Career paths
Progress counts verified credentials only. A self-reported entry never advances a path, for the same reason it never earns XP.
AWS Cloud
AWS from the practitioner overview through associate architecture and development to the professional architect exam.
- AWS-CLFAWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- AWS-SAAAWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- AWS-DVAAWS Certified Developer – Associate
- AWS-SAPAWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
Next up: AWS-CLF
Cloud Admin
Azure from first principles to architecture. The shortest credible route from no cloud experience to designing solutions.
- AZ-900Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
- AZ-104Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
- AZ-305Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Next up: AZ-900
Cybersecurity Offense
Security fundamentals into penetration testing, then the hands-on OffSec exams that offensive roles actually screen for.
- Security+CompTIA Security+
- PenTest+CompTIA PenTest+
- OSCPOffensive Security Certified Professional
- OSEPOffensive Security Experienced Penetration Tester
Next up: Security+
Data Analyst
Data fundamentals, then Power BI and Fabric for the Microsoft stack, with Tableau to prove the skills transfer.
- DP-900Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
- PL-300Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate
- DP-600Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate
- TABLEAU-DSTableau Desktop Specialist
Next up: DP-900
DevOps
Linux first, then infrastructure as code, Kubernetes and the AWS professional exam that ties delivery and operations together.
- Linux+CompTIA Linux+
- TF-ASSOCHashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate
- CKACertified Kubernetes Administrator
- AWS-DOPAWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
Next up: Linux+
Finance
The three CFA levels in order; the standard route to the charter for investment analysts and portfolio managers.
- CFA-L1CFA Level I
- CFA-L2CFA Level II
- CFA-L3CFA Level III
Next up: CFA-L1
IT Support
The standard first rung: fix the endpoint, understand the network, then learn the cloud tenants everything now lives in.
- A+CompTIA A+
- Network+CompTIA Network+
- MS-900Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals
- AZ-900Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
Next up: A+
MSP Technician
What a managed service provider actually needs on the bench: hardware and networking fundamentals, then the Microsoft 365 and Azure admin work that fills the ticket queue.
- A+CompTIA A+
- Network+CompTIA Network+
- MS-900Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals
- MS-102Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert
- AZ-104Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
Next up: A+
Network
Vendor-neutral networking first, then Cisco's associate and professional track.
- Network+CompTIA Network+
- CCNACisco Certified Network Associate
- CCNP-ENTCisco Certified Network Professional Enterprise
Next up: Network+
People Ops
HR from first job to senior leadership: the HRCI entry credential, then SHRM's professional and senior certifications.
- APHRAssociate Professional in Human Resources
- SHRM-CPSHRM Certified Professional
- SHRM-SCPSHRM Senior Certified Professional
Next up: APHR
Privacy & Compliance
Security basics, then the IAPP privacy law and programme credentials, capped with the security management cert auditors recognise.
- CCISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity
- CIPP-ECertified Information Privacy Professional/Europe
- CIPMCertified Information Privacy Manager
- CISMCertified Information Security Manager
Next up: CC
Project Management
The PMI ladder from associate to PMP, finished with a Scrum credential for teams that deliver iteratively.
- CAPMCertified Associate in Project Management
- PMPProject Management Professional
- PSM-IProfessional Scrum Master I
Next up: CAPM
Security
Defensive security from fundamentals through SOC analysis to the governance credential hiring managers filter on.
- Security+CompTIA Security+
- CySA+CompTIA CySA+
- SC-200Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate
- CISSPCertified Information Systems Security Professional
Next up: Security+