1. What Are Affiliate Links?

Affiliate links are special tracking URLs that allow course platforms to identify that you were referred from ITRise. When you click on these links and make a purchase, we may earn a commission from the platform. This commission comes from the platform's marketing budget—you do not pay any extra fees.

Example: If you click on a Coursera course link on our site and enroll, Coursera may pay us a referral commission. Your enrollment price remains the same whether you use our link or go directly to Coursera.

2. Our Affiliate Partners

ITRise participates in affiliate programs with the following platforms and organizations:

2.1 Online Learning Platforms

• Coursera: Professional certificates, degrees, and courses
• Udemy: IT and technology courses
• Pluralsight: Technology skills platform
• LinkedIn Learning: Professional development courses
• A Cloud Guru: Cloud certification training
• Cybrary: Cybersecurity training
• CBT Nuggets: IT training videos

2.2 Certification Providers

• AWS (Amazon Web Services): Cloud certifications and training
• CompTIA: IT fundamental certifications (A+, Network+, Security+)
• Microsoft: Azure certifications
• Google Cloud: Cloud certifications
• Cisco: Networking certifications (CCNA, CCNP)
• (ISC)²: Security certifications (CISSP)

2.3 Other Affiliate Relationships

• Books and study materials (Amazon Associates)
• IT tools and software
• Career coaching services
• Job boards and recruitment platforms

Note: This list may be updated periodically as we add or remove partnerships. Not all links on our site are affiliate links.

3. How We Make Money

ITRise is a free resource for IT professionals. We generate revenue through:

3.1 Affiliate Commissions (Primary Revenue)

When you enroll in courses or certifications through our referral links, we earn a commission. Commission rates vary by platform and program, typically ranging from 5% to 50% of the course price.

3.2 Potential Future Revenue Streams

• Premium career guides or resources (not currently offered)
• Advertising or sponsorships (not currently offered)
• Consulting or coaching services (not currently offered)

4. Our Editorial Independence

Your trust is our priority. We maintain strict editorial independence in all our content and recommendations.

4.1 Honest Reviews

• We only recommend courses and certifications we believe provide genuine value
• Our reviews are based on research, student feedback, and industry reputation
• We disclose both strengths and weaknesses of courses
• We are not paid to write positive reviews

4.2 Objective Recommendations

• We compare courses across multiple platforms, even when commission rates vary
• We sometimes recommend free resources over paid ones when appropriate
• We prioritize course quality over commission potential
• We include non-affiliate alternatives when relevant

4.3 No Sponsored Rankings

• Our career path rankings are based on market demand, salary potential, and career growth—not affiliate commissions
• Course rankings are based on quality, student reviews, and relevance—not payment

5. No Extra Cost to You

You never pay more by using our affiliate links. In many cases, you may even save money:

• We share exclusive discount codes and promotions
• We highlight free trials and free courses
• We notify subscribers of platform sales and deals
• Course prices are set by the platforms, not by us

If you prefer not to use affiliate links, you can navigate directly to the platform's website. We still appreciate your readership and hope our content helps your career.

6. Disclaimers and Limitations

6.1 We Are Not the Course Provider

ITRise is an informational resource and affiliate marketing platform. We do not:

• Create or deliver the courses we recommend
• Control course content, pricing, or availability
• Provide customer support for courses (contact the platform directly)
• Handle refunds or enrollment issues (contact the platform)

6.2 No Guarantees

We cannot guarantee:

• Employment or career advancement from completing courses
• Passing certification exams after course completion
• Specific salary increases or job offers
• Course quality or instructor effectiveness

Learning outcomes depend on your effort, prior knowledge, and individual circumstances.

6.3 Information Accuracy

• Course pricing and availability are subject to change by platforms
• Certification requirements may be updated by certifying bodies
• Salary data is based on industry averages and may vary
• Course content may be updated or changed by instructors

7. Third-Party Cookies and Tracking

When you click on affiliate links, affiliate platforms may use cookies to track your purchase for commission attribution. These cookies:

• Allow the platform to credit us for the referral
• Typically expire after 30-90 days (varies by platform)
• Do not share your personal information with us
• Are subject to the platform's privacy policy

For more details, see our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.

8. FTC Compliance

This disclosure complies with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements for affiliate marketing and endorsements:

• 16 CFR Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials
• We clearly disclose affiliate relationships throughout our site
• We maintain editorial independence in reviews and recommendations
• We do not make false or misleading claims about products

In addition to this dedicated disclosure page, we include affiliate disclaimers:

• In the footer of every page
• Within course review articles
• In email newsletters featuring course recommendations

9. Your Choice

You are always free to:

• Use our affiliate links to support our free content
• Navigate directly to platforms without using our links
• Compare prices and offerings across multiple platforms
• Read reviews from other sources before enrolling

Our goal is to provide valuable career guidance and course recommendations that help you succeed—whether or not you use our affiliate links.

10. Transparency Commitment

We are committed to transparency:

• We will always disclose affiliate relationships
• We will update this disclosure as our partnerships change
• We welcome questions about our affiliate practices
• We prioritize your success over short-term commissions

11. Questions and Feedback

If you have questions about our affiliate relationships, recommendations, or this disclosure, please contact us:

We appreciate your trust and strive to maintain it through honest, helpful content.