A List of Courses and Certifications That Are Great Starting Points For Vets Looking to Enter the Tech Workforce
CompTIA is a leading provider of IT certification programs that set the standard in the industry. From beginner-level certifications such as A+, Network+, and Security+ to advanced certifications like PenTest+, CYSA, and CISSP, CompTIA offers a comprehensive range of options to meet the diverse needs of IT professionals. With the option of self-paced training available on their website, individuals can acquire the skills and knowledge required to succeed in their field. CompTIA’s efforts in education, training, certification, philanthropy, and market research contribute to the growth of the IT industry and the development of a highly-skilled workforce, fostering an environment of innovation and making the benefits of technology accessible to all.
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
EC-Council is CompTIA’s biggest rival. They offer certifications in the security realm of IT. Their two most popular certifications are Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and Certified Network Defender (CND). All of their certifications are widely accepted.
“The International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) is a member-based organization that certifies individuals in various e-business and information security skills. It is the owner and creator of the world famous Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator (CHFI), EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA), License Penetration Tester (LPT) certifications and as well as many others certifications that are offered in over 194 countries globally. “
- Certified Ethical Hacker
- Certified Network Defender
- Certified Penetration Tester
The Federal Virtual Training Environment (FedVTE) is a comprehensive online cybersecurity training platform managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Available to federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government employees, federal contractors, US military veterans, and the general public, FedVTE offers over 800 hours of training on a wide range of topics including ethical hacking, surveillance, risk management, and malware analysis. The platform is designed to accommodate learners of all proficiency levels, from beginner to advanced, and offers certification prep courses on topics such as Ethical Hacking, Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). FedVTE’s self-paced, online format allows users to access the training from any computer or mobile device, making it a convenient and accessible option for those looking to enhance their cybersecurity skills.
“Learn key cloud skills for careers in cloud computing. Each pathway is aligned to in-demand job roles like Machine Learning Scientist or Application Developer and includes 25+ hours of self-paced content. “
“AWS Educate supports U.S. veterans, transitioning military personnel, and their spouses with access to the cloud resources needed to pursue jobs in the high-demand, cloud computing space. AWS Educate provides U.S. Veterans access to AWS Promotional Credit, cloud computing resources, and the option to learn skills based on a desired career path.”
- Cloud Career Pathways
- Access to AWS Console and Credits
- Coursework for AWS Certifications
- Access to AWS Job Board
Microsoft Learn is not exclusively for Veterans, but it is a great resource. Take self-paced coursework on all Microsoft certifications, including the latest material on the Azure Cloud Certifications.
“Whether you’re just starting or an experienced professional, our hands-on approach helps you arrive at your goals faster, with more confidence and at your own pace.”
- Self-Paced Cloud Technology Courses
- Become Microsoft Certified
“The Federal Virtual Training Environment (FedVTE) provides FREE online cybersecurity training to federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government employees, federal contractors, US military veterans and the public. Managed by DHS, FedVTE contains more than 800 hours of training on topics such as ethical hacking and surveillance, risk management, and malware analysis.”
- Courses for all proficiency levels from beginner to advanced
- 800 hours of training mapped to the NICE Framework
- Certification prep courses on topics such as Ethical Hacking, Certified
Information Security Manager (CISM), and Certified Information Systems
Security Professional (CISSP) - The ability to work at your own pace from any computer or mobile device
A Cloud Guru is an online training platform for people interested in Information Technology. Most of the courses offered prepare students to take certification exams for the three major cloud providers.They offer self-paced coursework, quizzes, practice exams, labs, and even a virtual sandbox to practice your new cloud skills.
“With hundreds of courses and thousands of labs, we give you plenty of room to roam. Whether you’re accelerating your own career or skilling up teams, you can go as broad or as deep as you need, and then some. We offer full certification training and technical deep dives for Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and so much more. What would you like to learn?”
- AWS Certifications
- Google Certifications
- Microsoft Azure Certifications
