Cybersecurity Certifications Guide
Cybersecurity certifications validate your knowledge to employers and provide structure for what to learn. This guide covers the most relevant certifications for career changers — from beginner-friendly to advanced — with honest assessments of cost, difficulty, and employer demand.
Individual results vary based on location, experience, market conditions, and effort invested.
Certification Guides
Certification Progression Path
From beginner to advanced — the recommended order for career changers
The Certification Landscape
Section titled “The Certification Landscape”There are hundreds of cybersecurity certifications. Most career changers need far fewer than they think. The key is choosing certifications that align with where you are starting, where you want to work, and what your target employers actually require.
This guide focuses on the certifications that appear most frequently in job postings and deliver the clearest return on the time and money invested.
When I first started researching cybersecurity certifications, I genuinely thought I’d need to collect a dozen of them before anyone would take me seriously. I was coming from aged care work in Adelaide and delivery driving in Sydney — I had zero IT credentials, and every job listing seemed to want a different acronym. It was paralysing. The turning point was realising that most entry-level roles really only ask for two or three certs, and that I could build a focused path instead of trying to tick every box. That single insight saved me months of scattered studying and a lot of unnecessary stress.
Beginner Certifications
Section titled “Beginner Certifications”These certifications are appropriate if you are starting with no IT experience or minimal experience.
CompTIA A+
Section titled “CompTIA A+”What it is: Foundational IT certification covering hardware, operating systems, networking, and troubleshooting. Not a security certification, but the knowledge base security work requires.
Who it is for: Career changers with no prior IT experience.
Exams: Two exams — Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102)
Cost: Approximately $253 USD per exam voucher (~$506 total) as of March 2026. Verify at comptia.org.
Study time: 3–5 months at 8–10 hours per week from zero IT background.
Difficulty: Moderate for non-IT backgrounds. High volume of content to learn.
Employer demand: Strong for IT Support, Help Desk, and SOC Analyst Tier 1 roles.
See the CompTIA A+ Study Guide for full detail.
CompTIA Security+
Section titled “CompTIA Security+”What it is: The most widely requested entry-level cybersecurity certification. Covers threats, vulnerabilities, architecture, implementation, operations, and governance.
Who it is for: People who have A+ (or equivalent IT experience) and want to move into security specifically.
Exam: One exam — SY0-701 (current version as of 2026)
Cost: Approximately $404 USD as of March 2026. Verify at comptia.org.
Study time: 2–4 months at 8–10 hours per week if you have A+ knowledge.
Difficulty: Moderate. More conceptual than A+, with scenario-based questions.
Employer demand: Very high. Security+ is listed in more entry-level cybersecurity job postings than any other certification. It is required by the US Department of Defense for many roles (DoD 8570/8140 compliance).
Why it matters: Security+ is the inflection point where many employers start taking your security resume seriously.
Google Cybersecurity Certificate
Section titled “Google Cybersecurity Certificate”What it is: A certificate program hosted on Coursera, created by Google. Eight courses covering security foundations, threat analysis, SIEM tools, and Python scripting basics.
Who it is for: Absolute beginners who want a structured, affordable starting point before committing to CompTIA exams.
Cost: Approximately $49 USD/month on Coursera (most people complete it in 3–6 months). Financial aid available.
Study time: 3–6 months depending on pace.
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly. Less technically demanding than CompTIA certifications.
Employer demand: Growing recognition, but not equivalent to Security+ in employer requirements. Most useful as a foundation before pursuing Security+.
ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
Section titled “ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)”What it is: An entry-level certification from ISC2, the organization behind CISSP. Covers security principles, access controls, network security, incident response, and security operations.
Who it is for: Beginners who want a reputable entry-level certification. ISC2 periodically offers the CC exam and training for free — check their website for current offers.
Cost: Exam has been offered free of charge through ISC2’s “One Million Certified in Cybersecurity” initiative (verify current status at isc2.org). Annual membership fee required to maintain.
Study time: 4–8 weeks for people with some foundational knowledge.
Difficulty: Easier than Security+. Good confidence-builder.
Employer demand: Moderate. Less widely recognized than Security+ but from a prestigious vendor.
Intermediate Certifications
Section titled “Intermediate Certifications”Pursue these after completing Security+, with some hands-on experience or dedicated lab practice.
CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003)
Section titled “CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003)”What it is: Cybersecurity Analyst certification focused on threat detection, analysis, and response. Covers behavioral analytics, SIEM use, vulnerability management, and incident response.
Who it is for: People targeting SOC Analyst, Threat Analyst, or Security Operations roles.
Cost: Approximately $404 USD as of March 2026. Verify at comptia.org.
Study time: 2–4 months with Security+ background.
Difficulty: Moderate-hard. Requires analytical thinking and hands-on tool familiarity.
Employer demand: High for SOC and blue team roles. Directly aligned with what SOC analysts do daily.
CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
Section titled “CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)”What it is: EC-Council’s ethical hacking certification. Covers attack phases, hacking tools, and methodologies.
Who it is for: People targeting penetration testing or red team roles.
Cost: Approximately $1,199 USD for the exam and courseware package (verify at eccouncil.org).
Study time: 2–4 months.
Difficulty: Moderate. More memorization-based than skill-based compared to practical certifications.
Employer demand: Recognized in many job postings, but the security community often views it as less rigorous than OSCP. Government and compliance-oriented employers often require it.
Note: The eJPT (eLearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester) at ~$200 from INE is widely considered a better value for beginners entering offensive security.
Advanced Certifications
Section titled “Advanced Certifications”These require significant experience and/or intensive preparation. Do not pursue these as a first certification.
CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
Section titled “CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)”What it is: ISC2’s premier security management certification. Covers eight domains including security and risk management, asset security, software development security, and more.
Who it is for: Experienced security professionals moving into management or senior architect roles. ISC2 requires five years of paid work experience in two or more CISSP domains.
Cost: Approximately $749 USD as of March 2026. Verify at isc2.org.
Study time: 3–6 months of intensive study for experienced professionals.
Difficulty: Very high. Requires broad, deep knowledge across all domains.
Employer demand: Extremely high for senior and management roles. Often listed as preferred or required for security manager, director, and CISO-track positions.
OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)
Section titled “OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)”What it is: Offensive Security’s practical penetration testing certification. A 24-hour exam where you must compromise machines in a controlled lab environment.
Who it is for: Penetration testers. Requires strong Linux, scripting, and networking knowledge before starting.
Cost: Approximately $1,499 USD for the PEN-200 course + exam attempt. Verify at offsec.com.
Study time: 3–12 months depending on experience level.
Difficulty: Very high. Considered the gold standard for penetration testing certifications.
Employer demand: Very high for penetration testing roles specifically.
Recommended Order for Career Changers
Section titled “Recommended Order for Career Changers”For most career changers with no IT background:
CompTIA A+ (Core 1 + Core 2) → CompTIA Security+ → Choose your path: Blue Team / SOC: CompTIA CySA+ Red Team / Pen Test: eJPT → PenTest+ → OSCP GRC / Management: ISC2 CC → CISSP (after 5 years experience)If you have prior IT experience, you may skip A+ and begin with Security+.
Before you start studying, verify your materials match the current exam objectives. Exam codes change every few years, and studying for an outdated version wastes time and money:
# Verify your study materials match current exam objectives# Always check comptia.org for the latest exam codes:# A+: 220-1101 (Core 1) and 220-1102 (Core 2)# Security+: SY0-701# CySA+: CS0-003# Network+: N10-009
# Quick way to check your CompTIA account status# Visit: https://login.comptia.orgWith so many certifications to choose from, the hardest part is knowing what order to tackle them in. This tracker maps the full certification path so you can focus on one step at a time.
Career Roadmap & Study TrackerAvailable Now
Step-by-step roadmap with study tracker worksheets and certification decision framework.
Return on Investment
Section titled “Return on Investment”Certification costs add up. Here is an honest framing of the ROI question:
Certifications increase hiring probability at the entry level because many employers use them as screening filters. Security+ in particular opens doors that are otherwise closed to career changers.
Certifications do not guarantee employment. The job market for cybersecurity varies by location, economic conditions, and what skills employers in your area specifically need.
Cost vs. benefit: A+ + Security+ together cost approximately $900 in exam vouchers plus study materials. If they accelerate your entry into a cybersecurity role by even six months, the ROI is substantial at typical entry-level salaries.
Study before spending. Do not purchase exam vouchers until you are consistently scoring 80%+ on practice exams.
Salary and employment data referenced from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and industry surveys. Verify current data at bls.gov. Individual results vary based on location, experience, market conditions, and effort invested.
Certifications in the Australian Market
Section titled “Certifications in the Australian Market”CompTIA certifications are widely recognised in Australia and appear frequently in job listings on Seek and LinkedIn AU. However, the Australian market does not have a direct equivalent to the US Department of Defense mandate that makes Security+ a hard requirement. In practice, Australian employers treat Security+ as strong evidence of foundational knowledge rather than a mandatory credential. This means that hands-on experience, lab work, and demonstrable skills carry relatively more weight in Australian hiring compared to the US market.
For professionals targeting Australian Government or defence work, the Information Security Registered Assessors Program (IRAP) is particularly significant. IRAP assessors are authorised by the ASD to evaluate the security posture of systems against Australian Government security standards, including the Information Security Manual (ISM). Becoming an IRAP assessor requires substantial experience, but awareness of the program and its role in government procurement is valuable even at the entry level. The ASD Essential Eight mitigation strategies are referenced extensively in Australian government and enterprise security, and employers value candidates who understand how to assess and implement these controls.
Approximate Australian pricing for key certifications (as of early 2026, subject to exchange rate fluctuations): CompTIA A+ is approximately AUD $380 per exam (approximately AUD $760 total for both exams), CompTIA Security+ is approximately AUD $620, and CISSP is approximately AUD $1,150. CompTIA exam vouchers can be purchased in AUD through authorised Australian resellers. Budget for potential exchange rate movements when planning certification expenses.
Major Australian employers hiring cybersecurity professionals include the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), the Department of Defence, the Australian Federal Police, Big Four consulting firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG), telecommunications companies (Telstra, Optus), the major banks (Commonwealth Bank, NAB, ANZ, Westpac), and specialist cybersecurity firms such as CyberCX and Tesserent. Government roles are advertised on APS Jobs (apsjobs.gov.au) and typically require Australian citizenship and a security clearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cybersecurity certification for beginners?
CompTIA Security+ is the most widely requested entry-level security certification. Start with CompTIA A+ first if you have no IT background.
How much does CompTIA Security+ cost?
Approximately $404 USD for the exam voucher as of March 2026. Budget up to $900 including study materials and a potential retake. Verify at comptia.org.
Is CompTIA A+ necessary before Security+?
Not strictly required, but strongly recommended for career changers. A+ builds the IT foundations that Security+ assumes you already know.
How long should I study for Security+?
2 to 4 months at 8 to 10 hours per week if you have A+ knowledge. Add 3 to 5 months if starting from scratch (study A+ first).
Are cybersecurity certifications worth the money?
Yes, at the entry level. Security+ in particular opens doors that are otherwise closed to career changers. Employers use it as a screening filter.
What is the difference between Security+ and CySA+?
Security+ covers broad security fundamentals. CySA+ focuses specifically on threat detection, SIEM use, and SOC operations. CySA+ is the next step after Security+.
Do certifications expire?
CompTIA certifications are valid for 3 years. Renew through continuing education credits (CEUs) or by passing a higher-level exam.
Should I get CISSP as a beginner?
No. CISSP requires 5 years of paid security experience. It is an advanced management certification. Focus on A+ and Security+ first.
Is the Google Cybersecurity Certificate worth it?
Good as a starting point for absolute beginners. Less valued than Security+ by employers but more affordable and structured. Use it as a bridge to CompTIA certifications.
What order should I get certifications in?
Most career changers: CompTIA A+ then Security+. After that: CySA+ for blue team, eJPT for pen testing, or ISC2 CC for GRC.
More resources
Certification prices, exam codes, and requirements change. Always verify current information directly with CompTIA (comptia.org), ISC2 (isc2.org), Offensive Security (offsec.com), and other vendors before purchasing.
Last verified: March 2026.