Why Employers Value IT Certifications Alongside Degrees 

If you are planning your next career step, you may be comparing postgraduate study with professional certifications. For many Australian IT professionals, the strongest option is not one or the other — it is both. Employers often value IT certifications Australia professionals hold because certifications show practical, current technical capability, while degrees demonstrate broader knowledge, discipline, and long-term professional development. 

Together, they can strengthen your credibility, support career progression, and help you stand out in a competitive technology job market. 

Why certifications still matter 

Technology changes quickly. Platforms, tools, security risks, cloud services, and vendor systems are regularly updated. This is where certifications can be useful. They show employers that you have current skills in a specific technology, product, or practice area. 

IT certifications can be especially valuable in areas such as: 

• cyber security  

• cloud computing  

• networking  

• project management  

• Microsoft technologies  

• AWS and cloud platforms  

• Cisco networking  

• IT service management  

For employers, certifications provide evidence that a candidate has taken the time to build job-ready capability in a defined area. This can be helpful when hiring for technical roles where practical skills matter from day one. 

Where degrees add long-term value 

While certifications are often focused on specific tools or platforms, postgraduate degrees are broader. A degree can help professionals build deeper capability across problem-solving, technical foundations, business thinking, research, communication, and leadership. 

This is particularly important as professionals move into more senior roles. Employers often look for people who can do more than operate technology. They need people who can understand risk, make decisions, manage projects, lead teams, and connect technology choices to business outcomes. 

For example, a professional may use certifications to build practical skills in cloud or cyber security, while a postgraduate course such as the Master of Cyber Security or Master of Cloud Computing and Virtualisation can support deeper career development. 

What ROI looks like 

The return on investment from combining certifications and postgraduate study is not only about an immediate salary increase. The bigger value is career flexibility. 

Together, certifications and degrees can help you: 

• build practical, job-ready skills  

• strengthen your professional credibility  

• move into specialist technology roles  

• prepare for senior or leadership positions  

• show commitment to ongoing professional development  

• stay current as technology changes  

 For professionals already working in IT, certifications can provide targeted skills quickly, while postgraduate study can support long-term career growth. 

Why employers like the combination 

Employers value candidates who can show both practical capability and broader professional judgement. Certifications can demonstrate hands-on knowledge of current tools and platforms. A degree can demonstrate structured learning, persistence, analytical thinking, and the ability to work through complex problems. 

In many cases, certifications can help professionals enter or shift within a technical field, while postgraduate study can support progression into more senior, strategic, or specialised roles. 

Is this pathway right for you? 

This pathway may suit you if you want both short-term skills development and long-term career growth. If you are targeting a specific platform or vendor role, a certification may be the right immediate step. If you are looking for broader career progression, postgraduate study may provide stronger long-term value. 

Professionals who are not ready to commit to a full postgraduate qualification can start with a free university short course or explore certification options through the IT Masters store before choosing a larger study pathway. 

Take the next step 

If you want to strengthen your career prospects, consider how certifications and postgraduate study can work together. Explore IT Masters certification options or review the full range of IT Masters postgraduate technology programs delivered in partnership with Charles Sturt University. 

The right combination can help you build practical skills, recognised credentials, and long-term career confidence.