Choosing one certification is easy compared with choosing a sequence. These reviewed paths set out a route toward a role, with the options at each step, how to choose between them, and a clear line between formal provider requirements and suggested order. Each one links to the certification, role, and skill pages behind it.
Browse paths
Paths are grouped by the kind of goal they serve, such as entering a role, moving up in one, switching careers, or following a single provider. Open any card to see its steps, the certifications on offer at each one, and where the route can be shortened.
10 paths
Switch careers
Add AI governance to a risk, privacy, audit, or security career
From AI literacy through an AI governance credential and an established risk, audit, or security credential to advanced AI audit, risk, or security credentials.
Follow one provider
Climb Cisco's certification levels: from entry-level networking to expert
From a Cisco entry-level support credential through the core associate to a professional specialization, with optional expert credentials.
Start a role
Become a cloud engineer: from your first cloud credential to professional-level design
From a foundational cloud credential through a role-based associate on one platform to a professional-level architecture credential.
Move up
Specialize in cloud security: platforms, containers, and identity
From a cloud and security foundation through platform security and container security to architecture and leadership credentials.
Start a role
Start a defensive security career: from fundamentals to security operations analyst
From an entry-level security foundation through a security operations associate to broader practitioner credentials and optional incident response specialization.
Switch careers
Switch into data engineering on AWS, Fabric, Databricks, Snowflake, or Google Cloud
From a data fundamentals credential through a platform data engineering associate and optional Spark skills to a professional-level data engineering credential.
Switch careers
Grow into DevOps: from Linux administration to automation at cloud scale
From Linux fundamentals through administration, automation and containers, and a cloud associate to a cloud DevOps professional credential.
Switch careers
Become a penetration tester: from offensive security foundations to advanced adversary skills
From offensive security foundations through a core penetration testing credential to specializations and optional advanced adversary credentials.
Follow one provider
Progress through the Scrum.org product owner assessments, from foundations to mastery
From the foundational product owner assessment through the advanced level to the distinguished level, plus optional focused skills credentials.
Start a role
Build a project management career with PMI, from first credential to portfolio level
From an entry-level project management credential to the professional credential, then optional specializations and program or portfolio credentials.
How paths work
A step is a milestone, and it can offer several certifications that are real alternatives for the same goal. Where a provider formally requires one credential before another, the path shows it as a requirement. Everything else is editorial advice you can reorder or skip.
Each step is a goal to reach, such as a solid foundation or a first specialty, not a single exam you must pass.
A step can offer several certifications that serve the same goal. Pick the one that matches your provider, budget and background.
Where a provider formally requires one credential before another, the path says so. Everything else is advice you can reorder or skip.
Start from a role
If you know the job you are aiming for but not the route, begin with the role. Role pages show the certifications, skills, and providers connected to it, and any reviewed path for that role is linked from there, so you can move from the job to the sequence of credentials behind it.
Browse rolesStart from a certification
Paths cover a selection of well-defined goals, not every certification. If your target is not on a path yet, search all certifications, then use the relevant provider, role, or skill pages to judge where it fits in your own sequence.
Search certificationsCompare detailed certification requirements, renewal policies, and provider information. Use our role-based browsing to pinpoint the credentials that align with your professional goals and start your focused research journey.
