Which IT certification to get first
Choose your first IT certification by the job you want next, not by which exam is easiest. In November 2026 the first exams cost from $99 (Microsoft AZ-900) and $100 (AWS Cloud Practitioner) for cloud, $199 for ISC2 CC in security, $300 for Cisco CCNA, up to $548 for the two CompTIA A+ exams for IT support. The cheapest first attempt among these, using free study material, is $99. If you have never worked in IT and want a job soon, in our view A+ is the best start; if you already work in IT, skip the fundamentals exams and take the associate-level credential for your area.
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Two choices give you a starting point and the credential to take after it. The reasoning is shown so you can check it against your situation. Nothing is stored or sent.
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Eight starting points compared
| Your goal | First certification | Exam fee | Cheapest first attempt | Study time | Required before the exam | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Help desk and IT support | CompTIA A+ | $548 (two exams at $274) | $548 | 2 to 4 months | None; CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on work | Network+ |
| Cloud on AWS | AWS Cloud Practitioner | $100 | $100 | 2 to 4 weeks | None | AWS Solutions Architect Associate |
| Cloud on Microsoft Azure | AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals | $99 | $99 | 1 to 3 weeks | None | AZ-104 |
| Security, with no IT background | ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) | $199 | $199 | 3 to 6 weeks | None | Security+ |
| Networking, after some IT work | Cisco CCNA | $300 | $300 | 2 to 4 months | None; Cisco strongly recommends lab practice | CCNP Enterprise |
| Networking, from scratch | CompTIA Network+ | $399 | $399 | 6 to 10 weeks after A+-level study | None; CompTIA recommends A+ and 9 to 12 months | CCNA or Security+ |
| IT service management | ITIL Foundation (Version 5), or ITIL 4 if your employer names it | $690 (PeopleCert bundle with eBook, same price for both) | $690 | 2 to 4 weeks | None | Compare with PRINCE2 |
| Project work, little experience | PMI CAPM | $300 ($225 for PMI members) | $700 | 3 to 6 weeks | 23 hours of project management education | PMP, once you have the experience |
"Cheapest first attempt" is the lowest route on each guide: usually the exam fee plus free official or community training. CAPM's includes the 23 hours of education PMI requires, which is why it is higher than the exam fee. None of these exams requires a degree.
Fundamentals exams: useful, but not a job credential
AZ-900, AWS Cloud Practitioner and ISC2 CC are cheap, short and need no experience, which makes them a good test of whether you like the subject. In our view they teach the vocabulary of a field rather than the hands-on skills of administering it, so treat them as a first step rather than the credential you rely on. Microsoft and AWS make their own fundamentals training free, so the exam fee is the whole cost.
A+ is different: it is written for people entering support work, it covers hardware, operating systems, troubleshooting and basic security across two exams, and CompTIA does not require any experience to sit it. It takes longer, 2 to 4 months by our estimate, and that time is the point.
When to skip the entry exam
If you already administer systems, networks or cloud accounts, an entry certificate mostly confirms what your job already shows. Neither AWS nor Microsoft requires its fundamentals exam before the associate exams, and Cisco sets no prerequisite for CCNA. The money and weeks go further on the credential that matches your work: see AZ-104 against AWS Solutions Architect Associate if you are choosing a cloud, or CCNA against Network+ for networking.
What a first attempt really involves
Beyond the fee, check three things on the certification's own guide before you book. First, the exam version: Security+ moves from V7 to V8 on or around November 17, 2026, so check which version your study material covers. Second, renewal: CompTIA certifications last three years and need continuing education, Microsoft's associate certifications need a free online renewal every year, and the fundamentals certificates from Microsoft do not expire. Third, retakes: a failed attempt usually means paying the exam fee again, so a cheap practice test before you book is the best money you will spend.
Questions
- What is the easiest IT certification to get first?
- AZ-900 and AWS Cloud Practitioner need the least study (1 to 4 weeks by our estimate) and cost $99 and $100. Easy is not the same as useful: pick the one on the path you want.
- Is A+ still worth it in 2026?
- In our view, for help-desk and support work, yes: CompTIA writes it as its entry credential for that work and it needs no experience. If you already work in IT, Network+, a cloud associate exam or CCNA will add more.
- Can I get an IT certification with no experience?
- Yes. None of the eight starting points above requires work experience; CAPM requires 23 hours of education instead.
- Should I start with Security+?
- Only if you already understand networks and operating systems. CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years of experience first; ISC2 CC or A+ is the gentler start.
Next step
Tell us your background, the job you want and your deadline, and we will reply with a starting certification and a realistic study plan.
Ask which certification to start with
Sources
- CompTIA: A+ (exams, recommended experience), checked November 5, 2026
- AWS: Certified Cloud Practitioner, checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), checked November 5, 2026
- ISC2: Certified in Cybersecurity, checked November 5, 2026
- Cisco: CCNA, checked November 5, 2026
- PMI: CAPM, checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.