PC Technician Certifications and Professional Organizations
By Stephen Bucaro
PC Technicians install, repair, and upgrade personal computers, work stations, and
peripheral devices such as printers. PC Technician is projected to be among the fastest
growing occupations over the 2008 – 2012 period. Entry Level PC Technicians earn $15 per
hour on average, experienced PC Technician's earn $30 per hour on average.
Many people work as PC Technicians without any formal training or certification, however
certification provides proof of your competence, gives your customers and employers a higher
level of confidence in you, and increases your job opportunities and earnings.
The most recognized certification for PC Technicians is the
CompTIA
(Computing Technology Industry Association) A+ certification. CompTIA has over 22,000 member
companies, including Apple, Cisco, Dell, Novel, Oracle, and Microsoft. To become A+ certified,
you must pass two exams: the A+ Core Hardware exam and the A+ Operating System exam. The
exams test your ability and knowledge to perform as an entry-level PC Technician.
Another highly recognized certification is the
MCDST
(Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician) which focuses more on install, repair, and
upgrading PC running the Microsoft Windows Operating System, although it also requires general
knowledge like ascertaining the cause of a PC to fail to boot.
Several professional organizations exist to keep PC technicians keep informed on new technologies,
provide educational opportunities such as seminars and online courses and provide access to other
professionals in the technology field to share information and ideas.
HDI (Help Desk Institute) is a large
association for the PC service and support industry. As a member, you get access to the
largest repository of industry resources including eZines, SupportWorld magazine, white papers,
quarterly Focus Books, and members-only webinars. You also get answers and tools to solve
common support center issues.
ASP (Association of Support Professionals)
is a large association which focuses more on managers, analysts, and other professionals who
run tech support organizations in software and technology companies. As a member, you get
access to their reports and surveys, and a monthly e-mail newsletter which keeps members
informed of ASP activities, and it's also a forum for dialogue between the ASP and its members.
Working as a PC Technician requires a continuing effort to keep up with the rapidly advancing
computer technology. As the number and importance of PCs continues to grow, so will the need
for qualified PC Technicians. Employment for PC Technicians will continue to grow and salaries
for certified PC Technicians will continue to rise.
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