Are IT Certifications Worth It? AWS, Google, Microsoft and Others
Basics4 minInnovialabs editorial team
In short
Certifications clearly help in cloud, cybersecurity and project management, especially with large companies and vendor partners; in product development and early in a career, a portfolio and experience usually matter more.
The short answer
An IT certification is proof of knowledge issued by a vendor or an independent body. It does not replace experience, but in some areas it really does open doors. It all depends on three things: your field, the type of employer and your current level.
In short: in cloud, security and project management a certificate is often useful; in regular web and mobile development it is rarely asked for.
Certifications that influence hiring
| Field | Examples | Why they are valued |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud | AWS Certified (Cloud Practitioner, Solutions Architect), Microsoft Azure (AZ-900, AZ-104), Google Cloud (Associate Cloud Engineer, Professional Cloud Architect) | Vendor partners need a certain number of certified staff; the exam checks broad practical knowledge |
| Cybersecurity | CompTIA Security+, CISSP, OSCP, CEH | Often listed in job requirements and tenders, especially in government and finance |
| Project management | PMP, PRINCE2, Professional Scrum Master (PSM) | A shared language for managers, a requirement at corporations |
| Networking and infrastructure | Cisco CCNA, CompTIA Network+ | Recognized in system administration and among integrators |
| Kubernetes | CKA, CKAD | Hands-on exam in a terminal, hard to pass without real skills |
Certifications that are usually ignored
- Online course completion certificates (videos plus a quiz). They give you structure, but employers look at projects.
- Programming language certificates — for a developer, code on GitHub and a take-home task almost always replace them.
- Obscure "certifications" without a proctored exam. The easier a credential is to get, the less it means.
Hands-on exams (lab tasks in a real environment) are valued more than multiple-choice tests because you cannot pass them by memorizing questions.
How employers in the CIS and abroad view them
- Large companies, banks, integrators and the public sector — both in the CIS and abroad — take certificates into account more often, because they simplify screening and are needed for partner status and tenders.
- Product companies and startups usually focus on experience, code and interview performance. A certificate is a nice plus, not a deciding factor.
- Outsourcing and outstaffing firms may value employee certifications: they show them to clients as a guarantee of competence.
- When applying for remote jobs abroad, a recognized international certificate helps if your resume has no well-known employers — it is a clear signal for a recruiter in another country.
Cost and preparation
The cost is made up of several factors, not just the exam fee:
- exam fee — depends on the level: foundational exams cost less than professional and expert ones;
- materials and practice — official courses, practice tests, training labs;
- cloud resources — cloud exams require real hands-on work in an account, so watch your spending;
- validity period — many certifications must be renewed or retaken, which is a recurring cost;
- time — preparing for a serious exam takes weeks to months depending on your experience.
Always check current prices and exam outlines on the vendors' official sites, as they change. Employers are often willing to pay for the exam — ask.
How to prepare effectively:
- Download the official exam guide with the list of topics.
- Learn through practice: deploy real services instead of only watching videos.
- Take practice tests to get used to the format.
- Tie your preparation to a project you can show later.
When a portfolio beats a certificate
- You are a developer (web, mobile, backend): employers want to see code and finished projects.
- You are early in your career: a professional-level certificate without experience raises questions, and a foundational one adds little.
- The company runs a technical interview: it will test your skills directly.
The best strategy is a combination: a certificate as a learning structure and a signal for HR, a project as proof that you can apply the knowledge.