Associate degree in information technology

Maria and Spencer are both in their early 20's. Maria recently completed her bachelor's degree in English; Spencer dropped out of college after a few semesters. If asked to speculate on Maria's and Spencer's occupations, perhaps you would guess writer and waiter.

But it might surprise you to learn that Maria is a computer systems analyst and Spencer is a computer programmer. Maria, while majoring in English, took several computer-related courses and gained experience working in a computer lab. Spencer, although not formally enrolled in a degree program, took courses at a community college and earned certification in a programming language. Both benefited from the flexible training requirements for individuals hoping to work in information technology, often identified as IT.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that 8 of the 10 fastest growing occupations between 2000 and 2010 will be computer related. For this reason, future jobseekers need to know about the variety of ways to prepare for a career in information technology.

Following a discussion of how these workers are defined, this article focuses on the available training, which ranges from certificates to advanced degrees.

What is an information technology worker?

The information technology workforce is defined differently by trade organizations and Government sources.

The Information Technology Association of America defines an information technology worker by using the eight career clusters developed by the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies. Those career clusters include programming and software engineering, technical support, enterprise systems, database development and administration, Web development and administration, network design and administration, digital media, and technical writing. According to its latest study, "Bouncing Back: Jobs, Skills, and the Continuing Demand for IT Workers," the Association notes that 92 percent of all information technology workers are in non-information-technology companies--80 percent of them in small companies outside the information technology industry.

The U.S. Department of Commerce identifies the information technology workforce more broadly. In its report on information technology, "Digital Economy 2002," the Department defines workers in information technology occupations as those who design, manufacture, operate, maintain, and repair information technology products and provide related services across all industries.

For purposes of this article, information technology workers are considered to be those employed in 12 computer-related Standard Occupational Classification System (SOC) occupations. These occupations are:

* Computer and information systems managers

* Computer programmers

* Computer and information scientists

* Computer systems analysts

* Computer hardware engineers

* Computer software engineers, applications

* Computer software engineers, systems software

* Computer support specialists

* Database administrators

* Network and computer systems administrators

* Network systems and data communications analysts

* All other computer specialists, a residual category of workers.

Using this definition, BLS data show that there were about 3.3 million information technology workers employed in the United States in 2000. However, that number excludes marketing and sales workers employed by information technology companies.

What type of training do I need?

As Maria's and Spencer's backgrounds suggest, there is considerable interest in the topic of education and training required for information technology workers. This interest stems from the U.S. economy's demand for such workers and a presumption that the current educational system is not producing enough of them for the workforce. Rita Caldwell, director of the National Science Foundation, notes that there are many pathways for becoming an information technology worker. Training ranges from a few months for certification to 6 years for a doctoral degree.

BLS data show that in 2001, most information technology workers--almost 70 percent--had a bachelor's or higher degree, although the number who had some college but no degree is rapidly increasing and accounted for almost 16 percent of these workers. (See chart 1.) In fact, anecdotal information suggests that many people attend community colleges not to earn degrees but to take computer-related courses in hopes of getting a job or as a way to retrain and update their skills. And according to the National Science Foundation, two-thirds of workers who had a bachelor's degree and worked in a computer-related occupation in 1999 had majored in subjects other than computer and information sciences. (See chart 2.)

Clearly, earning a postsecondary degree in a computer-related field is not the only way to prepare for a job in information technology. But learning the technical skills necessary to work in these occupations remains paramount. Specialized certification and degree programs--associate, bachelor's, and graduate-level ones--are the primary ways workers train for information technology occupations.

Certification

Technical or professional certification demonstrates that an individual has achieved a level of competency in a particular field. There are various certificates available for information technology workers. Spencer, for example, earned certification that qualified him for a computer programming job. Product vendors and industry organizations offer different types of certificates, providing a training niche that is expected to continue.

Growth of certification. According to the Information Technology Association of America's study on the information technology workforce, the significance of certification has grown in each of its job categories in the last year. Kenneth Bartlett, project director for the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education, says that as of August, there were almost 100 vendors and organizations offering more than 670 separate certificates in information technology.

And these certificates are growing more popular. Data from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics show that the number of awards of less than 1 year granted in computer and information sciences grew almost 400 percent between 1990 and 2000.

When international trends are considered, the impact of certification is even more dramatic. In his 2000 report, "The Certification System in Information Technology," author Clifford Adelman describes a "parallel universe" outside conventional educational routes for potential information technology workers to develop skills. The report notes that, by early 2000, about 1.6 million people worldwide had earned roughly 2.4 million information technology certificates.

Vendor and organization certification. Product vendors and software firms--including Microsoft, Cisco, and Oracle--offer certification and may require individuals who work with their products to be certified. And industry organizations, such as the Institute for the Certification of Computing Professionals, offer voluntary certification. The Institute's certification is available to those who have a college degree, at least 2 years of experience, and have passed a series of examinations.

Vendor certification evolved from the difficulty employers had finding skilled workers to fill the rising number of high-tech jobs created by the Internet boom in the mid- to late 1990's. Because certification is faster, cheaper, and more focused than traditional educational tracks, vendor certification soon emerged as a solution to the problem of worker shortages.

As of May, Microsoft Corporation had issued more than 1.2 million certificates to individuals classified as Microsoft Certified Professionals. One example of the rapid growth in vendor certification is the increase in the number of Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer certificates awarded over the last few years: 35,000 in fall 1997; 280,000 by June 2000; and almost 463,000 by July 2002.

Future of certification. Certification has become an increasingly important standard in the information technology industry in the last decade. However, it also has become more controversial. Although it enables workers to demonstrate a specific set of skills, some employers say that certification is not a viable substitute for practical experience. Others prefer that workers have formal education and practical experience, predicting that certificates will diminish in importance. But as the following example illustrates, certification should continue to play a role in training information technology workers.