Future-proof your career with one certification employers actually trust.
AI is rewriting job descriptions. Cyber threats keep growing. Cloud and data analytics are no longer “nice to have.” The IT Specialist (ITS) certification is proof of skill that you can keep up, and it helps you get hired faster, whether you’re starting out or pivoting in.
Artificial Intelligence
Cybersecurity
Data Analytics
Cloud Computing
PythonA degree opens the door. A certification gets you the seat.
Three things are happening at the same time, and together they’re reshaping who gets hired for tech roles across Africa.
Employers stopped trusting CVs alone
They want proof: verifiable, industry-recognized proof of skill that you can do the work, not just that you sat through a module on it. A certification from Pearson Certiport is that proof, and it’s checkable in real time on Credly.
AI is widening the skills gap, fast
Cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud and AI aren’t future jobs any more. They’re the jobs being posted today, and many graduates don’t have the foundations to apply. ITS gives you those foundations across 15 certification tracks.
You don’t have years to figure it out
One ITS exam takes about 50 minutes. One bundle costs $135. One pass earns you a Credly badge you can post on LinkedIn the same day. The candidates who move first get noticed first.
Five problems graduates face. One answer: proof of skill.
A qualification says you studied. An IT Specialist certification from Pearson Certiport proves you can do the work in AI, data, security, cloud or code, and that changes what happens after graduation.
“I have a qualification, but no job.”
Tech employers screen for proof of skill before they read the rest of your CV. An ITS certification puts a recognized Pearson credential on it, and an employer can verify it on Credly in seconds.
“I need experience to get experience.”
Interns who can already write working Python, query a database, explain a cloud service or spot a security risk get handed real tasks from week one, and that turns a placement into a job offer.
“I want to build something of my own.”
Build websites and apps, automate a business with Python, set up cloud tools or secure a small office network, and sell it as a service. Clients trust a freelancer whose credentials they can check.
“Watching tutorials isn’t the same as knowing it.”
Each ITS exam is built on published objective domains, from how AI models work to how networks move data and how code is structured. Preparing for one builds the foundations behind the tools, so the skill carries over when the tools change.
“My qualification doesn’t travel.”
Tech teams hire across borders and remote roles recruit worldwide. A Pearson Certiport credential means the same thing in Harare, Johannesburg, Dubai or London, and anyone can verify it online.
What is the IT Specialist program?
Pearson’s own walkthrough of what the ITS program is, who it’s for, and why employers around the world recognize it as a benchmark for entry-level IT hiring.
Five certifications. Five futures.
These are the ITS tracks employers across banking, fintech, mining, telecoms and government are actively recruiting for. Pick one and we’ll get you certified.
Artificial Intelligence
Become AI-enabled. Learn how to use AI to solve real problems: the skill employers are screening for in 2026.
Get certified · $135Data Analytics
Handle, analyze and communicate data findings responsibly. The foundation for every analyst, scientist and BI role.
Get certified · $135Cybersecurity
Master core security paradigms, terminology and mindset. The entry-level certification recruiters look for first.
Get certified · $135Cloud Computing
Recognize and explain end-to-end cloud solutions. The skill behind every SaaS, fintech and modern app.
Get certified · $135Python
Recognize, write and debug Python code that solves problems logically. One of the most useful coding certifications for a new graduate.
Get certified · $135There are ten more ways to specialize.
Coding, web development, networking, databases, device management: every classic IT track has its own ITS certification. Same $119. Same Credly badge. Same ACE credit recommendation.
Java
Object-oriented coding fundamentals
JavaScript
The language of the modern web
Software Development
OOP, web apps, databases
HTML & CSS
Build & style webpages properly
HTML5 App Development
Responsive cross-device apps
Networking
TCP/IP, services, topologies
Network Security
OS, device & network defense
Databases
Design & query MySQL / SQL Server
Device Management
Windows & mobility troubleshooting
Computational Thinking
Algorithms, abstraction, automation
Recognized globally. Counted academically.
ITS is the entry-level industry certification developed by Pearson, the company behind Pearson VUE. It’s recognized by CertNexus, SAS, Cisco Networking Academy, ISTE and more. Each passed exam also carries an American Council on Education (ACE) recommendation of 3 college credits.
+ Digital Badge on CredlyShareable to LinkedIn, email and your CV: verifiable in one click by any employer
Which IT problem feels most like you?
Not sure which track? Let us tell you.
Take the free 2-minute ITS Career Path Diagnostic. We’ll ask you 5 questions about how you think and what excites you, and recommend the ITS certification most likely to get you hired this year.
OneCertificationAway is available in 10 countries.
Certification is open to candidates across Southern Africa. You’ll sit your exam at a Certiport Authorized Testing Center, or online if there isn’t one in your area.
No test center nearby? Sit it online.
- Online exams are available only in areas without a Certiport Authorized Testing Center
- Live remote proctoring through Certiport Compass Cloud: your webcam stays on for the whole exam
- You’ll need a full workstation with keyboard, mouse and a high-speed connection
- Same official certificate and digital badge as in-center exams
Already have a voucher?
Book your ITS exam at a test center, or online where there’s none nearby.
Asked before buying.
Is training included?
Yes. Your voucher purchase includes access to training for your chosen ITS track, so you can build the skill and prove it in one place. Add CertPREP practice tests or a bundle if you want to practice under exam conditions before you sit.
Which ITS certification should I start with?
If you’re starting fresh in 2026, the highest-leverage picks are Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing or Python: these are what employers are recruiting for right now. If you’re not sure, take the free diagnostic and we’ll match you to one.
How long does the exam take and where do I write it?
Most ITS exams are about 50 minutes long. You sit the exam at a Certiport Authorized Testing Center, or online through Certiport Compass Cloud if there isn’t one in your area. Pass the exam and your certificate and Credly badge are issued the same day.
What’s included in the $135 bundle?
Your bundle includes the official Pearson exam voucher with a retake, CertPREP practice tests and the accompanying study materials for your chosen track. If you don’t pass the first time, use the retake voucher to sit it again.
Is this available across Africa or just Zimbabwe?
ITS certification is available in 10 Southern African countries: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Sit your exam at a test center, or online where there’s none nearby.
Do I get college credit for passing?
The American Council on Education (ACE) has recommended 3 college credits per ITS exam passed. Many universities accept this for elective or IT-related coursework; check with your institution.
One certification. One real shift in your career.
You can keep scrolling LinkedIn watching other people post their badges. Or you can pick one track, write one exam, and become one of the certified graduates employers are looking for. Either way, the 2026 hiring market doesn’t wait.
EPCON · Certify. Build. Pitch.
Your IT Specialist certification is your ticket to EPCON 2027
EPCON is Zimbabwe’s National Student Technology Skills Championship. Certify here, then build a real capstone, pitch it to industry judges at the national finals in December 2027, and get seen by the companies that hire.
Qualifies you for
Pass one qualifying IT Specialist certification to compete in its track. Web Development accepts HTML & CSS, JavaScript or HTML5 App Development.