Computer Technician Education Requirements

To become a computer technician in the U.S., job candidates must have a combination of education, certification and experience. A computer technician services the needs of computer users in the organization by providing direct support for technical setup and takedown, showing users how to operate hardware and software, troubleshooting and assisting computer administrators with other technical duties in the workplace.

Job Skills

Computer technicians have a broad array of skills, creating many avenues to enter this occupation in the U.S. workforce. Some employers will require computer technicians have some college education, such as a two-year or four-year degree including computer courses. Other employers will allow applicants to substitute work experience and professional certification such as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer for the college education requirements.

Labor Information

The computer technician occupation is classified as a computer support specialist in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook 2008-2009. According to BLS, this job category is expected to grow about as quickly as the average job will grow between 2006 and 2016. Computer support specialists will continue to be in demand as society increases its usage of computers in the 21st century.

CompTIA

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading provider of education and certification courses for computer professionals, including computer technicians. Prospective computer technicians can access the CompTIA website to explore many professional certifications that make computer techs more qualified to provide computer support to organizations. CompTIA leads the market by providing vendor-neutral certifications in IT fields. In other words, CompTIA does not give more emphasis to certifications in one type of software (such as Microsoft products).

Employer Flexibilty

According to BLS, the workforce is becoming more accepting of job candidates who can demonstrate hands-on experience in computer technology without college coursework. If a job candidate does not have a college degree, the possession of various certificates in computer hardware and software helps candidates become eligible for IT jobs. For example, certifications in a specific field such as database administration help a job candidate prepare to enter a specific computer support occupation.

Online Education

The computer technician field is ideal for job candidates who want to fulfill their educational requirements online. Some accredited colleges, universities and technical schools in the U.S. offer entire degree programs online in computer technical support. Kaplan University features an associate's degree in Computer Information Systems and an online certificate called an Information Technology Pathway Certificate.

Resources

• Kaplan Online Computer Education Programs
• CompTIA Certifications