Computer Technology

The computer industry has consistently been the fastest growing field for the past 20 years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for computer-related skills is booming, with computer and data processing services adding over 1.3 million jobs from 1996-2006, representing a 108% increase. This is all a result of companies becoming more and more dependant on their computer systems for daily operations. This corporate reliance on technology has increased so rapidly that it has created a significant skills gap between the hardware and software available and the ability of traditional education programs to keep pace. So, companies who depend upon these operating systems often find themselves without a staff capable of effectively troubleshooting the network when problems arise.

Since employers need people who are able to handle these technical problems and, thus, a means of determining whether or not potential employees are qualified to do so, certification programs have been developed. The vendors themselves (i.e. Microsoft) develop the exams to determine whether or not someone is capable of handling their program; for example, you must pass seven exams in order to become a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. You are not required to attend any classes before taking these exams, but, unless you have considerable experience, the exams are nearly impossible to pass without formal training. Most courses provide their students with the basic experience crucial to the Computer/IT industry through labs and other hands-on activities.

Most certification programs take somewhere between 6 and 12 months to complete and are usually a mix of the traditional class format (i.e. lecture, question and answer, etc.) and some type of lab experience. These programs typically focus on one of the following areas: web design, programming, hardware technician, networking, and database administration. Many employers prefer potential employees who have a college degree, but with the gap between the number of high-tech jobs available and the candidates qualified to fill them, the computer industry is one of the best opportunities for those without a four-year degree. Browse through the programs on this site, find one that suites you, and, within a year, you'll have the qualifications needed to get nearly any job in the computer technology industry.

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