I Took These 7 IT Certs — Here’s the REAL ROI (2025 Breakdown)

Summary

Jake, a system administrator with a year of experience, shares his journey through various IT certifications. He discusses the value and return on investment (ROI) for certifications like Google IT Support, CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA, and Microsoft Azure. He provides candid insights on what truly impacts career growth, what to avoid, and the most effective path for someone looking to break into IT. Jake emphasizes practical knowledge over certifications and recommends a streamlined approach to go from zero to a job-ready IT professional in 6-9 months.

Takeaways

• 😀 Google IT Support Professional taught the absolute basics of IT, but it doesn't land a job. Still, it's useful for building foundational knowledge and is inexpensive at $60 per month.
• 😀 CompTIA A+ is an expensive certification ($500+) with limited ROI. It's mostly basic content that overlaps with the Google IT Support Professional course and is no longer highly respected by recruiters.
• 😀 The CompTIA Network+ certification is highly recommended as it covers important networking topics such as routing, switching, and IP addressing. It’s crucial for advancing in IT roles.
• 😀 The Google Cybersecurity course provided useful knowledge, but it was largely irrelevant to the speaker’s job and career path. It's worth pursuing only if you’re set on a career in cybersecurity.
• 😀 The Security+ certification, while not very impactful in terms of hands-on skills, is essential for HR requirements and government jobs, making it a necessary step for many IT professionals.
• 😀 CCNA is considered the most valuable and challenging certification among the ones mentioned, offering deep, practical knowledge in networking. It’s highly recommended for anyone serious about succeeding in IT.
• 😀 The Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification is cheaper ($165), offers a strong understanding of cloud infrastructure, but requires more study time due to its complexity.
• 😀 CCNA offers the highest ROI among all certifications mentioned, especially for those focused on networking. It is the most challenging but rewarding certification overall.
• 😀 If starting from scratch, the recommended learning path is Google IT Support Professional, followed by Network+, Security+, and then CCNA for anyone pursuing a solid IT career.
• 😀 Security+ and CCNA are the most cost-effective certifications to achieve a solid career in IT, with Security+ offering great HR benefits, and CCNA providing the most valuable networking knowledge.
• 😀 The speaker recommends avoiding the A+ certification due to its high cost and low ROI. Instead, focus on Network+ and CCNA for a more efficient path to career growth.

Q & A

What was Jake's primary reason for taking the Google IT Support Professional course?

Jake took the Google IT Support Professional course because he had no prior experience in IT. It provided him with the fundamental knowledge of computer hardware, software, the OSI model, networking, IP addressing, and troubleshooting.

How did Jake feel about the value of the Google IT Support Professional course?

Jake found the Google IT Support Professional course extremely valuable for someone new to IT. Although it didn’t directly land him a job, it helped him gain a solid foundation in IT and was relatively inexpensive at $60 per month.

Why does Jake think the CompTIA A+ certification is overrated?

Jake believes the CompTIA A+ certification is overrated because it no longer holds as much value with recruiters as it did five years ago. He feels that its high cost ($500+) and time investment do not justify the benefits it provides in today's job market.

What is Jake's recommendation for those considering the CompTIA A+ certification?

Jake recommends skipping the CompTIA A+ certification unless you have a lot of time and money to invest. Instead, he suggests starting with the Google IT Support Professional course followed by the CompTIA Network+ certification.

How does Jake rate the ROI of the CompTIA Network+ certification?

Jake gives the CompTIA Network+ certification a high ROI. He believes it’s crucial for IT professionals, especially those looking to advance in networking. The cost is relatively low (around $300), and it provides foundational networking knowledge that is essential in many IT roles.

What did Jake learn from the Google Cybersecurity course, and was it useful to his career?

Jake learned a variety of cybersecurity concepts from the Google Cybersecurity course, including Python, SQL, threat hunting, and incident response. However, he found it not very applicable to his current job, and he would not recommend it unless someone is specifically focused on a career in cybersecurity.

Why is the CompTIA Security+ certification important according to Jake?

Jake considers the CompTIA Security+ certification important because it is a widely recognized credential required by many employers, especially for government and corporate jobs. It covers essential security knowledge and helps meet HR requirements for various positions.

What makes the CCNA certification stand out for Jake?

Jake finds the CCNA certification to be the most useful and rewarding certification in his career. It offers a deep dive into networking, including IP addressing, routing, and troubleshooting real network devices. He emphasizes its high ROI, especially for those interested in advancing their networking knowledge.

What did Jake think of the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification?

Jake found the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification challenging but enjoyable. It gave him a deeper understanding of Azure, cloud resources, and network security. He recommends it for those interested in cloud administration, though he advises gaining some prior IT experience first.

What certification path does Jake recommend for someone starting from zero in IT?

Jake recommends starting with the Google IT Support Professional course, followed by the CompTIA Network+, then the CompTIA Security+. After gaining some job experience, he suggests pursuing the CCNA certification. This path allows a person to quickly gain foundational knowledge and begin applying for jobs.