How To Become A Computer Technician

Welcome to an occupation with strong opportunities in the job market! Before taking the leap into this demanding but rewarding profession, take a little time to learn what is involved. Exploring how computer technicians spend their time and knowing the steps you will need to take to become one can help you determine if this is the field for you.

What does a computer technician do?

In a nutshell, computer technicians perform installation & maintenance or solve problems that people have with their computers. Just as there are different types of computers and different levels of computer systems and networks, there are also several different types of computer specialist. A partial list of some of the job designations in this growing field includes the following:

desktop support specialist
network administrator
systems administrator
computer forensics specialist
help desk technician
customer support analyst
Internet professional

Computer Training Schools

You can train to become a computer technician at local community colleges or career colleges. Below is a list of multi-campus and online schools that have degree and certificate programs that can get you started in your computer career - click on the links to contact the schools directly:

ITT Technical Institute provides technical computer training in more than half of the United States.
Strayer University has campuses throughout the south and mid-Atlantic region plus an online option. The university offers several programs in information technology.
DeVry University offers programs in computer technology and information systems in many of its coast-to-coast campuses and online division.

Salaries for computer technician jobs will vary based on factors such as prior work experience, location, and company size. Starting salaries for help-desk and technical support staff positions often exceed $50,000, while starting salaries for systems administrators can approach or exceed $70,000.

The demand for computer technicians is enormous. To date there are over 65,000 certified technicians worldwide and the industry could use a lot more. A wide variety of options are open to computer technicians for the simple reason that computers are found everywhere nowadays, in almost every business, large and small, as well as in almost every home. And wherever computers are found, so are corrupted files, hard drive crashes, and disappearing operating systems. This is when a computer technician can instantly become a super-hero. Many computer technicians are employed in the corporate world and are responsible for the day to day management of an organization's PCs, terminals, monitors, networks and server component hardware. Many others are self-employed.

Some of the duties of a computer technician include: installing, configuring and upgrading PCs, laptops and related equipment; diagnosing and troubleshooting both common and unusual hardware and software problems; performing preventive maintenance on computer equipment; installing required software patches; ensuring the connectivity of PCs, laptops, handhelds and other computing devices to both the local area network (LAN) and wide area network; setting up and maintaining locally connected and networked printers; and connecting needed peripheral equipment.

What steps do I need to follow to become a computer technician?

Learn about computers. Training can take many forms and can begin anytime in your life. Training does not need to take place completely inside the classroom either. It can be self-driven and continuous. Computer based training at home is certainly useful and a robust curiosity for understanding how computers work is invaluable! Most important is learning WHERE to find the right answers. As is true in any field of endeavor, you do not have to know everything to be smart but the ability to know where to look for the information you need makes you a genius!
Gain experience. To the extent possible, try to get as much hands-on time working with computers as possible. This can be done as part of a course or training program, or it can be done by yourself at home.
Get formal computer training. You can begin preparing to become a computer technician while still in high school. Many high schools offer certification training courses or credit towards a 2-year college degree or an associate's degree. High school graduates can choose to pursue either a 2 or 4 year college program. Many community colleges offer computer technician training programs that focus directly on the actual jobs you will be doing out in the real world. The most important training courses you will need to take are those courses that prepare you for your certification exams! These courses can be taken as part of a degree program or on a stand-alone basis.
Obtain certification. A professional certification is a formal designation which confirms that a person is qualified to perform a job or task. Certifications in the computer technician field are invaluable because they validate your knowledge of computers and let others know that you have the skills needed to do the job right. There are many varieties and levels of computer technician certification. In general, they fall into the following categories:

Vendor-neutral certifications: These are certifications which do not focus on a specific vendor or product, but instead span the full spectrum of hardware and software producers. One of the largest developers of vendor-neutral certifications is CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) which offers a very widely-recognized certification known as CompTIA A+. The A+ certification confirms a technician's ability to perform tasks such as installation, configuration, diagnosing, preventive maintenance and basic networking. It also certifies proficiency in such important corollary aspects as security, safety and environmental issues as well as communication and professionalism.
Vendor-specific certifications: These certifications are oriented toward specific technologies and are managed by the vendors of these technologies. They are tailored to users of those technologies and to the institutions that employ them. An example of a highly desirable certification in this category is the MCSE (Microsoft Certified System Engineer) Certification, which prepares you to work with Microsoft Windows platforms and Microsoft Server Systems. Other very popular vendors offering certifications of this type include Cisco, Apple, Dell, Novell, and many others.

In order to obtain certification, you will need to pass the exam associated with the specific certification you are pursuing. Courses to prepare you for your certification exams are often found as part of higher-level training programs at colleges or schools which offer computer technician training programs. There also “boot camps” which provide intensive training specifically targeted towards certification exams. To register to take an exam and locate a testing center near you, visit the website of the certifying organization or vendor. A list of some of the more popular available vendor-neutral and vendor-specific certifications can be found here.

After following these steps, how do I become a GREAT computer technician?

There are three important attributes you will need to keep in mind and continually nurture:

HAVE PATIENCE! Be consistently patient with yourself and with the people you work with.
CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE YOUR KNOWLEDGE. Adaptability is vital in this field! The world of computers is constantly changing and evolving. The average lifespan for a particular model of technology is about two years. Always keep abreast of the latest advances in technology and stay ahead of the curve as much as you possibly can.
MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Most people will call you as a last resort because they've already tried to fix the problem themselves and were not able to. As a result, they will be angry, frustrated, or worse! If you keep the atmosphere calm and display a positive and friendly attitude, you have already done half the job. If you then also fix their problem you will become their hero and they won't forget you.

These are the basic things you need to know about becoming a successful computer technician. It takes an investment of time and experience to get everything right, but, remember, if you learn the basics, go to school, get your certifications and then acquire and maintain the attributes for success in the field, you can thrive with a lucrative career in a very much “in-demand” industry!

Resources for Computer Technicians

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