Are Entry-Level IT Certs Still Worth It? Yes, for People Breaking In

Yes, entry-level IT certs are still worth it if you’re trying to break in. They get your résumé past the filters, give you a structured way to learn the basics, and hand you the vocabulary to sound credible in an interview. They aren’t worth much if you already work in IT. At that point, skip them and go after the cert that matches the job you want next.

The “certs are dead” crowd has a point. They just aim it at the wrong people.

What’s the case against entry-level certs?

That they prove you passed a test, not that you can do the job. That’s fair. A+ doesn’t mean you can calm down a vice president whose laptop won’t boot, and Network+ doesn’t mean you can fix a misconfigured switch without looking anything up. These exams test foundations, not judgment.

The other complaint is saturation. A lot of applicants have A+ now, so it rarely sets you apart on its own, and interviewers have met plenty of certified candidates who couldn’t explain what DNS does. If you’re expecting one entry-level cert to land you a well-paid job with zero experience, it won’t. It probably never did.

Why are entry-level certs still worth it for beginners?

Because most people breaking into IT don’t have a portfolio, a referral or a lab. They have a retail job, a degree in something unrelated and a strong wish to stop working weekends. For them, a cert is the most recognized way to show they’ve learned the basics and are serious about the switch.

The filters are real, too. Applicant tracking systems still search for “CompTIA A+” and “Security+,” and the recruiter doing the first pass often doesn’t know a subnet mask from a ski mask. I’ve worked in HR, hiring technicians, so I’ll say it plainly: the person screening your résumé is usually matching words, not judging skill. I wrote more about that in HR doesn’t know what half these certs mean.

Then there’s structure. Yes, everything in an A+ course is on YouTube for free. Most people who plan to learn it that way watch three videos and drift. An exam date gives you a deadline and a finish line. The cert isn’t the knowledge; it’s the thing that makes you go get the knowledge and prove it.

Which entry-level certs still carry weight?

A+, Network+ and Security+, each for a different job. CompTIA A+ is still the standard for help desk and desktop support. It’s two exams at $274 each, it isn’t exciting, and it still shows up in job postings constantly. If you’re deciding whether it’s worth the money for you, I worked through that in is CompTIA A+ worth it.

Network+ ($399) gets called the forgotten middle child, and I don’t buy it. When I was splitting time between a school district and consulting work, Network+ and the CISSP were the two certs the people hiring or paying me actually cared about. It proves you understand how networks work without tying you to one vendor. If you’re set on a dedicated networking role, Cisco’s CCNA ($300, no formal prerequisites since 2020) goes deeper and is worth it later, but Network+ is the better first step for most people.

Security+ ($439) has gained value, not lost it. It’s on the Department of Defense’s approved list under DoD Manual 8140.03, which replaced the old 8570 rules in 2023, so a lot of government and contractor jobs require it. Private employers increasingly treat it as the baseline for anything security-adjacent. If you’re even mildly interested in security, it’s worth it. And if you already hold it, CompTIA’s SecAI+, launched in February 2026, is a simple way to add AI security on top.

Which entry-level certs matter less?

Linux+ and Cloud+ show up in fewer entry-level postings than the big three. Both cost $399. Linux+ is genuinely useful knowledge, but for a first cert in cloud, AWS Cloud Practitioner ($100) or Microsoft AZ-900 ($99) is cheaper and more recognized by the companies running those platforms. For Linux, Linux+ or a Red Hat cert makes more sense once you’re already working with Linux. Neither is where I’d spend my first exam fee.

What replaces a cert if you skip it?

Proof that you can do the work, and that’s harder than it sounds. Not “I followed a tutorial and spun up a website.” More like a home lab with a domain controller and VLANs that you broke twice and documented, scripts that solve a real problem, a write-up that explains a concept well enough to teach it, or freelance and volunteer work for real users.

Add the human side: meetups, people in the field who know your name, someone who can vouch for you. All of that works, and it beats a cert when you have it. But it’s less structured, and most people need the guardrails. The best answer for most beginners is both: one cert to get past the filter and one or two projects to talk about once you’re past it.

Who should skip entry-level certs?

People who already have IT experience, and people who already have a door open. If you’ve worked a year or two in support or administration, A+ adds little; go after the cert for the role you want next. If a startup or a friend’s company already wants to hire you for what you can do, the cert can wait. And don’t collect them for their own sake. Three entry-level certs don’t beat one plus real experience.

So should you get one?

If you’re trying to break in, yes. A lot of the people saying certs are worthless got past the gatekeepers years ago, and it’s easy to dismiss a ladder you no longer need. You aren’t in that position yet. Pick the cert that matches where you want to go, book the exam, pass it, and start applying. If you’re not sure which one, start with the best IT certifications for beginners.

Keep reading: IT Certifications With No Experience: Where to Start and Is CompTIA A+ Worth It in 2026?