How to Identify a Legitimate Computer Repair School?

Answer 1

Computer repair is one of the most lucrative businesses in our modern world. Success in this profession requires extensive technical experience and knowledge obtained through education, and choosing the right school is essential to that success.

Most universities do not offer traditional degrees in computer repair itself; instead, the budding technician pursues professional certifications. Most of these are established by an organization called CompTIA, a trade association for information technology professionals. Technicians typically begin their education by pursuing an A+ certification, which covers the most essential skills necessary for hardware and software repair, as well as the development of troubleshooting skills. An individual with an A+ certification can legitimately refer to themselves as a certified computer technician according to CompTIA’s standards, and can immediately begin working in the computer repair field.

An A+ certification is the minimum requirement for working as a computer repair professional, but most continue their education past this point. Many more CompTIA certifications exist, including Network+, which deals with network repair, Security+, focused on cryptography and system security, and Linux+, which demonstrates proficiency with Linux-based operating systems. As a general rule, the more certifications a technician possesses, the more repair opportunities are available to them, and thus many individuals continue their education across their entire careers.

It is essential to keep the importance of these CompTIA certifications in mind when choosing a computer repair school. Always be sure the institution, whether a trade school, online classroom, or other program, is actually offering training toward one or more of these certifications. Be wary of schools that merely offer to teach computer repair; without the ability to obtain a CompTIA certification, the skills gained through one of these programs will mean very little. Conversely, schools that offer training toward these specific certifications are most likely legitimate, and offer a definite advantage over self-study programs, namely instructor experience. A typical certification can be in a period of a few weeks to a month through a legitimate program.

In the world of IT professionals, these certifications can often mean more to a potential employer than even traditional college degrees. Their importance cannot be understated. No matter what, always read independent reviews of computer repair schools and educational programs before enrolling.