Where exams lead
Career paths
Step-by-step certification roadmaps for real careers - which exams to take, in what order, and the roles you move through on the way up.
- Accountant 6 steps
From an accounting degree to CFO: the exams that open the early roles (CPA, ACCA, CMA), then the experience and abilities that carry you to controller and CFO.
Junior / Trainee Accountant Staff Accountant Accountant Senior Accountant Controller / Finance Manager Chief Financial Officer (CFO)View the full path → - Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) 5 steps
How to become a Chief Information Security Officer: which certifications matter (Security+, CISSP, CISM), the experience needed, and a realistic path.
Security Analyst Security Engineer Senior Security Engineer / Lead Security Manager / Head of Security CISOView the full path → - Cloud Engineer 5 steps
How to become a cloud engineer in 2026: which AWS or Azure exams to take, in what order, what to build alongside them, and a realistic timeline.
Cloud Support / IT (foundation) Junior Cloud Engineer Cloud Engineer Cloud / DevOps Engineer Senior Cloud Engineer / ArchitectView the full path → - Cybersecurity Analyst 5 steps
How to become a cybersecurity analyst in 2026: which exams to take, in what order, the hands-on skills to build, and a realistic timeline.
IT / Help Desk Junior Security Analyst Cybersecurity / SOC Analyst Security Analyst Senior Analyst / Security ManagerView the full path → - Data Analyst 6 steps
From data analyst to senior data engineer: the certs that open the early roles (PL-300, Tableau, SnowPro), then the experience that carries you higher.
Junior Data Analyst Data Analyst Analytics Engineer Data Engineer Senior Data Engineer (cloud) Lead Data Engineer / Analytics LeadView the full path → - DevOps Engineer 5 steps
How to become a DevOps engineer: the cloud and Kubernetes certs (AWS, Terraform, CKA, CKAD) that prove each step, then the experience that takes you to the top.
Junior Developer / Operations / Support Cloud / Junior DevOps Engineer DevOps Engineer Senior DevOps Engineer Staff DevOps / Platform EngineerView the full path → - Digital Marketer 6 steps
How to become a digital marketer: free vendor certs (Google Ads, GA4, HubSpot, Meta) that prove skill early, then the experience that carries you to manager.
Marketing Coordinator / Assistant Junior / Digital Marketing Executive Marketing Specialist Marketing Analyst / Performance Marketing Specialist Marketing Manager Marketing Director / Head of MarketingView the full path → - Financial Analyst 4 steps
A step-by-step path to becoming a financial analyst in 2026: the role of the CFA, when to start it, the technical skills to build, and a realistic timeline.
Entry Financial Analyst Financial Analyst Financial Analyst (mid) Senior Financial AnalystView the full path → - HR Professional 6 steps
From an HR or psychology degree to HR director: the certifications that open the early roles (aPHR, PHR, SHRM, SPHR), then the experience that carries you up.
HR Assistant / HR Coordinator HR Generalist HR Generalist / Senior HR Generalist Senior HR Generalist / HR Business Partner HR Manager HR Director / VP of Human Resources / CHROView the full path → - Management Consultant 5 steps
How to become a management consultant: there is no consultant exam. You get in on degree and case interviews; the GMAT only gates the optional MBA route.
Undergraduate / Pre-consulting Analyst / Junior Consultant MBA candidate Consultant / Senior Consultant Engagement Manager / Principal / PartnerView the full path → - Network Engineer 4 steps
A step-by-step path to becoming a network engineer in 2026: certifications from Network+ to CCNA, the lab skills to build, automation, and a realistic timeline.
Help Desk / IT NOC Technician / Junior Network Engineer Senior Network Engineer / ArchitectView the full path → - Penetration Tester 4 steps
How to become a penetration tester: where CEH and OSCP fit, why hands-on skill matters most, and a realistic offensive-security roadmap from foundations up.
Security / IT foundation Junior Penetration Tester Penetration Tester Senior Pentester / LeadView the full path → - Portfolio Manager 4 steps
How to become a portfolio manager: why the CFA charter dominates the path, the experience you need, and where CAIA or FRM fit. A realistic, honest roadmap.
Investment / Research Analyst Research Analyst Senior / Buy-side Analyst Portfolio ManagerView the full path → - Project Manager 4 steps
How to become a project manager in 2026: which certifications to take at each stage (CAPM, PMP, PRINCE2, Scrum) and how to build the experience.
Project Coordinator Junior PM Project Manager Senior PM / Program ManagerView the full path → - Salesforce Administrator 5 steps
How to become a Salesforce Administrator: the certs (Administrator, Platform App Builder) that open early roles, then the experience that leads to architect.
Salesforce End User / Junior Admin Salesforce Administrator Senior Salesforce Administrator Salesforce Consultant Salesforce ArchitectView the full path → - Scrum Master 4 steps
How to become a Scrum Master: a CSM or PSM I certification opens the door, then real delivery experience carries you to senior, Agile Coach and RTE roles.
Team Member / Project Contributor Scrum Master (entry / junior) Scrum Master Senior Scrum Master / Agile Coach / Release Train Engineer (RTE)View the full path → - Security Engineer 5 steps
How to become a security engineer in 2026: build IT and coding foundations, earn Security+, then engineer real defences toward senior and principal roles.
IT / Junior Developer Security Engineer (Associate) Security Engineer Senior Security Engineer (track) Senior / Principal Security EngineerView the full path → - SOC Analyst 4 steps
How to become a SOC analyst: the certifications that get you hired (Security+, CySA+), the hands-on skills that matter, and a realistic entry-level roadmap.
IT Support (security foundation) SOC Analyst Tier 1 SOC Analyst Tier 2 Senior SOC Analyst / Threat HunterView the full path → - Solutions Architect 5 steps
How to become a Solutions Architect: from engineer to enterprise architect - the cloud certs (AWS, Azure, GCP) that prove design skill, then experience.
Software / Cloud / Systems Engineer Cloud Engineer / Junior Solutions Architect Solutions Architect Senior / Lead Solutions Architect Principal / Enterprise ArchitectView the full path →