By 
Quick answer: What are the best certifications by country?
- USA — CompTIA, PMP, AWS, CPC.
- UK — PRINCE2, CIPD, ACCA.
- India — AWS, Salesforce, NPTEL, Tally.
- UAE & Gulf — PMP, NEBOSH, ACCA, CIPS.
- Canada & Australia — Red Seal, CPA Canada, licensed trades.
Key takeaways
- Global certifications (AWS, Microsoft, CompTIA, PMP) travel across borders.
- Local professions (accounting, trades, healthcare) need country-specific licences.
- The UK favours PRINCE2 and CIPD; the US favours PMP and CompTIA.
- In the Gulf, PMP and NEBOSH appear often in job ads.
- If you plan to move abroad, prioritize globally portable certifications.
Most valued certifications by country
| Country | Popular local / regional | Global favourites |
|---|---|---|
| USA | CompTIA, CPC (medical coding), state licences | PMP, AWS, Microsoft |
| UK | PRINCE2, CIPD, ACCA, CSCS (construction) | AWS, Microsoft, ITIL |
| India | NPTEL/SWAYAM, Tally, NISM (finance) | AWS, Salesforce, Microsoft, PMP |
| UAE & Gulf | NEBOSH (safety), CIPS (procurement) | PMP, ACCA, AWS |
| Canada | Red Seal trades2, CPA Canada | PMP, AWS, Microsoft |
| Australia | TAFE qualifications, licensed trades | AWS, PRINCE2, PMP |
USA
Employers frequently name CompTIA (A+, Security+), PMP, AWS and Microsoft. Healthcare admin roles ask for CPC medical coding. Many trades require state licences.
UK
PRINCE2 is common in public-sector project roles; CIPD dominates HR; ACCA is widely recognized in accounting. Construction workers need CSCS cards.
India
IT services employers ask for AWS, Microsoft and Salesforce certifications. Students use NPTEL/SWAYAM1 for government-backed courses. See our guide to certification courses after 12th.
Prove it free: the tests that match this guide
Certifications that travel well across countries, plus free SOA practice to start with. (Disclosure: Science of Apps publishes these tests.)
- PMP Practice ExamPMP is recognized in the USA, India and the UAE.Start free test →
- AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice ExamAWS is valued in every market on this list.Start free test →
- English Level TestEnglish level matters for work abroad; get a CEFR-aligned result.Start free test →
- PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner Practice ExamPRINCE2 is the UK's favourite; practise free.Start free test →
UAE & Gulf
PMP, ACCA, NEBOSH (health & safety) and CIPS (procurement) appear often in Gulf job ads.
The most portable certifications
If you might relocate, prioritize exams that are identical worldwide: AWS, Microsoft, CompTIA, PMP, ACCA, CFA. Free, verifiable Science of Apps certifications are also recognized as proof of specific skills anywhere you share them.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best courses in the USA?
In-demand US certifications include CompTIA Security+, PMP, AWS, Microsoft Azure and CPC medical coding.
What are the best certifications in India?
AWS, Microsoft, Salesforce, PMP and NPTEL courses are popular, along with Tally for commerce roles.
What are the best courses in the UK for jobs?
PRINCE2, CIPD, ACCA, AWS and Microsoft certifications appear often in UK job ads.
Which certifications are recognized in most countries?
If you might relocate, prioritize exams that are identical worldwide: AWS, Microsoft, CompTIA, PMP, ACCA, CFA. Free, verifiable Science of Apps certifications are also recognized as proof of specific skills anywhere you share them.
Which certifications are most valued in the USA?
Employers frequently name CompTIA (A+, Security+), PMP, AWS and Microsoft. Healthcare admin roles ask for CPC medical coding. Many trades require state licences.
Sources
- NPTEL / SWAYAM
- Red Seal Program (Canada)
- PMI certifications
- CompTIA certifications
- AWS Certification
- PeopleCert: PRINCE2
- NEBOSH
- Science of Apps: free online certifications
- Checked November 11, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- The best certification apps — the best apps for learning on your phone and earning real certificates, compared
- Corporate training platforms for teams — compare the best corporate training platforms for certifying teams
- Online courses with lifetime access — what 'lifetime access' really means on course platforms, and which ones offer it
- CertificationsIn-demand jobs in DubaiThe most in-demand jobs in Dubai and the UAE, from project managers to cybersecurity, and the certifications employers there look for, such as PMP and NEBOSH.
- CertificationsCertifications to work abroadCertifications recognized worldwide that help you work abroad in Canada, the UK, the UAE, Australia and beyond.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The best online certifications by country for 2027: what employers recognise in the USA, UK, India, Canada and AustraliaThe best online certifications by country for 2027: what employers recognise in the USA, UK, India, Canada and Australia, plus global picks that travel.
- CertificationsBest courses after B.ComThe best courses after B.Com: CA, CMA, ACCA, CFA and CS, M.Com or MBA, and job-ready certifications in Tally, GST, Power BI and modelling, with fees.
- CertificationsThe most in-demand certificationsThe most in-demand certifications for 2027 in cloud, security, data, project management, AI and CRM, ranked by job demand and employer requirements.
- CertificationsBest courses after 12thThe best certification courses after 12th for Science, Commerce and Arts students, with fees, duration and salary.
Get the ideas, not the noise.
Sign up with Google and we’ll send you short UX psychology tips by email — why people tap, stall and leave, and what to do about it. Unsubscribe anytime. Prefer something to keep? Get the free Laws of UX guide as a PDF.
Prove the skill before you pay for the exam.
1,200+ free, test-based certifications graded on our server. Pass and get a founder-signed certificate with a credential ID employers can verify.