Fifty to sixty percent of what you learn today will be obsolete within two years. Most software programs change at least once a year. Computer hardware changes on an average of every six to nine months. Continue to build your skills by taking seminars and courses, by reading trade magazines, and by pursuing technical certification. Attend conferences on computer technology.
Many employers require a degree in addition to technical certification.
Northern Virginia Community College has articulation agreements with a number of four-year colleges and universities in the area that accept the credits you earn in the IST degree programs. Please consult with a counselor to find out what alternatives are available to you. Another option is to continue taking courses at NVCC in one of the degree programs designed for transfer in the computer field, the A.S. in Business Administration, the A.S. in Computer Science, and the A.S. in Electrical Engineering. The Division offers the Career Studies Certificate in Information Systems Technology and in Microcomputer Usage for students who wish to earn a credential in the field. The Career Studies Certificate requires two semesters of academic study.