Information Technology Career Training

Information technology workers, or IT professionals, work to create, maintain and upgrade computer databases, software and systems for a wide array of businesses. Employers may offer training or mentorship programs for entry-level information technology workers who have demonstrated knowledge of computer science principles or for newly hired employees who are currently attending college.

Significance of IT Career Training

Types of positions available to people who have completed formal career training in the field of information technology include computer software programmer, computer support specialist, computer system analyst, computer network administrator and information system manager. Job projection statistics released by the U.S. Department of Labor report that job opportunities for computer and information system managers are expected to increase by 17 percent from 2008 through 2018.

IT Career Undergraduate Education

Information technology professionals may complete either a two-year associate's degree or a four-year bachelor's degree in a field like computer science or management information systems. While completing a computer science degree program, students may take electives such as computer networking, information systems security or computer programming. In order to qualify for a management position in information technology, employers may require applicants to hold at least an associate's degree.

IT Career Graduate Education

Students and workers interested in becoming an information systems manager may consider pursuing a graduate education by completing a master's degree program. During an MBA, or Master's of Business Administration, program, students learn about subjects like business management and finance in addition to completing courses focused specifically on computers, such as database management and computer system design, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It normally takes two years of study to complete an MBA degree program.

IT Career Certification

IT workers may choose to pursue professional specialization certification offered by an organization like CompTIA, or the Computer Technology Industry Association. Professional certification shows prospective employers that information technology job applicants have specialized knowledge that is recognized by a professional organization. Information technology professionals can obtain certification in areas like networking, security, Linux systems, convergence and server administration. In order to qualify for certification, applicants may need to show proof of IT experience along with a college transcript in addition to passing an exam.

Considerations for IT Career Training

In addition to specializing in a particular subfield related to information technology, IT professionals may also choose to specialize in a particular industry, such as healthcare, where overseeing computer operations for a hospital may bring a different set of challenges than overseeing computer operations for a commercial employer.