How we score certifications
Every certification on MyCertPath carries a single 1–10 score so you can compare options at a glance. This page explains exactly what that number means, what goes into it, and the rules we hold ourselves to.
Our core principle: independence
No pay-to-rank. The MyCertPath Score is editorial. No certification body, training provider, or affiliate partner can buy a higher score, a better ranking, or placement in our comparisons.
We earn revenue through affiliate links to study resources and, occasionally, clearly-labelled sponsored placements. Neither influences how a certification is scored. Sponsored placements are always marked as such and are kept entirely separate from the algorithmic score. See our Affiliate Disclosure for the full picture.
What the score measures
The MyCertPath Score is a composite. It weighs six factors that, taken together, reflect how much a certification is worth to your career:
Career demand
How strongly employers ask for the credential — job-posting frequency and whether demand is rising, steady, or niche.
Salary impact
The compensation uplift holders report, relative to peers without the certification.
Industry recognition
Whether the certification is treated as a genuine standard in its field, or a lesser-known credential.
Cost & accessibility
Exam fees, prerequisites, and barriers to entry — weighed against the value the credential delivers.
Difficulty & time investment
Recommended study hours and exam rigor, balanced against the payoff for the effort required.
Versatility
How many roles, domains, and career paths the credential realistically opens up.
How we research
- →Exam details — cost, duration, format, passing score, and validity period — are taken from official certification-body sources and checked against provider documentation.
- →Salary and demand signals draw on public labor-market data and job-posting analysis, not on a single self-reported survey.
- →Every certification page shows a “verified” date marking when we last checked its details. We re-verify on a rolling schedule and whenever a provider announces an exam change, price change, or retirement.
What the score is not
- ×Not a guarantee. A high score reflects a strong credential — your individual outcome still depends on your experience, your market, and the effort you put in.
- ×Not paid placement. Scores cannot be purchased, negotiated, or influenced by an affiliate relationship.
- ×Not static. Scores change as exams version, demand shifts, and costs move. The score you see is the score as of the certification page's verification date.
Found something wrong?
Certification details change often, and we would rather hear about it from you than leave a number stale. If a cost, requirement, or score looks off, tell us — we read every message.