Vendor Certifications Career Training and Job Opportunities

Computer and information technology advances at the speed of light. New design and engineering applications, computer systems, networking components, software, and electronic devices are continually changing the game for IT and technical workers. To keep pace with emerging technology, computer and IT workers turn to vendor certifications. These technology-specific courses offer convenient training in a format accessible to working adults.

What Types of Jobs Are Available For Those Interested in Vendor Certifications?

Vendor certifications are the key to gaining a competitive edge in your IT career. Break into a new field, broaden your technical repertoire, or deepen your expertise in your current specialty. Vendor certifications jobs include:

• Help desk and IT support specialist
• Database administrator
• Systems administrator or analyst
• Network administrator or analyst
• IT security specialist
• Information systems manager

Each of these information technology roles relies on deep, up-to-date knowledge of vendor-specific technologies. Since software, systems, and networking technology is continually advancing, vendor certifications courses offer a critical continuing-education addendum to standard IT degree programs.

Formal Training Required to Work in Information and Computer Technology

Vendor certifications may be sufficient for an entry-level position in IT, but are generally intended as mid-career continuing education programs. To launch a career in IT, consider earning a college associate's or bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, or management information systems. Once you're established in a technical field, you can use vendor certification to advance your career. Some of the vendor certifications courses available to you include:

• Microsoft certifications: Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certificate, Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), Certified IT Professional, Systems Administrator, Systems Engineer
• Cisco certifications: Cisco Certified Design Associate, Design Professional, Networking Technician, Network Association, Network Professional
• Application certifications: CompTIA A+, Linux; Microsoft Certified Application Specialist for Office (MCAS), Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist (MCTS): .NET Framework, SQL Server, Sun Certified Java Developer Networking certifications: Cisco Certified Network Administrator (CCNA) and advanced Cisco certifications in routing and switching, IP communications, VPN and security, wireless LAN; Microsoft certification training
• Database certification: Oracle Certified Professional (OCP)

Vendor certification courses vary widely in the time to completion, depending on the pace and level of expertise of the course certification. Most vendor certifications take several months to complete, but some may be as short as a day or as long as a year. Online certificate courses make it easy for working IT and computing professionals to upgrade their training alongside their normal workload. Upon completion of the course, you are in a strong position to pass the certification exam.

The Typical Career Path of Someone Interested in Vendor Certifications

Continuing education is the essential feature of a typical vendor-certified technical professional's career path. An entry-level position in IT support or system administration offers a foundation upon which to build specialized expertise through course certification. Online certificate courses make it possible to integrate vendor certification seamlessly into your career path, without taking time out from a full-time IT job.

Job Outlook and Salary Information for Those Interested in Vendor Certifications

Demand is high for IT professionals with the specialized and up-to-date training of a vendor certification. Of the thirty fastest-growing occupations in the U.S., one in six are in information technology. The fastest growing IT careers are mid-level and expert positions such as network analyst and systems architect. Network and data communications analysts, for example, represent the fastest-growing occupation in the U.S. with 53 percent growth expected in the 2008-2018 decade.

IT professionals need to stay on top of their game to snag the best opportunities in the field. Entry-level technical jobs such as help-desk support are steadily moving overseas. Administrators who keep pace with the technology should face healthy demand. Database, network, and systems administrators should face strong job growth in the 20-23 percent range from 2008 to 2018. The Bureau of Labor Statistics adds this caveat: "Applicants with a college degree and certification will have the best opportunities."

Vendor certifications salary upgrades justify the investment in these technical courses. At the entry-level, computer support specialists earned a median wage of $44,300 in 2009. Administrators, one step up the career ladder, leverage vendor certification and specialized knowledge for significantly higher salaries. The median salary in 2009 for a database administrators was $71,550; for network administrators, $70,930. Network and data communications analysts earned $67,710 overall, with some experts commanding six-figure earnings. Meanwhile, information systems managers earned $113,720.

Online certificate courses play an important role in career advancement for technical and IT professionals. These courses demonstrate advanced and up-to-date competency in key technologies by leading vendors such as Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, and Sun. Challenge yourself and boost your value as a technical professional by pursuing vendor certifications.