Certifications Cheatsheets

Why Certifications Matter

Professional certifications validate your skills and knowledge in specific technology areas. They provide:

Credibility: Industry-recognized proof of competency
Career Advancement: Higher salaries and better positions
Knowledge Structure: Systematic learning path
Networking: Access to professional communities
Continuous Learning: Stay current with technology trends

Google Certifications

Google Career Certificates

Google offers comprehensive, job-ready training programs that can be completed in 3-6 months.

Google IT Support Certificate

Duration: 6 months (10 hours/week)
Cost: $39/month (Coursera)
Skills: Troubleshooting, customer service, networking, operating systems
Job Roles: IT Support Specialist, Help Desk Technician
Link: Google IT Support Certificate

Google Data Analytics Certificate

Duration: 6 months (10 hours/week)
Cost: $39/month (Coursera)
Skills: SQL, R programming, Tableau, data visualization
Job Roles: Data Analyst, Business Analyst
Link: Google Data Analytics Certificate

Google UX Design Certificate

Duration: 6 months (10 hours/week)
Cost: $39/month (Coursera)
Skills: User research, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing
Job Roles: UX Designer, UI Designer
Link: Google UX Design Certificate

Google Project Management Certificate

Duration: 6 months (10 hours/week)
Cost: $39/month (Coursera)
Skills: Agile, Scrum, risk management, stakeholder communication
Job Roles: Project Manager, Program Manager
Link: Google Project Management Certificate

CompTIA Certifications

CompTIA A+ (220-1101 & 220-1102)

Entry-level IT certification covering hardware and software fundamentals.

What It Covers

Hardware: CPUs, RAM, storage, motherboards, power supplies
Operating Systems: Windows, Linux, macOS installation and troubleshooting
Networking: Basic network concepts, protocols, wireless technologies
Security: Physical security, malware, authentication
Mobile Devices: Smartphones, tablets, troubleshooting
Virtualization: Hypervisors, VMs, cloud computing

Study Resources

Official Study Guide: CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide
Practice Tests: CompTIA CertMaster Practice
Video Training: Professor Messer (free), Mike Meyers (Udemy)
Hands-on Labs: TryHackMe, Cybrary

Exam Details

Cost: $246 per exam (2 exams required)
Duration: 90 minutes each
Questions: 90 multiple choice and performance-based
Passing Score: 675/900 (220-1101), 700/900 (220-1102)
Validity: 3 years

CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)

Intermediate cybersecurity certification covering security fundamentals.

What It Covers

Threats, Attacks & Vulnerabilities: Malware, social engineering, attack vectors
Architecture & Design: Security controls, secure network design
Implementation: Identity management, PKI, cryptography
Operations & Incident Response: Security monitoring, incident handling
Governance, Risk & Compliance: Policies, risk management, compliance

Study Resources

Official Study Guide: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide
Video Training: Professor Messer (free), Jason Dion (Udemy)
Practice Labs: TryHackMe, HackTheBox
Books: “CompTIA Security+ All-in-One Exam Guide”

Exam Details

Cost: $392
Duration: 90 minutes
Questions: 90 multiple choice and performance-based
Passing Score: 750/900
Validity: 3 years

CompTIA Network+ (N10-008)

Intermediate networking certification covering network technologies and troubleshooting.

What It Covers

Networking Concepts: OSI model, protocols, topologies
Infrastructure: Cabling, wireless, cloud concepts
Network Operations: Monitoring, optimization, troubleshooting
Network Security: Threats, vulnerabilities, security controls
Network Troubleshooting: Methodologies, tools, common issues

Study Resources

Official Study Guide: CompTIA Network+ Study Guide
Video Training: Professor Messer (free), Mike Meyers (Udemy)
Lab Practice: Packet Tracer, GNS3, physical labs
Books: “CompTIA Network+ All-in-One Exam Guide”

Exam Details

Cost: $358
Duration: 90 minutes
Questions: 90 multiple choice and performance-based
Passing Score: 720/900
Validity: 3 years

CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003)

Advanced cybersecurity certification focusing on security analytics and incident response.

What It Covers

Security Operations: Monitoring, analysis, threat hunting
Vulnerability Management: Assessment, prioritization, remediation
Incident Response: Detection, analysis, containment, recovery
Compliance & Assessment: Risk assessment, compliance frameworks
Software & Systems Security: Secure development, system hardening

Study Resources

Official Study Guide: CompTIA CySA+ Study Guide
Video Training: Jason Dion (Udemy), Cybrary
Hands-on Labs: TryHackMe, HackTheBox, Blue Team Labs
Books: “CompTIA CySA+ All-in-One Exam Guide”

Exam Details

Cost: $392
Duration: 165 minutes
Questions: 85 multiple choice and performance-based
Passing Score: 750/900
Validity: 3 years

Cloud Certifications

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Level: Foundational
Duration: 90 minutes
Cost: $100
Skills: Cloud concepts, AWS services, security, billing
Prerequisites: None
Link: AWS Cloud Practitioner

AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate

Level: Associate
Duration: 130 minutes
Cost: $150
Skills: Design distributed systems, AWS services, security
Prerequisites: 1+ years AWS experience
Link: AWS Solutions Architect Associate

AWS Certified Developer - Associate

Level: Associate
Duration: 130 minutes
Cost: $150
Skills: Develop AWS applications, serverless, CI/CD
Prerequisites: 1+ years AWS development experience
Link: AWS Developer Associate

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate

Level: Associate
Duration: 180 minutes
Cost: $150
Skills: Deploy, manage, operate AWS systems
Prerequisites: 1+ years AWS operations experience
Link: AWS SysOps Administrator

AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional

Level: Professional
Duration: 180 minutes
Cost: $300
Skills: Advanced architecture, complex solutions, migration
Prerequisites: AWS Solutions Architect Associate + 2+ years experience
Link: AWS Solutions Architect Professional

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional

Level: Professional
Duration: 180 minutes
Cost: $300
Skills: CI/CD, automation, monitoring, security
Prerequisites: AWS Developer or SysOps Associate + 2+ years experience
Link: AWS DevOps Engineer Professional

AWS Certified Security - Specialty

Level: Specialty
Duration: 170 minutes
Cost: $300
Skills: Security controls, data protection, incident response
Prerequisites: 5+ years IT security experience
Link: AWS Security Specialty

Microsoft Azure

Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

Level: Foundational
Duration: 60 minutes
Cost: $99
Skills: Cloud concepts, Azure services, security, compliance
Prerequisites: None
Link: Azure Fundamentals

Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)

Level: Associate
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $165
Skills: Manage Azure subscriptions, resources, virtual networks
Prerequisites: 6+ months Azure administration experience
Link: Azure Administrator Associate

Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204)

Level: Associate
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $165
Skills: Develop Azure solutions, serverless, containers
Prerequisites: 1-2 years Azure development experience
Link: Azure Developer Associate

Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)

Level: Expert
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $165
Skills: Design Azure solutions, migration, security
Prerequisites: Azure Administrator or Developer Associate
Link: Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500)

Level: Associate
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $165
Skills: Security controls, identity, data protection
Prerequisites: 1-2 years Azure security experience
Link: Azure Security Engineer

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

Google Cloud Digital Leader

Level: Foundational
Duration: 90 minutes
Cost: $99
Skills: Cloud concepts, Google Cloud services, digital transformation
Prerequisites: None
Link: Google Cloud Digital Leader

Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer

Level: Associate
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $125
Skills: Deploy applications, monitor operations, manage resources
Prerequisites: 6+ months Google Cloud experience
Link: Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer

Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect

Level: Professional
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $200
Skills: Design cloud solutions, migration, security
Prerequisites: 3+ years industry experience, 1+ year Google Cloud
Link: Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect

Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer

Level: Professional
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $200
Skills: Data processing, machine learning, analytics
Prerequisites: 3+ years industry experience, 1+ year Google Cloud
Link: Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer

Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer

Level: Professional
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $200
Skills: ML model development, deployment, monitoring
Prerequisites: 3+ years ML experience, 1+ year Google Cloud
Link: Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer

AI/ML Certifications

Machine Learning & AI

AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty

Level: Specialty
Duration: 180 minutes
Cost: $300
Skills: ML algorithms, SageMaker, model deployment
Prerequisites: 2+ years ML/MLOps experience
Link: AWS ML Specialty

Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)

Level: Associate
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $165
Skills: AI solutions, Cognitive Services, Bot Framework
Prerequisites: 1-2 years Azure AI experience
Link: Azure AI Engineer

Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100)

Level: Associate
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $165
Skills: Data science, ML pipelines, model training
Prerequisites: 1-2 years data science experience
Link: Azure Data Scientist

Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer

Level: Professional
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $200
Skills: ML model development, deployment, monitoring
Prerequisites: 3+ years ML experience, 1+ year Google Cloud
Link: Google Cloud ML Engineer

Data Science & Analytics

AWS Certified Data Analytics - Specialty

Level: Specialty
Duration: 180 minutes
Cost: $300
Skills: Data collection, storage, processing, analysis
Prerequisites: 5+ years data analytics experience
Link: AWS Data Analytics Specialty

Microsoft Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203)

Level: Associate
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $165
Skills: Data processing, storage, analytics solutions
Prerequisites: 1-2 years Azure data engineering experience
Link: Azure Data Engineer

Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer

Level: Professional
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $200
Skills: Data processing, machine learning, analytics
Prerequisites: 3+ years industry experience, 1+ year Google Cloud
Link: Google Cloud Data Engineer

Security Certifications

Cloud Security

AWS Certified Security - Specialty

Level: Specialty
Duration: 170 minutes
Cost: $300
Skills: Security controls, data protection, incident response
Prerequisites: 5+ years IT security experience
Link: AWS Security Specialty

Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500)

Level: Associate
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $165
Skills: Security controls, identity, data protection
Prerequisites: 1-2 years Azure security experience
Link: Azure Security Engineer

Google Cloud Professional Security Engineer

Level: Professional
Duration: 120 minutes
Cost: $200
Skills: Security controls, identity, data protection
Prerequisites: 3+ years security experience, 1+ year Google Cloud
Link: Google Cloud Security Engineer

Cybersecurity Specializations

CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)

Level: Advanced
Duration: 6 hours
Cost: $749
Skills: Security architecture, risk management, governance
Prerequisites: 5+ years security experience
Link: CISSP Certification

CISM (Certified Information Security Manager)

Level: Management
Duration: 4 hours
Cost: $575
Skills: Security management, governance, risk assessment
Prerequisites: 5+ years security management experience
Link: CISM Certification

CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor)

Level: Audit
Duration: 4 hours
Cost: $575
Skills: IT auditing, risk assessment, compliance
Prerequisites: 5+ years IT audit experience
Link: CISA Certification

Western Governors University (WGU)

Why WGU for IT Education

Competency-Based: Learn at your own pace, accelerate if you can
Affordable: Flat-rate tuition per term (~$3,500-4,000)
Industry Certifications: Many programs include CompTIA, Cisco, AWS certs
Flexible: 100% online, start any month
Accredited: Regionally accredited, recognized by employers

IT Programs at WGU

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

Duration: 2-4 years (self-paced)
Certifications Included: CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, CySA+, Project+
Skills: Network security, risk management, incident response
Cost: ~$3,500-4,000 per 6-month term
Link: WGU Cybersecurity Program

Bachelor of Science in Cloud Computing

Duration: 2-4 years (self-paced)
Certifications Included: AWS, Microsoft Azure, CompTIA Cloud+
Skills: Cloud architecture, security, automation
Cost: ~$3,500-4,000 per 6-month term
Link: WGU Cloud Computing Program

Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

Duration: 1-2 years (self-paced)
Certifications Included: EC-Council CEH, CompTIA PenTest+
Skills: Advanced security, penetration testing, governance
Cost: ~$3,500-4,000 per 6-month term
Link: WGU Cybersecurity Master’s

Study Strategies

General Approach

Assessment: Take practice tests to identify knowledge gaps
Study Plan: Create timeline with specific goals
Hands-on Practice: Use labs and real-world scenarios
Review: Regular review sessions and practice tests
Exam Prep: Final review and exam simulation

Resources by Certification

CompTIA A+

Professor Messer: Free video series
Mike Meyers: Comprehensive Udemy course
CompTIA CertMaster: Official practice questions
Lab Practice: Build and troubleshoot computers

CompTIA Security+

Professor Messer: Free video series
Jason Dion: Udemy course with practice tests
TryHackMe: Hands-on security labs
Books: “CompTIA Security+ All-in-One Exam Guide”

CompTIA Network+

Professor Messer: Free video series
Mike Meyers: Udemy course
Packet Tracer: Cisco network simulation
Physical Labs: Set up home lab with routers/switches

CompTIA CySA+

Jason Dion: Udemy course
Blue Team Labs: Incident response practice
TryHackMe: Security analyst paths
Books: “CompTIA CySA+ All-in-One Exam Guide”

Career Pathways

Entry Level (A+)

IT Support Specialist
Help Desk Technician
Desktop Support Analyst
Salary Range: $35,000-55,000

Intermediate (Security+, Network+)

Security Analyst
Network Administrator
Systems Administrator
Salary Range: $50,000-80,000

Advanced (CySA+, Advanced Certs)

Security Engineer
Incident Response Analyst
Security Consultant
Salary Range: $70,000-120,000

Maintenance and Renewal

CompTIA Continuing Education

CEUs: Continuing Education Units required
Activities: Training, conferences, teaching, additional certs
Cost: $50 annual maintenance fee
Timeline: 3-year renewal cycle

Google Certificates

No Renewal: Certificates don’t expire
Updates: Stay current with new course versions
Portfolio: Build projects to demonstrate skills

WGU Degrees

No Renewal: Degrees are permanent
Continuing Education: Pursue additional certifications
Alumni Network: Access to professional development resources

Remember: Certifications are stepping stones, not destinations. Combine them with hands-on experience, projects, and continuous learning for maximum career impact.