The Internet of Things (IoT) is a growing market, and demand for specialists to help make the most of these technologies is increasing as more businesses embrace them. Obtaining IoT certifications can help professionals become proficient and stand out in the market.
A lack of staffing expertise is the leading obstacle to IoT deployment, with 45% of surveyed companies citing it as a challenge. Similarly, 74% of CEOs are concerned about the availability of key skills as they seek future growth. IoT professionals looking to advance their careers must prove they have the necessary knowledge and abilities.
IoT certifications provide that proof. Here are eight that could help workers impress employers:
See more: Internet of Things (IoT) Job Market
The Cloud Credential Council (CCC) offers one of the most comprehensive, vendor-neutral IoT certifications. The Internet of Things Foundation (IoTF) certification covers six learning modules, including IoT security and governance, architecture, and business use cases. According to the CCC, ideal participants include software engineers, system administrators, and IT architects.
This course has no prerequisites, but participants should have a firm grasp of cloud-related concepts and terms. The CCC offers in-person training partners across the U.S. and other countries, but online self-study options are also available. Course length depends on the training partner or how long participants want to study independently.
All study materials and a voucher for the webcam-proctored exam cost $349. Various taxes and fees will also apply depending on the participant’s location.
Another comprehensive, vendor-neutral certification is CertNexus’s Certified Internet of Things Practitioner. This course covers six topics, from constructing and programming IoT devices to processing data and identifying real-world use cases. It stands out because it’s accredited under the ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 standard, a requirement for many government projects.
CertNexus has training locations across multiple states and countries, with online study options also available. The course lasts three days and ends in a 100-question, 120-minute test. There are no prerequisites, but participants can take a readiness assessment to see if they have the recommended baseline skills and knowledge.
How much this certification costs depends on the resources participants choose. The exam alone is $250, with self-study options lingering around the $450 mark and in-person classes ranging as high as $1,500.
CertNexus also offers a more specific IoT security certification. This is a growing concern in IoT implementation, with legislation starting to regulate IoT security in some areas. The Certified Internet of Things Security Practitioner course serves this need, equipping participants with IoT-specific knowledge and skills.
The three-day course covers eight topics, ranging from securing cloud interfaces to ensuring physical device security. The class is available in in-person centers and online forms, ending in a 100-question, 120-minute exam. CertNexus recommends achieving the general Practitioner certification before pursuing this one.
Costs are similar to those of the Certified IoT Practitioner course but fall a little cheaper, as it’s a less comprehensive course. The exam is $250, with self-study material options ranging from $99 to $415.
IoT professionals looking for vendor-specific options should consider Microsoft’s Certified Azure IoT Developer certification. It equips participants to develop, deploy and manage Azure IoT Edge applications. It focuses mainly on programming and implementation, ideal for workers who lead Azure-specific IoT teams.
Candidates must be able to program in at least one Azure IoT SDK-supported language and understand device types and services. Microsoft offers a four-day, instructor-led course in 35 U.S. locations and a free online option where participants can go at their own pace.
In-person instruction costs range between $2,000 and $3,000, depending on the specific learning partner. The test itself costs just $165, making it one of the most affordable options if candidates choose the online self-study option.
Arcitura’s Certified IoT Architect certification includes three IoT courses, covering skills in IoT architecture, radio protocols, telemetry, and real-world use cases. After learning about these concepts in the first two courses, applicants will apply them in lab exercises in the third. Participants must then pass a 110-minute exam.
Arcitura’s certification offers self-study and in-person teaching options. Participants can take the exam without completing the course work but may be unprepared if they skip it. In-person options are available at Pearson VUE test centers across the U.S.
The exam by itself costs $150, but participants should also work through the courses. Study kits that cover self-study courses are available for $237.60, and an option that includes extra resources costs $285.60.
See more: 5 Trends in the Internet of Things (IoT) Job Market
IoT professionals seeking a more flexible option may find the Global Tech Council’s Certified IoT Expert course appealing. The entirely self-guided course lasts eight hours in total, and lifetime access means applicants can take it at whatever pace they choose. By the end, participants will learn skills in IoT architecture, protocols, cloud and smart grid applications, Arduino and Raspberry Pi, and more.
The training sessions and exam are entirely online, so participants can complete the course from anywhere. There are no formal prerequisites, but applicants should have basic programming and app development skills.
The courses and exam go together for just $149. While participants may leave with fewer application-specific skills, they’ll acquire mastery in IoT’s core concepts, paving the way for future success. As a result, it’s ideal for those just starting in the market.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is one of the most popular networking service providers globally, so IoT professionals can gain much from understanding it. Consequently, working through AWS’s Internet of Things Foundation Series is an excellent choice for any IoT worker.
Enrollment in the 9.5-hour online course is free and covers four topics: telemetry, IoT command and control, fleet management, and predictive maintenance. Since these are mostly application-focused subjects, participants should likely have baseline IoT technical knowledge before starting the class. AWS also offers an introductory course it recommends as a prerequisite.
The IoT Foundation Series doesn’t grant participants an official certification like other options, but it can act similarly. Professionals can point toward the course as evidence they have experience in AWS IoT applications.
Another certification that stands out from the others is Stanford University’s Internet of Things Graduate Certificate. This is a graduate school-level program covering four non-credit online courses, and participants can pick from a list of 15. Applicants can show IoT experience from a leading engineering school after receiving a B or higher in the program.
This certificate requires a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 and advanced knowledge in programming languages. Some courses may carry additional requirements. The program is entirely online, but tuition and fees may apply, depending on which courses applicants take.
Completing the program will likely take at least an entire semester, and participants have three years to finish it. Specific takeaways will vary by course, but participants will generally learn about underlying IoT technologies, circuit design, web applications, security, and emerging tech.
See more: 10 Top Companies Hiring for IoT Jobs
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