12/7/2005 -- Every year, we gather your collective opinion about which IT certifications are the best in our annual reader survey. What program is worthy of your respect? What and who are the best exam preparation resources and resource providers?

Though the field has a lot of good things to offer, here are the crème de la crème. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and finalists.

Most Respected High-Level Certification
Winner: Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
Finalists: Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), (ISC)2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

For three years running now, this triumvirate continues to dominate the upper echelon of IT certifications, covering networking infrastructure from the set up to its security. And in the case of Cisco’s CCIE and Microsoft’s MCSE, their reign has been uninterrupted since our first CertCities Readers’ Choice Awards in 2002.

The key to the CCIE’s success lies in the respect it commands from IT professionals for the painful (but worthwhile) difficulty of its hands-on practicum, which puts candidates’ book knowledge to the test -- for eight hours. One reader believed the title is the most respected high-level certification because of “the level of difficulty in attaining the cert, along with the hands-on testing in a lab environment, which shows you can DO what you say you know and not just guess a correct answer from a set of four.” By testing candidates in a lab setting with realistic, unique situations, he said there’s “no way to braindump through it.”

The MCSE, on the other hand, owes its claim at the top largely to its “brand-name recognition,” as a reader put it. Because of Microsoft’s undeniably universal presence in almost every corner of the IT industry, its certifications carry some weight on that fact alone: “We clearly live in a Microsoft world. Our clients are 100 percent Microsoft -- therefore we have to be,” said one reader. Another commented, “As most organizations use the Microsoft platform, it’s very relevant when applying for most jobs in the IT industry.”

Rounding out the top three is (ISC)2’s vendor-neutral security CISSP certification. Several readers pointed out its stringent requirements, which sound like prerequisites for becoming a CIA agent or British knight: having a minimum four years of full-time security experience, agreeing to a code of ethics and passing the six-hour CISSP exam. As one reader said, “CISSP is the gold standard for the computer security profession.” In this day and age of weekly security bulletins, patches and fixes to strengthen an organization’s -- or even a desktop’s -- defenses, security is a critical issue. “Security is hot these days, and the CISSP is valued for this reason,” related Steve Griffiths, a consultant at Cyberdyne Systems with 11 years of IT experience.

Best Entry-Level Certification
Winner: CompTIA A+
Finalists: Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

To become an IT professional, it only makes sense that you know the basics of computer hardware and software installation, configuration and troubleshooting, before you can attempt to do the same for an enterprise or even small-business network. The certification that best meets this demand, according to you is CompTIA’s A+ title.

This vendor-neutral certification verifies “that a candidate has a broad base of knowledge and competency in core hardware and operating system technologies,” regardless of the client’s specific operating system, hardware and software. Consultant Andrew Badgley called A+ “the 'high school diploma' of the computer industry.”

Following closely on the heels of the A+ is the second-place Microsoft MCP, which is valued for similar reasons. “It establishes a ground-level understanding of how the OS interacts with the user and the network,” one reader said. But as the title requires you pass one of several exams for Microsoft’s other certifications, another reader thought it’d be better if you take a collect-em-all approach to improve your marketability: “MCP covers a multitude of topics and by gaining one, two or more it gives you a ‘foot in the door’ to most jobs and enables you to keep studying for more certifications as you work.”

However, it all goes back to the issue of networking, and Cisco is still the market leader of the hardware. Janis Rose, a faculty member in the Computer Science department at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said this about the CCNA: “Ultimately, if you work with computers, you'll end up working with a network. Understanding the basics of a network is invaluable when starting out.”

Another reader also mentioned the CCNA’s practicality, saying, “This exam covers all the basics of networking that is needed for a network admin on a day-to-day basis.”

One reader, however, questioned the whole notion of entry-level certifications: “I think a cert for an entry-level candidate is a little absurd. A cert is supposed to reflect a certain amount of expertise -- something no entry-level person can have, or they wouldn't be entry-level any longer.”

Best Mid-Level Networking Certification
Winner: Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)
Finalists: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), CompTIA Server+

Microsoft’s MCSA extended its dynasty in the mid-level cert category for the fourth straight year, beating its contenders with the force of Microsoft’s ubiquity in networks and the title’s more focused demands, as opposed to the MCP. The MCSA’s exams let test takers specialize in either Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003, and furthermore, in either messaging or security. The focus translates well to real-world environments, as Brett Bascom, a network administrator with Florida Telecommunicatons Relay Inc., said, “I'm currently in the MCSA track, and the material and hands-on training I received is useful and applicable every day.”

Consultant specialist Jared Jackson said a mid-level professional “requires product/vendor specialty” and that “Microsoft is the most widely used.” But the 37-year IT veteran also quipped, “Microsoft shops are more likely to be managed by people who are impressed by certification titles.”

And as always, most everywhere Microsoft is, so is perennial favorite Cisco, coming in at a strong second with the CCNP. Whatever applications or services are operating at the end-user level, “Cisco is still the backbone of our networks,” noted systems integrator and 27-year IT veteran Steve Misner.

The CCNP builds on Cisco’s entry-level CCNA, further solidifying one’s network fundamentals. “Knowing the basics of a network infrastructure is key to having a grasp on the infrastructure as a whole,” said a reader.

Others thought that there’s still room to improve on knowledge of general networking concepts and technologies, as enough of you voted for CompTIA’s vendor-neutral Server+ certification to make it the second mid-level finalist. One reader wrote that he was going to vote for the MCSA, but thought: “Server+ is a little more generic and therefore more widely applicable. From there you can decide to go to whichever NOS (network operating system) suits your fancy.”

Best Developer Certification
Winner: Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)
Finalists: Oracle Forms Developer, Sun Certified Java Developer (SCJD)

Once again, you picked Microsoft's MCSD as your favorite developer certification, citing its marketability and usefulness in any Windows environment.

“The most widely known and used software is Microsoft," said one reader of her vote for the MCSD. "Understanding how to correct detected errors can result in either the savings or expense of millions of dollars for businesses. A good developer can keep a company in the black."

Or, as another reader commented, “Microsoft technology dominates the presentation layer.”

For the second year in a row, Oracle's Forms Developer title showed well enough to grab the first finalist place. Sun's flagship SCJD slid into second. “Java is easy, universal to all platforms and free,” said one reader of his vote.

For some, however, it wasn't an easy decision: "[A] tough one," commented consultant Robert Coop of his vote. "If you deal in MS, than MCSD is definitely the most valuable, but universally (and globally) the SCJD will have you stand out from the crowd.”

Best Database Certification
Winner: Oracle Certified Professional, Database Administrator (OCP DBA)
Finalists: Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA), MySQL Professional Certification

Last year, Oracle took this category with more than double the votes of Microsoft's MCDBA title. This year, the MCDBA showed much better, but the OCP DBA squeaked out the win with just a handful of votes.

But win it did. One reason for its ability to hang on to the top spot may be its universality. As one reader explained, "An Oracle DBA can work for a Unix-centric or MS-centric shop.”

Griffiths agreed: "Oracle, having the largest market share of its database, still reigns supreme. Since it's on both mainframes and PCs, you're more likely to find opportunities working with it, too.”

Still, MCDBA's strong showing this year could be a sign of the times. “I would have to say Oracle is still number one, but it will not be for long," commented a reader. "Microsoft SQL is quickly becoming the database to go to.”

Oracle is also facing competition from the second finalist in this category, MySQL, which is making its second showing on this year's shortlist. “Oracle is the biggest and by far the best database at this time, but MySQL…is almost there,” said another reader.

Best Internet Certification
Winner: Adobe Dreamweaver Developer
Finalists: Prosoft Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) Professional, CompTIA i-Net+

This category was again a tight race between the same three finalists from last year, but with Adobe's (formerly Macromedia) Dreamweaver Developer title overtaking Prosoft’s CIW cert, mainly because of the reputation of the Dreamweaver software for which the cert certifies skills in. According to one reader, Dreamweaver is “a total solution [for] site building.” Another reader agreed, saying it has “more dynamic building tools” than other Web design programs.

For others, however, the field needs a vendor-neutral title, like the CIW and i-Net+, as both combined for more votes than Dreamweaver Developer. The CIW “covers the field” and with it “you can go in any direction,” said one person. Another reader went as far as to say it’s “the most well-rounded certification out there today.”

Readers also had good things to say about close runner-up i-Net+. Beta Tech IT instructor Matthew Latta said it covers “a broad spectrum of technologies.” Manny Poole, a computer support specialist at the University of Washington, commented: “This is an overall good certificate to attain. This cert covers most of the basics for entry-level Web developer,” adding, “CompTIA i-Net+ was once recognized by Prosoft CIW, that if one attained this cert, it was equivalent to their CIW Associate cert.”

Best Security Certification
Winner: (ISC)2 CISSP
Finalists: Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP), Microsoft MCSE: Security

We've asked you to vote for the best security certification for the past three years, and every year you've picked (ISC)2's CISSP. And why not? It has an excellent reputation, a grueling six-hour exam and is one of the only titles to focus entirely on theory, making it relevant no matter what environment you're working in. Its four-year experience requirement doesn't hurt its reputation, either.

“CISSP covers a broad spectrum of the security arena," explained one reader. "Security knowledge with this certification is not specialized, but the holder is ‘well-rounded’ on his education of IT security.”

Cisco's CSSP once again took enough votes to strongly take the first finalist spot in this category. "Cisco is not only the most popular equipment manufacturer,” said one reader, “but [its] equipment has carried high-end security capability since long before the rest of the world decided that it was important," commented a reader on his vote.

Microsoft’s MCSE: Security trailed but took enough votes to grab the third spot in this popular category. Said one reader of her vote: "We need to make our Microsoft networks more secure."

Best Linux/Unix Certification
Winner: Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
Finalists: Sun Certified Systems Administrator, Solaris (SCSA Solaris), CompTIA Linux+

Red Hat's hands-on, flagship RHCE title is once again your pick for the best Linux certification, easily taking the top spot thanks to its stellar reputation, earned thanks to its eight-hour, hands-on lab exam and marketability in the industry.

“Red Hat is de facto industry standard,” commented one reader.

"Most flavors of Linux and Unix carry similar kernels with most of the same commands," commented another. "Red Hat requires candidates to build a server from the ground up.”

Even those holding other Linux/Unix titles want the RHCE: “I have the Sun Certified Solaris Admin cert and feel that the RHCE is more valuable due to the lab requirements," said one reader of his vote. "No dumping your way through that!"

But while your winner in this category remained steady, we did see a bit of a shake-up in the finalist spots, with Sun's SCSA Solaris title pulling ahead of CompTIA's vendor-neutral Linux+ for the first time. One reader said he voted for the SCSA because it’s the "best known in [the] industry across multiple verticals." Said another, “The industry values it, and it teaches a lot."

Not that the Linux+ isn't still popular: "Linux+…is a great exam: easy to access [and] provides a good understanding of how Linux [is] being used,” one reader said.

The non-vendor approach of Linux+ also lends to its appeal. Said one reader: "I place more value on CompTIA’s Linux+, because it's a vendor-neutral title."

Best Overall Certification Program
Winner: Cisco

In this winner-take-all category, Cisco’s venerable program continues to keep Microsoft and CompTIA at bay to win the title for the fourth straight year.

Apparently, IT professionals love pain and respect the tough love that Cisco dishes out in its certification exams. But the difficulty of these exams is directly proportional to the amount of recognition from peers and employers you’ll get once you gain those hard-won certifications from the network giant. “Cisco has always kept their certifications up-to-date and resistant to ‘paper’ certification,” said one reader. Another put it simply, “No B.S.”

“Cisco's exams are quite difficult, requiring a higher percentage to pass, and have more simulation-type questions,” a reader said. “I feel that the Cisco certs are very accurate at determining a tech's skills.”

Not only that, the knowledge and skills learned will be invariably applicable in the candidate’s future job. One reader noted that Cisco’s “tests were of high quality and very close to the actual day-to-day use of their products.”

There you have it -- the best of the best of 2005. Congratulations, once again, to all of this year’s winners and finalists. Now, let’s hear what you have to say about the results by posting down below!

NOTE: Winners and finalists will be contacted shortly by CertCities.com with their official congratulations e-mails containing logos, etc. If you have questions in the meantime, please e-mail .

More articles by Dan Hong:

• CertCities.com’s Guide to Storage Certs