Due to the rapid growth and global use of technology and computers, nearly 500,000 new jobs will be added to the IT field in the United States alone, growing the field to a total of 4 million occupations in the USA over the next ten years.1 If you want a rewarding career with plenty of opportunity for professional growth, start building your skillset right now. There is no better way to do that in IT than through academic programs that prepare you for key certifications.
The CompTIA A+ certification demonstrates that you have a good understanding of the most common hardware and software technologies in business. It also serves as a foundation to more complex IT infrastructures. More than one million IT professionals hold the CompTIA A+ certification.2 It affirms your knowledge, skill, reliability and overall job proficiency in handling common troubleshooting and providing user support.
Pursuing Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certifications, like the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification, are important for entry level database and software development occupations. These exams are designed to assess your knowledge and skills and demonstrate to employers and clients your proficiency on the most popular operating system in the U.S. Not only do these certifications help you build toward a career in information technology, they can also be used to enhance your career in business.
"Because information technology is so prevalent in the work place today, even in jobs that are not IT specific, having some basic IT certifications goes a long way."
Certification in Cisco networking proves that you understand the basics of networking and the function of switches and routers and how they interconnect. It means that you can enter an IT position with a solid knowledge of network operations. You understand how to install, operate and troubleshoot small branch networks and have a grasp of basic network security.
Comp TIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ are certifications that hiring mangers seek out in new employees. Network+ validates that you have the skillset to design, configure, manage and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks. Security+ certification proves that you understand the principles for network security and risk management and that you know how to protect the essential data that modern companies rely upon.
Because information technology is so prevalent in the work place today, even in jobs that are not IT specific, having some basic IT certifications goes a long way. If you are looking at business and administrative positions in the office place, among the first certifications you should consider are those that prove your proficiencies in the software you will use every day, such as the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification.
Whether you’re looking to get started in an IT career or wish to advance from where you are, American National University can assist with your long-term career growth. We have diploma and degree Information Technology programs that will help you prepare for your certification exams and help you become the IT professional you were meant to be.
1 http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm
2 https://certification.comptia.org/certifications/a
