Best Entry-Level Certifications in 2026

50 entry-level certifications you can take without years of experience, compared by cost, format and what employers think of them.

CompTIA Security+ credential artwork

CompTIA Security+

CompTIA · Exam SY0-701

Validates knowledge of security threats, protective controls, risk management and incident response across modern IT environments.

439EntryNo prerequisites
CompTIA A+ credential artwork

CompTIA A+

CompTIA · Exam 220-1201 / 220-1202

Validates foundational IT support knowledge across hardware, operating systems, networking, security and troubleshooting common technical problems.

548EntryNo prerequisites

Validates practical skills in security frameworks, risk management, networks, Linux, SQL, threat detection and response, and Python automation.

294EntryNo prerequisites
Google IT Support Professional Certificate credential artwork

Google IT Support Professional Certificate

Google · Course certificate

Validates practical skills in IT support, including troubleshooting, networking, operating systems, system administration and security.

147EntryNo prerequisites

Validates practical skills in project management, including initiation, planning, execution and Agile approaches, applied through a capstone project.

294EntryNo prerequisites
Google AI Essentials credential artwork

Google AI Essentials

Google · Course certificate

Validates foundational skills in using generative AI at work, including AI basics, productivity tools, prompting and responsible use.

49EntryNo prerequisites
ITIL Foundation credential artwork

ITIL Foundation

PeopleCert

Validates foundational knowledge of ITIL concepts, the four dimensions, guiding principles, management practices and continual improvement.

690EntryNo prerequisites

Validates foundational knowledge of cloud concepts, Azure architecture and services, and Azure management and governance.

99EntryNo prerequisites
CompTIA Network+ credential artwork

CompTIA Network+

CompTIA · Exam N10-009

Validates knowledge of networking concepts, implementation, operations, security and troubleshooting for managing and supporting modern networks.

399EntryNo prerequisites

Validates knowledge of Google Analytics 4 setup, data collection, reports, explorations and connected tools for measuring website performance.

FreeEntryNo prerequisites

Validates knowledge of building, targeting, bidding and measuring Google Ads campaigns across Search, Display, Video and Shopping.

FreeEntryNo prerequisites

Validates foundational knowledge of cloud concepts, core AWS services, security and compliance, and AWS pricing, billing and support.

100EntryNo prerequisites

Validates foundational knowledge of AI and generative AI concepts, foundation models, responsible AI and AWS AI services.

100EntryNo prerequisites

Validates foundational knowledge of Scrum principles, the Scrum framework and Scrum Master responsibilities for serving teams and organizations.

399EntryHas prerequisites
Google UX Design Professional Certificate credential artwork

Google UX Design Professional Certificate

Google · Course certificate

Validates practical skills in UX research, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing and creating high-fidelity designs in Figma.

294EntryNo prerequisites

Validates foundational knowledge of the Scrum Product Owner role, including goal setting, customer understanding and Product Backlog management.

399EntryHas prerequisites

Validates knowledge of inbound, content, email and digital marketing, sales and revenue operations, and using HubSpot software.

FreeEntryNo prerequisites

Validates practical skills in Python, SQL, data analysis, visualization, machine learning and generative AI tools for data science.

236EntryNo prerequisites
SAFe Agilist credential artwork

SAFe Agilist

Scaled Agile

Validates knowledge of leading with SAFe, including Lean-Agile mindset, team agility, product flow, portfolio management and leading change.

495EntryNo prerequisites

Validates knowledge of Scrum principles, Scrum Master responsibilities and applying the Scrum framework to support effective teams.

200EntryNo prerequisites

Validates foundational knowledge of Six Sigma fundamentals, the DMAIC phases, basic quality tools and supporting improvement projects.

434EntryNo prerequisites

Validates foundational knowledge of security principles, governance, access control, network and cloud security, and security operations.

249EntryNo prerequisites
SnowPro Core credential artwork

SnowPro Core

Snowflake · Exam COF-C03

Validates foundational knowledge of Snowflake architecture, security and governance, data loading, query performance and transformation, and data sharing.

175EntryNo prerequisites
Salesforce Certified Tableau Data Analyst credential artwork

Salesforce Certified Tableau Data Analyst

Salesforce · Exam Analytics-DA-201

Validates skills in connecting to and transforming data, analyzing it with calculations, and building and publishing Tableau dashboards.

200EntryNo prerequisites
CompTIA Tech+ credential artwork

CompTIA Tech+

CompTIA · Exam FC0-U71

Validates foundational IT knowledge across computing basics, hardware, software, programming concepts, databases and security.

129EntryNo prerequisites

Validates practical skills in data analysis using Excel, SQL, Python and IBM Cognos, including data visualization and dashboards.

236EntryNo prerequisites
TOGAF Enterprise Architecture Foundation credential artwork

TOGAF Enterprise Architecture Foundation

The Open Group · Exam OGEA-101

Validates foundational knowledge of the TOGAF Standard, including core concepts, the Architecture Development Method, architecture governance and content.

405EntryNo prerequisites

Validates knowledge of generative AI concepts, Google Cloud generative AI offerings, improving model output and leading responsible adoption.

99EntryNo prerequisites

Validates knowledge of data management, including governance, modeling, quality, metadata, architecture, integration and security, based on the DAMA-DMBOK.

311EntryHas prerequisites

Validates knowledge of user experience practice, including research, interaction design, management and AI applications.

6,575EntryHas prerequisites
CompTIA Data+ credential artwork

CompTIA Data+

CompTIA · Exam DA0-002

Validates foundational data analytics skills across data concepts, acquisition and preparation, analysis, visualization, reporting and data governance.

264EntryNo prerequisites

Validates foundational knowledge of the PRINCE2 project management method, including its principles, people, practices and processes.

701EntryNo prerequisites

Validates foundational knowledge of Meta advertising, including business presence, ad fundamentals, creating and managing ads, and campaign reporting.

99EntryNo prerequisites
GitHub Foundations credential artwork

GitHub Foundations

GitHub · Exam GH-900

Validates foundational knowledge of Git and GitHub, including repositories, collaboration, project management, automation, security and administration.

99EntryNo prerequisites

Validates knowledge of designing production Claude solutions, including agent orchestration, tool integration, Claude Code, prompting and context management.

125EntryHas prerequisites
CCNA Cybersecurity credential artwork

CCNA Cybersecurity

Cisco · Exam 200-201 CCNACBR

Validates knowledge of security operations work, including security concepts, monitoring, host-based analysis, network intrusion analysis and security procedures.

300EntryNo prerequisites