By Quick answer: What are the most common questions about certifications?
- Most requested — AWS SAA, Security+, PMP.
- Free — Skillshop, HubSpot, Kaggle, CS50.
- Fastest — Google AI Essentials.
- Accredited — Security+, CISSP, PMP (ANAB).
Key takeaways
- Most questions come down to your goal and experience.
- Free options exist in almost every field.
- Check official pages for current fees.
We get the same certification questions again and again. Here are clear answers, with links to deeper guides.
Seven certifications that answer common questions
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1501 | 130 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 2 | CompTIA Security+CompTIA | Voucher price on the CompTIA store2 | V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk | Free test |
| 3 | PMP – Project Management ProfessionalPMI | $425 PMI members / $675 non-members3 | 240 minutes, 180 questions | Free test |
| 4 | Google AI EssentialsGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan4 | Under 10 hours (per course page) | Free test |
| 5 | Google Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan5 | 6 months at 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 6 | HubSpot Inbound Marketing CertificationHubSpot Academy | Free6 | Self-paced | Free test |
| 7 | Kaggle Learn Micro-Courses (ML, Python, SQL)Kaggle (Google) | Free7 | Short micro-courses, a few hours each | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- AWS Solutions Architect Associate Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate before you pay.Start free test →
- CompTIA Security+ Practice TestPractise for CompTIA Security+ before you pay.Start free test →
- PMP Practice ExamPractise for PMP – Project Management Professional before you pay.Start free test →
- AI Literacy CertificationPractise for Google AI Essentials before you pay.Start free test →
Each certification, and the question it answers
- AWSAWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateMost requested cloud credential$150
- CompTIACompTIA Security+Most required entry securityVoucher price on the CompTIA store
- PMIPMP – Project Management ProfessionalMost named PM credential$425 PMI members / $675 non-members
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Cost
- $1501
- Format
- 130 minutes, 65 questions
Answers 'which cloud certification?' AWS's associate exam tests designing secure, resilient, high-performing and cost-aware systems on AWS. It's 130 minutes with 65 questions and costs $150, and it's the cloud credential most often named in job posts.
Best formost requested cloud credential
CompTIA Security+
- Cost
- Voucher price on the CompTIA store2
- Format
- V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk
Answers 'how do I start in security?' CompTIA's vendor-neutral security exam covers threats, architecture, operations and governance, and the new version adds AI-related risk. It's listed in ANAB's ISO/IEC 17024 directory; voucher prices vary by country.
Best formost required entry security
PMP – Project Management Professional
- Cost
- $425 PMI members / $675 non-members3
- Format
- 240 minutes, 180 questions
- Entry
- 3–5 years leading projects (by education) plus 35 hours of training
Answers 'which PM certification?' PMI's Project Management Professional is a 240-minute, 180-question exam covering predictive, agile and hybrid approaches. It needs 3–5 years leading projects plus 35 hours of training and costs $425 for PMI members or $675.
Best formost named PM credential
Google AI Essentials
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan4
- Time
- Under 10 hours (per course page)
Answers 'what's the quickest useful course?' Google's short course teaches practical generative AI for everyday work: drafting, research, analysis and using AI responsibly. It needs no technical background and takes under ten hours, so it suits almost any professional who wants to use AI tools with more confidence.
Best forquickest useful course
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan5
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
Answers 'how do I change careers?' Google's professional certificate teaches spreadsheets, SQL, Tableau and R through case studies and ends with a portfolio capstone. It's designed for beginners, takes about six months at ten hours a week and offers financial aid on Coursera.
Best forpopular beginner programme
HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification
- Cost
- Free6
Answers 'are there free certifications?' HubSpot Academy's free Inbound Marketing certification teaches attracting, engaging and delighting customers. It takes a few hours and is respected in B2B and inbound marketing roles.
Best forfree and recognised
Kaggle Learn Micro-Courses (ML, Python, SQL)
- Cost
- Free7
- Time
- Short micro-courses, a few hours each
Answers 'can I learn data free?' Kaggle's free micro-courses cover Python, pandas, SQL, data visualisation and machine learning, each in a few hours with hands-on notebooks and a free certificate. They're ideal practice alongside a structured course.
Best forfree and quick
Quick answers
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| How much do certifications cost? | Free to several hundred dollars; AWS CCP is $100, PMP $425–$675 |
| How long do they take? | Weeks for fundamentals, months for associate, years for CFA |
| Do they expire? | Many renew every one to three years |
| Can I get a job without a degree? | In many tech fields, with certifications and projects |
| Are they accredited? | A few are (ANAB ISO/IEC 17024); most courses aren't |
| Which AI certification? | Google AI Essentials for most; AWS or Azure AI for builders |
Table: Certification quick answers
How we ranked these picks
Answers draw on our guides and official pages checked 3 November 2026; accreditation from the ANAB directory checked 4 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Are certifications worth it?
When they match your goal and you use the skill.
Which certification is easiest?
AZ-900 or AWS Cloud Practitioner.
Which certification pays most?
CISSP had the highest US survey average ($168,060) in Skillsoft's 2025 data.
Do certifications expire?
Many do; Microsoft role-based renew yearly free, AWS every three years.
Is there a free test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers 1,200+ free certification tests.
Sources
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- CompTIA — CompTIA Security+, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PMI — PMP – Project Management Professional, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google AI Essentials, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- HubSpot Academy — HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Kaggle (Google) — Kaggle Learn Micro-Courses (ML, Python, SQL), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
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