In the demanding tech world, IT Support Specialists are the title-holder for keeping our systems running smoothly. But with the technology being constantly changing, how does an individual validate his skills and stand out from the crowd? For this query, IT Support Specialist certifications are your answer!
They are not just a credential with your name on it, but a powerful exemplification of your skills and a boost to your career, and also earning potential. In this blog, we are going to dive deeper into the IT support specialist certifications along with their exam details and benefits. And how they will help you in lifting your tech career.
Why You Should Prefer Availing The IT Support Specialist Certifications?
↪ Validation of Skills
Availing of any of the IT Support Specialist Certifications will surely be a trademark of expertise within technical skills in the IT field. This will help the employers to know that you can troubleshoot, manage, and resolve the technical issues within an organization.
↪ Increased Revenue
Since IT is a vast field, organizations prefer professionals with hands-on practice and proficient skills within the preferred niches. Candidates who are certified will command higher salaries than the non-certified candidates.
↪ Market Penetration Growth
In a job market, talking about competition with other professionals, certification is a plus point that will make your resume and your skills stand out. Being certified signifies your dedication towards IT support specialist as a career. This will land you better job opportunities and you can command higher salaries among your co-workers.
↪ Collaboration Prospects
Many certifications prefer candidates to be members of forums, and availing of memberships will build in a lot of connections with peers and various industries that will lead you to various great career advancement opportunities.
Engage with the finest recommendations: 16 MOST RECOMMENDED IT SUPPORT/HELP DESK CERTIFICATIONS AND COURSES IN 2026
🏅IT Support Specialist Certifications That Are Perfect For Your Resume In 2026
1️⃣. Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundation Certification
The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundation Certification is an entry-level certification that validates a foundational knowledge of ITIL frameworks, terminologies, and key concepts within IT service management (ITSM) as specified by ITIL standards.
📝 Exam Details
Aspects | Details |
Total No. of Questions | 40 |
Exam Format | Multiple Choice |
Passing Score | 26 out of 40 marks required to pass (65%) |
Time Required | 60 minutes |
Open Book? | No. |
Languages | Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, and Thai |
📖 Exam Domains
Service management concepts | |||||
Service value system | Four dimensions of service management | ||||
Guiding principles | Service Value Chain | ITIL practices | |||
Continuous improvement | |||||
Service Level Agreements | Key metrics and performance indicators | ||||
📜 Prerequisites
Candidates thinking of taking the ITIL 4 Foundation certification exam will not require any prerequisites to be fulfilled. This means individuals with no prior experiences can also avail of the certification exam.
📊 ITIL 4 Foundation Cost
The ITIL 4 Foundation certification exam costs $520 in the United States. However, Peoplecert offers purchasing options that are as follows,
Job Roles
People who have availed of the ITIL 4 foundation will have various job opportunities to land on. However, some of the jobs are as follows;
- IT Specialist Application Development
- IT Development Manager
- Digital Product Manager
- IT Team Leader
- IT Specialist Change Management
- Chief Digital Officer
- IT Project Manager
- Transformation Manager
- IT Service Operations Manager
- IT Service Manager
- IT Operations Specialist
💵 Salary Prospects
Candidates who have availed of the ITIL 4 Foundation Certified will command higher salaries as compared to those who are not certified. Therefore, the average salary range for the ITIL 4 Foundation professionals in the year 2025 is USD50,405 to USD174,989.
Delve into the details of: Your Guide to ITIL Certification: Everything You Need to Know.
2️⃣. CompTIA A+ Certification
The CompTIA A+ certification is an entry-level credential that validates your basic knowledge of working with hardware, networks, and computer systems along with hands-on and practical skills required for IT operational roles and technical support.
📝 Exam Overview
Candidates who are thinking of earning the A+ credential must take two exams, which are likely to be computer-based, which are Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102).
Core 1 (220-1101) |
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Core 2 (220-1102). |
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📖 Major Exam Domains
Core 1 (220-1101) | Core 2 (220-1102) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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✍ CompTIA A+ Certification Exam
The cost of the CompTIA A+ certification exam is $253 in the United States. Other than the exam fee, CompTIA offers candidates with a variety of bundles depending on their preferences.
📜 Prerequisites
Candidates taking the CompTIA A+ exam will not require any prior knowledge or experience related to the niche since this is a beginner-level credential and freshers can also take the exam.
💼 Job Roles
Availing of this credential will land you various job opportunities. However, some of them are as follows;
- IT Specialist
- Help Desk Technician
- Field Service Technician
- IT Support Manager
- Business Analyst
- Data Support Technician
- Technical Support Specialist
- MSP Personnel
- IT Server Technician
💵 Salary Prospects
The revenue generated by the CompTIA A+ professionals in the year 2026 is higher due to the demand for CompTIA certifications. The average range within he year 2026 is USD 39,100 to USD 119,502.
Explore Further: How much does CompTIA A+ certification cost? Exam Fees and Budgeting Tips
3️⃣. Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
The AWS Certified Solution Architect is an associate-level credential that is an ideal starting point for individuals with AWS Cloud or for those who have expertise within the IT field. This credential validates an individual’s foundational knowledge that is needed in designing and establishing the applications within the AWS platform. This credential does not require deeper skills or hands-on experience, however, basic programming concepts would be beneficial.
📝 Exam Details
Aspects | Details |
Category | Associate |
Exam Code | |
Exam Duration | 130 Minutes |
Exam Format | Multiple Choice or Multiple Response |
Total No. of Questions | 65 questions | 15 unscored questions |
Passing Score | 720 |
Test in-person or online | Pearson VUE testing center or online proctored exam |
📖 Exam Domains
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Exam Domains Along with their Weightage | |
Domains | Weightage |
Design Secure Architectures | 30% |
Design Resilient Architectures | 26% |
Design High-Performing Architectures | 24% |
Design Cost-Optimized Architectures | 20% |
📊 AWS Certified Solutions Architect Exam Cost
The cost of the AWS Certified Solutions Architect exam is $150 in the United States. However, the cost varies depending on region.
📜 Prerequisites
Candidates who are availing the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Exam should have a prior practical experience within the designing of cloud solutions for at least one year. If the candidates are new to the IT field, they can earn the AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification before taking the SAA-C03 certification exam.
💼 Job Roles
An individual will have various paths to pursue. Some of them are as follows;
- Data Engineer
- Development Operations (DevOps) Engineer
- Senior Software Engineer
- Software Engineer
💵 Salary Prospects
The average revenue generated by an AWS Certified Architect depends on their skills, prior experiences within the field, and the region he is currently working in. The average range within the year 2026 is USD 21,000 to USD 177,500
Dive deeper into: Who Is A Solutions Architect And How To Become One In 2026?
4️⃣. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) credential is a credential that validates an individual’s expertise in monitoring, auditing, and assessing an organization’s information technology. This credential makes sure that IT audit professionals stay up to date with the latest technology and trends.
📝 Exam Details
Aspects | Details |
Exam Duration | 240 Minutes / 4 hours |
Exam Format | Multiple Choice |
Total No. of Questions | 150 questions |
Passing Score | 450 or higher |
Test in-person or online | Pearson VUE testing center or online proctored exam |
Languages | German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, English, and Chinese Simplified |
📖 Exam Domains
Domains | Weightage |
Information System Auditing Process | 18% |
Governance and Management of Information Technology | 18% |
Information Systems Acquisition, Development & Implementation | 12% |
Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience | 26% |
Protection of Information Assets | 26% |
📊 CISA Exam Cost
The CISA exam cost depends on whether the individual is a member or a non-member of ISACA. However, for the members, the cost is $575 in the United States and for the non-members, the cost is $760 in the United States.
Click here: CISA CERTIFICATION: EXAM COST, SALARY AND JOBS IN 2026
📜 Prerequisites
Candidates taking the exam must have experience in IS/IT audit, control, assurance, or security for at least 5 years. However, the experience waivers are available for a maximum of 3 years.
💼 Job Roles
Candies availing of the CISA certification will have various job roles to pursue. However, some of the job roles are as follows;
- Compliance Analyst
- IT Auditor
- Cybersecurity Manager
- Risk Assurance Analyst
💵 Salary Prospects
The earning potential for the CISA certified differs from region to region. For the most profitable market, that is the USA, the average range of salary in the current year is USD62,100 to USD150,100.
Engage with the finest recommendations: CISA Certification Salary And Jobs In 2026
5️⃣. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
A Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification validates an individual’s skills to manage, configure, and secure professional functions within the Microsoft Azure ecosystem including storage, networking, and security features.
📝 Exam Overview
Exam Code | |
Exam Level | Intermediate |
Exam Time | 100 minutes |
Total Questions | 40-60 questions |
Language | English, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Italian, Indonesian (Indonesia) |
Exam Provider | Pearson VUE |
📖 Major Exam Domains
Exam Domains with their Weightage | |||||||||
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Monitor and maintain Azure resources | 10–15% | ||||||||
Explore further: Prevail the AZ-104 Exam Difficulty with 4 Powerful Tips
📊 Exam Cost
The cost of the AZ-104 certification exam is $165 in the United States. However, it varies from region to region.
📜 Prerequisites
Candidates who want to avail of the Microsoft Azure administrator credential must pass the AZ-104 exam.
💼 Job Roles
Candidates availing of this credential will have various job opportunities. However, some of them are listed below;
- Resource Management
- Monitoring and Optimization
- Security Management
- Backup and Disaster Recovery
- Automation and Scripting
- Collaboration and Support
💵 Salary Prospects
Since the Microsoft certifications are in demand, so are the earning potentials on the rise. However, the average range for the Azure Administrator professionals within the year 2025, is USD41,1000 to USD135,1000.
Explore the highest-ranked selection: How To Crack Microsoft Azure Certification?
6️⃣. Project Management Professional (PMP)
The project management professional is the globally recognized credential that signifies an individual’s expertise within the professional environment regarding the project leadership and concepts and techniques that are affiliated with the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), testing the candidate’s ability in leading the projects without being limited to any oranization or any location.
Look Further: Is the PMP Exam Hard To Pass? A complete guide to passing it in one go
📝 Exam Details
Aspects | Details |
Exam Format | Multiple Choice, Drag and Drop, Hot Area, and Fill-in-the-blank Questions |
No. Of Questions | 180 Questions |
Exam Duration | 230 Minutes |
Passing Score | Not Defined |
📖 Exam Domains
Key Domain | Weightage |
People | 42% |
Process | 50% |
Business Environment | 8% |
★ Eligibility Requirements
Required Education | Professional Experience |
Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or global equivalent) | Minimum five years/60 months unique non-overlapping professional project management experience |
OR | |
Four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or global equivalent) | Minimum three years/36 months unique non-overlapping professional project management experience |
OR | |
Bachelor’s or post-graduate degree from a GAC accredited program * (bachelor’s degree or master’s or global equivalent) | Minimum two years/24 months unique non-overlapping professional project management experience |
Delve into the details of: PMP vs Agile: Which Project Management Method is Better?
📊 Exam Cost
The PMP certification exam cost depends on the candidates availing the PMI membership. The PMI members are charged USD 284 whereas the non-members have to pay USD 575.
💼 Job Roles
The PMP certified will have various job roles to pursue. Some of them are as follows;
- IT Project Manager
- Portfolio Manager
- Program Management
- Project Manager Consultant
- Product Owner
- Engineering Project Manager
💵 Salary Prospects
Professionals who are certified within the PMP certification command higher salaries due to the demand of project management as a career. An average salary range for PMP professionals for the year 2026 is USD23,503 to USD171,503 depending on the regions and prior work experiences of individuals.
7️⃣. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
A certified scrum master is a coach within a scrum team whose responsibility is to make sure that the team understands and performs the scrum framework, promoting a collaborative environment. This certification validates an individual’s knowledge with a strong understanding of the Scrum system, engaging them to lead Scrum groups.
Discover the best picks: CSM vs PSM: Which Certification Should You Choose?
📝 Exam Overview
Aspects | Details | |
Exam Name | ||
Exam Format | Multiple-choice & scenario-based Questions | |
No. of Questions | 50 Questions | |
Time Required | 60 minutes | |
Delivery Type | Online | |
Passing Score | 74% (One needs to solve 37 questions from 50) | |
Language | English | |
Vendor | ScrumAlliance | |
📖 Exam Domains
General Knowledge (Agile Manifesto & Scrum Foundations) | Scrum Artifacts | ||||
Scrum Roles | Scrum Meetings | Scaling Scrum | |||
★ Eligibility Criteria
There is no eligibility criteria for taking the CSM certification exam since it is a beginner-level credential and anyone who is new to the field can avail this credential.
📊 CSM Exam Cost
The CSM certification exam cost ranges from $250 to $2,495 in the United States. However, the cost varies depending on the region.
💼 Job Roles
Job roles that an individual can land with being certified within the CSM credential are as follows;
- Customer Service Manager
- Customer Advocate
- Chief Customer Officer
💵 Salary Prospects
The average salary range for the Certified ScrumMaster is USD100,503 to USD136,504 depending on an individual’s experiences and geographical regions they are working in.
8️⃣. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is a cybersecurity credential that validates an individual in-depth knowledge and professional skills in implementing, designing, and managing security programs of a firm.
Click here: Is CISSP Hard? 10 Tips To Pass It On The First Attempt
📝 Exam Details
Aspects | Details | |
Number of Questions | 100-150 Questions | |
Exam Format | Multiple Choice and Advanced Innovative items | |
Length of Exam | 3 Hours | |
Passing Score | 700 out of 1000 points | |
Languages | Chinese, English, German, Japanese, Spanish | |
Testing Providers | ISC2 Authorized PPC and PVTC Select Pearson VUE Testing Centers | |
📖 Exam Domains
Domains | Weightage |
Security and Risk Management | 16% |
Asset Security | 10% |
Security Architecture and Engineering | 13% |
Communication and Network Security | 13% |
Identity and Access Management (IAM) | 13% |
Security Assessment and Testing | 12% |
Security Operations | 13% |
Software Development Security | 10% |
📜 Prerequisites
To avail of the CISSP certifications, candidates must have at least five years of work experience in two or more of the domains of the CISSP exam.
📊 CISSP Exam Cost
The exam cost for CISSP certification is $749 in the United States. However, the cost varies depending on the location.
💼 Job Roles
Job roles that an individual can land with being certified within the CISSP credential are as follows;
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Security Architect
- Information Security Manager
- Security Analyst, Security Auditor
- Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
- Security Consultant
- Information Security Analyst
- Malware Analyst
💵 Salary Prospects
An estimated range for the revenue generated by the CISSP certified within the year 2026 is USD21,100 to USD165,100.
Discover insights on: UNLEASH THE UPDATED CISSP SALARY IN 2026!
9️⃣. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise
The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise certification demonstrates an individual’s skills in developing, implementing, and troubleshooting enterprise networking solutions.
📝 Exam Details
To avail of this credential, candidates will have to take two exams, which are as follows;
- A core exam
- One of seven CCNP Enterprise concentration exams
Talking about the core exam( 350-401 ENCOR), candidates need to complete the exam within 120 minutes. This exam is available in two languages, English and Japanese.
For the concentration exam, candidates can choose any one of the seven exams that need to be done within 90 minutes. The exam is available in two languages, English and Japanese.
📖 Exam Domains for 350-401 ENCOR
Domains | Weightage |
Architecture | 15% |
Virtualization | 10% |
Infrastructure | 30% |
Network Assurance | 10% |
Security | 20% |
Automation | 15% |
Look Further: CCNP Enterprise ENCOR 350-401 Exam Preparation
📊 Exam Cost
The exam cost for the 350-401 ENCOR exam is $400 in the United States, whereas, for the concentration exam, the cost depends on the certification you choose. However, the estimated cost is $300 in the United States.
📜 Prerequisites
Candidates who are interested in taking the CCNP exam do not need to have any prior experience or requirements. Candidates who are new to the field can also avail this certification.
💼 Job Roles
Job roles that an individual can land with being certified within CCNP are as follows;
- Network Support Specialist/Administrator
- Network Security Engineer
- Unified Communication (UC) Voice Engineer
- Data Center Support Engineer
- Wireless Network Engineer/Administrator
💵 Salary Prospects
The salary of a CCNP certified depends on the individual’s expertise, along with the region they are currently working in. The range for the CCNP certified within the year 2026 is USD 21,500 to USD 172,500.
Delve into the details of: CLCOR 350-801 Certification- An Easy Way to Earn CCNP and CCIE Collaboration
🔟. CompTIA Network+
The CompTIA network+ certification signifies an individual’s ability within the networking. This is the only networking credential that covers wired and wireless networks. This credential demonstrates the technical skills to establish, troubleshoot, and secure networks within any firm.
📝 Exam Overview
Aspects | Details | |
Exam Code | ||
Launch Date | June 20, 2024 | |
Number of Questions | A maximum of 90 questions | |
Type of Questions | Multiple-choice and performance-based | |
Length of Test | 90 minutes | |
Passing Score | 720 (on a scale of 100-900) | |
Language | English, with Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish to follow | |
Retirement | To be decided; Usually three years after the launch | |
Testing Provider | Pearson VUE | |
📖 Exam Domain
Topics | Weightage |
Network Implementation | 20% |
Network Operations | 19% |
Network Security | 14% |
Network Troubleshooting | 24% |
Networking Concepts | 23% |
Explore further: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Vs N10-009 Certification: Which one is best in 2026
📜 Prerequisites
To avail of this certification, a candidate must have availed the CompTIA A+ certification. It is also recommended that the candidate have 9-12 months of practical experience as a junior network administrator/network support technician.
📊 Exam Cost
The exam cost for Network+ is $369 in the United States. However, the cost varies depending on the region.
💼 Job Roles
Candidates availing of this credential will land various jobs. However, some of them are as follows;
- Tier II IT Support Technician
- IT Support Manager
- Network Administrator
- Systems Administrator
- Data Center Technician
Discover insights on: How hard is CompTIA Network+ Certification?
💵 Salary Prospects
The earning potential for the CompTIA Network+ professional in the year 2026 is USD 32,200 to USD 160,100 depending on the job level or regions.
Conclusion
Coming to an end, obtaining any of the IT support specialist certifications provides you with various benefits for lifting and advancing your career and for your organizational success. It validates professionals’ skills and knowledge that is essential for maintaining, troubleshooting, and optimizing the IT systems. Professionals availing of the IT Support Specialist certification will command higher salaries as compared to those who are not certified, it also serves as a proof that you are an expert within he field of IT support. In case you are starting your career or thinking of shifting your job roles, pursuing the IT Support Specialist Certification is a beneficial and valuable investment.
🧠 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
What certificate do I need for IT support?
The certifications that are needed for the IT support include CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, ITIL Foundation, and Cisco CCNA. These credentials cover basic skills for IT support so they are the best match.
What is the hardest IT cert?
CISSP is considered to be challenging and is related to the cybersecurity niche. Other than passing the certification exam, candidates who are thinking of earning this certification must have 5 years of experience in any of the 2 out of 8 domains of CISSP.
Is Network+ for beginners?
Yes, the Network+ certification is an entry-level certification that covers the basic fundamentals of networking. This credential is designed for validating the beginner-level skills of networking professionals.
Which is better CCNA or CCNP?
It depends! Both of the CCNA and the CCNP provide you with the exposure for a career in networking. If you are starting your career within the networking, then CCNA might be a better option. But in case you have prior experience and want to explore more within your niche, then CCNP might be a better choice.
