decision faq
Which IT Certification Should I Get First?
Direct answer
What to do
Use a role-first IT certification roadmap to choose A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA, cloud fundamentals, or no exam yet—without buying a default sequence.
Choose a certification now when
- A+ closes a specific support, device, operating-system, or troubleshooting gap.
- Network+ or CCNA matches the networking work you want to practise next.
- Security+ matches your goal and you already have workable systems and networking foundations.
Choose no exam yet when
- You have not chosen the kind of work you want to practise.
- A practical project or foundational task would expose your next skill gap more clearly.
- You are about to buy a default certification sequence instead of solving one named constraint.
Reviewed 2026-08-26
Certification details change. Always confirm final pricing, availability, and credential terms on the official provider page linked in the sources below before you pay for anything.
Detailed evidence, examples, and source notes
Choose the first kind of work you want to practise before choosing a credential. There is no universal ladder.
Brand-new to IT: start with A+ when support, devices, operating systems, and troubleshooting are the immediate gap. Do not buy the whole A+ → Network+ → Security+ sequence by default; CompTIA publishes preparation guidance, not a mandatory registration order.
Choosing between support, networking, and security: use the Network+ versus Security+ versus CCNA decision. Network+ fits a vendor-neutral networking gap, CCNA fits deeper Cisco-oriented configuration and lab work, and Security+ fits learners who already have workable systems and networking context.
Cloud: use AWS Cloud Practitioner or Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) only when cloud vocabulary and service-model literacy are the gap. Neither replaces practical platform work or a role-specific administrator or architecture decision.
Cybersecurity: use the Security+ versus ISC2 CC comparison. Security+ fits learners with workable IT and networking foundations; CC is a no-experience cybersecurity entry credential. Build systems and networking foundations first when those concepts are still unfamiliar.
If you have not chosen a role—or your target is software, data, or another field where a certification may not be the next evidence gap—do not buy one yet. Use the the decision steps above, try one small work-like task, and then decide whether a credential closes the next gap.
What we don't know
Learnerside does not rank one universally best or most valuable credential. Fit depends on the work you are targeting, the skills you can already demonstrate, and the official requirements and costs that apply when you register.
Related
Core source records
This table lists the page’s core content records and when they were checked. Claim-specific citations appear beside the relevant text and may not be repeated here.
Show all 7 sources
| ID | Supports | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIT-01 | Answer to: Which certification should I get first? | CompTIA — A+ (entry IT support skills) | 2026-09-09 |
| CIT-02 | Answer to: Which certification should I get first? | CompTIA — Network+ (vendor-neutral network skills) | 2026-09-09 |
| CIT-03 | Answer to: Which certification should I get first? | Cisco — CCNA (network fundamentals, access, connectivity, services, and security) | 2026-09-09 |
| CIT-04 | Answer to: Which certification should I get first? | CompTIA — Security+ (recommended prerequisites) | 2026-09-09 |
| CIT-05 | Answer to: Which certification should I get first? | ISC2 — Certified in Cybersecurity (entry credential; no work experience required) | 2026-08-23 |
| CIT-06 | Answer to: Which certification should I get first? | AWS — Certified Cloud Practitioner (foundational, no experience required) | 2026-08-23 |
| CIT-07 | Answer to: Which certification should I get first? | Microsoft — Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900, beginner) | 2026-08-31 |