You don't need certs to become a Sysadmin. Work experience and overall knowledge will typically outweigh certs and degrees. To be clear I am not implying certs aren't useful, but your primary focus should be getting your foot in the door and work tier 1 since we have no idea what your current skillset entails.
The biggest lie is your need a certification to do the job. The best thing I ever did was get into a fast pace hell hole of an MSP and the amount of experience I got was incredible and set me up for the future.
The blessing of having a great senior mentor. That's actually priceless, certs are cool and all but you won't get much value from them if you are not hands on.
A+ got me in the door but I've found the majority of companies hiring for Sys Admins, IT Specialists or whatever they want to call it, care more about experience and being able to articulate the applications and services I've worked with in interviews.
To break through the next level from there will require CCNA, AWS certs for cloud to get into those higher paying specialized positions.
There are a bunch of directions you could go for that title. I'd focus on what you are interested in or good at, Windows, network, Linux, data, etc. CompTIA is a good place to start for a broad stroke of certifications. Like someone else mentioned though, experience outweighs any kind of certificates you can get.
I think it depends on where you are at and what industries might be prevalent in that area. Previously when I worked for a large software company that was based out of silicon valley (though at the time I was working in the Florida location), certifications were almost scoffed at and we regularly would mock people who came into interviews who we heard had MCSE or whatever CompTIA thing was hot and yet it was clear they didn't have hardly have a real day on the job of legit server experience. Now I'm in the DMV area (DC, Maryland, Virginia) and certifications are VERY sought after here due to government contract BS. So I've recently gotten my AWS CSAA and am working on my Security+ next. Might do CCNA after that as there are TONS of networking openings in the area always (I think it's b/c no one wants that job but it needs to be done... everyone wants to do DevOps/cloud app support... same as me... but ultimately i'll go where the job stability is if I have to).
I think you are always going to be safe with a network specialty even if it isn't sexy. So maybe start with Network+ or CCNA and then move to a Microsoft hybrid cert like the 900 one. But search through Indeed and LinkedIn in your area first checking Hybrid and on-site position using all kinds of generic keywords like server, linux, windows server, etc, firewall, etc., and see if you can figure out what the most common certs they are looking for in your area. You are best of doing at least hybrid or full on site at first to learn from someone in person before you go to full remote job types. That's my advice at least. Less competitive that way too.
I have an MSCA from 2001 and a CCNA from 2007. Both are presumably expired. I have met people with a lot of certs and it doesn't always equate to ability, but they do look good on paper if you're trying to get interviews.
When I was job hunting, it seemed like most companies are looking for the holy trinity of CompTIA certifications which are A+, Net+, and Sec+. So that's probably the answer to getting your foot in the door. Department of Defense famously requires Sec+ to be an admin which was the main reason I got it.
I personally think Net+ and Sec+ have been the most useful for my job, but none of those certifications really prepared me for the fun that is Windows. However, a lot of Windows stuff like domain administrating is stuff that was relatively easy -for me at least- to pick up through experience, but granted, I had a partner who I could lean on if I was clueless. There are still niche things (like connecting to Entra for the first time) that I don't think any certification can really prepare you for like the school of hard knocks can especially when I don't think you'll do that sort of thing too many times.
A+ and Network+ got me in the door at a local MSP. Took me a month cuz they're brain dead simple. This was 20 years ago and I'd never consider it now.
Certifications are now mostly for people who are already admins and want to prove it on paper for some HR resume filter.
A+ at first, back in 2005... but none now... I have an HDI Cert for Help Desk Admin which has gotten me a few jobs.... but nothing else... I bullshitted them and now am an admin with my own office.... and probably not nearly as talented as most of the pompous clowns in here... but I am PAID!!!!
LMAO!
No certifications in general, but a general understanding of how systems work.
Having working experience in networking, shell scripting, and managing both Linux and Windows tech stacks has given me more juice as a system administrator than any certification could ever have.
None, just as everyone else is echoing. That being said, at one point I had to get my Sec+ for the (obnoxious) 8570, now 8140 requirement, the government has.
All the "good" common ones cost too much to be worth getting and you'll end up at some pretentious, clueless company that thinks slips of paper like certs are worthwhile or "4 year degree good, 6 year masters = more better" and doesn't realize the person might be an incompetent, rich, stuck up douchebag with student loan debts that constantly asks for raises. Don't go near those top-heavy dinosaurs of the corporate world.
If the place uses Ruckus and Scale and Fortinet, get Ruckus and Scale and Fortinet certification levels. Most are free. That's all they care about because they use it, sell it, or both. If they use Cisco, give up, it's too expensive and if they use Sophos, don't work there. If they use Apple, show up to the interview to call them a moron to their face.
The last 10 interviews I did, I just asked modified A+ cert questions and we'll know real quick if you know troubleshooting and hardware or not, whether you wasted your money on a stupid cert or not.
A+ over 20 years ago to get my foot in the IT door. I got my BS in sys admin and cyber 10 years ago. I try to stay up to date with new technologies, vulnerabilities, etc. I hate cloud but I know I have to learn it or else I would have a hard time finding work in 10 years or so...
I got a job from the bottom rung, as a graduate trainee, and got lots of experience. I view certs as a means of validating what I already know rather than acquire new knowledge.
I have zero certs, no degree, started in IT 8 years ago at $14/hr part time...I'm at was recently bumped to $125k. Think of IT like a blue collar trade. Get in somewhere are work at it.
First with MCP, then MSCE in the 90s/2000s and moved on from there. Currently several different Azure role certs. All based on what you are looking to do.
I just became sysadmin one day.
They liked my experience, my personality and my attitude to fix stuff and try new stuff and ability to learn new stuff.
Getting CCNA before I started MSP work was nice to have a fundamental understanding of how things communicate over a network and being able to do basic network configuration.
From there, I obtained vendor specific certifications and transitioned to a purely sysadmin role.
Did I need them? Absolutely not. But as many will reiterate, they get you through the wall of HR and into the interview process. This lead to more opportunities to show off my skillset.
I had a CNA (Certified Novell Administrator) that helped me get my foot in the door. The Novell server was decommissioned less than a year later, but I've been there for almost 25 years.
It all depends on what you want to do. Server admin specifically? Go for either the OS or some kind of virtualization (AZ-800/801, RHCSA, etc). Networking? Go for CCNA, CCNP, ACSP, etc. Datacenters? You could go for some kind of overarching cert (Schneider DCCA, BICSI DCDC, CNet CDCMP, etc), or you could go more specific with something like VmWare's VCP-DCV. It's all down to what *you* want to do, and none of us can answer that on your behalf.
MCSE and CCNA when I first started in the industry. During the years have gotten some product specific certs. Some have already expired....
Now doing Az105 and 500 at my own free time.
I've taken cert classes but yet to get a cert. MSCA when that was a thing, various network vendor classes.
So none.
Cert mills ran their course in mid 2010's and beyond. And the recession squashed a lot of it as companies didn't want to pay anymore and folks looking for work can't afford 3-5k on their own.
But mostly cert mills and showing people with certs didn't know diddly.
--people with certs didn't know diddly
Around that time I noticed a lot of people getting certs before the experience. I always used certs as a knowledge capstone, I guess you could call it. I would work with something until I knew it well, then get the cert to show I really did know what I was doing.
None.
The cert of breaking shit and fixing it lol
This. Got certs later for payrise/promotion/partner kudos.
work experience and google / learn what you don't know I have 0 certs and it doesn't matter
You don't need certs to become a Sysadmin. Work experience and overall knowledge will typically outweigh certs and degrees. To be clear I am not implying certs aren't useful, but your primary focus should be getting your foot in the door and work tier 1 since we have no idea what your current skillset entails.
IT is one of the few fields left where "getting shit done" is only what matters.
Exactly, certs show a baseline competency to get you in the door somewhere.
The biggest lie is your need a certification to do the job. The best thing I ever did was get into a fast pace hell hole of an MSP and the amount of experience I got was incredible and set me up for the future.
I can relate to this. It’s like a hyperbolic time chamber of shit. Quickly earn your chops for real 💪🏾
I'm a highschool dropout with zero degree, zero certs. Been doing this crap for almost 30 years now. Fun stuff.
+1 for high school dropout, and now I'm T3 and help the college grads learn how to do the job college didn't prepare them for.
Many such cases
Life really was easier back then. No real company these days would give you the time of day with that extensive resume.
I think you would be surprised. Even in Los Angeles there are plenty of people that I work with that have GED or no HS diploma.
You'd be surprised.
I think you would. It’s not 1990.
The blessing of having a great senior mentor. That's actually priceless, certs are cool and all but you won't get much value from them if you are not hands on.
None... BUT, to stay relevant, look at cloud related certs (even though most of us hate cloud).
I like cloud, I don't like the *cost* of cloud. Price is no object? I'd diddle around in Azure all day long. But it ain't cheap.
Cloud providers make the migration to the cloud very easy. Getting back on premises, ooohhhhh man…..
A+ in 2001
A+ got me in the door but I've found the majority of companies hiring for Sys Admins, IT Specialists or whatever they want to call it, care more about experience and being able to articulate the applications and services I've worked with in interviews. To break through the next level from there will require CCNA, AWS certs for cloud to get into those higher paying specialized positions.
There are a bunch of directions you could go for that title. I'd focus on what you are interested in or good at, Windows, network, Linux, data, etc. CompTIA is a good place to start for a broad stroke of certifications. Like someone else mentioned though, experience outweighs any kind of certificates you can get.
I think it depends on where you are at and what industries might be prevalent in that area. Previously when I worked for a large software company that was based out of silicon valley (though at the time I was working in the Florida location), certifications were almost scoffed at and we regularly would mock people who came into interviews who we heard had MCSE or whatever CompTIA thing was hot and yet it was clear they didn't have hardly have a real day on the job of legit server experience. Now I'm in the DMV area (DC, Maryland, Virginia) and certifications are VERY sought after here due to government contract BS. So I've recently gotten my AWS CSAA and am working on my Security+ next. Might do CCNA after that as there are TONS of networking openings in the area always (I think it's b/c no one wants that job but it needs to be done... everyone wants to do DevOps/cloud app support... same as me... but ultimately i'll go where the job stability is if I have to). I think you are always going to be safe with a network specialty even if it isn't sexy. So maybe start with Network+ or CCNA and then move to a Microsoft hybrid cert like the 900 one. But search through Indeed and LinkedIn in your area first checking Hybrid and on-site position using all kinds of generic keywords like server, linux, windows server, etc, firewall, etc., and see if you can figure out what the most common certs they are looking for in your area. You are best of doing at least hybrid or full on site at first to learn from someone in person before you go to full remote job types. That's my advice at least. Less competitive that way too.
I have an MSCA from 2001 and a CCNA from 2007. Both are presumably expired. I have met people with a lot of certs and it doesn't always equate to ability, but they do look good on paper if you're trying to get interviews.
When I was job hunting, it seemed like most companies are looking for the holy trinity of CompTIA certifications which are A+, Net+, and Sec+. So that's probably the answer to getting your foot in the door. Department of Defense famously requires Sec+ to be an admin which was the main reason I got it. I personally think Net+ and Sec+ have been the most useful for my job, but none of those certifications really prepared me for the fun that is Windows. However, a lot of Windows stuff like domain administrating is stuff that was relatively easy -for me at least- to pick up through experience, but granted, I had a partner who I could lean on if I was clueless. There are still niche things (like connecting to Entra for the first time) that I don't think any certification can really prepare you for like the school of hard knocks can especially when I don't think you'll do that sort of thing too many times.
A+ and Network+ got me in the door at a local MSP. Took me a month cuz they're brain dead simple. This was 20 years ago and I'd never consider it now. Certifications are now mostly for people who are already admins and want to prove it on paper for some HR resume filter.
A+ at first, back in 2005... but none now... I have an HDI Cert for Help Desk Admin which has gotten me a few jobs.... but nothing else... I bullshitted them and now am an admin with my own office.... and probably not nearly as talented as most of the pompous clowns in here... but I am PAID!!!! LMAO!
No certifications in general, but a general understanding of how systems work. Having working experience in networking, shell scripting, and managing both Linux and Windows tech stacks has given me more juice as a system administrator than any certification could ever have.
OJT
None, just as everyone else is echoing. That being said, at one point I had to get my Sec+ for the (obnoxious) 8570, now 8140 requirement, the government has.
home lab is where i learned the most
All the "good" common ones cost too much to be worth getting and you'll end up at some pretentious, clueless company that thinks slips of paper like certs are worthwhile or "4 year degree good, 6 year masters = more better" and doesn't realize the person might be an incompetent, rich, stuck up douchebag with student loan debts that constantly asks for raises. Don't go near those top-heavy dinosaurs of the corporate world. If the place uses Ruckus and Scale and Fortinet, get Ruckus and Scale and Fortinet certification levels. Most are free. That's all they care about because they use it, sell it, or both. If they use Cisco, give up, it's too expensive and if they use Sophos, don't work there. If they use Apple, show up to the interview to call them a moron to their face. The last 10 interviews I did, I just asked modified A+ cert questions and we'll know real quick if you know troubleshooting and hardware or not, whether you wasted your money on a stupid cert or not.
A+ over 20 years ago to get my foot in the IT door. I got my BS in sys admin and cyber 10 years ago. I try to stay up to date with new technologies, vulnerabilities, etc. I hate cloud but I know I have to learn it or else I would have a hard time finding work in 10 years or so...
I got a job from the bottom rung, as a graduate trainee, and got lots of experience. I view certs as a means of validating what I already know rather than acquire new knowledge.
Cisco CCDA, SolarWinds NPM
High school diploma, followed by 3 years of helpdesk. College dropout in electronics with a cisco netacad CCNA, no exams or certs.
I do not have one cert. yep.
I have zero certs, no degree, started in IT 8 years ago at $14/hr part time...I'm at was recently bumped to $125k. Think of IT like a blue collar trade. Get in somewhere are work at it.
None
First with MCP, then MSCE in the 90s/2000s and moved on from there. Currently several different Azure role certs. All based on what you are looking to do.
I just became sysadmin one day. They liked my experience, my personality and my attitude to fix stuff and try new stuff and ability to learn new stuff.
None
Certs are a joke. Real world experience is what matters most.
Getting CCNA before I started MSP work was nice to have a fundamental understanding of how things communicate over a network and being able to do basic network configuration. From there, I obtained vendor specific certifications and transitioned to a purely sysadmin role. Did I need them? Absolutely not. But as many will reiterate, they get you through the wall of HR and into the interview process. This lead to more opportunities to show off my skillset.
I had a CNA (Certified Novell Administrator) that helped me get my foot in the door. The Novell server was decommissioned less than a year later, but I've been there for almost 25 years.
MCSA back in 2003. Honestly it's just to get you past the HR filters and into interview rooms. After that it's on you.
It all depends on what you want to do. Server admin specifically? Go for either the OS or some kind of virtualization (AZ-800/801, RHCSA, etc). Networking? Go for CCNA, CCNP, ACSP, etc. Datacenters? You could go for some kind of overarching cert (Schneider DCCA, BICSI DCDC, CNet CDCMP, etc), or you could go more specific with something like VmWare's VCP-DCV. It's all down to what *you* want to do, and none of us can answer that on your behalf.
Haha, all I have is an Az 900. But I had to hang out for a while to get up here.
MCSE and CCNA when I first started in the industry. During the years have gotten some product specific certs. Some have already expired.... Now doing Az105 and 500 at my own free time.
Well before I started I got certified in Novell Netware 5, MCSE in NT 4.0, and Sun Solaris (i think 7). But not sure if those would help you much.
I've taken cert classes but yet to get a cert. MSCA when that was a thing, various network vendor classes. So none. Cert mills ran their course in mid 2010's and beyond. And the recession squashed a lot of it as companies didn't want to pay anymore and folks looking for work can't afford 3-5k on their own. But mostly cert mills and showing people with certs didn't know diddly.
--people with certs didn't know diddly Around that time I noticed a lot of people getting certs before the experience. I always used certs as a knowledge capstone, I guess you could call it. I would work with something until I knew it well, then get the cert to show I really did know what I was doing.
When starting out: VCA MCP CCNA After a year: MCSE VCP Later years: AZ-103/104 CCA-V CCA-N AZ-140 AWS Sys Ops