To succeed in the industry and land their dream job, technology professionals spend a lot of time, resources, and energy to get certifications that serve as proof of their knowledge and competence. One of the smartest ways of earning these achievements is through CompTIA stackable certifications, which are a mix of certifications that align with a particular job position. It demonstrates that one has the building blocks of specialised knowledge and robust skill sets needed to excel in that specific role.

What Are CompTIA Stackable Certifications?

In the IT industry, stackable certifications are a concept that refers to combining multiple certifications from the same organisation or vendor to build a cohesive set of skills and proficiencies. A good way to think about it is like building a sports team wherein you make individual players with different capabilities work as one to form a well-rounded entity that can do much more together.

CompTIA’s stackable certifications follow the same idea in that IT professionals can steadily enhance their skills and expertise with every certification they earn. After securing foundations like the CompTIA A+, professionals can then expand their knowledge by pursuing more specialised certifications like CompTIA Data+ and CompTIA Security+, which ultimately create a clear pathway for their desired career growth.

With that said, there are three main benefits to working towards stacking CompTIA certifications, namely:

● Demonstrates a deep mastery of and validates the skills needed for various IT roles, which significantly helps open more job opportunities.

● Proves one has the high level of technical competence required to qualify for more demanding positions, enabling substantial career progression.

● Serves as an invaluable foundation for a successful IT career as the certifications align across different roles and career pathways.

A Breakdown Of How To Get Started With CompTIA Stackable Certifications

CompTIA stackable certifications entail following a step-by-step path that builds knowledge and skills on top of each other.

1. Start with a foundation

As mentioned, it is recommended to earn the CompTIA A+ certification first as it provides a solid bedrock for a modern IT career by covering essential concepts on software, hardware, troubleshooting, networking, and much more.

2. Focus on your specialisation with intermediate certifications

Once your foundation is all set, the next step is to specialise in a particular field like cybersecurity, networking, data analysis, and so on through CompTIA’s various intermediate certifications like Security+, Network+, Data+, and more.

3. Round off your training with advanced certifications

CompTIA’s advanced certifications ensure total mastery over your desired field. For instance,  if security is more of your wheelhouse, you could pursue CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner or CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst.

4. Plan your career path

CompTIA makes it easy for everyone to know the best way to pursue their stackable certifications through a detailed roadmap. It essentially lays out recommended steps for career progression for different pathways.

5. Stay abreast with new developments

The world of IT evolves rapidly and can change a lot overnight, hence the importance of continuous learning to stay relevant as well as periodic renewal of your certifications.

CompTIA Career Pathways and Levels

CompTIA stackable certifications lead to two career pathways, namely the Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Career Pathway, and are categorised via experience level within each. These categories are Specialist, Professional, and Expert, which are designed for early-career, mid-level, and established professionals, respectively. Below, we delve deeper into what certifications are available under each of these categories and a brief overview of what they entail.

CompTIA Infrastructure Career Pathway

1. Specialist

● CompTIA IT Operations Specialist (Prerequisites: Network+ and A+)

Involves maintaining workplace efficiency and optimising daily tasks by closely listening to customer demands and examining workflow procedures.

● CompTIA Systems Support Specialist (Prerequisites: Linux+ and A+)

Handle all aspects of providing help desk support and technical assistance for a variety of user issues.

2. Professional

● CompTIA Cloud Admin Professional (Prerequisites: Cloud+ and Network+)

Professionals are tasked with helping their organisation leverage the cloud and maximising the business opportunities it creates.

● CompTIA Network Infrastructure Professional (Prerequisites: Server+ and Network+)

Deliver complex infrastructure design projects from start to finish, beginning with initiation and development until the final delivery.

● CompTIA Linux Network Professional (Prerequisites: Linux+ and Network+)

Provide monitoring and hands-on support for key internal and client systems.

CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Pathway

1. Specialist

● CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist (Prerequisites: Security+, Network+, A+)

Support the organisation’s hardware and software systems and protect them against external and internal threats.

2. Professional

● CompTIA Secure Cloud Professional Certification (Prerequisites: Cloud+ and Security+)

Address all the security challenges in an organisation’s cloud environment which may be technical or business-related in nature.

● CompTIA Security Analytics Professional Certification (Prerequisites: CySA+ and Security+)

Plan and implement security measures to safeguard an organisation’s computer systems and networks.

● CompTIA Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional Certification (Prerequisites: PenTest+ and Security+)

Scan organisational applications and systems to detect vulnerabilities and use the results to implement security improvements.

● CompTIA Network Security Professional (Prerequisites: CySA+, PenTest+, Security+)

Analyse potential security threats, monitor company networks for attacks or unauthorised users, and develop appropriate response procedures.

3. Expert

● CompTIA Security Analytics Expert (Prerequisites: CASP, CySA+, Security+)

Leverage data analytics to develop effective security solutions and generate security-based research.

● CompTIA Security Infrastructure Expert (Prerequisites: CASP, CySA+, PenTest+, Security+)

Manage the information security infrastructure and lead the projects related to it.

Conclusion

CompTIA stackable certifications offer a substantial advantage to IT professionals as they pave a clear pathway for growth by building on foundational knowledge and specialising in areas aligned with evolving industry demands. Additionally, stackable certifications foster a continuous learning mindset, helping professionals stay current with the latest technologies and best practices, which is critical in the ever-changing landscape of IT.

Start making progress with your stackable certifications today at BridgingMinds, where we offer a great selection of CompTIA programmes that include, but are not limited to, CompTIA A+ (Core 2), Linux+, Security+, CySa+, and much more.