By Quick answer: What is the easiest IT certification to get?
- Cloud — AZ-900, AWS CCP.
- AI — AI-900, AWS AIP, AI Essentials.
- Security — ISC2 CC.
- Service — ITIL 4.
Key takeaways
- Easy certifications teach vocabulary, not job skills.
- Use them as stepping stones.
- Follow with an associate exam.
Easy IT certifications are useful stepping stones: they teach vocabulary, build confidence and show interest. These seven are among the quickest to earn.
Seven easy IT certifications
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 | Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)Microsoft | Exam priced by country1 | 45 minutes | Free test |
| 2 | AWS Certified Cloud PractitionerAmazon Web Services | $1002 | 90 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 3 | Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900)Microsoft | Exam priced by country3 | Microsoft fundamentals exam | Free test |
| 4 | AWS Certified AI PractitionerAmazon Web Services | $1004 | 90 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 5 | ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)ISC2 | See ISC2 page5 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 6 | Google AI EssentialsGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan6 | Under 10 hours (per course page) | Free test |
| 7 | ITIL 4 FoundationPeopleCert / AXELOS | Check the official page7 | Check issuer | 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.)
- AZ-900 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) before you pay.Start free test →
- AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner before you pay.Start free test →
- AI-900 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) before you pay.Start free test →
- AWS AI Practitioner Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified AI Practitioner before you pay.Start free test →
Each certification, and why it's quick
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)Azure basicsExam priced by country
- AWSAWS Certified Cloud PractitionerAWS basics$100
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900)Azure AI basicsExam priced by country
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country1
- Format
- 45 minutes
45-minute exam; free Microsoft Learn training. 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 forAzure basics
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- Cost
- $1002
- Format
- 90 minutes, 65 questions
$100; 90 minutes. 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 forAWS basics
Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country3
- Format
- Microsoft fundamentals exam
AI fundamentals; free training. Microsoft's AI fundamentals exam covers machine learning, computer vision, language and generative AI workloads on Azure. Training is free on Microsoft Learn, the exam is priced by country and fundamentals certifications don't expire.
Best forAzure AI basics
AWS Certified AI Practitioner
- Cost
- $1004
- Format
- 90 minutes, 65 questions
$100; 90 minutes. AWS's foundational exam covers AI, machine learning and generative AI concepts and how AWS services support them. It's 90 minutes with 65 questions and costs $100, so it suits cloud, tech and business staff who need AI literacy.
Best forAWS AI basics
ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
- Cost
- See ISC2 page5
- Entry
- No work experience required
No experience required. ISC2's entry credential covers security principles, access control, networks and operations, with no work experience required. It's ANAB-accredited, and ISC2 has run promotions offering free training and exams.
Best forsecurity basics
Google AI Essentials
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan6
- Time
- Under 10 hours (per course page)
Under ten hours. 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 at work
ITIL 4 Foundation
- Cost
- Check the official page7
Foundation-level IT service exam. PeopleCert's ITIL 4 Foundation covers the core concepts of IT service management and continual improvement. It's foundation-level, quick to prepare for and especially common in IT service roles in the UK and Australia.
Best forIT service basics
From easy to job-ready
| Easy start | Job-ready next |
|---|---|
| AZ-900 | AZ-104 |
| AWS CCP | AWS SAA |
| ISC2 CC | Security+ |
| AI-900 | AI-102 |
Table: Easy-to-job-ready paths
How we ranked these picks
We ranked foundational IT certifications by scope and length. Fees from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What's the easiest IT certification?
AZ-900 or AWS Cloud Practitioner.
Will an easy certification get me a job?
Rarely alone; follow with an associate exam.
How long do easy certifications take?
Days to a few weeks.
Are any free?
ISC2 CC has been free through promotions; training for all is free.
Is there a free test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free practice tests for all of these.
Sources
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified AI Practitioner, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- ISC2 — ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google AI Essentials, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PeopleCert — ITIL 4 Foundation, 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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