Education and Training

Employers hiring computer network technicians look for candidates with formal training in computer science. Educational requirements usually include at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, telecommunications, or a related field of study. High school students interested in pursuing this type of work should study mathematics, computer science, and physics.
Candidates for jobs in this field may also need specific training certification in various networking specialties. For example, Novell Software has established a training program in which candidates earn certification as a Certified NetWare Engineer (CNE) after passing a series of seven tests that cover all aspects of planning, installing, maintaining, and communicating between networks using the Novell NetWare operating system. A consortium of computer technology companies including Hewlett–Packard and Cisco Systems offers an examination and certification program, awarding successful candidates the title Certified Network Expert (CNX). Other manufacturers and industry groups offer certification programs for specific network specialties.