System to get you ready to pass your exam.
Learn more about SHRM certification, or register for SHRM certification exam prep.
Project Management
Project management is one of the most in-demand skills nation-wide. And the Project Management Professional (PMP) is the gold standard of project management certifications. It is so valuable, that certified PMPs report earning 26% more than those without certification. Learn more about project management certifications or browse all project management certification training options.
Engineering
Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam is the first step towards becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Prep is taught by a licensed PE and will get you ready to take the Civil Engineering or "Other Disciplines" FE Exam.
More Certification Programs
These are just a few of the in-demand certifications you can earn through Continuing & Professional Education programs.
CISSP Certification Frequently Asked Questions
What is CISSP Certification?
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®) is an internationally-recognized advanced credential from (ISC)²®, verifying your ability to lead information security programs.
Why should you become a CISSP?
CISSP certification validates that you have the knowledge, experience and skills to be an information security leader.
To earn the certification, you must pass the challenging CISSP exam, document your relevant experience and education, and be endorsed by an (ISC)²-certified professional who can attest to your work experience.
Earning your CISSP certification is therefore a major professional achievement that makes you stand out among your peers.
Certification can also increase your career and salary growth potential.
Is there demand for CISSP certification?
CISSP is one of the most sought-after IT credentials in the world. According to Cyberseek, it was the number 1 most-requested cybersecurity certification nationwide.
Is there demand for CISSP certification in Arizona?
Yes, there is high demand for CISSP certification in Arizona. It was the #1 most-requested IT certification in Arizona job postings in the past year, and more than half of Arizona Information Security Manager and Cybersecurity Manager job postings asked for CISSP certification.
How much is a CISSP salary?
Your salary will depend on your role, employer and location. But the median salary for Arizona CISSP jobs is over $130,000.
(Unless otherwise noted, all the above data comes from Lightcast Analyst, October 2024).
Is the CISSP exam hard?
Yes, the CISSP exam is challenging. The CISSP exam tests you on the eight domains of the CISSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK®): security and risk management, asset security, security architecture and engineering, communication and network security, identity and access management (IAM), security assessment and testing, security operations, and software development security.
These eight domains cover nearly every aspect of information security.
The breadth of the exam makes it challenging enough. But the real challenge is that CISSP isn't just a technical exam. The exam also tests your critical thinking, decision-making, and information security management abilities.
To pass the exam, you'll need to be able to think like a manager, rather than an engineer or developer.
What is it like to take the CISSP exam?
The exam is a computer-based "adaptive" test, meaning the test gives you different questions based on your correct or incorrect answers to previous questions.
You cannot skip questions and return to them later or change your previous answers.
Because the exam is adaptive, there is no fixed number of questions or exam duration. The exam will include between 125-150 questions and the maximum administration time is three hours (including any breaks the candidate wants to take).
How can I prepare for the CISSP exam?
Our CISSP Exam Prep class can get you ready to pass the challenging CISSP exam.
How much does it cost to take the CISSP exam?
As of October 2024, the CISSP exam fee was $749 in the U.S. Prices may vary in other locations.
How do you become a CISSP?
CISSP is designed for experienced security practitioners.
To earn the certification, you must pass the challenging (ISC)² CISSP certification exam. The exam evaluates your expertise across eight security domains, from security and risk management to software development security.
CISSP candidates must also have at least five years of work experience in two (or more) of the eight CISSP domains. The following can be substituted for one year of the required work experience:
- A degree in information security OR
- An additional (ISC)² -approved credential, such as Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) or CompTIA Security+, CySA+ or CASP
A candidate who does not have the required experience can become an Associate of ISC2 after passing the CISSP exam. They will then have six years to earn the five years of experience required for full CISSP certification.
CISSP candidates must also be endorsed by an (ISC)² credential holder.
Learn more about CISSP requirements.
(ISC)² and CISSP are registered certification marks of (ISC)², Inc.
Top Ten Tech Credentials: U.S. Edition
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.