IT Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of it specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for it specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of it specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for it specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for IT Specialists?
Do it specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do it specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for it specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for IT Specialists
Jobs Postings for IT Specialists By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 15,790 (43%)
- No Education Listed: 11,156 (30%)
- High School or GED: 6,580 (18%)
- Master's degree: 2,427 (7%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 707 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of it specialists. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 43% of positions. In 30% of job listings no education level was listed and in 18% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for IT Specialists
Jobs Postings for IT Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 4,643 (20%)
- 2-3 Years: 9,351 (39%)
- 4-6 Years: 6,575 (28%)
- 7-9 Years: 1,719 (7%)
- 10+ Years: 1,407 (6%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for it specialists. In 39% of job postings for IT Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 20% of job postings for it specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do IT Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for it specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 16 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective it specialists, and in 2021 a total of 219,008 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective it specialists.
Top Degree Programs for IT Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for IT Specialists (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 59,346 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 51,511 |
| Information Technology. | 31,478 |
| Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance. | 22,799 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 14,182 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 59,346 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 51,511 |
| Information Technology. | 31,478 |
| Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance. | 22,799 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 14,182 |
| Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician. | 9,647 |
| Computer Programming/Programmer, General. | 8,719 |
| Network and System Administration/Administrator. | 5,472 |
| Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other. | 4,000 |
| Computer Support Specialist. | 3,173 |
| Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst. | 2,305 |
| System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager. | 2,077 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Other. | 1,880 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other. | 1,755 |
| Cloud Computing. | 386 |
| Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification. | 278 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for IT Specialists
Learn to translate business requirements into robust yet functional software applications and database designs to help businesses not only run but thrive, and jump start your career as a user support specialist, computer system analyst, or software developer.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Equip yourself for a role as an IT, network or help desk specialist with fundamental technology skills, including medium-scale network administration, small website and application development, and database design and querying.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Go beyond basic programming and develop the technical skills necessary to apply, design, and implement software systems.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Bridge the gap between business and technology and develop the interpersonal skills to become an IT liaison in your organization.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Harness the power of data by creating data-driven strategies and communicating data insights with a B.S. Information Systems-Analytics Focus.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Develop your ability to lead, communicate and make strategic decisions that impact projects and processes with a B.S. Information Systems-Business Analysis & Project Management Focus
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Build technical savvy and business acumen that bridges the gap between business and technology with a B.S. Information Systems with a Business Information Systems focus.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Get the knowledge to manage healthcare data, navigate regulations and inform ethical decision-making with a B.S. Information Systems-Healthcare Information Systems Focus
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Play a vital role in any business environment by designing and implementing mission-critical infrastructure, security, and servers.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Develop the advanced technical skills needed to turn complex programming specifications into well-designed computer programs.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Deliver high-quality software that helps companies and organizations maintain data security and integrity with Franklin’s 20-month online M.S. in Computer Science with a focus in Cybersecurity.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 20
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in Data Analytics 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in Healthcare 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in IT Management 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in Learning Technology 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Certificates & Microcredentials for IT Specialists
Start your cloud computing journey with AWS certificate courses for beginners and keep up with the fast pace of innovation.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 1-2 months
- Cost: $35/month
This DeepLearning AI certificate course lets you dive into the cutting-edge world of AI specialization, machine learning and data-driven solutions.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
- Cost: $35/month
In-demand programmers know Git. You can, too, with GitHub certificate courses that put you among the ranks of other Git certification-ready development pros.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $35/month
Fast track your IT career with the Google IT support training and certificate that helps you learn about network protocols, operating systems, and solving problems using code.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
- Cost: $35/month
Put your creativity to work with these Google UX design courses that equip you to build and test user-centered solutions and to use Google Analytics to improve usability.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
- Cost: $35/month
Develop practical skills in Python and IBM applied AI thanks to deep learning courses that show you how to design, build and deploy AI-powered apps.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
- Cost: $35/month
Build your cloud developer portfolio with this hands-on IBM full stack cloud developer certificate course that uses the latest tools and technologies to manage full stack cloud native apps.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 5-6 months
- Cost: $35/month
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 1-2 months
- Cost: $35/month
What Skills Do IT Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by it specialists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for it specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's IT Specialists
Based on 35,750 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for IT Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 5,990 | 17% |
| Technical Support | 5,599 | 16% |
| Operating Systems | 5,106 | 14% |
| Project Management | 4,195 | 12% |
| Network Support | 3,802 | 11% |
Top 5 Common Skills for IT Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 17,722 | 50% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 13,799 | 39% |
| Customer Service | 13,337 | 37% |
| Management | 11,620 | 33% |
| Problem Solving | 10,593 | 30% |
Based on 35,750 job postings related to it specialists, computer science was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 17% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for technical support, operating systems, project management, network support and local area networks were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for it specialists, followed by troubleshooting (problem solving), customer service, management, problem solving and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 5,990 | 17% |
| Technical Support | 5,599 | 16% |
| Operating Systems | 5,106 | 14% |
| Project Management | 4,195 | 12% |
| Network Support | 3,802 | 11% |
| Local Area Networks | 3,726 | 10% |
| Network Switches | 3,476 | 10% |
| Firewall | 3,451 | 10% |
| Wide Area Networks | 3,181 | 9% |
| Active Directory | 3,161 | 9% |
| Telecommunications | 3,136 | 9% |
| Help Desk Support | 2,995 | 8% |
| Linux | 2,881 | 8% |
| Networking Hardware | 2,780 | 8% |
| Automation | 2,760 | 8% |
| System Support | 2,730 | 8% |
| Computer Networks | 2,721 | 8% |
| Test Equipment | 2,558 | 7% |
| SQL (Programming Language) | 2,511 | 7% |
| Information Systems | 2,487 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 17,722 | 50% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 13,799 | 39% |
| Customer Service | 13,337 | 37% |
| Management | 11,620 | 33% |
| Problem Solving | 10,593 | 30% |
| Operations | 10,521 | 29% |
| Leadership | 6,537 | 18% |
| Planning | 6,019 | 17% |
| Information Technology | 4,785 | 13% |
| Writing | 4,730 | 13% |
| Microsoft Office | 4,705 | 13% |
| Detail Oriented | 4,586 | 13% |
| Coordinating | 4,509 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 4,505 | 13% |
| Microsoft Excel | 3,969 | 11% |
| Research | 3,959 | 11% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 3,924 | 11% |
| Sales | 3,825 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 3,754 | 11% |
| Prioritization | 3,215 | 9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about it specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for it specialists.
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