When it comes to bringing people and systems together, networking is often required to make all of the right connections and technologies work. However, there’s a lot more than just networking involved in telecommunications certifications and the technologies they cover.

Here we cover a variety of certifications, including classic telecommunications, telecommunications networking, and streaming voice and video platforms for unified communications. Our top five picks include a Telecommunications Certification Organization (TCO) certification, as well as a voice and data convergence credential developed under the auspices of the Telecommunications Industry Association, or TIA.

You will also read about engineering-oriented communications certifications such as the Internet Protocol Engineering Professional (IPEP), the iNARTE Telecommunications Engineer, and a distribution credential from Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI), which was originally a building trades association.

The BICSI certification is in such high standing that it’s a Department of Defense requirement.