Post By: Heather Minx
Information Technology and computing is a fundamental part of our lives. There is hardly any aspect of our lives that is free of technology or computers. That provides great scope for those interested in taking on an IT career. Technical colleges offer the very best in IT education and should be the first stop in any future planning.
The most popular qualification from a technical college is the IT Associate degree. It’s usually spread over two years in class, then time spent on the job. Those wanting to turn the Associate into a Bachelor can do so by spending another couple of years at college to up their skills.
This qualification is far from the only IT related degree offered by technical colleges. It’s also possible to attend short courses, Software or hardware specific courses. These are often attended by employees to upgrade skills, or learn new systems.
The variety offered by technical colleges such as PC Pro Schools is one of their strengths. While a more than viable option for school leavers, they also offer much opportunity for older students too. They are ideal for those wanting to change career, or wanting to advance beyond their current scope.
To obtain a degree in IT you will need either work experience related to the course, a high school diploma, or GED. Some colleges will have an entrance exam to ensure you’re up to the task, but not all do. Some foundation courses or those covering the basics of IT won’t have entrance tests.
It’s possible in some cases to obtain course credit for supporting work experience or qualifications. The particular course and college will be able to supply you with details about that. You will need to be able to prove you deserve the credit, by providing references or the qualification, but the process is quite straightforward.
Many technical colleges will also require a letter of recommendation for those wanting to study full-time. This can come from schools, employers, former employers or other recognized institutions.
The curriculum in a technical college will roughly reflect the first two years of a bachelors course at college. Courses at PC Pro Schools will cover foundation subjects such as systems management, basic computer programming, web design and business management.
Some of these courses will then go on to address the particulars of each degree. That can be anything from programming languages to specific manufacturers, such as Cisco or Microsoft. It is possible to gain other professional qualifications alongside your technical college degree. They can include MCSE and CCNA, which are both worth real money in the workplace.
Often the more detailed studies in the second two years of a bachelors qualification are unnecessary for a technical degree. This will vary depending on each course.
Technical college courses are shorter, and don’t provide a bachelor’s degree. However, they should not be regarded as inferior to a four-year bachelors because they aren’t. They tend to be more narrowly focused, and therefore cover a narrower scope than a bachelor’s.