Technical Certifications in Information Technology as Compared to Traditional Academic Credentials: Impact on Earnings and Employability

For three decades, Information Technology (IT) certifications and undergraduate degrees have been the primary credentials associated within the expanding IT industry. The IT certifications became part of a multibillion-dollar business. As the industry has expanded, the relative value of an academic degree in an IT field as compared to a certification based only on an examination has come into question. The purpose of this research was to examine the impact and the relative value of Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional (MCITP) certifications compared to IT academic degrees on employability, earnings, promotions, and job stability. This research was conducted using a quantitative non-experimental design that included 334 participants of randomly selected IT professionals who were either MCITP certified, a 2-year or 4-year degree, or some combination of the three and have over 5 years' experience. The respondents were from government and private organizations in Washington DC Metropolitan Area. Participants completed an on-line survey covering topics such as starting and current salary, experience, certifications, and degrees held. The findings showed that both an IT certification and academic degrees continue to play a major and important role in IT employment decisions, earnings, and job stability. It appears that those involved in the hiring process tend to favor those with only an MCITP certification as compared to applicants with an academic degree. The results showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between employability and type of credentials (&khgr;2 (4, N = 194) = 19.322, p = 0.001). Yet, those with a degree are less likely to be laid-off than those with only an MCITP certification (&khgr;2 (4, N = 190) = 21.382, p = 0.0003). Degree holders also tend to make significantly greater income than those with only an MCITP certification as their careers progress. This research could assist and benefit those seeking a career in IT in making decisions regarding the relative economic value of certifications and academic degrees in cost, time, and job placement. Future research could include security certifications, such as CISSP from ISC2 to determine whether the findings of this study can be generalized to other certifications in IT.