5 Most Expensive Certifications

Certifications are fundamental to advancing any IT career, and some of the most prestigious ones come with hefty price tags. In this article, we highlight some of the most expensive certifications based on exam cost alone. 

These numbers don't include the value of your time, experience, or study material. Most of these certs are ones IT pros tend to pursue these certifications later in their career. The certifications tend to have lots of moving parts, such as board exams and long written tests. Some certifications are a bit pricier than the rest, but they may be worth it in the end. 

5. CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure: $2,050

Of the certifications on this list, CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure is the least expensive. To earn this cert, you'll need to pass the 350-401 ENCOR v1.1 exam, which costs $450, and complete an 8-hour, hands-on lab exam CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Lab Exam v1.1, which will set you back $1,600. The lab portion is considered especially challenging. 

If you fail, you'll have to wait 30 days to retake the written exam and pay $450. Fail the lab portion, and you'll have 12 months to make another attempt; after that, you'll have to retake the written portion. And yes, it's $1,600 for each lab attempt. 

The CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure is designed to validate expertise in complex enterprise networking solutions, focusing on advanced routing, switching, and network infrastructure technologies. This certification encompasses a wide range of topics, including software-defined networking (SDN), automation, programmability, and security, which are critical in modern enterprise networks.

The CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure cert is ideal for experienced network engineers, architects, and IT professionals who want to demonstrate their ability to manage and automate enterprise networks at scale. This certification is highly respected in the IT industry, and those who achieve it are recognized as top-tier experts in network engineering.  

The CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure cert needs to be recertified every three years.  

4. Oracle Database 19c: Oracle Certified Master (OCM): ~$2,500

The Oracle Database 19c Certified Master (OCM) is Oracle's highest-level certification for database administrators. It tests advanced skills on Oracle Database 19c, including Real Application Clusters (RAC), and is conducted in a live database environment using Oracle Linux. Each retake will cost $2,500, and you'll have to wait 5 days to retake and you may only attempt the exam 4 times in a 12-month period. 

To earn this credential, candidates must pass a rigorous, hands-on practical exam at an Oracle University facility, where they demonstrate their ability to perform complex database administration tasks under time constraints. You'll need to pass the Oracle Database 2019 Certified Professional (OCP) or later OCP, and two of the advanced courses. Costs for each exam and training can vary, but you can expect to pay at least $2,500. This certification is highly respected, but has a steep price tag due to the exam's practical nature and mandatory training requirements.

This cert is ideal for highly experienced database administrators looking to validate their expert-level skills in managing and optimizing Oracle databases. It is particularly suited for senior DBAs, IT managers, and database architects who seek to distinguish themselves as top-tier Oracle experts. 

You'll need to recertify by passing the exam again once every two years. 

3. ITIL v4 Master Level Certification $4,400+

The ITIL Master Level Certification is the highest rung of a long ladder of ITIL certs. Starting with the Foundation level, you'll need to progress through Practitioner, Intermediate, and Expert to finally qualify for Master. However, the path isn't quite as simple as scaling a ladder. Rather, it is a progressive system of exams, credits, and real-life experience. 

There is no fixed price on the official ITIL website. That said, it's common to see total costs reach up to $4,400 or more, factoring in the completion of required modules like Managing Professional (MP) and Strategic Leader (SL), along with the final case-based assessments. If you fail any of the tests, you'll need to pay to retake the exam, which generally falls between $280 and $765, depending on which exam you need to retake. 

The ITIL 4 Master Level Certification is ideal for experienced IT professionals who have already advanced through the ITIL certification pathway and want to validate their expert-level IT service management skills. This certification is particularly suited for IT managers, service delivery leaders, and strategic planners responsible for aligning IT services with business objectives.  

This certification is valid for three years and can be renewed by retaking the exam or logging the required continuing education points. 

2. Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) $15,000

This is the grand prize winner for most expensive certification. The CCAr costs a total of $15,000: $3,750 for the initial interview, and $11,250 for the exam itself.

In the exam, a Cisco Certified Architect candidate must create and defend network architecture tailored to a certain set of requirements. Basically, you have to develop a business proposal in a workday and then defend it to a group of your CCAr peers, a feat that requires an intense level of technical and business skills.

The certification is incredibly illustrious. Due to the exorbitantly high cost and difficulty, only a handful of people have been certified, and most of them work at Cisco. 

The exam has recently reached "end of life," which means Cisco is no longer accepting new applications. However, if you have this certification, you'll automatically receive Lifetime Emeritus status—meaning you'll have this certification forever. 

1. No Certification

This is a bit of a trick answer, but it's 100% true. Not having any certifications can result in lower pay and fewer opportunities—which can add up to more “lost” income than even the most expensive certifications. 

Even though CCIE certification costs around $2,000 (for both the written exam and lab), it offers a significant return on investment. CCIE-certified professionals typically earn over 30% more than their non-certified peers, translating to an annual salary boost of $20,000 or more. The long-term financial benefits from increased earnings make the certification an excellent investment for those pursuing advanced roles in network engineering​. In general, certifications almost always pay for themselves through increased earnings.

Ready to Pursue Your Next IT Certification? 

These exams are spendy, but keep in mind most people who pursue them are pretty far along in their careers. If you're not there yet, consider starting with a lower-tier cert and build your way up. Check out the best entry-level IT certs or look for certifications based on the tech you use. 

No matter what certification you're pursuing, CBT Nuggets can help you reach your career goals. Claim your free week of CBT Nuggets training!