IBM Professional Certificates
IBM, one of the world's leading technology companies, has a rich history of innovation, groundbreaking research, and dedication to excellence. Alongside its myriad technological achievements, IBM offers a range of industry-respected training and certification programs. IBM professional certificates provide IT pros with the means to demonstrate skills in marketable domains like cybersecurity, data science, software development, and artificial intelligence.
This page will serve as your guide to IBM's professional certificate program, including the costs and benefits of getting certified, jobs and salaries you can pursue upon certification, online training options, and links to deep-dive descriptions of the top IBM credentials.
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Benefits of IBM Certificates
IBM professional certificates are among the most renowned IT certifications. By getting certified, tech pros can gain several professional and personal benefits.
Here are some of the key advantages of IBM professional certifications.
- Skill Validation: IBM certificates prove current skills in sought-after technical disciplines. This can be especially beneficial for IT professionals wanting to differentiate themselves in a competitive job market.
- Affordability: IBM professional certificates are available through self-paced online courses on Coursera with a subscription price of $49 per month. IBM professional certs are designed to be completed in 3 to 6 months, for a total cost of about $150 to $300 each. Financial aid is also available for qualifying students.
- Higher Salaries: IBM certificate holders gain increased leverage during salary negotiations. Workforce studies indicate that IBM certified pros earn more than their non-certified counterparts, on average.
- Upward Mobility: IBM certifications, like many technology credentials, can be a key factor in promotions, as they demonstrate a commitment to professional development and continuous learning.
- College Credits: Most IBM professional certificates qualify for at least 10 college credits per credential earned. Visit the website for the American Council on Education (ACE) for detailed credit counts.
- Increased Job Opportunities: Many employers prioritize candidates with IBM certificates during the hiring process, as they provide a benchmark for relevant expertise. This is especially true for the thousands of organizations that use IBM technologies.
- Digital Badges: IBM offers digital badges for its certifications. IBM professional certificate badges can be shared on business networks, resumes and email signatures, providing a modern way of showcasing achievements.
- Enhanced Expertise: The process of training for IBM certificates gives candidates a more thorough understanding of the subject matter, which leads to improved skills and job performance.
- Professional Community: IBM certified professionals gain access to a robust community where they can connect, share, and learn from other experts in the field.
- Confidence Boost: Earning IBM certifications can boost an individual's confidence in their technical abilities, knowing they've met the standards set by a global tech leader.
- Continuous Learning: IBM professional certificates require periodic recertification, which ensures that certified pros remain current with the latest tools, techniques and best practices.
- Global Recognition: IBM professional certificates are globally-recognized, making them valuable for IT professionals seeking employment opportunities around the world.
- Special Offers & Discounts: Occasionally, IBM offers discounts on products, services and industry events to professional certification holders, providing an added incentive to get certified.
- Organizational Benefits: For employers, having IBM-certified employees often translates into projects being completed more efficiently, reduced operational costs, and increased customer satisfaction.
IBM Professional Certificates List
These are some of the most sought-after IBM professional certificates available today. Click on each credential for an in-depth description including curriculum, training programs, costs, duration, career outcomes and more.
- IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
- IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate
- IBM Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate
- IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate
- IBM Data Engineering Professional Certificate
- IBM Applied AI Professional Certificate
- IBM DevOps and Software Engineering Professional Certificate
- IBM IT Support Professional Certificate
- IBM AI Engineering Professional Certificate
This list represents the most in-demand professional certificates from IBM. It will be updated and refreshed as new IBM certifications launch and old certs are retired.
IBM Certificate Jobs and Salaries
Here are some popular career paths you can pursue with IBM professional certificates, along with the average salary for each position.
| IBM Professional Certificate | IT Career Path | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Certificate | IT Security Specialist | $92,000 |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | $89,000 | |
| Junior Cybersecurity Analyst | $67,000 | |
| IBM Data Science Certificate | Data Architect | $114,000 |
| Data Analyst | $84,000 | |
| Junior Data Scientist | $94,000 | |
| IBM Full Stack Software Developer Certificate | Web Developer | $77,000 |
| Computer Programmer | $67,000 | |
| Full Stack Developer | $102,000 | |
| IBM Applied AI Certificate | Machine Learning Engineer | $124,000 |
| AI Developer | $103,000 | |
| Data Engineer | $115,000 | |
| IBM DevOps & Software Engineering Certificate | DevOps Engineer | $130,000 |
| Software Engineer | $126,000 | |
| Cloud Engineer | $135,000 | |
| IBM IT Support Certificate | Help Desk Technician | $49,000 |
| IT Support Professional | $57,000 | |
| Desktop Support Specialist | $68,000 |
Source for salary data: Salary.com
IBM Certification Training
These online courses and degree programs align with the leading IBM professional certificates.
- Earn IBM's Data Science Certificate
- Use the Python, R & SQL Languages
- AI and Machine Learning with Python
- Build a Portfolio of Data Projects
- Leverage Data to Drive Business Goals
- Big Data Analysis and Visualization
- Learn Python, SQL, Tableau and R
- Data Analytics Project Management
- Earn IBM's Full Stack Developer Cert
- Web Development with HTML, CSS & JS
- Front-End and Back-End Development
- Build Cloud, AI & Data Science Apps
- Python, Java & C++ Coding
- Agile Project Management
- Data Structures & Algorithms
- System Analysis and Design
- Earn IBM's Cybersecurity Pro Certificate
- Popular Cybersecurity Tools and Attacks
- Network and Database Security Training
- Penetration Testing & Cyber Forensics
- Network Design, Security & Management
- Detect and Prevent Network Breaches
- Cyber Incident Response & Investigation
- Prepare for In-Demand IT Certifications
Frequently Asked Questions
Tech insiders answer questions from IBM professional certification candidates.
What are the prerequisites for IBM professional certificates?
Most IBM professional certificates are designed for complete beginners, and as such have no prerequisites. However, a few IBM certificates, such as the AI Engineering Pro and Machine Learning Pro credentials, are intermediate level credentials that require some experience in the field.
How can I prepare for an IBM professional certificate?
IBM provides self-paced online courses for its professional certificates via the web-based learning platform, Coursera. Many candidates also attend third-party training programs that align with the curriculum of IBM certifications.
Are IBM professional certificates worth it?
Yes, IBM professional certificates are definitely worth it. While getting certified won’t guarantee you a job, IBM’s professional credentials feature well-designed curricula taught by qualified instructors with a relatively low barrier to entry. You can also attend a 7-day free trial to determine if the program will be a good fit.
About IBM Professional Certificates
In 2019, International Business Machines Corporation - better known as IBM - launched its professional certification program in partnership with online training provider, Coursera. IBM professional certificates are designed to validate IT professionals’ skills in popular job roles that utilize IBM’s prolific computing technologies.
