In 2025, IT certifications became some of the most valuable credentials in the world, capable of transforming your career in a short period. Certifications today are more useful than your entire outdated skill set. You can prove yourself as a suitable candidate for any position by showcasing yourself. They can unlock any career — it’s the key to breaking career barriers.
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This article is about the top 10 IT certifications that can boost your career and help you achieve a 100% salary hike.
Based on the complete IT forecast, the most in-demand certification categories are focused on Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, AI & Machine Learning (including Generative AI), Data Science, Blockchain, Project Management, and Cloud Technologies.
Now, let’s discuss each category individually for a better understanding and knowledge. All the best for your career growth!
Top 10 IT Certifications In Demand Today
1. Cloud Computing Certifications
Cloud computing is no longer a future trend — it’s the present standard. IT companies and businesses across every industry are shifting to cloud-based infrastructure to scale efficiently, reduce costs, and boost innovation. As a result, IT professionals with cloud expertise are in high demand in 2025. A cloud computing certification is a powerful way to validate your skills and stand out in a competitive job market.
AWS (Amazon Web Services) Certifications
AWS (Amazon Web Services) is one of the largest and leading cloud computing platforms, serving as an umbrella for a wide range of cloud technologies. Many users prefer AWS due to its user-friendly platform, scalability, and flexibility for cloud-based applications.
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner – Foundational
This is the most common and beginner-friendly popular cloud certification that can boost your career in the IT field. Here are the details overview about the certification based on this.
| Category | Foundational (Perfect for beginners). |
| Exam Cost | $100 USD (Budget-friendly entry point). |
| Eligibility Criteria | Anyone beginner to cloud computing – no IT background needed. Great for sales, marketing, or project managers wanting cloud basics. |
| Exam Duration | 90 minutes (Enough time to think through answers). |
| Question Format | 65 multiple-choice questions (Mix of single and multiple answers). |
| Test Platform | Your choice: Pearson VUE testing center or online proctored exam. |
| Exam Languages | 12 languages including English, Spanish, Japanese, and more. |
| Certification Validity | Valid for 3 years (Recertify by taking the exam again or advancing to Associate level). |
| Special Voucher | Get 50% off future AWS exams after passing this one. |
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
This is a slightly more advanced certification that aims to improve your hands-on, scenario-based analysis skills. It also ranks among the top 10 IT certifications in the world as per Skillsoft’s IT Skills and Salary Report.
| Category | Associate (Next step after Cloud Practitioner) |
| Eligibility | IT professionals with 1+ year experience • Cloud solution designers • Career advancers |
| Exam Difficulty | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) – Requires hands-on AWS knowledge |
| What You’ll Prove | Ability to design cost-efficient, high-performance AWS solutions |
| Exam Cost | $150 USD (Use 50% discount if you have another AWS cert) |
| Exam Length | 130 minutes (More complex than Cloud Practitioner) |
| Question Types | 65 scenario-based multiple-choice questions |
| Languages Available | 10 languages including English, Japanese, Spanish |
| Certification Validity | 3 years (Renew by retaking or upgrading to Professional) |
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
This certification is similar to the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate but is more advanced and also eligible to comes within top 10 it certifications 2025 list. It demonstrates deeper knowledge and skills in designing complex solutions, solving intricate problems, optimizing security, cost, and performance, and automating manual processes. The certification is also more expensive, costing $300.
Now let’s discuss our next big giant in the Top 10 IT Certifications category.
Microsoft Azure Certifications
Microsoft azure certification path will gives you wings to fly independently in the IT industry. When we talk about top it certifications in demand today – this category plays a important role and holds a major market stake in IT certification market.
Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
A most common foundational level certification that’s comes with their own study material and also practice test. However it’s a basic cloud certification but still holds the power of catching attention of IT recruiters.
| Category | Foundational (Perfect for beginners) |
| Exam Cost | $99 USD (Budget-friendly entry point) |
| Eligibility Criteria | Anyone new to cloud computing – no Azure experience needed. Ideal for business professionals, career changers, or IT beginners. |
| Exam Duration | 45 minutes (Short and focused) |
| Question Format | Multiple-choice + interactive components (No case studies) |
| Test Platform | Your choice: Pearson VUE test center or online proctored exam |
| Exam Languages | 13 languages including English, Japanese, Spanish, and French |
| Certification Validity | Does not expire (Fundamental level certification) |
| Special Perk | Qualifies for ACE college credit (3 credit hours at some US colleges) |
Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
Little advance as compared to AZ-500, the certification ensures a professional should have skills related to configuration, manage and make secure cloud operations in an organization. However the cost is little high but for professional it could be a best certification option when choosing top 10 it certifications in the world.
| Category | Intermediate (For professionals with Azure experience) |
| Exam Cost | $165 USD (Price varies by country) |
| Eligibility Criteria | 6+ months hands-on Azure administration experience. Familiarity with virtualization, networking, and Microsoft Entra ID. |
| Exam Duration | 100 minutes (Timed practical scenarios) |
| Question Format | Case studies + interactive components (Real-world simulations) |
| Test Platform | Pearson VUE test center or online proctoring |
| Exam Languages | 10 languages including English, Japanese, Spanish |
| Certification Validity | 1 year (Renewable via free online assessment) |
| Special Perk | Free renewal option through Microsoft Learn |
Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)
Little advanced expert level cloud based certification. Mostly focused on an associate of an organization can able to build cloud infrastructure with Microsoft azure. Also associate must have familiarity with Monitoring, Security, Networks. Note: not for beginers, completely designed for senior cloud professionals.
| Category | Expert (For senior cloud architects) |
| Exam Cost | $165 USD (Global pricing may vary) |
| Prerequisites | Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) recommended |
| Exam Duration | 120 minutes (Case study intensive) |
| Question Format | Complex scenario-based questions |
| Passing Score | 700/1000 (70% required) |
| Languages Available | 10 languages including English, Japanese, Spanish |
| Certification Validity | 1 year (Renewable via online assessment) |
| Special Perk | Part of Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification |
| Key Focus Areas | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Design Infrastructure Solutions | 30-35% |
| Design Identity/Governance | 25-30% |
| Design Data Storage Solutions | 20-25% |
| Business Continuity Design | 15-20% |
| Preparation Resources | Details |
|---|---|
| Free Learning Path | 18 modules (20+ hours) on Microsoft Learn |
| Practice Assessments | Scenario-based test questions available |
| Exam Sandbox | Interactive exam interface demo |
| Study Guide | Updated October 2024 (Check for latest changes) |
I’m ending the Microsoft Azure Certifications list here, however there are other advanced certification related to cloud but there are most precious and valuable to HR recruiters.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Certifications
Well, the new growing competitor of AWS, Microsoft cloud is here. Developers friendly, beginner friendly certification with most simplified course study modules.
Google Cloud Digital Leader (Foundational)
Best beginner friendly and candidate having basic cloud computing knowledge. However if you are a beginner to cloud no need to worry because Google Cloud Platform (GCP) provides end to end support study materials for papering the final exam.
| Category | Foundational (Business-focused) |
| Certification Cost | $99 (Standard) |
| Eligibility Criteria | None • Non-technical roles welcome |
| Certification Validity | 3 years |
| Exam Format | Multiple-choice (50-60 Qs standard / 20 Qs renewal) |
| Exam Duration | 90 mins (Standard) • 45 mins (Renewal) |
| Languages Available | English, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, French |
| Certification Vouchers | None publicly offered (Check Google partners) |
Note: I personally love this IT certification and adding it to the Top 10 IT Certifications list just because it have cheapest renewal fees of $60 only.
Associate Cloud Engineer
A cloud engineer have the ability to deploy apps on cloud environment, monitor operational work, manage enterprise solutions with end to end protection by google cloud can acquire this Associate Cloud Engineer certification .
| Category | Associate (Technical hands-on role) |
| Cost | $125 (Standard) • $75 (Renewal) |
| Eligibility | 6+ months Google Cloud experience |
| Validity | 3 years |
| Format | 50-60 multi-select questions (Standard) • 20 questions (Renewal) |
| Duration | 2 hours (Standard) • 1 hour (Renewal) |
| Languages | English, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Vouchers | $300 Google Cloud credits for new users |
Key note: As the article is getting larger we will discuss some other popular cloud computing certification that has the potential to come in the Top 10 IT Certifications list, in some other article, stay connected with us.
Which are the top 10 it certifications in-demand today?
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, Google Professional Cloud Architect, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional, Project Management Professional (PMP®), Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer.
What is the project management professional (PMP) certification cost in India?
PMI members pay ₹24,708 (non-members: ₹50,025). Re-examination costs ₹15,929 for members (₹28,961 non-members). Save 50%+ by joining PMI before applying.
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