Stand Out from the Crowd!

According to CIO.com there are thirteen IT certifications that have emerged that can help you get a leg up on your career. Whether you're a seasoned IT professional, recent college graduate, or an individual transitioning to an IT career, an IT certification can help you stand out from the crowd and show hiring managers you have the credentials to meet their IT business needs.

We've highlighted our IT certification courses that made the list to help you emerge in your business and/or career.

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) is a certification program developed by ISACA to develop an individual's career as a a security manager. Once certified, the CISM qualifies students to design, manage, asses and oversee an enterprise's information security infrastructure.

IT Security without question is one of the hottest and most lucrative areas of Information Technology and the CISM is one of the most valued credentials in the marketplace. This online course promotes international practices and provides management with assurance that those earning this certification have the necessary knowledge and experience to provide effective security management. This course is best suited for IT professionals like risk managers, security auditors, compliance officers, information security managers, security analysts, and IT security architects. Learn more.

Annual salary for individuals with a CISM certification is $59,000 - $225,000. (Source: PayScale)

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Created by ISACA, the CISA certification is globally recognized and is commonly associated with every phase of the IT auditing process. This online course will help professionals gain the knowledge, skills, experience and credibility to leverage standards, manage vulnerabilities, ensure compliance, offer solutions, institute controls and deliver value to the enterprise. CISA is commonly associated with IT auditing roles like senior information technology auditor, information security manager, and security analyst. Learn more.

Average salary for a CISA certification is $48,000 to $171,000 per year. (Source: PayScale)

Certified Scrum Master (CSM)

A Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification demonstrates your ability to manage large-scale business projects and serve as a servant-leader to ensure Scrum team members work together to learn the framework commonly used to develop software and hardware. CSMs understand Scrum values, practices, and applications and provide a level of knowledge and expertise above and beyond typical project managers, which makes this certification a valuable skill to add to your resume. CSM certifications are best suited for IT project managers and software engineers. Learn more.

Average average salary for a CSM certification is 56,000 to $142,000 per year. (Source:PayScale)

MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure

Microsoft Cloud certification validates you have the experience, knowledge, and skills to manage and implement Microsoft cloud computing technologies. It also certifies you have the expertise to build a Microsoft private cloud solution and gain IT infrastructure automation and flexibility. This certification will benefit IT managers, directors, system administrators, system engineers, and network administrators. Learn more.

Average salary for an MCSE certification is $47,000 to $145,000 per year. (Source: PayScale)

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)

Individuals with a MOS certification demonstrates their skills and efficiency in using one or more products in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, or Access. MOS certifications are great for office managers, executive assistants, administrative workers, and individuals transitioning to an entry-level technical career.

According to an IDC White Paper, individuals that hold a MOS Certification can boost their salary by as much as $16,000 more than individuals not certified based on their current job title and certification level (i.e., core, expert, or master). Learn more.

Average salary for a MOS certification is $45,000 and to $65,000. (Source: PayScale)

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Project managers who have proven skills and experience can find exciting, highly-visible opportunities in a wide range of fields. This course is specifically designed to provide the proven, practical body of project management knowledge and skills you need to demonstrate your project management mastery. Additionally, this course can be a significant part of preparation for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam.

The skills and knowledge you gain from this course will help you avoid making costly mistakes and increase your competitive edge in the project management profession.

IT professionals who can benefit most from a PMP certification are: IT project managers, directors of operations and IT directors. Learn more.

The average salary for an individual with a PMP certification is $58,000 to $177,000. (Source: PayScale)