Why Certifications Matter More Than Ever — and How Udemy Can Help You Earn Yours

In a job market where skills evolve quickly and employers expect candidates to demonstrate job-ready competence, professional certifications have become one of the clearest ways to stand out. Whether you’re aiming for a promotion, preparing for a career change, or simply looking to strengthen your credibility, certifications offer a structured path to building expertise, and a way to prove it. 

This guide explores why certifications continue to matter, what types of certifications you can earn online, and how Udemy supports professionals through flexible, expert-led learning paths.

Why Certifications Still Matter in Today’s Job Market

• Certifications validate the real-world skills employers care about. 
• They provide objective proof that you’ve invested time and effort into mastering a topic or skill, and that you can apply your knowledge in a professional setting.
• Certifications signal that you’re proactive, adaptable, resourceful, and committed to bringing value to the company, clients and customers you serve. 

In fact, according to Pearson, 37% of candidates received salary increases after earning their certifications, an additional 42% still anticipate receiving one, and 27% accepted job promotions.¹

Certifications Strengthen Employability

The job market can be a difficult place to navigate. Many employers today focus on skill-based hiring, and candidates with certifications have clear evidence that  they have invested time and effort into developing knowledge and gaining experience.  

For applicants competing for limited roles, certifications help differentiate you from candidates with similar education or experience. As McKinsey describes it, skills-based hiring means assessing candidates based on their skills rather than college degrees or other conventional credentials², which makes certifications a helpful way to demonstrate capabilities clearly and consistently. 

In industries such as IT, cybersecurity, project management, business analytics, and cloud computing, employers prefer, or often require, certification holders to verify foundational knowledge.

It’s common for certified job candidates to:

• Receive more job interviews: Indeed reports 43% of job seekers say lacking certifications is a top barrier to landing the job they want.³
• Advance through hiring pipelines faster: ISC2’s survey of 929 hiring managers found IT and cybersecurity certifications were ranked the most critical candidate attribute (ahead of experience and education).⁴ 
• Be prioritized for roles involving high-impact or specialized skills: ISC2 also highlights certifications as a key signal hiring managers rely on when assessing candidates.⁴

If certifications are requirements, then they matter 100%. If they are nice-to-have then less so, but they are still important. They can differentiate you from another uncertified candidate. They are also very useful early in your career, you may have very little experience or none. 

Certifications Support Promotions and Salary Growth

There’s more to certifications than standing out and excelling in your role. Certification holders also often earn more than non-certified individuals. Many employers also tie promotions and compensation increases to specialized credentials, especially in fields with compliance requirements or technical complexity.

For example, according to the Project Management Institute, PMP certification holders earn 17% higher median salaries than non-certified professionals.⁵ 

Being certified helps prove you have skills, commitment and aptitude. The order of importance is really Experience > Certifications > Degrees. Later in your career when you have more experience and more certifications, only use the most relevant ones at the top of your resume. I have 20+ certifications, the last job I applied for I used only 5 very relevant ones in my introduction, the rest were brief mentions in the education section.

What Certifications Can You Get Online?

The shift toward remote, skill-based hiring, and hybrid work has accelerated interest in online learning. These courses give learners direct access to industry-recognized skills without requiring in-person attendance, strict weekly schedules, or high tuition fees.

You can earn certifications across nearly every industry online, from IT and cybersecurity to business operations, AI, digital marketing, HR, and data analytics. 

Some examples of highly valued certifications include:

• Project management: Popular credentials such as the PMP (Project Management Professional) and Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) validate a professional’s ability to lead teams, manage complex projects, and align work with business priorities.
• Cloud computing: Certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Azure Administrator, and Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect demonstrate cloud fluency across major platforms, including skills in infrastructure, deployment, and security.
• Cybersecurity: Industry-recognized credentials such as CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) and CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) validate expertise in designing, implementing, and managing robust security programs.
• Information Technology (IT): Broad foundational certifications like CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ are widely trusted benchmarks for core IT skills, covering hardware, networking, troubleshooting, and essential security practices.
• Data & analytics: Certifications such as the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate and Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate validate competency in data cleaning, analysis, visualization, and tool proficiency.

A Breakdown of Popular Online Certifications

Certification Name	Skill Area	Related Careers	Prerequisite Skills	Difficulty
Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)	Cybersecurity Fundamentals	SOC Analyst, Cybersecurity Analyst, IT Security Technician	Basic IT knowledge	Low–Moderate
CISSP	Information Security Management	CISO, CIO, Security Architect, Security Consultant	5 years of security experience across CISSP domains	High
CompTIA A+	IT Support	Help Desk Technician, Technical Support Analyst	Basic computer literacy	Moderate
AWS Solutions Architect – Associate	Cloud Computing	Cloud Architect, DevOps Engineer	Basic networking + cloud fundamentals	Moderate–High
Cisco CCNA	Networking	Network Administrator, Systems Engineer	Understanding of networking concepts	High
PMP (Project Management Professional)	Project Management	Project Manager, Program Manager	36–60 months of PM experience	High
Microsoft Excel Certification	Business Productivity	Analyst, Coordinator, Operations Specialist	Basic Excel functionality	Low–Moderate
Google Data Analytics Certification	Data Analytics	Data Analyst, BI Analyst	Basic math + interest in data	Moderate

How Long Does It Take To Earn an Online Certification?

Every certification is different, and prep time for each can vary depending on your background knowledge, how much time you’re able to dedicate daily to studying, whether you sign up for online training or decide to study solo. 

How Udemy Helps You Earn Career-Boosting Certifications

Udemy’s certification prep courses can help you build the required skills to pass your certification exam, whether in Project Management, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, IT, Data Science, and more. 

Learners can build the required skills through expert-led instruction, hands-on labs, and practice tests designed to mirror real exam formats. This allows them to study at their own pace, fill knowledge gaps, and gain confidence before sitting for official certification exams.

After completing a certification prep course on Udemy, learners get a Certificate of Completion, which confirms they finished a course or training program, but doesn’t function as a formal certification.

Learn more about Udemy’s Certificates on Completion here: Can I use a Udemy Certificate on my Resume and LinkedIn Profile?

Udemy’s certification prep courses include everything you need to prepare for your formal certification:

• Simulated practice tests
• Hands-on labs (for cloud and IT courses)
• Case studies
• End-of-section quizzes
• Templates and downloadable study guides

These elements help you build confidence and reduce test-day anxiety.

Benefits of Learning with Udemy

• The certification prep courses are self-paced. This allows you to study when it fits your schedule, rewatch lessons as needed, move faster through familiar topics, and balance upskilling with other commitments, such as full-time work and parenting. 
• Udemy instructors regularly update their courses to reflect exam changes, ensuring your preparation is aligned with the latest standards.
• You can buy vouchers for CompTIA, AWS, and Microsoft certifications that include the prep courses, practice tests, the cost of the exam itself, and retake insurance (which you can use in case you don’t pass the exam on the first try). 

Top Udemy Certification Courses to Explore By Career

Below are some of the most popular and recently updated certification prep courses on Udemy.

IT and Software

• CompTIA Security+ — Ideal for IT professionals seeking foundational cybersecurity skills.
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate — One of the most sought-after cloud certifications in today’s market.

AI and Data

• Artificial Intelligence Certification Courses – Great for professionals developing AI models, Machine Learning, NLP, computer vision, and more. 
• Professional Data Engineer – Ideal for professionals creating and managing robust data processing systems.

Business and Productivity

• Microsoft Excel Certification Prep — A must-have for analysts, operations professionals, and business generalists.
• PMP Exam Prep Courses — Comprehensive guidance for preparing for the globally recognized PMP exam.

How to Choose the Right Certification

Before choosing a certification, ask yourself:

• What job do I want next?
• Which certifications are most requested in those job descriptions?
• What foundational skills do I need before enrolling?

The way I do it and how I tell my students to do it is, you start with the job, not the certification. Look at 20-30 actual job postings for the role you want, in the region you want, at the salary you want. Make an Excel sheet or Word document, tally all the required skills, including certifications. If 75% of jobs ask for a CISSP, then that is what you need. Most people do this backwards, they collect certs they find interesting, then go looking for a job that values them. Think of it like a map. You figure out where you are going first, then you pick the credential and skills that get you there.

Also, consider:

1. Your current career stage

• Entry-level certifications build foundational credibility
• Mid-level certs help you specialize
• High-level or advanced certifications demonstrate deep expertise and leadership capability in your field

2. Your learning style

Some certifications require hands-on labs or coding challenges, while others are knowledge-based exams. 

Are you a career changer?

I have changed fields multiple times, every time I use what was relevant from the old field, plus any major accomplishment to transition to a new industry. I have gone from politics to media design, to Network Engineer at an ISP, to healthcare IT/Datacenter, to IT manager at a bank, and back to healthcare as an IT Project Manager.  I started my certifications at the ISP and got more with almost every industry move. Every change was made possible because of what I did before, both certifications and accomplishments. 

Use the certifications to prove you can do hard things. They are evidence you are dedicated to learning and growing. Then research the new industry, figure out how you should do the same in this industry, be specific, and be able to explain it in 20 seconds. Share things you learn on your own time to grow and adapt professionally. A home lab, an app, anything really that is related to the new job and that shows you are proactive.

The certifications get you past the HR screening process. Your attitude and adaptability get you hired.

So, Why Do Certifications Matter? 

Certifications remain one of the most effective ways to increase your credibility, accelerate your career, and stay adaptable in a fast-changing workforce. Whether you’re looking to break into a new field or deepen your current expertise, an online certification can open doors and signal that you’re serious about professional growth.

And if you’re wondering how frequently should you reassess whether your certifications still align with market demand, here’s my advice:

I recommend most people do it every year, when you do your AMF’s/CPE’s. Not necessarily to go get another one, but to make sure your current path still matches the market. Are there new trends, are my certifications still in high demand for the jobs I want? Ask yourself, can I easily move jobs with what I have now or do I need something extra? Again, use current job postings for this review.

If boosting your career is a priority this year, choosing a certification may be the most strategic investment you make.

Cited sources

1. Pearson VUE’s 2023 Value of IT Certification Candidate Report highlights the importance of certification for career progression in a post-pandemic era. https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/about/news/highlights/2023-value-of-it-certification-candidate-report.html 
2. Right Skills, Right Person, Right Role. McKinsey https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/right-skills-right-person-right-role
3. Indeed’s 2024 Workforce Insights Report https://www.indeed.com/job-search-services/workforce-insights-report?cgtk=e15fb153-0a37-49eb-9e93-27e9f67be436&from=careeradvice-US 
4. 2025 Cybersecurity Hiring Trends. ISC2 https://www.isc2.org/Insights/2025/06/cybersecurity-hiring-trends-study 
5. PMI. (2025). Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey, 14th Edition. Project Management Institute. https://www.pmi.org/learning/careers/project-management-salary-survey