Compare 120+ professional certifications worldwide. Salary data, exam costs, pass rates and step-by-step guides. Updated 2026.
From cloud computing to government licenses — find every credential that matters
A professional certification is a credential awarded by an authoritative industry body that validates a person's skills, knowledge, and expertise in a specific domain. Unlike academic degrees, professional certifications are employer-recognised, regularly updated to reflect industry standards, and directly tied to salary premiums of 20–40%.
Real salary premiums certified professionals earn over non-certified peers — 2026 data
Exam cost, difficulty, salary, exam format and pass rate — instantly compared
Example: AWS SAA vs Azure AZ-104
| Feature | AWS SAA | AZ-104 |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Cost | $300 | $165 |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Exam Duration | 130 min | 120 min |
| Validity | 3 years | 3 years |
| Pass Rate | ~65% | ~72% |
| Avg Global Salary | $130K+ | $110K+ |
| Exam Format | MCQ | MCQ |
| Prerequisites | Recommended | Recommended |
Salary data, exam costs and top credentials localised for your market
From November 2025, SAP moved all certifications to scenario-based open-book format. We have the only fully updated 2026 preparation guides covering the new practical exam model. All old MCQ prep material is now obsolete.
Read the Full SAP 2026 Guide →Choose your career goal — we'll map the right certification path for you
Answers to the most searched certification questions worldwide
The CFA Charter (all 3 levels combined) offers the highest salary potential, with global compensation reaching $150K–$250K. In the IT domain, AWS Solutions Architect Professional and Google Cloud Professional Architect both command $175K–$180K globally. CISSP follows closely at $170K+.
Most candidates need 60–80 hours of study time spread over 6–10 weeks. With prior cloud experience, this can reduce to 4–6 weeks. The exam consists of 65 questions over 130 minutes with a passing score of 720/1000.
Yes — PMP remains one of the most globally recognized project management credentials. Certified PMPs earn 16–20% more than non-certified project managers. The average PMP-certified professional earns $120K–$140K in the USA and ₹18–40 LPA in India.
CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert) is widely considered the hardest IT certification, with less than 3% of engineers holding it. OSCP and CISSP are also regarded as highly challenging, requiring extensive practical experience alongside theoretical knowledge.
AWS has the largest market share (31%) and highest job count — ideal for most beginners. Azure is best if you work in enterprise Microsoft environments. Google Cloud is fastest-growing but has fewer entry-level roles. Start with AWS Cloud Practitioner (CCP) as a universal foundation, then specialise based on your employer's cloud provider.
The CISSP exam costs $699 USD. To maintain the certification, you pay an Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF) of $125/year. Training courses from official (ISC)² partners typically range from $2,000–$4,000. The total first-year investment is approximately $3,000–$5,000.
Best beginner certifications include: AWS Cloud Practitioner ($100, foundational), CompTIA A+ ($253, IT support), Google Data Analytics Certificate ($49/month on Coursera), AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals ($165), and ITIL 4 Foundation ($345). All are achievable within 1–3 months of part-time study.