Best Cybersecurity Certifications in 2026 (Ranked by Career Stage)

Last updated: October 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. Every exam code, price and date below was re-checked with the issuing body on 17 October 2026. See our review methodology.

Cybersecurity is one of the few fields where a certification still moves the needle with hiring managers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects jobs for information security analysts to grow 21% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average occupation, with a median wage of $129,180 in May 2025 (BLS, read 17 October 2026). Employers lean on certifications because they are a fast, standard signal that you know the baseline before you ever touch their network. The hard part is choosing the right credential for your stage and your target role, instead of collecting acronyms that do not pay off.

Below we rank the 16 cybersecurity certifications worth your money in 2026, grouped by career stage. For each one we list the certifying body, the current exam, the cost, and who it actually fits, then show the prep course we would use and what it costs to keep the credential. If you would rather build the underlying skills first, start with our guide to the best cybersecurity courses.

The 16 best cybersecurity certifications at a glance

US list prices as of 17 October 2026, excluding training and maintenance fees. CompTIA’s store does not render prices to our checker, so CompTIA figures are the list prices shown by its authorized partners (Dion Training and Professor Messer) that day; CompTIA raised exam prices in 2026, and partners often sell vouchers for about 10% less. Always confirm the fee with the certifying body before you register.

How to choose a cybersecurity certification

The fastest way to waste money is to chase the most advanced cert you can find. Hiring managers read certifications as proof you can do a specific job, so the right pick depends on two things: your experience level and the role you are aiming at. Three questions sort it out.

Where are you now? No experience means an entry credential (Security+, the Google certificate, or ISC2 CC). A few years in means a specialist cert. CISSP, CISM, CISA and CCSP have hard experience requirements you cannot skip.

What job do you want? A SOC analyst, a penetration tester, a cloud engineer, an IT auditor and a future CISO need different certs. Pick the credential the job posting names, not the one with the best marketing.

Who is paying? If your employer reimburses, reach higher; GIAC and SANS training are mostly bought by employers. If it is your own money, start cheap and prove the field fits before you spend $1,000-plus on CEH or OSCP.

One caution that applies to every cert below: a certification proves baseline knowledge, not hands-on skill. The candidates who get hired pair the paper with a home lab, a few practical projects, and a basic grasp of networking and Linux. If you have none of that yet, spend your first month building it.

Entry-level cybersecurity certifications (for beginners)

These five are where almost everyone should start. They assume little or no security background and are designed to get you to a first analyst, help-desk-to-security or junior admin role.

ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)

The cheapest name-brand credential, from ISC2, the body behind CISSP. CC covers security principles, access control, network security, incident response and security operations, and has no experience requirement. The big change in 2026: ISC2’s “One Million Certified in Cybersecurity” program, which gave away free training and exam seats, has concluded. The CC exam now costs $199, plus a $50 annual maintenance fee once you pass. If you already hold a free exam code from that program, it must be used by 31 December 2026 (ISC2, read 17 October 2026).

Be realistic about what CC buys you. Practitioners on r/cybersecurity and r/isc2 describe it as useful structure for a beginner but a weak hiring signal: it rarely appears in job postings, and Security+ covers the same ground in more depth. Now that it is no longer free, most self-funded beginners are better off putting the $199 toward Security+. Best for: students who want a first, low-stakes exam, or whose school or employer pays.

Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate

Technically a certificate, not a certification, but it earns its place. It is a 9-course series on Coursera, taught by Google staff, that Coursera estimates at about 6 months at 7 hours a week, and it is the most hands-on entry option here: SIEM tools, intrusion detection, Linux, SQL and Python, plus a newer AI-skills course. It was rated 4.8 from 69,565 course reviews with over 1.6 million learners enrolled when we checked on 17 October 2026, and it is paid through a Coursera subscription. It will not replace Security+ on a resume, but it teaches the practical skills Security+ only tests on paper, which is why we often suggest doing this first and sitting Security+ second. Our Google certificates verdict looks at what employers make of it. Best for: career changers who learn by doing.

Affiliate partnership: we may earn a commission when you enroll through this link. It does not change the price.

CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)

If you only get one cybersecurity certification, get this one. Security+ is the credential the largest share of U.S. security job postings ask for by name, it satisfies the U.S. Department of Defense 8140 baseline for several roles, and it is vendor-neutral. The current exam is SY0-701 (V7): a maximum of 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 750 on a 100–900 scale. The list price is $439. CompTIA has scheduled the next version, V8 (SY0-801), for 17 November 2026, and the English SY0-701 exam retires on 11 June 2027 (CompTIA V7 page; V8 page). The section below covers whether to wait. Our Security+ training guide compares prep courses. Best for: anyone who wants the single highest-return first cert in the field.

CompTIA Network+ (N10-009)

Not strictly a security cert, but security sits on top of networking, and the most common reason people struggle with Security+ is a shaky grasp of how networks work. Network+ (N10-009, launched June 2024, list price $399, a maximum of 90 questions, passing score 720) fills that gap. CompTIA estimates its retirement in 2027. If you already understand subnets, ports and routing, skip it and go straight to Security+. If networking is a black box to you, this is money well spent. Our Network+ training guide compares prep options. Best for: beginners coming from outside IT.

SSCP (ISC2)

The Systems Security Certified Practitioner sits between CC and CISSP in ISC2’s lineup. ISC2 aims it at hands-on operations staff with at least a year of paid experience implementing, monitoring and administering security infrastructure. The exam costs $249 in the Americas, and holders pay ISC2’s $135 annual maintenance fee (ISC2 exam pricing; AMF overview). One practitioner with three decades in the field put it on roughly the same level as Security+ on r/isc2, and that matches how employers treat it: respected, but named in far fewer postings than Security+. Best for: system and network admins who already do security work and want an ISC2 credential on the way to CISSP.

Security+ V8 (SY0-801) arrives 17 November 2026: should you wait?

CompTIA says Security+ V8 will launch on or around 17 November 2026, with more coverage of AI-related risks, security operations and modern environments. V7 (SY0-701) stays available in English until 11 June 2027. Both versions earn the same Security+ certification, valid for three years.

Sit V7 now if you are already studying, your prep course and practice tests target SY0-701, or a job application needs the cert soon. Most V7 material is mature and well tested, and the first months of any new exam have the thinnest prep resources.

Wait for V8 if you have not started yet and your exam is more than six months away. You would otherwise be learning an outline that retires in June 2027, and the AI-risk content in V8 is the part employers are starting to ask about. Check that any course you buy states which exam code it targets.

Mid-level and specialist certifications

Once you have Security+ and a little experience, these certs point you toward a specialty: defending (blue team), attacking (red team), or broad technical depth.

CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-004)

The natural step after Security+ for defenders. CySA+ focuses on threat detection, log and behavioral analysis, and incident response, which is the daily work of a security operations center analyst. CompTIA launched V4 (CS0-004) on 23 June 2026: a maximum of 85 questions in 165 minutes, passing score 750 (CompTIA). The list price is $439. The older V3 exam (CS0-003) is retiring on a published timetable: English learning products end 22 November 2026, the English exam 22 December 2026, and translated versions 23 March 2027. Buy prep built for CS0-004. Best for: aspiring SOC and blue-team analysts.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v13)

CEH is the most recognized name in offensive security, and that name recognition is exactly why it is worth weighing carefully. EC-Council’s current version is CEH v13, and its own North America page listed training-and-exam packages from $1,699 to $3,999 when we checked on 17 October 2026. Exam-only vouchers are sold through EC-Council and its training partners at prices that vary, and candidates who skip official training go through an eligibility application that asks for security work experience. Practitioners argue about whether CEH is too theoretical compared with hands-on certs like OSCP, and they have a point. But many HR systems filter resumes on the literal phrase “Certified Ethical Hacker,” so it can open doors a harder, lesser-known cert will not. Our ethical hacking courses guide covers prep. Best for: people targeting roles whose postings list CEH.

CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-003)

A vendor-neutral, cheaper alternative to CEH for the penetration-testing path. PenTest+ (PT0-003, launched December 2024, list price $439, a maximum of 90 questions, passing score 750) covers planning and scoping, reconnaissance, vulnerability discovery, attacks and exploits, and reporting. CompTIA estimates its retirement in 2027. It is less famous than CEH but cheaper and arguably more practical, and it pairs well with hands-on study toward OSCP. See our pentesting courses guide for prep. Best for: budget-conscious testers who want a practical, neutral credential.

GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)

GIAC is the certification arm of the SANS Institute, and GSEC is its broad technical foundation: networking, defense in depth, Linux and Windows security, cryptography and incident handling. The exam has 106 questions with a 72% passing score, and an attempt costs $999, with renewals at $499 (GIAC pricing). Most candidates take it after the matching SANS course, which costs several thousand dollars more, so GSEC is usually an employer-funded credential. Hiring managers rate GIAC highly because the exams are hard to pass without real understanding. Best for: working technical staff whose employer pays for SANS training.

Advanced and highest-paying cybersecurity certifications

These are the credentials tied to the biggest salaries, and most carry real prerequisites. They are worth it once you have the experience to back them up, and a poor use of money before then.

CISSP (ISC2)

The gold standard for senior and management-track security professionals. CISSP costs $749 in the Americas, plus ISC2’s $135 annual maintenance fee, but the real cost is the requirement: five years of paid, relevant experience across two or more of the eight security domains. Pass the exam without the experience and you become an Associate of ISC2 until you earn it. CISSP is broad and managerial rather than hands-on, so it suits people moving toward security architecture, risk and leadership. Best for: experienced professionals stepping into senior or management roles.

CompTIA SecurityX (CAS-005)

CompTIA’s most advanced security credential, renamed from CASP+ to SecurityX, with the current exam coded CAS-005 (launched December 2024, a maximum of 90 questions in 165 minutes, pass/fail only, list price $544). CompTIA recommends about ten years of IT experience, five of them hands-on security. Unlike CISSP, it stays technical: it is aimed at senior engineers and architects who implement security rather than govern it, and it meets several DoD 8140 advanced-role requirements. Our SecurityX guide breaks down the exam. Best for: hands-on senior engineers and DoD-aligned roles.

OSCP and OSCP+ (OffSec)

The most respected hands-on credential in offensive security, and the hardest on this list. It is earned through OffSec’s PEN-200 course and a 24-hour proctored practical exam where you have to compromise machines and document the work. OffSec sells the course and one exam attempt with 90 days of lab access as a bundle for $1,749, a year of access with two attempts (Learn One) for $2,749 a year, or the exam alone for $1,699 (OffSec, read 17 October 2026). There is no multiple choice, which is exactly why employers trust it. Best for: serious penetration testers.

OSCP vs OSCP+: you sit one exam and receive both. The OSCP has no expiration date. The OSCP+ is the same achievement with a currency stamp: it expires three years after issue unless you keep it current, for example by passing another qualifying OffSec exam. Employers asking for “OSCP+” want proof you certified recently, not a harder qualification.

CISM (ISACA)

If CISSP is for the broad security leader, CISM is for the security manager specifically. From ISACA, it focuses on governance, risk management, incident management and running a security program, and it consistently ranks among the highest-paying certs in salary surveys. The exam costs $575 for ISACA members and $760 for non-members (ISACA), and certification requires five years of information security work, including management experience. Best for: professionals moving into security management.

CISA (ISACA)

The audit-side counterpart to CISM, and new to our ranking this year. CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) is the credential IT audit, compliance and governance-risk-compliance (GRC) teams screen for. Like CISM it costs $575 for members and $760 for non-members (ISACA), and it asks for five years of information systems audit, control, assurance or security experience, some of which can be substituted with education. It suits people who would rather evaluate controls than run them. Best for: IT auditors, compliance analysts and anyone heading into GRC.

Cloud security certifications

As workloads move to the cloud, so does the demand for people who can secure them. Two certs lead here, one vendor-neutral and one platform-specific.

CCSP (ISC2)

The vendor-neutral standard for cloud security, again from ISC2. CCSP costs $599 plus the $135 annual maintenance fee and, like CISSP, requires five years of IT experience, including three in information security and one in a CCSP domain. It covers cloud architecture, data security, application security and compliance across providers rather than locking to AWS or Azure, which makes it valuable in multi-cloud shops. Our CCSP guide goes deeper on the exam. Best for: experienced security pros specializing in cloud.

AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C03)

If your work lives on AWS, the platform-specific credential often beats a neutral one. AWS has moved this exam to SCS-C03 (earlier versions of this page named SCS-C02): 65 questions in 170 minutes for $300 (AWS, read 17 October 2026). It validates deep knowledge of AWS identity and access management, data protection, detection and incident response. It assumes solid AWS experience, so it is not a starting point. See our cloud certifications guide for how it fits alongside other cloud credentials. Best for: engineers securing AWS workloads.

Which certification for which job? A quick path map

If you already know the role you want, here is the cleanest certification path to it. Treat these as routes, not rules.

How to prepare: the best prep course for each certification

Exam fees are fixed; prep is where you choose how much to spend. For the CompTIA and ISC2 exams, Jason Dion’s Udemy courses are the most-used paid option, and Professor Messer’s free video courses are the most-used free one. Udemy courses go on sale often, so check the price on the course page. Ratings below were read on Udemy on 17 October 2026; every one showed “last updated 10/2026” except where noted.

If you want a guided bootcamp with a community rather than a single course, Zero To Mastery’s CompTIA Security+ Bootcamp is included in a ZTM membership alongside its networking and ethical-hacking courses. For OSCP there is no shortcut: OffSec’s own PEN-200 labs are the preparation, and most candidates add months of practice on Hack The Box or Proving Grounds.

The prep course links above are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. The free alternatives are not affiliate links.

See the Security+ course on Udemy →

What cybersecurity certifications cost, and are they worth it?

The exam fee is only part of the bill. Budget for study materials, practice exams, and in many cases an annual fee to keep the cert active (ISC2 charges $135 a year for CISSP, CCSP and SSCP, and $50 for CC). Advanced certs like OSCP bundle expensive training into the price. A realistic all-in cost is $450 to $600 for Security+ with a course and practice tests, and $2,000 or more for OSCP once you count lab time.

Are they worth it? For breaking in and for moving up, generally yes. Entry certs like Security+ clear the resume filters that keep uncertified applicants out, and senior certs like CISSP and CISM correlate with six-figure salaries in industry surveys. The honest caveat: a certification opens the door; it does not do the job. Employers still want to see hands-on ability, so the best return comes from pairing the right cert with real practice, not from stacking credentials you cannot apply.

Compare the best cybersecurity courses →

Keeping your certification: renewal fees and continuing education

Most security certifications expire unless you keep earning continuing-education credits and paying a maintenance fee. This is the part most comparison pages leave out, and over a career it adds up.

ISC2 fees from its AMF overview; GIAC from its pricing page; OffSec from PEN-200, all read 17 October 2026.

Is there an AI security certification?

AI security is an emerging specialty, and dedicated certifications for it are still young. Vendor tracks and early offerings aimed at securing AI systems are appearing, but none yet carries the weight of the established certifications above, and hiring in the space is still forming. The more useful signal for now is that mainstream exams are absorbing the topic: CompTIA says Security+ V8 adds coverage of AI-related risks. The strongest path into AI security is a foundational certification (Security+ or the Google Cybersecurity Certificate) paired with genuine AI and machine-learning skills. Our best AI certifications guide ranks the AI side.

What is a cybersecurity certification?

A cybersecurity certification is a credential issued by a vendor or professional body that verifies you can perform a defined set of security tasks, earned by passing an exam rather than by completing a degree. Most are valid for three years and renewed with continuing-education credits. A degree signals broad foundational education; a certification signals a specific, current, testable skill set, which is why employers list them by name in job postings.

Three distinctions matter when you choose one. Vendor-neutral certifications (Security+, CISSP) apply across any technology stack; vendor-specific ones (AWS Security) prove depth in one platform. Knowledge-based exams are multiple choice; performance-based ones (OSCP, and the performance-based questions in CompTIA exams) make you do the work. And some carry an experience requirement you must meet before the certification is awarded at all.

Which certifications require work experience?

This is the constraint most people discover too late. Several of the best-known security certifications cannot be earned by passing the exam alone. They require verified professional experience, and until you have it you hold an associate title rather than the credential itself.

The practical read: if you are new, the whole entry and mid tier is open to you today, and the management credentials can still be passed now and awarded later. Sitting CISSP early and holding Associate status is a legitimate strategy, not a workaround.

What jobs can you actually get with these certifications?

A certification does not map to a job title one-for-one, but hiring managers do use specific ones as filters for specific roles. Here is the honest mapping, based on what appears in job postings rather than on what the certifying bodies market.

SOC analyst (tier 1–2) is the most common genuine entry point, and it is where Security+ followed by CySA+ pays off directly: the work is alert triage, log analysis and escalation, which is what CySA+ tests. IT support or sysadmin moving sideways into security is the most realistic path of all, and here Network+ before Security+ is worth the extra exam because most incidents you will investigate are networking problems underneath.

Penetration tester is the role where certification choice matters most, because the market splits: HR filters screen for CEH, while the practitioners interviewing you respect OSCP. If you can only afford one and you want the job rather than the interview, OSCP is the stronger signal. Cloud security engineer increasingly wants CCSP or the AWS Security specialty on top of a general security base. IT audit and GRC roles screen for CISA, and security manager roles for CISSP and CISM, which is also why all three demand five years of experience.

What none of these certifications does on its own is produce a job offer. They move you past automated filters and give an interviewer a shared vocabulary to test you against. The people who convert them into roles almost always pair them with something demonstrable: a home lab, a CTF record, documented incident write-ups, or adjacent IT experience.

What practitioners on Reddit say about choosing a first cert

We read recent threads on r/cybersecurity and r/isc2 where people asked which certification to start with. The advice is consistent enough to summarize:

• Network+ then Security+ is the most-recommended opening sequence for people without networking knowledge; people who already understand networks are told to skip straight to Security+.
• ISC2 CC is seen as a weak hiring signal. Several commenters say they took it only because it was free, and that it is rarely named in job postings. That free route has now closed.
• Do not collect certs for their own sake. The most upvoted pushback in one thread was against stacking certifications that do not match a target role.
• Labs matter as much as the paper. Commenters repeatedly add “and do labs” to any certification list, and Professor Messer’s free videos come up again and again as the study resource of choice.
• CISSP is the “golden” senior cert, but everyone reminds beginners about the five-year experience rule.

Threads read 17 October 2026; summaries are paraphrased and reflect individual opinions, not hiring data.

Free and low-cost ways to get certified

There is no longer a truly free name-brand cybersecurity certification for most people: ISC2’s free CC program has closed to new participants. You can still cut the cost sharply:

• Use free prep. Professor Messer’s Security+ and Network+ video courses are free, and CompTIA and ISC2 publish their exam objectives for free. Most people who pay for an exam do not need to pay for training as well.
• Buy vouchers from authorized partners. CompTIA partners such as Dion Training and Professor Messer list Security+ vouchers below the $439 list price. Buy only from CompTIA’s own store or a partner it lists.
• Ask your employer. Training budgets and tuition reimbursement are common in IT, and GIAC or SANS training is almost always employer-paid.
• Look for free skills certificates first. Our free certifications for your resume guide lists the credible no-cost options, which build skills even if they do not replace Security+.

Cybersecurity career outlook: pay and demand

The economics are the reason this field attracts career changers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for information security analysts was $129,180 in May 2025, across about 192,900 jobs, and employment is projected to grow 21 percent from 2025 to 2035, which the BLS classifies as much faster than average (BLS).

Two honest caveats before you read that as a guarantee. First, the BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for the role, so a certification on its own is the harder path in, not the standard one. It works best paired with adjacent IT experience such as help desk, networking or sysadmin work. Second, a median is a midpoint across the whole occupation, including senior analysts with a decade of experience; entry-level SOC roles commonly pay well below it. Treat $129,180 as the direction of travel, not a starting salary.

Should you take a cybersecurity bootcamp instead?

A certification proves you passed an exam. It does not give you a mentor, a portfolio of lab work, or anyone checking your job applications. Some career changers, particularly those coming from outside IT, want all three and are prepared to pay for them. That is what a bootcamp sells, and it costs thousands of dollars more than any exam on this list.

The one we can describe with numbers checked on the provider’s own page is Springboard’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp. On 5 October 2026 it listed six months part-time at 10 to 20 hours a week, a 1-on-1 mentor and a career coach, 50 labs and a capstone project, and CompTIA Security+ exam preparation built into the curriculum. Tuition was $11,900, or $10,900 paid upfront.

It is one of the Springboard tracks backed by its money-back guarantee: if you finish the program on time, meet the job-search requirements and still do not land a qualifying role within the search period, you get a refund. The terms matter. Eligibility is decided before you enroll, you must be 18 or older and eligible to work in the US (or in Canada for Toronto roles), and during the search you apply to a minimum number of qualifying jobs each week and send Springboard weekly activity reports. Springboard normally asks for a bachelor’s degree, but waives it on this track for applicants with relevant industry experience.

Our view: most readers should take the cheaper route. Security+ studied from free material, plus a help-desk or IT support job, reaches the same first analyst interview for a fraction of the cost. A bootcamp is worth a look only if you have already tried self-study and stalled, you want a fixed six-month plan with someone holding you to it, and the guarantee’s terms fit your situation. Read those terms on Springboard’s page before you apply. Our bootcamp rankings compare it with other programs.

Who should skip a certification for now

Most guides in this category never answer this, which makes them less useful than they look. There are three situations where buying a certification is the wrong next purchase.

If you have no IT foundation at all, a security certification will not give you one. Security work assumes you already understand networking, operating systems and how systems fail. Starting with Network+ or a help-desk role is slower on paper and faster in practice than collecting a credential you cannot yet apply. If you are already employed in security, the marginal value of another entry or mid-level cert is usually lower than a visible project, a conference talk or an internal rotation: certifications are strongest at getting you in and weakest at moving you up.

And if you are chasing the highest-paying certification rather than the one that matches your next role, you will usually waste the money. CISSP tops the salary tables because the people who hold it have five years of security experience and are being paid for the experience, not the acronym. Passing the exam early is a reasonable strategy; expecting the exam alone to move your salary is not.

How we picked these certifications

We rank on employability, not on what pays us. None of the certifying bodies on this page (CompTIA, ISC2, EC-Council, GIAC, OffSec, ISACA, AWS) runs an affiliate program we belong to, so every certification is named here unlinked, on merit alone. Our affiliate links are on the prep courses (Coursera, Udemy, Zero To Mastery) and on the Springboard bootcamp, and each is labeled where it appears. The Google certificate earns its entry-level slot on merit, not because we can link it.

Four things decide the ranking. Employer demand: whether the certification is named in real job postings, which is why Security+ leads the entry tier and CC sits below it. Career stage fit: a credential you cannot be awarded for five years is not a beginner recommendation, however prestigious. Cost against outcome: OSCP is about four times the price of Security+ and earns its place only for people targeting offensive roles. Currency: we check the live exam code with the certifying body before every update, because vendors retire versions on a schedule and a guide recommending a dead exam code costs the reader real money. This update caught three changes: CC is no longer free, CompTIA list prices rose, and the AWS exam moved to SCS-C03.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best cybersecurity certification for beginners?

CompTIA Security+ is the best first job-ready certification for most people, because it is the credential the largest share of U.S. security job postings ask for. The Google Cybersecurity Certificate is a good hands-on step before it, and Network+ helps if networking is new to you.

Is the ISC2 CC certification still free?

No. ISC2 concluded its One Million Certified in Cybersecurity program, so the CC exam now costs 199 dollars plus a 50 dollar annual maintenance fee. Candidates who already hold an unexpired free exam code must use it by 31 December 2026.

Should I wait for Security+ V8 or take SY0-701 now?

Take SY0-701 now if you are already studying for it or need the certification soon; it stays available in English until 11 June 2027. If you have not started and your exam is more than six months away, prepare for V8 (SY0-801), which CompTIA plans to launch on 17 November 2026.

Which cybersecurity certification pays the most?

CISSP and CISM consistently top salary surveys. Both require five years of relevant experience, so they reward people already in the field. OSCP also commands strong pay in offensive-security roles.

Can you get a cybersecurity job with just a certification and no degree?

Yes, but it is the harder route. The BLS lists a bachelor degree as the typical entry education for information security analysts. Security+ plus a home lab, demonstrable projects and an IT support or networking job is the realistic path in without a degree.

Is CEH or OSCP better for penetration testing?

OSCP is a hands-on, 24-hour practical exam and earns more respect among practitioners. CEH has broader name recognition with HR filters but is largely multiple choice. If you can only afford one and want the job, OSCP is the stronger signal.

How much do cybersecurity certifications cost?

Exam fees run from 199 dollars for ISC2 CC to 1,749 dollars for the OSCP course and exam bundle. Security+ lists at 439 dollars and CISSP at 749 dollars. Add study materials and, for ISC2 and ISACA certifications, an annual maintenance fee.

How long does it take to earn a cybersecurity certification?

For Security+, most people study four to twelve weeks part-time. CISSP usually takes two to three months of preparation on top of the required experience, and OSCP can take several months of lab work.

New to IT entirely? Many people start with CompTIA A+ before Security+; our computer repair courses guide covers A+ prep and exam costs.

Related: New to IT altogether? Most of these certifications assume help-desk-level fundamentals first. Our guide to the best IT support courses covers the CompTIA A+ and Google IT Support routes into that first job.

Related: Reverse engineering and malware analysis start with reading assembly. Our guide to the best assembly language courses covers x86 for security work, Paul Chin’s reverse-engineering course and the free OpenSecurityTraining2 classes.

Related guides

• Best cybersecurity courses: build the skills before the exam
• Security+ training: prep for the most-requested cert
• Network+ training: the networking foundation
• CompTIA SecurityX: the advanced hands-on credential
• CCSP certification: the cloud security standard
• Ethical hacking courses: prep toward CEH and beyond
• Pentesting courses: the path to PenTest+ and OSCP
• Digital forensics courses: the DFIR specialty
• Cybersecurity trends: where demand is heading
• Are Google certificates worth it?
• Best programming certifications: if you are weighing a broader tech path
• Udacity Cybersecurity Nanodegree review, plus the Enterprise Security and Security Architect reviews

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