The 7 Biggest Challenges People Face When Getting Certified (and How to Overcome Them)

7 Biggest Challenges People Face When Getting Certified

Getting certified can change your career, increase your salary, and make you more competitive in the job market. But the path to certification isn’t always smooth. Many candidates run into roadblocks that can delay or even derail their success.

Here are the seven biggest challenges people face when trying to get certified — and practical tips on how to overcome them.

1. The High Cost of Certification

Challenge: Exam fees, study materials, and prep courses often add up to hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars.

Solution:

• Look for employer reimbursement or training stipends.
• Use online learning platforms (Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning) instead of expensive bootcamps.
• Take advantage of free resources (practice exams, community study groups).

💡 Salary ROI Example: CISSP costs about $749 but can lead to salaries of $140,000+. Security+ costs just $404 and opens doors to jobs averaging $85,000.

📘 Recommended Resources:

• CISSP Official Study Guide
• CompTIA Security+ Online Course

2. Finding Time to Study

Challenge: Most candidates are full-time professionals or students with busy schedules.

Solution:

• Create a structured study plan (e.g., 1 hour/day or 10 hours/week).
• Break content into manageable chunks.
• Use mobile apps and flashcards to study during downtime.

💡 Salary ROI Example: Spending 2 months studying for Security+ (~$404 exam fee) could net you an $85K SOC analyst role — a career shift worth the effort.

📘 Recommended Resources:

• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Flashcards
• CISSP Study Guide

3. The Difficulty of the Exam

Challenge: Some exams (like CISSP, PMP, or OSCP) are notoriously difficult with low pass rates.

Solution:

• Start with easier, foundational certifications before tackling advanced ones.
• Focus on practice exams to build confidence.
• Join online forums or local study groups to share tips and resources.

📘 Recommended Resources:

• OSCP Attack Prep Guide
• CISSP Practice Tests

4. Choosing the Right Certification

Challenge: With so many options, it’s hard to know which certification will pay off.

Solution:

• Align certifications with your career goals (management vs technical).
• Research salary reports and job postings to see what employers demand.
• Use career roadmaps or decision trees to narrow choices.

📘 Recommended Resources:

• Certification Roadmap (PMP)
• AWS Solution Architect

5. Battling Exam Anxiety

Challenge: Even well-prepared candidates struggle with test-day stress.

Solution:

• Practice under timed conditions.
• Use relaxation techniques (deep breathing, short breaks).
• Review test-day checklists so you’re not scrambling last minute.

📘 Recommended Resources:

• Exam and Test Taking Strategies
• Crush Your Test Anxiety

6. Staying Up to Date After Passing

Challenge: Many certifications require renewal through continuing education credits (CPEs, PDUs).

Solution:

• Keep track of renewal deadlines early.
• Earn credits through free webinars, training sessions, or contributing to industry events.
• Budget for annual membership fees so renewals don’t catch you off guard.

📘 Recommended Resources:

• ISACA Renewal Portal
• CompTIA Continuing Education Program

7. Wondering if It’s Worth It

Challenge: Candidates often doubt whether the time and money invested will lead to real career benefits.

Solution:

• Look at salary surveys and job postings to measure ROI.
• Talk to professionals who already hold the certification.
• Remember: Certifications add credibility, but pairing them with experience multiplies value.

💡 Salary ROI Example: PMP certification costs ~$555 but can lead to project management salaries averaging $120,000+.

📘 Recommended Resources:

• Global Knowledge IT Skills and Salary Report
• Indeed Certification Job Search Tool

Certification Cost vs Salary ROI

Certification	Avg Exam Cost	Avg Salary (2025)	ROI Potential
CISSP	$749	$140,000+	Very High
Security+	$404	$85,000	High (entry-level)
PMP	$555	$120,000+	High
CEH	$1,199	$115,000	Moderate-High
AWS Solutions Architect	$150	$125,000	Extremely High

Get Certified

Certification is a powerful way to advance your career, but it comes with challenges — from cost and time management to choosing the right path. The good news? With the right strategy, resources, and mindset, you can overcome these hurdles and earn credentials that pay off for years to come.