Independent studies continue to demonstrate that holding a globally recognized IT certification enhances professional mobility, recognition of competency, job advancement and earning potential. It signifies to employers and peers that you are dedicated to high professional standards, knowledge and skills. It also closes the gap between the foundation provided by formal academic study and the technical and management competencies required to thrive in the modern professional and business environment.
Investing in IT certifications is a considerable cost and, depending on the certification, the total bill can land over US$1,000 including review classes, study guides and exam costs. This is a significant cost for most candidates and contributes to the lack of diversity and barriers of entry we see in the industry. With the rising cost of living across the world, here are five ways you can resource your IT certifications budget:
- Self-funding: Earning a professional certification is an individual and personal journey and you may have to start with dipping into personal funds. Once you have identified the exam to go for, create a budget and savings plan to cover the costs of purchasing all necessary materials to prepare, including an accredited training review class, study guides and exam vouchers.
- Friends and family: This option will not work for everybody, but financial support toward your certification journey from friends and “the bank of mom and dad” can go a long way in reducing your costs. Benefits of this option against a commercial loan are low interest rates and flexible repayments. Do not take your loved ones’ investment for granted and honor your commitment to pay back costs.
- Scholarships: Through various organizations such as ISACA's One In Tech Foundation, there are scholarships to provide support for underrepresented populations in the tech space. One In Tech offers more than 100 academic and professional development scholarships each year. These scholarships create academic and career pathways for rising digital trust professionals. Visit www.oneintech.org to learn more about the next application cycle and eligibility criteria.
- Accredited academic programs: Through partnerships between certification bodies and academic institutions, it is possible to earn a professional credential alongside degree programs. In Brazil with support from Caterpillar Foundation, CEAP was able to deliver ISACA’s Certified in Emerging Technology credential training to more than 600 underserved students. ISACA’s certification coursework allows students to gain mastery in areas such as network computing, programming, and emerging technologies like cloud computing, blockchain, IoT and artificial intelligence. This expanded knowledge equips the students for IT roles and professions such as logistics, marketing, and human resources. By providing training in these cutting-edge technologies, the partnership ensures that students are well-prepared for future tech careers. As ISACA’s Academic Partnerships program expands across the world, more certifications will be delivered in a classroom setting and provide cost savings for candidates.
- Employer, graduate schemes and apprenticeships: There are several ways you can cover the costs of certifications and get support from your employer. The key to accessing these funds is showing the business how it will earn value from investing in you. Be sure to ask your manager or human resources about apprenticeship/graduate schemes, scholarships, study days off work, exam vouchers and tutorials. If accepting funding from your employer for exams and training, always read the fine print! You might be eligible for a bonus after you pass or there might be clauses such as a pay-back penalty fee if you resign from the organization within a certain timeframe.
Ultimately, the cost of achieving a professional certification in information technology is a worthy investment. I hope these tips help you advance your career and develop your competence as a digital trust professional.
About the author: Dooshima Dapo-Oyewole is an information assurance, policy and governance advisor who works to enable enterprises earn digital trust, adopt standards and validate regulatory compliance. She is a cyber philanthropy advocate who develops talent pipelines in digital trust and currently leads the academic relations efforts at ISACA Abuja chapter.