IT Certification: Information Technology, Online Courses, Training And Certificates

According to a 2004 US Census Bureau report, there is at least one laptop or computer in every US household. With over 200 million computers and rising in the US, the number of people who can effectively fix and operate these machines is quickly on the rise, too. This is where IT Certification comes in.

An IT Certification, or information technology certification, is a document stating a person's particular computer specialization skills. There are numerous types of information technology certifications. Some certifications require just one test, while others require multiple tests. There is almost always a fee involved for certification tests. For someone who is just starting in the computer business, there are 5 specific IT certifications that would best suit those needs. The top five are:

• CompTia A+ : This is an IT certification to become a computer technician. It covers networking, hardware, and operating systems.
• Microsoft Certified Professional: This is the base IT certification for any Microsoft certification jobs.
• Microsoft Certified Desktop Service Technician: This is an IT certification for general troubleshooting desktop problems.
• CompTia Security + : This is an IT certification for security matters. (2 year networking experience required).
• CIW Associate: This is an IT certification to work with websites. It covers html, graphics, networking, and others.

Once a person is certified in any of these, he or she can begin to move up the IT ladder to highly regarded certifications such as a Master CIW certification or a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.

Before anyone can become certified, IT training or courses are recommended. There are a variety of different ways to train for an IT Certification test. One way is to take online courses at a college. In this instance, the courses are taken online from home, school, or work. Usually specific courses involving theory and practical use are necessary to finish the program. Online courses can be finished between three months and one year. Like any college situation, there will be homework, lectures (via chat rooms usually), and tests.

Many schools offer IT training and courses. Some of the top schools are: Purdue University, Villanova University, and various online colleges. Certain schools may even offer online certification after passing all the required courses. As always, do the research when selecting a college, especially online institutions. Make sure they are accredited and that credits will transfer over if needed.

Another way to study for IT Certification exams is to hit the books. There are multiple books that cover a wide range of IT Certification exams. These books usually contain practice exams, helpful hints, and quizzes. They can be bought in bookstores like Barnes and Noble or online at places like Amazon.com. Most study guides run between $40 and $60.

The final suggestion for IT certification studying is to navigate the web. Hundreds of sites are dedicated to IT Certification, and more specifically to helping people become certified. Sites like Gocertify.com and Certyourself.com offer quizzes, practice tests, and helpful study hints at no charge.

IT Certification can take anywhere from a couple months to several years to accomplish, but all hard work pays off. According to Salary.com, employees with a lower IT certification make between 40,000 to 60,000 a year, while employees with a high IT certification can make between 60,000 to 90,000 a year.

It's important to research before trying to attain certification. Know what your money is going towards in terms of courses, practice tests, or online certification. Study hard and be prepared because IT certification can be a life changing degree. More and more people are buying computers and don't know how to fix them when something goes wrong. IT employees are the answer, and certification is how to get there.


Sources:
Efficient Products.org. Ecos Consulting. 2005. 31 Jan 2007. http://www.efficientproducts.org/computers/.
Reuscher, Dori. “Top 10 Certifications to Begin Your IT Career.” About: Computer Certification. 2007. About Inc. 31 Jan 2007 <http://certification.about.com/cs/toppicks/tp/ topbeginner.htm>.
Villanova University. Bisk Education. 2007. 31 Jan 2007 <http://www.villanovau.com/>.
Purdue University. Purdue University. 2006. 31 Jan 2007 <www.purdue.edu>.
Computer Certification. GoCertify. 2007. 31 Jan 2007 <http://www.gocertify.com>.
A+ Certification. Cert Yourself. 2007. 31 Jan 2007 <http:// www.certyourself.com>.
Salary. Salary.com. 2007. 31 Jan 2007 <http://www.salary.com>.

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