[Zero Two]

Certifications are not required for most dev roles but they carry real weight in infrastructure, security, and cloud. Here is a rough roadmap per track.

Cloud (AWS)

• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner - Entry level, good for non-technical context
  
• AWS Solutions Architect Associate - Most in-demand AWS cert
  
• AWS Solutions Architect Professional - Senior level, significantly harder
  
• AWS DevOps Engineer Professional - CI/CD and automation focus
  

Networking

• CompTIA Network+ - Good vendor-neutral foundation
  
• Cisco CCNA - Industry standard for networking roles, covers routing, switching, basics of security
  
• Cisco CCNP - Advanced, specialise in Enterprise, Security, Data Centre, etc.
  

Cybersecurity

• CompTIA Security+ - Widely accepted entry-level, DoD approved
  
• CEH - Ethical hacking, theory-heavy but recognised by corporates
  
• OSCP - Hands-on pentesting, highly respected, hard exam
  
• CISSP - Management-level, requires 5yr experience, good for senior roles
  

Linux / Systems

• CompTIA Linux+ - Entry level
  
• LPIC-1 / LPIC-2 - Linux Professional Institute, more respected in Europe
  
• RHCSA / RHCE - Red Hat certs, excellent for enterprise Linux roles
  

General Tips

• Cloud certs (AWS/GCP/Azure) have the best ROI right now in terms of salary bump per study hour
  
• Practice exams are more useful than courses for most certs - find Udemy practice tests
  
• OSCP is worth it if you want to go into penetration testing. Nothing else substitutes for it.
  
• A cert without hands-on experience is thin. Build alongside studying.