How to become an IT technician
Learn how to become an IT technician by completing certification programs, developing your tech skills, and gaining hands-on experience so you can help businesses and their customers with all their IT problems.
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If you've ever been able to successfully troubleshoot your parents' computer issues, then you might have many of the critical skills required to pursue one of the country's fastest-growing careers: IT technician or information technology technician. This guide explains the steps you can take to enter this field and become an IT technician.
What does an IT technician do?
IT technicians help businesses and their customers by ensuring the smooth operation of computers or devices, networks, software, hardware, apps or programs, and even office equipment. They troubleshoot technical issues, maintain working computer systems, and help resolve problems for end-users, either in person, via chat/email, or over the phone.
IT technicians are also sometimes referred to as tech support, computer user support, IT support specialists, help desk technicians, and computer support specialists, even though each role has slight distinctions.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) includes IT technicians under the occupational title of computer user support specialists. These professionals earned a median annual salary of $59,240 in 2023.
Steps to become an IT technician
Because IT technician is an entry-level role, there are typically no formal education requirements beyond a high school diploma. However, you still have plenty of learning to do, even if you already have advanced computer skills. Below are steps you can take to become more attractive to prospective employers.
Step 1: Start with an A+ certification from CompTIA
It may seem counterintuitive to jump right in with a certification, but doing this can help you hit the ground running as an IT technician.
The CompTIA A+ certification should be your first stop — it is the only recognized certification within the industry and the most common credential mentioned on IT job posts. CompTIA A+ involves passing two exams that test your abilities in core technologies used by IT professionals, including:
- Hardware
- Operating systems
- Troubleshooting
- Networking
- Security
- Mobile devices
- Cloud computing
- Operational procedures
Having a CompTIA A+ certification alone is often enough to launch your career as an IT technician. This means you can start learning and practicing your skills in the real world and get paid while doing it.
Step 2: Consider additional certifications
Other than the CompTIA A+, there are other relevant (yet optional) certifications that could be useful in your work as an IT technician, such as:
- Google Career Certificate in IT Support
- Network+ for networking infrastructure basics
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate
- Atlassian Certified Professional for Jira service management
Having credentials like these on your resume can give you an advantage over other job candidates.
Step 3: Develop your tech skills
IT technicians need to have a deep understanding of various technologies and how they work so they can accurately guide users in resolving technical issues. You can gain knowledge from experimentation and exploration, so create low-stakes environments for yourself in which you can learn and practice the more advanced tech skills:
- Build a custom computer from scratch
- Disassemble and reassemble older or unused computers, routers, cell phones, printers, etc.
- Set up computers with different operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Practice hardware repairs and installation
- Take online courses to learn computer networking basics (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP)
- Get comfortable with IT support software (ZohoDesk, FreshService, Spiceworks, SysAid)
- Create troubleshooting flowcharts to document your processes
- Sign up for free cybersecurity courses
Step 4: Get hands-on experience
Apply your newly developed IT technician skills in any practical setting you come across:
- Start an entry-level help desk job
- Volunteer IT services at nonprofits or schools
- Help friends or family members with their computers or devices
- Join online tech support communities
- Practice explaining complex concepts to non-technical users
- Learn popular ticketing systems like ServiceNow or Jira
- Build experience with remote troubleshooting
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