By Quick answer: Which certification fits my career goal?
- First job — Google Data Analytics, A+.
- Promotion — PMP, PL-300.
- Pay — AWS SAA, CISSP.
- AI — Google AI Essentials.
Key takeaways
- Start with the goal, not the certification.
- One certification per goal per year is plenty.
- Each goal links to a full guide.
The right certification depends on what you want: a first job, a change, a promotion, more pay, remote work or AI skills. Pick your goal below.
Ten certifications by goal
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 | Google Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan1 | 6 months at 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 2 | CompTIA A+CompTIA | Two exams2 | 90 minutes and up to 90 questions per exam | Free test |
| 3 | Google Career Certificates (all tracks)Grow with Google | $49/mo Coursera plan3 | Self-paced | Free test |
| 4 | PMP – Project Management ProfessionalPMI | $425 PMI members / $675 non-members4 | 240 minutes, 180 questions | Free test |
| 5 | Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)Microsoft | Exam priced by country5 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
| 6 | AWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1506 | 130 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 7 | CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security ProfessionalISC2 | See ISC2 page7 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 8 | Salesforce Certified AdministratorSalesforce | Exam fee on Trailhead8 | Self-paced | Free test |
| 9 | Google AI EssentialsGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan9 | Under 10 hours (per course page) | Free test |
| 10 | AI for Business SpecializationWharton / Coursera | Coursera plan10 | Self-paced | 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.)
- Statistics for Data Analysts CertificationPractise for Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate before you pay.Start free test →
- CompTIA A+ Practice TestPractise for CompTIA A+ before you pay.Start free test →
- Career Planning TestPractise for Google Career Certificates (all tracks) before you pay.Start free test →
- PMP Practice ExamPractise for PMP – Project Management Professional before you pay.Start free test →
Each goal, and the certification that serves it
- CourseraGoogle Data Analytics Professional CertificateFirst job (data)$49/mo Coursera plan
- CompTIACompTIA A+First job (IT)Two exams
- Grow with GoogleGoogle Career Certificates (all tracks)Career change$49/mo Coursera plan
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan1
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
First job in data. 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 forfirst job (data)
CompTIA A+
- Cost
- Two exams2
- Format
- 90 minutes and up to 90 questions per exam
- Entry
- CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on IT support
First job in IT. CompTIA's A+ is two exams covering hardware, operating systems, networking basics and support. It's the help desk credential many job posts name, is ANAB-accredited, and CompTIA recommends about a year of hands-on support experience.
Best forfirst job (IT)
Google Career Certificates (all tracks)
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan3
Google's career certificates for career changers. Google's Career Certificates span data analytics, IT support, project management, UX, cybersecurity and digital marketing, all designed for beginners on Coursera with financial aid available.
Best forcareer change
PMP – Project Management Professional
- Cost
- $425 PMI members / $675 non-members4
- Format
- 240 minutes, 180 questions
- Entry
- 3–5 years leading projects (by education) plus 35 hours of training
Promotion in project roles. 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 forpromotion (projects)
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country5
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
Promotion in analysis roles. Microsoft's Power BI Data Analyst exam proves you can prepare, model and visualise data and share reports securely. It's 100 minutes, priced by country, with free Microsoft Learn training and free online renewal every 12 months.
Best forpromotion (analysis)
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Cost
- $1506
- Format
- 130 minutes, 65 questions
Higher pay in cloud; US average $155,597 (Skillsoft 2025). 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 forhigher pay (cloud)
CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- Cost
- See ISC2 page7
- Entry
- 5 years of paid security work experience
Higher pay in security; US average $168,060 (Skillsoft 2025). 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 forhigher pay (security)
Salesforce Certified Administrator
- Cost
- Exam fee on Trailhead8
Remote-friendly CRM roles. Salesforce's Certified Administrator proves you can configure, secure and maintain a Salesforce org. Training is free on Trailhead and the exam fee is listed there, making it a common route into CRM and RevOps careers.
Best forremote work
Google AI Essentials
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan9
- Time
- Under 10 hours (per course page)
AI skills fast. 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 forAI skills
AI for Business Specialization
- Cost
- Coursera plan10
Management and AI strategy. Wharton's specialization on Coursera covers AI strategy, data, ethics and organisational change in business terms. It suits managers and leaders planning AI adoption, and financial aid is available.
Best formanagement
Guides by goal
| Goal | Full guide |
|---|---|
| Break into tech | Best certifications to break into tech |
| Get promoted | Certifications that help you get promoted |
| Become a manager | Certifications to become a manager |
| Pay well fast | 6-month certifications that pay well |
| Stay resilient | Recession-resistant certifications |
| Strong resume | Certifications that look great on a resume |
Table: Certification guides by career goal
How we ranked these picks
We matched certifications to common career goals from our full guides. Fees from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a certification?
Start with your goal, then check job posts.
Which certification for a first job?
Google Data Analytics or CompTIA A+.
Which certification for more pay?
AWS SAA or CISSP, depending on field and experience.
How many certifications should I get?
One per goal is plenty.
Is there a free test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers 1,200+ free certification tests.
Sources
- Google — Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- CompTIA — CompTIA A+, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Grow with Google — Google Career Certificates (all tracks), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PMI — PMP – Project Management Professional, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- ISC2 — CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Salesforce — Salesforce Certified Administrator, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google AI Essentials, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Wharton — AI for Business Specialization, 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
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