As a website development degree or certification program can be a considerable investment of time and resources, carefully review whether the option is appropriate for you and your career.
Employer Requirements Vary
As you consider entry into the IT field or advancement opportunities, consider certification or a college degree program in website development. Many IT employers favor these credentials when sorting through applicants. For some employers, your proven work experience in the field may weigh as heavily as a degree or certification. Website development degrees and certification can prepare you for numerous careers, including network systems analyst, webmaster, Web developer and data communications analyst. Employers' needs define the types of employees they look for and the requirements they demand. If they have a project with a strict timeline for completion, they may look for someone with proven success in project management.
Competitive Edge of Degrees
The computer systems design and related career fields are robust, and you'll be competing with other workers with updated experience and training. Workers in this field usually have higher education levels than average, and a bachelor's degree is considered a bare minimum. However, an associate or two-year degree may be enough to be considered competitive for some positions. The positions of webmaster and data communications analyst may just need a certificate or an associate degree in Web development. To advance to a program manager or systems architect, you'll probably need a bachelor's degree or higher. Many employers specifically seek professional and technical certifications, such as Certification Partners' Certified Internet Web (CIW®) professional or HTML certifications. If an employer is looking for a worker with expertise in multiple programs and technologies, you could prove that you have expert-level proficiency through your certification portfolio or a degree proving your technical training experience.
Job Prospects and Salary Benefits
The projected employment growth for the computer systems design field between 2008 and 2018 is 45 percent. In May of 2008, network systems and data communications analysts working in computer systems design fields earned an average hourly wage of $34.81 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010). Network and data communications analysts make varying salaries by industry. For instance, those working in local government in May of 2008 earned $64,230. In other industries, they earned: • Computer systems design: $72,410 • Company management: $73,720 • Insurance carriers: $74,910 • Wired telecommunications: $75,930 (BLS, 2010). If certification seems like a good choice to help strengthen your professional portfolio, look into securing CIW certification to advance your career.