Your journey
Certifications and accreditation
Professional qualifications and certifications can open doors, change fields or speed up a promotion. Here is how to judge one, with verified facts on widely used certifications.
How to judge a certification
Who issues it?
A professional body, a technology company, a university or a training provider. Professional bodies and major vendors usually carry the most weight with employers.
Is it required to practise?
Some careers need a licence or registration from a national body, for example nursing, medicine, engineering and law. A certificate does not replace that licence.
Is the provider recognised?
Education providers are accredited by national regulators. Private accreditation bodies are not always recognised by governments or employers, so check the regulator in your country.
Do employers ask for it?
Look at real job adverts in your country for the role you want. If the certification appears often, it is worth considering.
What is the full cost?
Count exam fees, study materials, membership, renewal fees and continuing education, not just the course price.
Can it be verified?
Genuine issuers let employers check a credential, for example through a member register or a digital badge.
Find universities and colleges, and the regulator in your country
Finance and accounting
- ProfessionalACCA QualificationACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)A professional accountancy qualification that combines exams, ethics and practical experience, leading to ACCA membership.
- ProfessionalChartered Financial Analyst (CFA)CFA InstituteAn investment analysis credential earned by passing three exams and meeting a work-experience requirement.
Project management
Cybersecurity
Networking and cloud
- AssociateCisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)CiscoA networking certification covering network fundamentals, access, IP connectivity, services, security and automation.
- FoundationalAWS Certified Cloud PractitionerAmazon Web ServicesA foundational certification in AWS Cloud concepts, services and terminology.
- BeginnerMicrosoft Certified: Azure FundamentalsMicrosoftA beginner certification in cloud concepts and core Azure services.
Human resources
- ProfessionalSHRM-CP and SHRM-SCPSHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)HR certifications for operational (SHRM-CP) and senior strategic (SHRM-SCP) HR professionals.
- Foundation to advancedCIPD qualificationsCIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)HR and learning-and-development qualifications at foundation, associate and advanced levels.