Certification ladders
Certification prerequisites: what unlocks what
The recommended order published by the awarding bodies. It is a suggested learning order, not an enrollment requirement — most vendors let you sit any exam directly, though some advanced credentials require years of experience.
AWS certification track
Amazon Web Services
Microsoft Azure certification track
Microsoft
Microsoft data & AI track
Microsoft
- 1Fundamentals
- 2AssociateMicrosoft Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300)IntermediateMicrosoft Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203)IntermediateMicrosoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100)AdvancedMicrosoft Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)IntermediateMicrosoft Azure Database Administrator Associate (DP-300)Intermediate
Google Cloud certification track
Google Cloud
- 1Foundational
Cisco networking track
Cisco
CompTIA security track
CompTIA
- 3Advanced
Security & governance track (ISC2 / ISACA)
ISC2 & ISACA
- 2Practitioner
- 3Advanced (experience required)
Kubernetes & DevOps track
Linux Foundation / CNCF
Linux systems track
Red Hat / LPI / Linux Foundation
Project management track (PMI / PRINCE2)
PMI & Axelos
Scrum & Agile track
Scrum.org & Scrum Alliance
Business analysis track (IIBA)
IIBA
ITIL service management track
Axelos / PeopleCert
- 1Foundation
- 2Managing Professional
- 3Strategic Leader
Oracle Cloud track
Oracle