certifications or college degree first if i want to be a computer technician?

Question

well i searched and there are some questions that relate to mine but i want to know if i should start with a 2 or 4 year college with some computer or math related degree or..
start right away with some certifications...i am getting one in high school...the a+ one by comptia and i was hoping to get the network+ and others by comptia through a community college...which is more recommended by those who are computer technicians right now


my parents say that i have to go to college but they dont know much about the american school system...so i need ur help guys


question might be kinda hard to understand
ill break it down...should i get a computer related degree and if so should i do a 2 or 4year college;
OR should i just start by getting certifications?

Answer 1

I work for an IT Consulting firm. We always look for degree's first and any certifications is a huge plus and would command a higher salary.

Answer 2

I'm an I.T. Manager, and have been in I.T. fulltime since around 1998.



I got my college degree first but at the time I was not interested in I.T. as a profession. What I did find was most companies expected a 4 year degree, even if it was not in a computer major. (Mine was history)



As a manager I am not interested in certifications for someone I might hire, other than as a gauge of commitment to learning about the field. A+ in particular does not signify much to me, although back in the 1990s it carried a little weight.



You will find that the interest in certs (A+, Microsoft, etc.) varies from place to place. Some employers insist on the certs but I'm not sure they are getting much in return. I have never actually hired someone with certs and yet have been satisfied with the people I hired.



So... in short I think the college degree is paramount. If your chosen profession builds on it, even better, but you simply must have it in today's technology workforce. Check want ads for the kind of positions you want and see how often they are insisting on certs.

Answer 3

If all you want to be is a computer tech and work the help desk, just get a certification; if you want a real job with a real company and look for advancement then get a real 4 year degree in something.

Answer 4

I think it'd be your best bet to get the certifications first, and then go to a 4yr college. That way you can use your certifications to get a job while you're in school (even if it's just part-time), and you'll be gaining "real-world" experience at the same time. When you graduate from college not only will you have your degree, but 4yrs experience in the industry, and then you'll be making quite a bit of money.