Skip to the main content

Professional Certifications

Get Certified

Why professional certifications are important   

Certifications make a great first impression.

  • 92% believe IT certifications help to ensure credibility of IT employees.
  • 92% said IT certified individuals receive higher starting salaries than those without IT certifications.
  • 91% of employers believe IT certifications play a key role in the hiring process and that IT certifications are a reliable predictor of a successful employee.
  • 67% of employers use certifications to measure a candidate’s willingness to work hard and meet a goal.
  • 60% of employers use certifications to confirm subject matter expertise.

Additional reasons to become professionally certified

Palm Beach State College's Lake Worth campus Testing Center offers the CompTIA, Cisco, C++ Institute and EC Council certifications on site.

For more information, visit the Testing Center website.


 

College Credit for Existing Certifications

If you already have certifications and/or work in the IT field, Palm Beach State offers credit.  Complete the Course Equivalency Form found on the Prior Learning page and submit this to the appropriate department chair to determine if you qualify for credit.  Use the chart below as a guide.

Courses and Certification Equivalents

Apply what you learn to industry certifications. As a current student, the chart below highlights the equivalent industry certifications you are preparing for within the specific courses in your degree plan.

IT Courses Linked to Industry Certifications
Course ID Course Title Industry Certification
CTS1150 Computer Maintenance and Repair CompTIA A+
CNT2000* Network Technologies CompTIA Network+
CTS2301 Introduction to Linux CompTIA Linux+
CTS2404 IMP/ADM Network Security CompTIA Security+
CTS2651, CTS2652, CTS2653 Cisco 1-3 Cisco, CCNA
COP1000, COP2047 Python Programming Knowledge Pillars, Python Coding
CTS1110 Microcomputer Operating System Microsoft MCP/MCSA
CET2792** Install/Config Windows Serv Microsoft MCP/MCSA
CET 2793** Windows Network Infrast Microsoft MCP/MCSA
CET 2794** Microsoft Network Admin Microsoft MCP/MCSA


Note: The majority of the courses listed above are specific to the AS in Networking Administration degree except for the Cisco electives and COP 2047. Per the notes below, you should submit the course equivalency form or speak with the Department Chair if you have any questions on entering the college
with prior certifications.

* CNT2000 prepares students for the Network+ certification; however, students applying to PBSC with Network+ certification will receive elective credit towards their AS degree as CNT2000 is an AA course.

** CET 2792, CET 2793 and CET 2794 will help prepare students to sit for the MCP/MCSA certifications; however, there is no reciprocity for students entering PBSC with Microsoft certifications. Rather, we do offer applied technical skills courses that will be applied to your Business/Computer Science electives for certain Microsoft,Cisco and CompTIA exams.

Print page