Best IT Governance Certifications

• Proper IT governance plays an important role in moving organizations forward.
• There are several IT governance certifications available at varying levels.
• The right certification can validate your knowledge and provide advanced career opportunities.
• This article is for anyone who is interested in learning more about the best IT governance certifications available.

Organizational governance involves more than just standard policies and procedures, especially in today’s business environment. IT governance, in particular, has become increasingly important, providing structure for aligning a company’s IT with its business strategies. There are various governance frameworks to help organizations address how IT should proceed in support of business goals related to network security, financial accountability and confidentiality, among other things.

This guide outlines the best IT governance certifications available today, many of which require extensive work experience. Earning one of the following certifications proves a commitment to understanding the role of IT governance and its position in a company’s current and future success. Getting certified can validate your expert knowledge and lead to advanced career opportunities.

Best IT governance certifications

IT governance certifications can help senior IT professionals further advance their careers by giving them the skills and knowledge needed to lead technical teams in a variety of areas. Most of these certifications have hefty work-experience requirements and are aimed at experts who are already leaders in their organizations. 

1. ITIL Master: Certified in Service Management

ITIL (formerly known as the Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a well-defined set of best practices that organizations use to design, implement, manage and maintain IT service projects. ITIL’s primary focus is service management, which aligns IT projects and services with an organization’s business goals. ITIL also meets quality standards set by ISO/IEC 20000, so an organization that consistently and closely follows ITIL practices is quite likely to offer high-quality products or services.

In 2013, ITIL was acquired by Axelos, which focuses on global best practices and standards. Axelos also offers certifications for Resilia, Prince2 (2009 and 2017), Prince2 Agile, AgileSHIFT, P30, MSP, M_o_R, P3M3, MoP (Management of Portfolio) and MoV (Management of Value). Axelos manages updates to the ITIL framework, but this organization also accredits ITIL exam institutes and licenses third-party organizations to use ITIL’s intellectual property.

The ITIL Master designation recognizes extensive knowledge in IT service management and comprehensive hands-on experience working with ITIL. ITIL Master designation candidates must complete all modules required for the Managing Professional and Strategic Leader certification paths. There is no specific training course or established syllabus for the Master designation. Instead, candidates select the situation on which they will be tested and must use personal experience with the ITIL framework to prove their knowledge.

Tip: Get more detailed information in our full ITIL certification guide.

ITIL Master facts and figures

2. CGEIT: Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT

ISACA, previously known as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, is a highly respected, global nonprofit association that provides education, conferences, publications and certifications for IT governance professionals. ISACA offers four certifications that address information systems auditing, information security management, enterprise IT governance, and risk and information systems control:

The CGEIT credential is geared toward professionals who play a significant role in managing, advising and/or assuring IT governance. Typical job roles include senior security analyst and chief information security officer – the upper echelon of the organizational chart.

Professionals at this level align IT with business strategies and goals, manage IT investments to maximize return on investment, strive for excellence in IT operations and governance, and promote greater efficiency and effectiveness in IT while minimizing risk.

ISACA’s CGEIT exam covers five domains that address various aspects of governance and risk management:

• Domain 1: Framework for the Governance of Enterprise IT
• Domain 2: Strategic Management
• Domain 3: Benefits Realization
• Domain 4: Risk Optimization
• Domain 5: Resource Optimization

ISACA’s work experience requirements for the CGEIT qualification are demanding. You must have five years of related work experience, and one of those years must be directly related to enterprise IT governance frameworks. For the other four years, you must demonstrate experience in at least two of these domains: strategic management, benefits realization, risk optimization and resource optimization.

Did you know?: According to ISACA, individuals who earn the CGEIT certification have the potential to receive a 22% pay increase.

If you teach an accredited IT governance curriculum at an approved institution, you can count two full-time years toward every year of the CGEIT work requirement. Candidates with certain types of management experience and advanced degrees or certifications may substitute up to two years to meet the experience requirement.

CGEIT facts and figures

3. CGRC: Certified in Governance, Risk and Compliance

Another worthy option to consider is the Certified in Governance, Risk and Compliance (CGRC) credential from the GRC Group. A globally recognized leader in governance, risk and compliance, the GRC Group consists of three institutions:

• The SOX Institute, which focuses on Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) certifications
• The GRC Institute, which targets certification and training in the areas of governance, risk and compliance (including GRC for information security and information technology)
• The ESG Institute, which focuses on economic, environmental and social governance

Certification requirements for the CGRC are stringent. To earn the credential, candidates must possess the CGOV, CIRM and CICM certifications. Current membership in the GRC Group and a minimum of three years of professional experience are required. Exams are required for the lower-level certifications but not for the CGRC. To maintain the credential, candidates must earn 12 hours of training and keep their GRC Group membership current.

CGRC facts and figures

4. CRISC: Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control

ISACA’s Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) certification recognizes IT professionals who are responsible for an organization’s risk management program.

CRISC professionals manage risk; design and oversee response measures; monitor systems for risk; and ensure the organization’s risk management strategies are met. Organizations look for employees with the CRISC credential for jobs such as IT security analyst, security engineer or architect, information assurance program manager, and senior IT auditor.

The CRISC exam covers four domains that are updated periodically to reflect the changing needs of the profession:

• Domain 1: Governance
• Domain 2: IT Risk Assessment
• Domain 3: Risk Response and Reporting
• Domain 4: Information Technology and Security

ISACA requires that CRISC candidates have a minimum of three years of cumulative, professional-level risk management and control experience, as well as perform tasks in at least two CRISC domains, one of which must be in Domain 1 or 2. Work experience must be within the preceding 10 years from the date of application. Alternatively, candidates have up to five years after passing the exam to fulfill the work experience requirement.

Since the inception of the CRISC certification program in 2010, more than 20,000 professionals have acquired this certification. Such a strong response says a lot about the program and the need for this type of credential in the enterprise workforce.

CRISC facts and figures

5. PMI-RMP: Certified Risk Management Professional

The highly regarded Project Management Institute (PMI) is perhaps best known for its Project Management Professional (PMP) credential, but it also offers the PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) credential for governance, risk and compliance professionals. In 2022, the certification was updated to include Agile and hybrid environments in addition to the enterprise-level risks necessary for a project manager to consider.

The PMI-RMP certification recognizes individuals who have a combination of top-notch project management skills and the ability to identify and accurately assess project risks and then mitigate identified threats to organizations.

Candidates must pass one exam and meet considerable education and experience requirements. The exam focuses on the following domains:

• Domain 1: Risk Strategy and Planning
• Domain 2: Risk Identification
• Domain 3: Risk Analysis
• Domain 4: Risk Response
• Domain 5: Monitor and Close Risks

Once you achieve the PMI-RMP certification, you may maintain the credential by earning 30 professional development units (PDUs) in one or more risk management topics every three years.

PMI-RMP facts and figures

Beyond the top 5: More IT governance certifications

Beyond the top five IT governance certifications covered above, other certification programs can further the careers and professional development of IT professionals working in governance, risk management and compliance.

For example, interested parties should check out the Governance, Risk Management and Compliance Professional (GRCP) certification by OCEG. Another credential worth noting is the Leadership Professional in Ethics & Compliance (LPEC) certification from the Ethics and Compliance Initiative (ECI). ECI bills itself as the oldest ethics and compliance research organization in the U.S.

If you live in the U.K., consider the BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles. BCS is based in the U.K., and although it’s popular overseas, the organization’s credentials just haven’t gained enough popularity in the U.S. to earn slots in the top five. Still, BCS certifications are excellent and worth considering if you’re working overseas in the U.K. or other countries in Europe, the Middle East or Africa.

Finally, The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) has a well-established certification program aimed at auditors in the government and financial sectors. Within the IIA lineup is the Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) credential, which identifies professionals who provide risk management assurance and advice to senior management and audit committees.

Be sure to investigate these opportunities on your own; one might prove even more valuable to your individual career goals than the ones we’ve featured in our top five.

Tip: You also may want to consider these evergreen IT certifications.

Validate knowledge and gain opportunity with the right certification

When used properly, information technology drives an organization forward. Knowledgeable IT professionals ensure that any IT-related risks are effectively managed and that any critical decisions are aligned with business goals. While there are various IT governance certifications to choose from today, securing the right one can enhance your career opportunities by proving your commitment to an important and rapidly changing field.

Casey Conway contributed to the writing and research in this article.