Certifications help give the curriculum more credibility and can make professionals more attractive to recruiters. Amidst the competing job market, certifications can be a great bet.

At the entry level, they are a good way to stand out from other candidates - and even raise your salary. Discover the top ten international certifications to start your IT career:

cisco firewall certification

Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT)

Obtaining a CCNET certification will demonstrate the ability to install, operate and troubleshoot a small business network. It is a great certification for anyone who wants to get an entry network support position or if you already know you want a career in networking.

To receive certification, a person will need to complete the Interconnection course for part 1 of Cisco network devices (ICND1) . It is a five-day course that takes place in person or online, and will cover the fundamentals of the network layers involved in routing. The course also covers firewalls, basic network security, wireless controllers and access points.

Cisco Certified Technician (CCT)

CCT certification verifies the skills to diagnose, restore, repair and replace critical Cisco system and network devices at customer sites. There are two different paths to the CCT: data center or routing and switching.

The certification CCT Data Center covers support and maintenance of Cisco Unified Computing systems and servers. It is aimed at field support engineers who work with devices and software from the Cisco data center system. You must take the Cisco Data Center System Device Support (DCTECH) v2.0 course before passing the exam. The course covers fundamentals of data center networking, field services and equipment replacement, and how to identify Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) component models, accessory cabling and interfaces.

CCT Routing and Switching certification covers on-site support and maintenance for Cisco routers, switches and operating environments. It is designed for on-site technical support and other support teams that work with Cisco data center solutions. Before taking the exam, a person must take the  Supporting Cisco Routing and Switching Network Devices  (RSTECH) course. The individual online course covers the fundamentals of networking, Cisco external and switching models, modes of operation for Cisco IOS software, and the Cisco command line interface (CLI).