Desktop support specialists and help desk associates specialize in providing excellent customer service and information. Completing certifications can improve the specialist’s ability to troubleshoot, identify technical issues, and supply solutions. If you’re a help desk associate or support specialist, learning more about potential certifications can be beneficial. In this article, we explain the benefits of earning desktop support certifications, list nine you can pursue, and provide helpful tips for completing certifications.
Benefits of earning desktop support and help desk certifications
Certifications are credentials you can earn, usually by completing courses and passing exams. Many certifications require a fee and can take weeks to months to complete. Depending on your career and professional aspirations, certifications can vary in importance. These are some benefits of completing desktop support and help desk certifications:
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Validate your desktop support abilities: Completing certificates can provide official credentials that show your skills and knowledge in desktop support. You can show your familiarity with different operating systems and programs.
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Learn new methods for customer service: When you complete education-based certifications, you can learn more about customer service and how to provide service with different software. Earning certificates can improve your skills and increase your customer service abilities.
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Improve your resumes and cover letters: By including certifications on your resume, you can show evidence of your skills and willingness to commit to continuous learning. You can also mention certifications in your cover letter and explain how they make the ideal candidate.
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Increase career prospects and opportunities: Your potential employer may prefer candidates with certifications over those who don’t have them. Some hiring managers may also seek candidates who have specific certifications, and you may find this information in the job listing if they include it.
9 desktop support and help desk certifications
Depending on your career goals, education, and current situation, earning certifications can improve your application materials, advance your career, and potentially increase your earnings. These are desktop support and help desk certifications you can pursue:
1. Apple Certified Mac Technician
This certification is for those who work at Apple Authorized Service Providers. To complete the certification, you complete training modules that cover material related to troubleshooting and resolving issues on Apple devices. To earn the certification, you pass the ACMT exam.
2. Google IT Automation With Python Professional Certificate
The Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate from Google is a beginner-level course that covers information about Python, GIT and IT automation. During this online, flexible course, the user can improve their skills in debugging, troubleshooting, programming and automation. The course includes an applied learning project, and it usually takes about eight months to earn this certification.
3. Google IT Support Professional Certificate
This certification usually takes about six months to complete, and you don’t need a degree or prior technological experience to complete it. The course focuses on improving your customer support and ability to identify technical problems. During the program, you learn more about algorithms, customer service, networks, and cloud computing.
4. HDI Customer Service Representative
The Customer Service Representative certification from HDI is for those who provide technical support to customers. The course verifies your customer service abilities and validates your technical understanding. During the program, you learn more about assessing customer needs, strengthen your critical thinking and learn about active listening. This certification consists of four units that focus on service and support, communication, troubleshooting, and customer management.
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5. Help Desk Analyst: Tier 1 Support Specialist
This credential takes about six months to earn and focuses on improving your support and productivity. This program allows you to handle challenging customers more effectively and improve your client interaction confidence. It’s an open enrollment course that you can begin when you’re ready, and it allows you to assess your position and identify future opportunities.
6. Help Desk Team Lead
The Help Desk Team Lead certification from the RCCSP Professional Education Alliance is for those who currently hold leadership positions or aspire to. It allows the professional to develop their communication abilities with managers and customers, improve their customer support, and refine their coaching methods. This is a great certification for help desk specialists who want to enhance their leadership skills and learn new strategies for managing conflict in the workplace.
7. IT Help Desk Professional
This credential is for aspiring help desk professionals who want to find a position in the field. It teaches the basics of working as a help desk specialist and covers topics like hardware and software knowledge, printing solutions, and networks. During this course, you learn how to install various systems, implement technical tools, and understand the various components within a computer.
8. Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate
This certification is for those who work in an enterprise environment to deploy, secure, and monitor client applications. To earn this certification, you pass both the Windows 10 and Managing Modern Desktops exams. The exams measure your abilities to manage data and devices, implement policies, and upgrade operating systems. You can prepare by using free online resources or paying for instructor-led courses.
9. Network+
The CompTIA Network+ certification facilitates a career in information technology infrastructure by reviewing troubleshooting, network management, and system configuring. Potential positions that may pursue this certification include junior network administrator, network analyst, and system engineer. To earn the certification, you pass the CompTIA exams. It can take as few as 10 days to earn this certification.
Tips for earning desktop support and help desk certifications
Depending on the certification, you may need to study new material, pay fees, and pass exams to receive your credentials. These are helpful tips for earning desktop support and help desk certifications:
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Choose certifications that can benefit you. Before enrolling in a certification program or course, consider your budget, time, energy, and how applicable the certification is to your position. You can optimize your experience by ensuring the certifications you complete are relevant to you.
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Create a plan for studying the material. Some certifications can take weeks or months to complete, and it’s best to study for them over time rather than all at once. Create a plan to study the material each day or several times per week leading up to the certification exam.
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Find a colleague to earn certifications with. Depending on where you work and your colleagues, they may be interested in the same certification courses as you. Completing them together can help you build accountability and study more effectively.
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Ask your manager about financial support. Some companies and organizations can offer financial support by paying for all or part of your certifications. Meet with your leader to ask them about certification opportunities and express your desire to advance your career.
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Drink water and rest before tests and exams. Most certifications require you to pass an exam before receiving your credentials, and it’s best to rest and hydrate before taking them to improve your performance.
I hope you find this article helpful.
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