By Quick answer: Which popular certifications are worth it in 2027?
- Worth it — AWS SAA, Security+, PMP, CISSP.
- Beginners — Google certificates.
- First step only — AWS CCP, AZ-900.
- Specialist — CFA, SHRM-CP.
Key takeaways
- 'Worth it' depends on your experience and goal.
- Fundamentals are steps, not destinations.
- Read the full review before you pay.
We've reviewed 18 of the most popular certifications with the same honest questions: what does it cost, how long does it take, who does it help and who should choose something else? Here are the verdicts, with links to each full review.
Ten verdicts at a glance
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 | CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security ProfessionalISC2 | See ISC2 page4 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 5 | Google Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan5 | 6 months at 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 6 | Google AI EssentialsGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan6 | Under 10 hours (per course page) | Free test |
| 7 | AWS Certified Cloud PractitionerAmazon Web Services | $1007 | 90 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 8 | Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)Microsoft | Exam priced by country8 | 45 minutes | Free test |
| 9 | CFA ProgramCFA Institute | Check the official page9 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 10 | SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)SHRM | Check the official page10 | 3-hour exam | 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 →
- CISSP Practice TestPractise for CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional before you pay.Start free test →
Each credential, and our verdict
- AWSAWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateWorth it for cloud careers$150
- CompTIACompTIA Security+Worth it for entry securityVoucher price on the CompTIA store
- PMIPMP – Project Management ProfessionalWorth it with experience$425 PMI members / $675 non-members
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Cost
- $1501
- Format
- 130 minutes, 65 questions
Worth it for cloud careers. 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 forworth it for cloud careers
CompTIA Security+
- Cost
- Voucher price on the CompTIA store2
- Format
- V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk
Worth it for entry security roles. 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 forworth it for 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
Worth it with 3–5 years' experience. 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 forworth it with experience
CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- Cost
- See ISC2 page4
- Entry
- 5 years of paid security work experience
Worth it with five years' security experience. ISC2's senior credential covers eight broad security domains and requires five years of paid security experience. It's ANAB-accredited, and US holders averaged $168,060 in Skillsoft's 2025 survey, the highest of any IT certification there.
Best forworth it with experience
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan5
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
Worth it for beginners who finish the capstone. 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 forworth it for beginners
Google AI Essentials
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan6
- Time
- Under 10 hours (per course page)
Worth it for most professionals. 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 forworth it for most professionals
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- Cost
- $1007
- Format
- 90 minutes, 65 questions
A first step, not a destination. AWS's entry exam covers cloud concepts, core services, security and billing. It's 90 minutes with 65 questions and costs $100, so it's the usual first cloud exam for beginners and non-technical staff.
Best forfirst step only
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country8
- Format
- 45 minutes
A first step, not a destination. Microsoft's Azure fundamentals exam covers cloud concepts, core Azure services, pricing and governance in 45 minutes. Training is free on Microsoft Learn, the exam is priced by country and it doesn't expire.
Best forfirst step only
CFA Program
- Cost
- Check the official page9
- Entry
- Three exam levels; CFA Institute suggests 300+ study hours per level
Worth it for investment careers. The CFA Program is the leading investment credential, with three exam levels; CFA Institute suggests 300 or more study hours per level. Many candidates take several years, and passed levels are often listed on CVs.
Best forworth it for investment
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
- Cost
- Check the official page10
- Format
- 3-hour exam
Worth it for HR generalists. SHRM's certification for HR professionals is a three-hour exam focused on competencies and HR knowledge. It's one of the two HR credentials job posts name most; check SHRM's page for eligibility and fees.
Best forworth it for HR
All reviews
| Credential | Full review |
|---|---|
| Google AI Essentials | Review |
| ML Specialization | Review |
| Google Data Analytics | Review |
| IBM Data Science | Review |
| AWS Cloud Practitioner | Review |
| AWS Solutions Architect | Review |
| Azure AZ-900 | Review |
| Google Cybersecurity | Review |
| Google IT Support | Review |
| CompTIA Security+ | Review |
| CISSP | Review |
| Google Project Management | Review |
| PMP | Review |
| Certified ScrumMaster | Review |
| Google Digital Marketing | Review |
| Google UX Design | Review |
| SHRM-CP | Review |
| CFA Program | Review |
Table: Certification reviews
How we ranked these picks
Each review uses the same criteria: cost, time, assessment, employer recognition and fit, from official pages checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do you decide if a certification is worth it?
We look at cost, time, assessment, employer recognition and who it fits.
Are your reviews sponsored?
No; Science of Apps has no commercial relationship with these issuers.
Which certification is most worth it?
It depends on your field and experience.
Are fundamentals worth it?
As first steps, yes.
Is there a free test before I pay?
Yes. Science of Apps offers 1,200+ free practice 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)
- ISC2 — CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google AI Essentials, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- CFA Institute — CFA Program, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- SHRM — SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), 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.
Where to go from here
- The best online certifications of 2027 — the full top 10 across every field
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Science of Apps free certification catalogue — 1,200+ free tests
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Certification comparisons for 2027: the head-to-head choices people ask about mostHead-to-head certification comparisons for 2027: AWS vs Azure, Security+ vs Google Cybersecurity, PMP vs CAPM, CSM vs PSM I, PL-300 vs Tableau and more.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The best professional certifications for 2027, industry by industry: the gold-standard credential in each fieldThe best professional certification in each industry for 2027: PMP, CISSP, CISA, CFA, FRM, CSCP, CBAP, SHRM-CP, AWS Solutions Architect and CKA, with costs.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications in Canada for 2027: recognised credentials for Canadian employersThe top 10 online certifications in Canada for 2027: AWS, Azure, Security+, CISSP, PMP, PL-300, Google Data Analytics, CCNA, Salesforce and AI Essentials.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The hardest certifications in the world for 2027: eight demanding credentials and what makes them hardThe 8 hardest certifications in 2027: CFA, CISSP, FRM, Google Cloud ML Engineer, CKA, PMP, CISM and CBAP, and what makes each so demanding.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications in the USA for 2027: what American employers name, with survey payThe top 10 online certifications in the USA for 2027: AWS SAA, Security+, CISSP, PMP, PL-300, Google Data Analytics, CISM, Salesforce, SHRM-CP and AI.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications for immigrants in 2027: globally recognised credentials that travelThe top 10 online certifications for immigrants in 2027: globally recognised AWS, Azure, Security+, PMP, CCNA, Salesforce, PL-300 and Google certificates.
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