By Sophia Ottey | Certified Resume Writer & Career Strategist | 15+ Years in Career Development

Updated: October 2026

Thinking about getting another certification because you want a better-paying job?

Before you spend the money, I want you to ask a different question:

Will this certification actually make you more competitive for the job you want next?

After 15+ years in the career space, I've watched professionals collect certifications because they were frustrated with their salary, struggling to land interviews, or desperate to make a career change.

Sometimes another credential helps.

Sometimes it doesn't.

A certification works best when it closes a specific gap between the experience you already have and the role you're trying to get next.

So before we get into this list, remember:

Don't choose the certification first. Choose the career direction first.

Then determine whether employers hiring for that career consistently value the credential.

Here are seven certification paths worth considering in 2026.

Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I only include resources relevant to the career topics discussed.

1. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Consider this if you're interested in: cloud computing, technology, IT infrastructure, cloud sales, operations, project management or moving into a more technical environment.

One reason I like AWS Cloud Practitioner for certain career changers is that you don't necessarily have to be a developer to begin learning cloud concepts.

It can help you become more comfortable discussing:

• cloud technology,

• AWS services,

• security and compliance,

• cloud economics,

• pricing,

• infrastructure, and

• how companies use cloud environments.

But here's where people get this wrong.

Passing AWS Cloud Practitioner does not suddenly qualify you for every cloud job.

The better question is whether AWS appears repeatedly in the positions you're targeting.

Pull up 15–20 actual job descriptions.

If AWS keeps showing up in the qualifications, preferred skills or technology stack, you now have a stronger reason to explore certification.

Want to test your AWS Cloud Practitioner knowledge?

Udemy currently has an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner practice-exam resource covering the CLF-C02 exam domains, including cloud concepts, security and compliance, AWS services, billing, pricing and support.

Explore AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice Prep on Udemy →

2. CompTIA Security+

Consider this if you're interested in: cybersecurity, information security, security operations, IT security, risk or security-adjacent technical work.

Cybersecurity gets a lot of attention because of its career potential.

But please don't make the mistake of believing:

Security+ = automatic cybersecurity job.

It doesn't.

Security+ may be particularly useful when you're building on experience in areas such as:

• IT support,

• networking,

• systems administration,

• technical operations,

• military technology,

• risk,

• compliance, or

• security-related work.

If you're starting from zero, I would think in terms of:

Certification + practical skills + relevant projects + positioning + targeted applications.

The credential is part of the strategy.

It isn't the entire strategy.

Preparing for CompTIA Security+?

This Udemy Security+ SY0-701 resource includes practice tests across the major Security+ domains and detailed answer explanations.

Explore CompTIA Security+ Practice Prep on Udemy →

3. Microsoft Azure Fundamentals — AZ-900

Consider this if you're interested in: cloud technology, Microsoft environments, IT, technology consulting or becoming more technically fluent without immediately pursuing an advanced certification.

AZ-900 can be an interesting starting point because it focuses on foundational Azure and cloud concepts.

That makes it relevant not only to deeply technical professionals, but potentially to people who work around technology and want to better understand the environment.

Think:

• project managers,

• business analysts,

• operations professionals,

• technical recruiters,

• technology sales professionals,

• consultants, and

• career changers exploring cloud careers.

But again:

Fundamentals means fundamentals.

It can strengthen your knowledge.

It does not replace experience required for more advanced technical positions.

Preparing for AZ-900?

I found a current 2026 Azure Fundamentals practice resource in the Udemy catalog that covers cloud concepts, Azure architecture and services, and Azure management/governance.

Explore Microsoft Azure AZ-900 Practice Prep on Udemy →

4. Project Management Professional — PMP

Consider this if you're already: leading projects, coordinating teams, managing implementations, overseeing timelines, working across departments or driving major initiatives.

This is one of the biggest areas where I see experienced professionals underestimate themselves.

You may already be doing project management even if your title isn't Project Manager.

Have you:

• managed deadlines?

• coordinated multiple stakeholders?

• implemented a new process or system?

• managed vendors?

• overseen a budget?

• led cross-functional initiatives?

• tracked deliverables?

• mitigated project risks?

• been responsible for getting something from idea to completion?

Then we need to look more closely at the work you've actually been doing.

For experienced professionals, the PMP can be valuable because it can help formalize project-management experience you already possess.

But your resume still needs to translate that experience.

You don't want a PMP sitting underneath a resume that still makes you sound purely administrative.

Already preparing for your PMP?

This Udemy PMP practice resource uses scenario-based questions covering predictive, agile and hybrid project management.

Explore PMP Exam Prep on Udemy →

5. Certified Associate in Project Management — CAPM

Consider this if you're: interested in project management but earlier in your project-management journey.

PMP and CAPM are not interchangeable.

If you're looking at project-management careers but aren't at the point where PMP makes sense for your experience level, CAPM may be worth researching.

This can be particularly interesting for professionals transitioning from areas such as:

• operations,

• administration,

• coordination,

• customer success,

• healthcare administration,

• education,

• nonprofit work, or

• other roles where they've supported projects but haven't formally held a project-management title.

And this is where experience translation becomes incredibly important.

Maybe your previous employer called it:

“coordinating.”

Another employer might call the same responsibility:

project coordination.

The words you use to communicate your experience matter.

Preparing for CAPM?

Udemy's catalog currently includes a 2026 CAPM practice resource covering project-management fundamentals, predictive approaches, Agile and business analysis.

Explore CAPM Practice Prep on Udemy →

6. Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals — PL-900

Consider this if you're interested in: business technology, process automation, Microsoft Power Platform, operations, workflow improvement or becoming the person who can make work more efficient.

This is one I think more experienced professionals should pay attention to.

Not everyone needs to become a software engineer.

There's value in becoming the person who understands how technology can improve the business.

Microsoft Power Platform includes tools used for applications, automation and business processes.

That can make this certification path relevant to professionals who sit between business and technology.

For example:

• business analysts,

• operations professionals,

• project managers,

• process-improvement professionals,

• consultants,

• administrators, and

• digitally focused career changers.

And in 2026, being able to speak intelligently about automation + AI + business processes is becoming increasingly useful across roles.

Preparing for PL-900?

This Udemy resource includes six practice tests and has been updated for the 2026 version of the Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals exam.

Explore Microsoft PL-900 Practice Prep on Udemy →

7. AWS Certified AI Practitioner

Consider this if you're interested in: artificial intelligence but don't necessarily want to become a machine-learning engineer.

AI is changing almost every career conversation right now.

But I don't think the answer for most experienced professionals is:

“Throw away your career and become an AI engineer.”

A better question is:

How can AI make the experience you already have more valuable?

If you've spent years in:

• operations,

• project management,

• HR,

• marketing,

• business analysis,

• customer experience,

• strategy,

• consulting, or

• another business function,

learning AI terminology, use cases, responsible AI concepts and how AI solutions fit into organizations may help you become more valuable inside your existing lane.

That's why foundational AI certifications are interesting.

They give professionals another way to build technical fluency without necessarily abandoning years of experience.

Preparing for AWS Certified AI Practitioner?

The Udemy catalog currently includes a 2026 AIF-C01 practice-exam course updated around AWS's current AI Practitioner exam. Topics include AI and machine-learning fundamentals, generative AI, foundation models, responsible AI, security and governance.

Explore AWS AI Practitioner Practice Prep on Udemy →

So…Which Certification Should You Get?

Before you spend another dollar, answer these five questions:

1. What exact job am I trying to get?

Not:

“I want to work in tech.”

What job?

Cloud Analyst?

Project Manager?

Cybersecurity Analyst?

Business Analyst?

Systems Administrator?

Program Manager?

Start there.

2. Are employers actually asking for this certification?

Pull up real job postings.

Look at the requirements.

If you review 20 target jobs and almost none mention the certification you're considering, pay attention to that.

3. What experience do I already have that supports this career move?

Your existing experience matters.

You may not need to start from zero.

You may need to learn how to translate what you've already done.

4. What specific gap will the certification close?

Knowledge?

Credibility?

Technical terminology?

Exam requirement?

Employer preference?

If you can't identify the gap, don't automatically buy the credential.

5. What happens after I pass?

This is the question people forget.

If you earn the certification tomorrow:

Do you know what jobs you're targeting?

Do you know how your resume changes?

Do you know how your LinkedIn changes?

Do you know which part of your previous experience becomes relevant?

Do you know how you're going to talk about the transition in an interview?

If not, your problem may not be another certification.

It may be your career strategy.

A Certification Should Support Your Career Strategy — Not Become Your Career Strategy

I've worked with professionals for more than 15 years, and one of the biggest mistakes I see is assuming another credential will fix an unclear career direction.

Sometimes you don't need another certification.

You need to understand:

what your experience qualifies you to do next, how to position it, and how to communicate your value to the employers willing to pay more for it.

That comes first.

The credential supports the strategy.

Not the other way around.

Not Sure What Career You Should Be Targeting?

Before you purchase another certification, figure out whether certification is actually the missing piece.

If you're experienced but:

• underpaid,

• trying to pivot,

• applying without getting enough interviews,

• unsure what positions fit your experience, or

• wondering whether you need another credential,

start with my Career Assessment.

I'll use your answers to identify where the disconnect may be and which type of career support makes the most sense.

Start Your Career Assessment →

You may discover that you need another skill.

Or you may discover that you're already qualified for more than you think — and your real problem is how your experience is being positioned.

Certification Prep Resources Mentioned in This Article

AWS Cloud Practitioner
Prepare on Udemy →

CompTIA Security+
Prepare on Udemy →

Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900
Prepare on Udemy →

PMP
Prepare on Udemy →

CAPM
Prepare on Udemy →

Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals PL-900
Prepare on Udemy →

AWS Certified AI Practitioner
Prepare on Udemy →

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links. I may receive compensation when you make an eligible purchase through my links, at no additional cost to you. Course availability, pricing, certification requirements and exam content can change. Always verify current certification requirements with the certification provider before purchasing.