IT certification roadmap: Paths by career track

There are hundreds of IT certifications, and most lists rank them in one long line. That makes it hard to see which one comes first, which comes next, and which ones you can skip. A roadmap works better: pick the kind of work you want, then follow that track from an entry-level certification to an advanced one.

This guide maps four common tracks: IT support, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud. For each one, you’ll see the entry, associate, and advanced certifications, who issues them, and what background each expects. Most of these exams have no formal prerequisites, but many issuers recommend hands-on experience, and a few advanced certifications require it.

If you’re new to IT, the last section explains how to choose your first certification.

How an IT certification roadmap works

Most tracks have three levels:

• Entry: Proves you know the basics. These certifications ask for little or no experience, so they suit career changers and students.
• Associate: Shows you can handle the day-to-day work of a role. Issuers often suggest a year or more of hands-on experience, but few require it.
• Advanced (professional or expert): For people already working in the field. Some require years of documented experience.

Certifications also come in two kinds. Vendor-neutral certifications, from organizations like CompTIA and ISC2, test concepts that apply to any company’s equipment. Vendor certifications, from companies like Cisco, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Microsoft, test their own products. The CCNA is a vendor certification, but much of what it covers, such as IP addressing, routing, and switching, applies to any network. Many people combine the two: a vendor-neutral certification for the foundations, then a vendor certification for the platform their employer uses.

Two more things shape any roadmap. Exams change: CompTIA retires each exam version “usually three years after launch.” And certifications expire: AWS certifications are valid for three years, and Microsoft’s associate and expert certifications must be renewed every year with a free online assessment.

IT support and networking certifications

These two tracks are where many IT careers begin, and each one gives you a clear first step.

IT support

Here are the entry-level options for IT support:

CompTIA A+ takes two exams, Core 1 (hardware and networking) and Core 2 (operating systems and security), which you can take in any order. CompTIA says A+ “appears in more tech support job listings than any other IT credential,” and it recommends 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support role.

Cisco’s CCST IT Support takes one exam and has no formal prerequisites. It’s aimed at roles like help desk support and computer support specialist. From IT support, most people move into one of the tracks below.

Networking

Here’s how the networking track lines up:

CompTIA Network+ (exam N10-009) covers networking concepts, troubleshooting, and security without tying them to one vendor. CompTIA recommends holding A+ and having nine to 12 months of experience as a junior network administrator or network support technician.

The CCNA is one exam with no prerequisites, and Cisco says it “assumes you have little to no networking knowledge,” so you can start there. Cisco’s own ladder adds CCST Networking below it and the CCNP and CCIE above it. Our Cisco certification path guide explains each of Cisco’s levels, and the CCNA certification jobs guide covers the roles this track leads to.

Cybersecurity certifications

A career in cybersecurity builds on IT and networking skills, which is why CompTIA recommends Network+ before Security+. This track has the clearest experience rules of the four.

ISC2’s Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) is built for newcomers. In ISC2’s words, “You don’t need experience.”

CompTIA Security+ is the next step. For the current version (SY0-701), CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years in a security or systems administrator role. A new version is coming: Security+ V8 (SY0-801) launches on November 17, 2026, and the current English exam retires on June 11, 2027. Check which version your study materials cover before you book.

CompTIA CySA+ is for analysts who detect and respond to threats. Its new version (CS0-004) launched on June 23, 2026, and CompTIA suggests about four years in a security operations center (SOC) or vulnerability analyst role. The previous version retires in English on December 22, 2026.

The CISSP is the advanced step, and its experience rule is strict. You need at least five years of cumulative, full-time experience in two or more of the eight CISSP domains. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field, or a credential on ISC2’s approved list (Security+ and CySA+ are both on it), can count for one of those years. If you pass the exam before you have the experience, you become an Associate of ISC2 and have six years to earn it.

Cloud certifications

Here’s how the cloud ladders compare on each platform:

Cloud certifications are basically vendor certifications, so the main choice is the platform. AWS and Microsoft Azure each have a full ladder, and job listings in your area show which one employers ask for more.

AWS: The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is, in AWS’s words, “a good starting point” for people “with no prior IT or cloud experience.” For the Solutions Architect (Associate), AWS recommends at least one year of hands-on experience designing solutions on AWS, and suggests that candidates without IT work experience earn the Cloud Practitioner first. The Solutions Architect (Professional) recommends two or more years. AWS certifications are valid for three years.

Microsoft Azure: Azure Fundamentals (exam AZ-900) is Microsoft’s beginner-level certification; it expects some experience in an area of IT, and it doesn’t expire. The Azure Administrator Associate (exam AZ-104) is intermediate and expects you to know operating systems, networking, servers, and virtualization. To earn the Azure Solutions Architect Expert, you pass exam AZ-305 and must already hold the Azure Administrator Associate. Associate and expert certifications renew every year through a free, open-book online assessment.

IT certifications for beginners: How to choose your first

Your first certification should match the work you want and the experience you have now.

• You have no IT experience: Start with a certification that doesn’t expect any: CompTIA A+ or CCST IT Support for support work, ISC2 CC for security, or AWS Cloud Practitioner for cloud.
• You know the track you want: Start at that track’s entry level and plan the associate certification as your next step. Job listings for the role you’re aiming at show which certifications employers name most.
• You want to work in networking: Choose between Network+ and the CCNA. Network+ tests concepts that apply to any equipment, while the CCNA also expects you to configure and troubleshoot Cisco routers and switches.
• You’re aiming for an advanced certification: Check the experience rule first. The CISSP requires five years, and an earlier certification like Security+ can count for one of them.
• An exam is about to change: Look at the issuer’s page for the launch and retirement dates. Security+ and CySA+ both have new versions in 2026, and your study materials need to match the version you take.

Whichever situation fits you, one well-chosen first certification is enough to get you moving.

Final thoughts

An IT certification roadmap is a sequence, not a checklist. You don’t need every certification on a track: one entry-level certification gets you started, and the associate level is where most people prove they can do the job. Advanced certifications make the most sense once you have the experience they ask for.

If networking is your track, the CCNA is a strong associate-level goal. Our CCNA study guide walks through the exam and a study plan, and our list of the best CCNA prep courses can help you choose how to prepare.