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Cybersecurity Certifications

The purpose of this page is to assist you in selecting your next cybersecurity certification. While NICCS does not provide a listing of all available cybersecurity certifications, it does provide guidance on how to determine the best certification for you and directs you to relevant tools on NICCS to help you in the process.

Research Your Next Certification

There are hundreds of cybersecurity certifications, and it can be overwhelming to pick one to pursue based on your unique education background, skill-level, experience, and goals. One of the best ways to get started with certifications is to explore your options using the tools and resources on NICCS.

NICE Framework

Begin with NICE Framework Work Role Categories and select the category that is most relevant to you. Review the Work Roles in that category and take note of the Task, Knowledge, and Skill (TKS) statements for each. Look for specific areas within the TKS statements that you want to strengthen for your resume or current position. Then, conduct your own research on what certifications you can obtain that are related to those statements.

Cyber Career Pathways Tool

You can also explore the Cyber Career Pathways Tool to collect additional information about potential certifications. Select Work Roles that are relevant to you and read through the Capability Indicators section for each to understand the types of certifications, education, learning, and training you will need at the beginner, intermediate, and expert levels of each Work Role. Use what you find to research relevant certifications that match your specific needs and career goals.

Education & Training Catalog

Once you have decided on a certification that you would like to obtain, you can find relevant certification training courses in the NICCS Education & Training Catalog! Visit the Catalog today and search for trainings related to cybersecurity certifications by name or vendor in the keyword search.

Additional Information

While NICCS does not provide a list of all available certifications, a great way to continue your research is to search a variety of sites for relevant cyber certifications. One example is the Department of Defense (DoD) 8140 Workforce Qualification Program, which provides cyber information, policy, guidance, and training for cyber professionals. This includes a repository that captures certification, education, and training options to support professional development of the cyber workforce. To view the repository, specifically commercial certifications and vendors that meet requirements of the DoD Workforce Qualification Program, download the Cybersecurity Qualification Matrix(link is external) view the "Certification Repository" tab.

 

 

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