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Cybersecurity certifications for beginners and advanced professionals allow individuals to show their specialized knowledge of this tech field. Jobs in cybersecurity rarely require certification, but earning these credentials can help professionals advance their careers in cybersecurity and earn higher salaries.
This guide offers information on cybersecurity certifications for beginners and beyond. Read on to learn about experience requirements, common timelines, typical costs and the benefits of earning certification.
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What Is Cybersecurity Certification?
Cybersecurity certification is a process in which an individual earns a formal credential by demonstrating their professional abilities in a particular area of the field. Typically, candidates must pass a test to earn certification. Some credentials include experience requirements in addition to an exam.
In cybersecurity, experienced professionals can pursue credentials including the following:
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)®
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)®
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Cybersecurity certifications for beginners include:
- Security+
- GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF)
- Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
These certifications each apply to a different subset of cybersecurity. Earning one of these credentials allows you to advance professionally and pursue specialized roles in the cybersecurity field.
Degree Finder
Cybersecurity Certification vs. Cybersecurity Degree
Aspiring professionals may be unsure whether to pursue cybersecurity certifications for beginners or full degrees in the field. The following section compares both pathways.
Cybersecurity Certification
The time it takes to earn a certification varies, especially when comparing cybersecurity certifications for beginners and those for experienced professionals. For example, some certifications require only an exam, which might take a few hours to complete. However, the time it takes to prepare for an exam can be much longer. Some certifications set experience requirements as well, which can take years to fulfill.
The cost of a cybersecurity certification ranges from about $250 to around $980. Certifications with lab requirements may cost $1,500 or more.
Generally speaking, cybersecurity employers do not require certification for employment. However, possessing these credentials can help you stand out against the competition. Most cybersecurity positions require formal education beyond certification alone, but beginners who only have certifications may land certain entry-level cybersecurity jobs to develop experience.
Established professionals can earn certifications to advance professionally. For example, while chief information security officers (CISOs) do not need formal credentials for this role, earning the EC-Council’s Certified CISO credential demonstrates dedication and knowledge to employers.
Cybersecurity Degree
Associate degrees typically take two years of full-time enrollment to complete, and bachelor’s programs generally require four years. Beyond undergraduate education, a master’s in cybersecurity takes around two years after completing a bachelor’s degree. A Ph.D. in cybersecurity generally lasts for four to seven years.
Education costs vary significantly depending on degree level, the school’s public vs. private status, and whether students pay in-state or out-of-state tuition.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, annual tuition and required fees for public two-year institutions average $3,564. For a bachelor’s degree, tuition costs an average of $9,596 per year at public schools and $37,222 for private colleges. For master’s degrees, students at public institutions paid an average of $11,554 per year, while private school enrollees paid $20,015.
Given the cost, is a cybersecurity degree worth it? For many, the answer is yes. Employers for some roles—such as security analyst, security specialist and incident responder—tend to prefer candidates with cybersecurity bachelor’s degrees. Still, associate-level applicants can find entry-level roles in the field. Cybersecurity jobs for individuals with master’s degrees include CISO, computer network architect and IT auditor.
Benefits of Earning a Cybersecurity Certification
Earning a cybersecurity certification can benefit established professionals and aspiring candidates alike. Individuals at all levels of employment in this field can increase their cybersecurity salary potential and job opportunities by earning advanced credentials. Read on for a full list of benefits.
Increase Job Opportunities
Job candidates can expand their opportunities by earning certifications. A graduate with a cybersecurity degree alone may qualify for entry-level roles in the field, but aspiring workers who have spent the time pursuing and earning certifications demonstrate advanced knowledge and dedication to the field.
Boost Promotion Potential
Earning a cybersecurity certification may open the door to a new role. Start by setting your professional goals and mapping out a professional pathway. From there, you should gain a clear sense of which certifications to pursue.
Additional qualifications, such as cybersecurity certification, can help workers stand out from their colleagues and demonstrate their aspirations to management. By earning more advanced credentials like CISSP, CEH or CISA, professionals can qualify for higher roles within their companies. They can also earn higher salaries.
Along with advancing to positions with increased responsibilities, certified cybersecurity professionals can qualify to move into different roles at their current companies.
Switch Careers or Companies
Aspiring cybersecurity professionals with unrelated job experience can pursue cybersecurity credentials to join this growing, in-demand field.
These workers can use their existing experience to indicate their soft skills, such as the ability to work well in high-pressure situations. After earning cybersecurity certifications, career-switchers may need to start in internships or entry-level positions. Gaining experience is key to advancement within the cybersecurity field.
If you already work in cybersecurity but want to move to a different company, certification may benefit you as well.
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Other Cybersecurity Certification Considerations
Professionals aiming to earn cybersecurity certifications may not know where to start. The following section offers information on credentialing organizations, common timelines, and the difference between certifications and certificates.
Certification Organizations
Various independent organizations offer cybersecurity certifications for beginners, mid-level professionals and advanced cybersecurity workers. To get a sense of the certifications available to you, check out offerings from companies like CompTIA, ISC2, EC-Council and ISACA. Some organizations offer prep courses, practice exams and other resources for aspiring candidates, too.
Certification Timelines
When determining your professional aspirations, make sure to consider how long it may take to earn certification. Along with meeting experience requirements, candidates may need to spend significant time preparing for exams. For example, the CISSP credential requires five years of experience to qualify. Preparation can take anywhere from a few weeks to eight months or more.
Certifications vs. Certificates
Professionals and students alike should recognize the difference between certificates and certifications. Cybersecurity certifications illustrate that an individual meets professional standards. These credentials usually come from independent organizations like ISC2, CompTIA, ISACA and EC-Council.
Conversely, certificates typically indicate the completion of a set of courses and are administered by educational institutions. These programs do not lead to professional certification, but completing certificate programs can prepare you to pursue a certification. Certificates typically suit beginners in the field. Established professionals typically seek professional certifications.
