6 Top IT Manager Certifications: What They Are & Why They Matter

IT managers today fulfill a few important roles: They manage their organization’s data, networks, and systems. They also manage people. And they have to be aware of how IT connects to business goals. That’s why they need a strong background not only in the technical side of their job but also in leadership and strategy.

To build a career in IT management, you need to show organizations that you have the credentials to succeed on the job. Having a few key certifications under your belt will prove you’ve mastered the right skills. But when you combine certifications with a Master of IT Management, you can further increase your value to any organization seeking to add a trusted, knowledgeable expert to their IT leadership team.

In fact, a recent report found that 93% of students who earned IT certifications increased their employability, and 91% increased the overall value of their education or training.

If you’re looking to strengthen your leadership, strategy, and technical decision-making and position yourself for career advancement, consider the following IT manager certifications.

1. Certified Information Technology Manager (CITM®)

IT managers need a comprehensive understanding of how the multitude of technology and business systems within an organization work—and work together. The CITM certification is a foundational IT management certification that gives you in-depth knowledge of IT and business frameworks; corporate strategy, governance, and risk; database and IT management; and technology staff management. This certification does not expire. 

2. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®)

Working in IT management means you’ll personally lead dozens of projects and project teams, which makes expertise in project management a major plus for employers. The CAPM certification proves your ability to manage the entire lifecycle of a project—using agile principles and business analysis to guide its success. To maintain certification, you must complete 15 professional development units (PDUs) in a three-year cycle, which includes education or giving back to the profession. 

3. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

As cyber threats proliferate and evolve, cybersecurity remains a top priority for every organization. And every IT manager plays a key role in safeguarding the organization’s information and infrastructure. With a CISSP certification, you earn the critical skills necessary to design, implement, and manage your organization’s cybersecurity strategy and program to keep data, systems, products, and people safe from cyber harm. This certification expires after three years. 

4. Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control® (CRISC®)

Similar to security, understanding and mitigating IT risk is a central objective for any strategic IT management team—and requires a deep commitment to data best practices, governance, and ethics. The CRISC certification prepares you for a world in which artificial intelligence (AI) is ubiquitous, giving you the ability to assess the risks of AI and other emerging technologies, determine your organization’s own AI standards and best practices, and enhance overall business resilience. This certification does not expire.

5. Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) 4 

Making the IT function more efficient and responsive to the needs of the business is dependent in large part on how well the IT team is managed. As another of the foundational certifications for IT managers, the ITIL certification is appealing to employers because it’s centered around effective management strategies that improve processes, reliability, and efficiency and create value. This certification expires after three years.

6. COBIT 5 Foundation 

Every organization experiences IT challenges as it grows, changes, and responds to new market trends and demands. If you’re part of an organization that already follows the COBIT 5 IT Management Framework, the COBIT 5 Foundation certification develops you into an indispensable resource for identifying and addressing IT-related concerns across the organization, aligning IT goals with business objectives, and fundamentally understanding what it takes to build a sophisticated and cooperative relationship between the business and IT. This certification does not expire.

How a Master’s in IT Management Ties It All Together

IT certifications make a lot of sense for those who are at the beginning of their IT management career and need to acquire certain skills quickly or those who already have some real-world work experience and want to expand their IT management training. No matter which stage you’re at in your career, certifications are an excellent way to establish credibility with current and prospective employers. 

To supercharge your career advancement, though, a graduate-level degree can be helpful. When you earn a Master of IT Management, you’re making a long-term investment in your career that complements any IT certifications you already have or plan to get. Practically speaking, you gain a holistic foundation in the digital skills, tools, technologies, and emerging trends that reflect our rapidly changing society while centering ethics, innovation, adaptability, transparency, fairness, and accountability in your work. 

While certifications help you gain specialized skills and knowledge, a graduate-level degree better prepares you for senior leadership. It bridges the technical know-how needed for everyday IT management with the fundamentals of business and strategy required to become a high-impact IT leader. 

Learn how the online Master of IT Management from Wake Forest University’s School of Professional Studies can effectively steer your IT management career. Request information today to get started.