Education · 1 of 5

The path

The shortest path in tech. Some people are working within six months of high school.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Any computing course, plus being the person who fixes things for family and friends. That is real experience.

2. 2

   Pick a route in

   6 months to 4 years

   A certification on its own, a two-year associate degree, or a four-year degree if you want the option of management later.

3. 3

   Get the first certification

   3 to 6 months of study

   CompTIA A+ is two exams, Core 1 on hardware and networking and Core 2 on operating systems and security. It appears in more support job listings than any other credential.

4. 4

   First help desk job

   1 to 2 years

   Tickets, passwords, printers, laptops. The volume is high and the learning is fast.

5. 5

   Specialize

   Ongoing

   Networking, systems administration, cloud or security. Each one raises the ceiling above what support pays.