What Is a Network Administrator Certification?

Earning a network administrator certification can help you showcase your knowledge on topics like computer servers, local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), coding languages, and more. Pursuing additional credentials may also help boost your earning potential. For example, a network administrator earns an average base salary of $66,830 annually [1]. In contrast, someone with CompTIA Network+ certification can make an average of $79,000, and a network administrator with Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) credentials gets an average of $92,000 annually [2, 3]. 

Discover how having a certification can help prove you have the knowledge to perform the various duties required of a network administrator. 

Overview of a network administrator 

Network administrators focus on the daily management and maintenance of a computer network. This involves tasks like installing hardware and software, diagnosing and troubleshooting issues, and providing support for desktop computers. In this role, you typically design, implement, and manage networks in addition to standard duties, which include the following:

• Provide user support

• Manage network users

• Test networks for security vulnerabilities

• Monitor network performance and optimize as needed

• Train others on best practices, including cybersecurity measures

• Collaborate with company leadership to meet all goals and objectives 

Popular network administrator certifications

Network administrator certifications cover a wide variety of topics, giving you many options for showcasing your knowledge of network administration. Discover popular network administrator certifications and learn more about each of them.

CompTIA Network +

The CompTIA Network + certification highlights your knowledge of topics such as networking concepts, security, implementation, troubleshooting, and operations. It’s widely considered a go-to option for IT professionals and an industry standard

Requirements: No formal prerequisites are needed to take the CompTIA Network + exam, but the recommendation is for candidates to have the CompTIA A+ certification and nine to 12 months of practical experience working in a related role. 

Cost (USD): The exam costs $369, but the costs can vary if you purchase training materials and practice tests as well [4]. 

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification focuses on a wide range of IT fundamentals. Earning this credential can help highlight your strengths in areas like networking fundamentals, security fundamentals, and IP services. 

Requirements: No formal prerequisites. However, Cisco recommends having basic computer literacy and a basic knowledge of PC operating systems, internet usage, and IP addresses. 

Cost (USD): $300 [5]

Fabric Data Engineer Associate

The Fabric Data Engineer Associate certification offered through Microsoft can help show your expertise with data loading patterns, data architectures, and orchestration processes. This certification demonstrates your proficiency in designing and deploying data engineering solutions for analytics.

Requirements: No formal prerequisites, but you should be skilled at manipulating and transforming data with SQL, KQL, and PySpark.

Cost (USD): $165 [6]

Juniper Networks Certified Associate (JNCIA-Junos)

The Juniper Networks Certified Associate (JNCIA-Junos) certification can verify your understanding and proficiency in networking using the Juniper Networks Junos OS. Exam content includes information in the following categories: networking fundamentals, Junos OS fundamentals, user interfaces, configuration basics, operational monitoring and maintenance, routing fundamentals, and routing policy and firewall filters. 

Requirements: No formal prerequisites are necessary to take the JNCIA-Junos exam, but training may help you pass the exam.

Cost (USD): $200 [7]

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

For network administrators who focus on security, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification can help prove your understanding of all things computer security-related. This certification focuses on eight domains, from security and risk management to software development security. 

Requirements: This advanced certification requires a minimum of five years of paid work experience in a minimum of two of the domains outlined in the exam. 

Cost (USD): $749 [8]

Who can get a network administrator certification?

Anyone interested in pursuing a career as a network administrator can consider getting a certification to stand out from competitors. While these certifications have different objectives, they all focus on information technology (IT) and can help to showcase your IT knowledge. 

How to get a network administrator certification

Consider your network administration education, experience, and goals as you consider certification. If you’re interested in getting a network administrator certification, consider following these five steps:

1. Choose the right certification.

Choosing the certification that can help you achieve your career goals is important. For instance, if you primarily work with Microsoft software, getting the FabricData Engineer Associate certificate might be beneficial. If you don’t work with Microsoft software, it might be helpful to get the CompTIA Network + certification because it has a broad focus on different network administrator topics. 

2. Review certification requirements.

Many of the network administrator certifications are beginner to intermediate level and don’t have any prerequisites to take the exam. Some advanced options may require a specific amount of experience.

3. Enroll in training programs.

Each certification has its own recommendations for training that commonly incur an additional cost. For example, CompTIA Network+ offers bundles that include the price of the exam and additional training, like learning materials and practice tests. Cisco also offers a variety of resources, including in-person teaching, practice tests, and simulators. 

4. Create a study plan.

Consider creating a study plan to help you stay on track and review all the needed material. Study plans can help break large amounts of information into more manageable chunks. 

5. Register for the exam.

The certification website provides instructions for registering for the exam. Familiarize yourself with any requirements and recommendations the website provides. 

What to expect on a network administrator certification exam 

Many of the network administrator certification exams use a multiple-choice format and range from 90 to 120 minutes in length. Topics you can find on these exams include:

• Networking concepts and fundamentals

• Network operations

• Network security

• Network implementations

Career opportunities with a network administrator certification

Earning a certification as a network administrator can lead to a variety of roles in the field of information technology. Some job titles that relate to network administration include computer programmer, computer systems analyst, and software developer. 

Build skills to prepare for network administrator certification on Coursera

A network administrator certificate can further your career and strengthen your knowledge in the field. If you’re new to the industry, you might consider starting with the IBM IT Support Specialist Professional Certificate or the Google IT Support Professional Certificate on Coursera to develop your understanding of information and technology practices. 

If your focus is cybersecurity, options like the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate or the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate might be helpful.