CompTIA - GPT
Career path according to GPT. GPT comes in 2nd for this exercise. It's more correct for the real world. However, GPT's approach would work for a small percentage of overachievers. Which is not a bad thing...
2/25/20254 min read
The first CompTIA certification most people get is CompTIA A+ because it is an entry-level certification covering fundamental IT skills. However, you do not have to get CompTIA certifications in a specific order. It depends on your goals and experience.
CompTIA Certification Path Overview
Certification
Purpose
Prerequisites?
Best For
CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)
Very basic IT knowledge
No
Beginners with no prior IT experience
CompTIA A+
Core IT skills (hardware, software, troubleshooting)
No
Aspiring IT support specialists, help desk roles
CompTIA Network+
Networking concepts and troubleshooting
No, but A+ knowledge is helpful
Network administrators, IT technicians
CompTIA Security+
Cybersecurity fundamentals
No, but Network+ knowledge is helpful
Cybersecurity analysts, IT security roles
CompTIA Linux+
Linux system administration
No
Linux system administrators
CompTIA CySA+
Advanced cybersecurity analysis
Security+ recommended
Cybersecurity analysts
CompTIA PenTest+
Ethical hacking and penetration testing
Security+ recommended
Penetration testers, security consultants
Do I Need to Follow a Specific Order?
No strict order required, but recommended path for beginners:
CompTIA ITF+ (if you have no IT knowledge at all)
CompTIA A+ (if you want to start an IT career)
CompTIA Network+ (if you're interested in networking)
CompTIA Security+ (if you want to specialize in cybersecurity)
If you already have IT experience, you can skip A+ and go straight to Network+ or Security+.
Would you like help deciding which certification fits your goals?
No, the chart I provided only includes some of the most common CompTIA certifications. Below is a more complete list of all CompTIA certifications, grouped by category.
Complete List of CompTIA Certifications (2024)
Core Certifications (Entry-Level IT)
Certification
Focus Area
Best For
IT Fundamentals (ITF+)
Basic IT concepts
Beginners with no IT background
A+
Hardware, software, troubleshooting
Help desk, IT support, PC technicians
Network+
Networking concepts & troubleshooting
Network administrators, IT technicians
Security+
Cybersecurity fundamentals
Cybersecurity analysts, IT security roles
Infrastructure Certifications (Intermediate-Level IT)
Certification
Focus Area
Best For
Linux+
Linux system administration
Linux system administrators, DevOps professionals
Server+
Server management & troubleshooting
Server administrators, IT support roles
Cloud+
Cloud computing, hybrid cloud environments
Cloud engineers, system administrators
Cybersecurity Certifications (Advanced-Level Security)
Certification
Focus Area
Best For
CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst)
Threat detection, incident response
Cybersecurity analysts, SOC analysts
PenTest+
Penetration testing, ethical hacking
Penetration testers, red teamers
CASP+ (Advanced Security Practitioner)
Enterprise security, risk management
Senior security professionals, security architects
Data & Emerging Tech Certifications
Certification
Focus Area
Best For
Data+
Data analysis, visualization, and reporting
Data analysts, business intelligence professionals
Professional Skills Certifications
Certification
Focus Area
Best For
Project+
IT project management
IT project managers, team leaders, coordinators
Do You Need Them All?
No, you only need the ones relevant to your career path.
For IT support → Start with A+, then Network+.
For Networking → Start with Network+, then Server+ or Cloud+.
For Cybersecurity → Start with Security+, then CySA+ or PenTest+.
For Linux/Cloud → Consider Linux+ or Cloud+.
Would you like recommendations based on your career goals? 😊
With Linux+ and Cloud+, combined with your 5+ years of NOC and IT experience, you can qualify for a variety of mid-to-senior-level roles in Linux system administration, cloud computing, and network operations.
Job Roles You Can Get with Linux+ and Cloud+
Job Title
Primary Responsibilities
Average Salary (USD)
Linux System Administrator
Manage and maintain Linux servers, automate tasks with Bash/Python, troubleshoot system issues
$75K - $110K
Cloud Engineer
Deploy, manage, and optimize cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
$90K - $130K
DevOps Engineer
Automate CI/CD pipelines, manage infrastructure as code (Terraform, Ansible)
$100K - $140K
Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)
Ensure system reliability, automate monitoring, and handle incident response
$110K - $150K
Cloud Administrator
Manage cloud services, monitor performance, and handle security configurations
$80K - $120K
Infrastructure Engineer
Design and maintain IT infrastructure (servers, networking, virtualization, cloud)
$85K - $125K
Network Operations Engineer (NOC Engineer)
Monitor and troubleshoot network/cloud-based operations, ensure uptime
$80K - $115K
Additional Certifications to Boost Your Career
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – If you want to specialize in AWS cloud administration
Terraform Associate (HashiCorp) – If you want to get into Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) – If you want to go deeper into Linux administration
Since you already have NOC and IT experience, you’re in a great position to transition into Cloud Engineering or DevOps if that interests you. Would you like advice on which path suits you best? 😊
Cloud Engineer vs. DevOps Engineer: Which Path Fits You?
Both Cloud Engineers and DevOps Engineers work with cloud infrastructure, but they have different focuses. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you decide which aligns with your skills and goals.
1. Cloud Engineer (Focus: Cloud Infrastructure & Operations)
Cloud Engineers design, implement, and maintain cloud infrastructure on platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
Key Responsibilities
Required Skills
Certifications
Deploy and manage cloud resources (VMs, storage, networking)
Linux administration
AWS/Azure/GCP Certifications
Monitor and optimize cloud costs and performance
Cloud networking (VPC, load balancing)
CompTIA Cloud+
Automate infrastructure provisioning (Terraform, Ansible)
Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Terraform Associate
Implement security best practices in cloud environments
Cloud security (IAM, firewalls)
Security+ (optional)
Work with DevOps teams to support cloud applications
Scripting (Bash, Python)
Kubernetes Certification (CKA)
🔹 Best For: Those who enjoy building and managing cloud infrastructure and have experience with Linux, networking, and automation.
💰 Average Salary: $90K - $130K
2. DevOps Engineer (Focus: Automation & CI/CD Pipelines)
DevOps Engineers focus on automation, CI/CD (Continuous Integration & Deployment), and infrastructure as code (IaC) to streamline software development and IT operations.
Key Responsibilities
Required Skills
Certifications
Build and manage CI/CD pipelines for software deployment
Linux & Cloud administration
AWS DevOps Engineer
Automate infrastructure deployment (IaC)
Scripting (Python, Bash)
Terraform Associate
Manage containerized applications (Docker, Kubernetes)
Kubernetes, Helm
Kubernetes CKA/CKAD
Monitor and optimize system performance
Monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana)
DevOps-specific certs
Collaborate with developers for faster releases
Agile & DevOps methodologies
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
🔹 Best For: Those who like automation, scripting, and optimizing software deployment workflows.
💰 Average Salary: $100K - $140K
Which Path Should You Choose?
✅ Go for Cloud Engineering if:
You enjoy designing and managing cloud infrastructure
You have strong Linux, networking, and cloud skills
You prefer operations & system administration
✅ Go for DevOps Engineering if:
You like automation, scripting, and CI/CD
You want to work closely with developers
You enjoy containerization and infrastructure as code
Since you already have NOC & IT experience with Linux, you could transition into either role depending on your interest in automation (DevOps) vs. cloud infrastructure (Cloud Engineer).
Would you like help picking the best certs for your next step? 😊
Cloud Engineer Pathway: What to Study & Which Certs to Get
Since you already have 5+ years of NOC & IT experience with Linux, you have a strong foundation for transitioning into a Cloud Engineer role. Your next steps should focus on cloud platforms, automation, and infrastructure as code (IaC).
1️⃣ What to Study & Certifications to Focus On
Step
Focus Area
Certifications
Resources to Study
Step 1: Strengthen Cloud Fundamentals
Learn cloud concepts, services, pricing models
CompTIA Cloud+ (optional but helpful)
- AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud free tier - Cloud Academy, A Cloud Guru
Step 2: Get Certified in a Major Cloud Provider
AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate (Recommended) or Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
- AWS Skill Builder - Stephane Maarek’s AWS course on Udemy
Step 3: Learn Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Automate cloud deployments using Terraform & Ansible
Terraform Associate (HashiCorp)
- Learn Terraform on HashiCorp site - FreeCodeCamp Terraform course
Step 4: Master Linux & Cloud Automation
Automate tasks with Bash/Python
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator (optional)
- Linux Academy - Python for DevOps (Book)
Step 5: Learn Containerization & Orchestration
Docker & Kubernetes for scalable cloud apps
Kubernetes Certified Administrator (CKA)
- Kubernetes.io Docs - KodeKloud Kubernetes course
2️⃣ Jobs You Can Get to Gain Cloud Experience
While working on certifications, consider transitioning into a cloud-related role to gain hands-on experience before moving into a full Cloud Engineer position.
Job Title
Responsibilities
How It Helps Your Cloud Career
Average Salary (USD)
Cloud Support Engineer
Troubleshoot cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP)
Hands-on experience with cloud platforms
$70K - $90K
Linux Administrator
Manage Linux servers & automate tasks
Strengthens scripting & cloud server skills
$75K - $100K
IT Systems Administrator
Maintain servers, virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V)
Prepares you for cloud infrastructure work
$65K - $90K
DevOps/Cloud Technician
Assist with automation, CI/CD, and cloud migrations
Entry-level cloud & automation exposure
$75K - $95K
NOC Engineer (with Cloud Focus)
Monitor & troubleshoot cloud networking issues
Uses existing NOC experience & adds cloud skills
$70K - $100K
Since you already have NOC & IT experience, you could pivot into a Cloud Support or Linux Admin role while working toward certifications.
Would you like help choosing the best certification to start with? 😊