Importance of Obtaining Computer Science Certifications for High School Students
As the demand for skilled professionals in the tech industry continues to soar, the need for early exposure to computer science concepts becomes increasingly apparent. Acquiring computer science certifications for high school students can be a game-changer. Not only do these certifications equip students with practical skills and knowledge, but they also serve as a testament to their commitment and proficiency in the field of computer science.
Computer science certifications equip high school students with verified technical skills, enhancing their educational and career prospects. These computer science certifications for high school students often cover programming languages, algorithms, problem-solving techniques, and other essential concepts that form the foundation of computer science.
These certifications are recognized by colleges and employers, providing an edge in the competitive tech industry. They also foster professional growth and networking, setting students on a path to success in the dynamic field of computer science.
In this article, we will explore popular computer science certifications for high school students.
TensorFlow Developer Certificate
Google TensorFlow has officially established the “TensorFlow Developer Certification”, a pivotal computer science certification for high school students and a benchmark for machine learning proficiency.
During the exam, participants are required to complete 5 models, each belonging to a different category:
• Basic, simple model
• Model based on learning data set
• Training convolutional neural networks using real image data
• Use real text data to train NLP text classification model
• Train sequence models using real numerical data
How to complete and obtain the certification:
To obtain the TensorFlow Developer Certificate, a notable computer science certification for high school students, individuals are typically required to demonstrate proficiency in Python programming, a solid understanding of machine learning principles to create machine learning models, familiarity with TensorFlow and its ecosystem, debugging skills to investigate and solve error messages from TensorFlow, practical experience in developing TensorFlow-based projects, completion of relevant training courses. It’s essential for candidates to review the specific requirements provided by the TensorFlow team and ensure they meet the necessary criteria before attempting to obtain the certification.
• Official website: https://www.tensorflow.org/certificate
• Exam fee: $100 USD
Java certification
There are several Java certifications available for computer science high school students looking to expand their knowledge and skills. Java technology is not only a development tool for large enterprises and application vendors. Java technology is also used in mobile phones, home appliances and Internet web pages.
One of the popular Java certifications is the Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE 11 Developer certification.
How to complete and obtain the certification:
To prepare for the Java SE 11 certification exam, an essential computer science certification for high school students, it’s important to familiarize yourself with Java SE 11 features, coding practices, and object-oriented programming principles. This includes studying topics such as lambda expressions, streams, and modularity. The certification exam typically lasts 90 minutes, during which you’ll be tested on your understanding of Java SE 11 development. By successfully passing this exam, you demonstrate proficiency in Java SE 11 development and acquire valuable skills necessary for a career as a Java software developer.
• Official website: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/learning-path/java-se-11-developer/79141
• Exam fee: $100 USD
Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA)
One of the other computer science certifications for high school students is LFCA, an entry-level IT certification for system administrators or engineers who are just entering the industry or considering a career in IT. This certification is designed for users who wish to advance to a professional level by understanding the key concepts of modern IT systems such as cloud computing.
Certified IT personnel will demonstrate proficiency and competency in basic IT areas. This exam integrates other qualifications and prepares you for more advanced professional certifications.
The LFCA will test candidates’ knowledge of basic IT concepts, including operating systems, software application installation and management, hardware installation, command line usage and basic programming, basic network functions, security best practices, and other related topics to verify that they have competencies for entry-level IT positions.
How to complete and obtain the certification:
The examination is conducted online, with a duration of 90 minutes allotted for completion. Upon successful completion, the certification remains valid for a period of two years. Candidates have the opportunity for one retake if necessary. The exam format consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. This certification is designed for individuals at the beginner level, providing a foundational understanding of Linux and open-source technologies.
• Official website: https://training.linuxfoundation.org/certification/certified-it-associate/#
• Exam fee: $250 USD
Huawei Certification
Huawei certification mainly covers six major areas: data communications, security, storage, cloud computing, cloud services, and data center. Huawei offers a range of certifications for various ICT (Information and Communications Technology) roles and technical domains.
As a high school student, you can start with the Huawei Certified ICT Associate (HCIA) certification, which is the entry-level certification. It’s designed to provide foundational knowledge in various ICT domains and is suitable for those who are new to the field. Huawei partners with educational institutions around the world to establish Huawei ICT Academies, which offer training programs specifically tailored for students.
How to complete and obtain the certification:
High school students should engage in online learning by taking Huawei Cloud certification courses to gain knowledge of the latest technologies and their real-world applications. It is then necessary to participate in hands-on practice sessions with Huawei Cloud products through guided labs to acquire practical experience. Then, prepare for the exam by taking practice exams to assess your understanding and familiarize yourself with the types of questions you’ll encounter.
The written exam includes formats such as single-answer, multiple-answer, true/false, short-answer, and drag-and-drop. Upon passing the exams, you’ll receive an e-certificate.
• Official website: https://edu.huaweicloud.com/intl/en-us/certificationindex/career/bde.html
• Exam fee: $200 USD
Amazon Web Service Certifications
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive cloud computing platform developed by Amazon, offering a suite of powerful services, products, and APIs to individuals, enterprises, and governments. These services encompass storage, cloud computing, database management, security, analytics, and more. AWS plays a pivotal role in helping enterprises transition to the cloud, significantly reducing costs and operational complexities of self-managed infrastructures. For startups, AWS is a game-changer, eliminating the hefty initial investment in infrastructure.
As a result, AWS expertise has become an essential computer science certification for high school students, equipping them with a critical skill recognized by industry leaders and making it a core competency as businesses increasingly migrate to cloud solutions.
How to complete and obtain the certification:
AWS provides free AWS training, and you need to pay for the exam and go to the exam center to be certified. AWS has created role-based certifications for cloud practitioners, architects, developers, and operations personnel, and divided each role into Associate, Professional, and other different levels.
• Official website: https://aws.amazon.com/certification/
• Exam fee: depends on the certification
freeCodeCamp
Founded in 2014, freeCodeCamp.org is a non-profit organization registered in the United States. At freeCodeCamp, learning doesn’t happen through traditional lectures but rather through self-practice and hands-on exercises. The available resources cover a wide range of related computer science topics, including HTML, HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, Information Security, Databases, and more.
The program offers six types of computer science certifications for high school students, each focusing on specific skill sets:
- Responsive Web Design (covering HTML, CSS, Flexbox, and CSS Grid)
- Algorithms and Data Structures (emphasizing JavaScript)
- Front End Libraries (including React, Redux, Sass, Bootstrap, and jQuery)
- Data Visualization (utilizing D3.js)
- APIs and Microservices (involving Node.js, Express.js, and databases)
- Information Security and Quality Assurance (incorporating Chai, Helmet.js, BCrypt, and Passport.js)
How to complete and obtain the certification:
To obtain these relevant computer science certifications from freeCodeCamp, high school students should adhere to their extensive curriculum, which encompasses a diverse array of programming proficiencies. Each certification program entails around 300 hours of dedicated study and entails completion of five mandatory projects, along with the option to tackle additional challenges.
• Official website: https://www.freecodecamp.org/
• Exam fee: free
Computer science certifications are crucial for high school students as they validate technical skills, enhance learning, and offer a competitive edge for college and career paths. They provide industry-recognized credentials that can lead to early job opportunities and internships, fostering self-confidence and a passion for technology.
