Information Technology or IT is a term that covers a broad variety of computer-related topics. For example, it includes computer usage for transmitting, manipulating, storing, and retrieving data, typically in a business-related environment. Mastering these skills can help you transition to careers like software developer, digital marketer, data analyst, IT consultant, cybersecurity specialist, and network administrator. According to the BLS, people with IT skills can make between $57,910 and $131,490, making this a great field to enter. Thankfully, you can attend many in-person or virtual IT classes that will immerse you in this field and get you started.
Top In-Person & Virtual IT Classes
The sheer number of high-quality IT training options across the nation can make choosing a course feel rather difficult. However, you can use this diversity to your advantage by carefully researching each option and deciding whether an in-person or virtual course makes the most sense to you. Some people learn best with a hands-on in-person environment, while others feel best learning from home on their computer. Read through each of the IT training options below to understand more about what to expect from your unique training experience.
IT Courses at Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop is a trusted coding and tech team in New York City with over 30 years of experience helping people like you get the hands-on training that makes sense for their needs. For example, its team of education professionals is fully certified, meaning that you receive the best and most accurate training possible. At Noble Desktop, you can study IT-related fields like web design, graphic arts, motion graphics, data science, user experience (UX), digital marketing, programming, data science, online marketing, and more. You can take in-person classes in its NYC office or live online courses wherever you have an internet connection.
Digital Marketing Certificate
- Price: $3,995
- Duration: 126 hours
- Locations: NYC, Live Online
Digital Marketing Certificate can help you learn more about this career field, including in-depth content marketing, email marketing, social media support, mobile-device advertisements, and data analytics. You will learn how to tap into each of these fields through hands-on exercises with experts who fully understand your training needs. As with all Noble Desktop classes, you get a free course retake if you don’t pass, as well as setup assistance before your online training. In this way, you should get the support you need to master this IT-related job.
Motion Graphics Certificate
- Price: $3,495
- Duration: 2 months full-time, 4 months part-time
- Locations: NYC, Live Online
Noble Desktop’s Motion Graphics Certificate teaches you the skills necessary to master visual effects, motion graphics, and even animations. You’ll learn how to use software like Adobe After Effects as well as Cinema 4D to produce attractive 2D and 3D models, as well as create engaging visual narratives and unique backgrounds. You can take this course full-time to complete it in just two months or part-time around your job duties to finish in fourth months. This adaptability makes this a useful training option for anybody interested in this career path.
Software Engineering Certificate
- Price: $10,995
- Duration: 20 weeks
- Locations: NYC, Live Online
Software Engineering Certificate is an in-depth course that teaches you about full-stack web development and hands-on coding and programming. You’ll learn about JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, and how to use them in web design. However, you’ll also work with Git, SQL, and Node.js to practice more data management. Furthermore, you’ll learn about computer logic, data structures, and algorithms and use them to build real applications. The goal here is to help you walk out the door with the skills necessary to thrive in a programming environment.
IT Courses at General Assembly
General Assembly is an international tech-based educational team that focuses on today’s most prominent skills to help people like you build strong and innovative careers. For example, it covers data science, UX design, digital marketing, product management, and programming in a unique and exciting environment. While there are physical locations spread throughout the nation, their primary courses focus on a virtual environment. In this way, you can study IT wherever you want and transition into a unique and exciting career.
Digital Marketing Course
- Price: $4,500
- Duration: 60 hours
- Locations: Several (see school website)
Digital Marketing Course immerses you in this important IT-related career and teaches you about the unique skills necessary to thrive in this market. You’ll learn about important branding concepts, as well as social media and email marketing. However, you’ll also master more intensive and tech-related skills, such as data management and proper front-end coding for web design. In this way, you should feel comfortable building successful web campaigns and transitioning into a full-time career as a web marketing specialist.
Software Engineering Immersive
- Price: $16,450
- Duration: 12 weeks
- Locations: Several (see school website)
General Assembly’s Software Engineering Immersive course is a full-time experience that helps you become a skilled software engineer in just 12 weeks. You’ll learn about full-stack software development, including creating hands-on projects using Python, JavaScript, and much more. Even better, you’ll practice front-end development concepts with HTML and CSS. By the time you’re done with this course, you should feel comfortable working in a myriad of different fields to produce high-quality software or even innovative web design concepts.
Google Analytics Bootcamp
- Price: $250
- Duration: 7 hours
- Locations: Several (see school website)
Google Analytics Bootcamp teaches you how to use this innovative software to track and analyze web data and understand how it affects your operation. You’ll learn how to create a Google Data Studio dashboard that helps you visualize your data and use it when implementing various IT solutions. Furthermore, you’ll learn how to use Google Analytics in various marketing campaigns to reach a broader audience. That’s a lot to cover in seven hours, but thankfully the skilled teachers at General Assembly are up to the task and will help you thrive.
IT Courses at Flatiron School
Flatiron School is a tech-related school that provides in-person classes in Denver and New York, as well as virtual courses for everyone else. It provides programs as diverse as software engineering, data science, marketing, and much more. Its goal is to immerse you in a high-quality learning environment, one that challenges and excites you. There are multiple course options available if you’re interested in an IT career, each with unique benefits that make them well worth considering. Make sure to check each out to find one or more that you enjoy.
Software Engineering Immersive
- Price: $17,900
- Duration: 3.5 months
- Locations: Several (see school website)
Software Engineering Immersive is an IT course that teaches you the ins and outs of subjects like software development, practical coding techniques, JavaScript, Ruby on Rails, and other unique software languages. Furthermore, you’ll learn about important development tools and frameworks, as well as how to build high-quality web applications. During this nearly four-month course, you should get the immersive experience necessary to become a programmer. Be prepared for a full-time learning environment that taps into your innate creativity.
Cybersecurity Analytics
- Price: $16,900
- Duration: 3.5 months
- Locations: Several (see school website)
Cybersecurity Analytics teaches you about the important job duties required for this rapidly growing field. You’ll learn about how to analyze network security, check common threats, examine security data, find hacking windows, and respond to incidents effectively. Just as importantly, you’ll master critical networking skills that help you become a better and more effective cybersecurity specialist. Throughout the course, you’ll work on real-world projects that will give you the knowledge necessary to master this career path effectively.
Online Software Engineering
- Price: $17,900
- Duration: 5 months
- Locations: Live Online
Online Software Engineering is a comprehensive learning program that teaches you about engineering online software using real-world experiences in solo and team-oriented work. The curriculum for this course includes things like JavaScript, React, and Ruby on Rails, providing you with the in-depth support you need to thrive. Just as importantly, you’ll learn about problem-solving skills that can help you produce more in-depth designs by mastering complex tech-related skills, like database management and support.
IT Courses at Practical Programming
Practical Programming is a training facility that focuses heavily on IT-related fields, such as coding, machine learning, data science, and web development. It’s a career-focused school that also includes job placement support and interview training. You’ll also learn about practical, real-world coding techniques that help you better master the skills necessary to thrive. Practical Programming offers in-person classes in Chicago and New York City, as well as live virtual courses with a skilled trainer who understands each covered topic innately.
Software Engineering Immersive
- Price: $10,995
- Duration: 300 hours
- Locations: Chicago, NYC, Live Online
Software Engineering Immersive is a unique 15-week program that provides hands-on training in multiple programming languages, including Django, React, JavaScript, and Node.js. These languages can help you transition to a variety of programming jobs, including software development, network management, and much more. Even better, you’ll master things like Agile methodologies and various test-driven tasks that give you the high-quality educational support needed to move to the next level in your IT career and earn good money in the process.
Cybersecurity Bootcamp
- Price: $7,995
- Duration: 300 hours
- Locations: NYC, Live Online, Chicago
Cybersecurity Bootcamp immerses you in important network security protocols and theories to help you build safer and more guarded networks. You’ll learn how data gets transferred between computers, the ways that hackers attack these computers, and the methods you can use to protect yourself. These include things like digital forensic, risk management support, encryption, cloud-based storage, and other unique techniques. In this way, this course helps you master the important skills necessary for cybersecurity and improves your overall skill set.
Key Information About Learning IT
Before taking any IT training courses, it’s critical that you understand some important facts about this career. These include topics like what kind of subjects you might study, as well as in-depth information about related fields that may help you thrive in this field. Thankfully, it shouldn’t be too hard for you to understand these paths in your course because your teacher will provide hands-on support that makes sense for you. Just a few things to know include:
- Software Development: IT careers often focus heavily on software development, including mobile and desktop development. You’ll learn about high-quality programming languages and the different ways that they operate. In this way, you’ll be able to work in many different IT fields and produce high-quality work that makes sense for all of your projects.
- Data Management: Many IT jobs integrate data management, which includes updating and maintaining large digital databases and ensuring their information is accurate. Just as importantly, it includes steps like protecting data using various techniques, such as adding encryption protocols and cloud-based storage that minimizes potential loss risks.
- Networking: Networking is a major part of most IT career paths. You’ll have to understand how networks work, methods for protecting them, and how to avoid potential cyberattacks. This process is challenging but rewarding and can give you the insight that you need to tackle many career paths. Some people may just take on networking full time as a job.
- Digital Marketing: Though digital marketing isn’t exactly the same as IT, it uses many of the same concepts. For instance, it may cover things like databases, Python programming, CSS coding, HTML layouts, and much more. As a result, it’s not a bad idea to have a decent understanding of this field if you’re interested in an IT career.
- IT Support: All this information will be synthesized into a cohesive knowledge base that IT professionals can use to help their customers. Note that you may need to do things like use integrated development environments or IDEs to handle many of these issues. You may also get support from sites like GitHub, which shares programming problems and solutions.
Career Paths & Job Outlook for IT
If you’re interested in IT training, here are a few job roles (with salaries) that might interest you:
- Programmer: As a computer programmer, you’ll use IT skills and coding languages to produce high-quality software and may make a median of $93,000.
- Tech Support: Computer support specialists earn about $57,910 annually repairing various networks and computers using in-depth IT techniques.
- Marketing Managers: Marketing managers can earn $133,380 on average using IT skills like database management, web design, and programming languages.
- Cybersecurity Specialist: You can make a median of $102,600 in this career and will use IT skills to protect computers and networks from hacking risks.
- Health Information Tech: Health information techs may make $55,560 per year maintaining databases and patient information using various IT skills.
What Can You Do With IT?
There are many unique things that you can do if you complete IT training, such as:
- Create Software: IT professionals typically learn programming languages, meaning that they can make software to sell independently or with a firm.
- Manage Databases: Database management is a major sector in IT and one that includes security protocols and many other important steps.
- Create Networks: In many business environments, IT professionals build and maintain networks to ensure that their clients’ data stays safe.
- Produce Animation: Many IT professionals use their high-quality training to become animators, especially if they have some artistic skills.
- Create Marketing Campaigns: IT skills can improve marketing campaigns by helping you to better understand things like data analytics and web design concepts.
- Analyze Risks: Risk management is an important part of project management, and IT professionals can gauge these dangers and mitigate their risks.
- Work in Film: Modern television and movie making integrates computers at an unprecedented level, meaning you could work in this field as tech support.
- Make Video Games: Video game programmers, artists, and products typically need IT skills to handle this often challenging career.
Top IT Tools For Beginners
Here are a few tools that may help you in your IT career when you’re just starting:
- Microsoft Office, which includes programs like Word, Powerpoint, and Access that can help manage date and improve your task tracking
- Google Workspace, which provides cloud-based tools that help you track your IT tasks and manage team meetings with your repair techs
- Hardware concepts, such as CPU, RAM, motherboards, and hard drivers, which are commonly used in IT fields
- Programming languages, like HTML, CSS, and Python, which may be necessary to master for many IT professionals
- Networking skills, including setting up IP addresses, routers, VPN, LANs, WANs, and switches, which ensures you can handle IT networking tasks more effectively
- Troubleshooting tools, like Ping and Wireshark, that help diagnose network problems and manage system performance issues
- Databases, including cybersecurity basics, that can ensure your information is protected and easy to access by your team
IT Comparison to Other Tools & Fields
IT is often a very hands-on field, one that focuses heavily on practical tasks, such as repairing computers and network connections. It’s also very similar to other fields but differs slightly from them as well, such as:
- Computer science, which focuses more heavily on theoretical concepts and not hands-on repair
- Programming, which usually centers on producing high-quality software
- Web design, which may use many IT skills but which primarily uses visual designs
- Marketing, which could use some IT concepts but also focuses on other concepts
IT Advantages
Learning IT can provide you with multiple benefits, including:
- Flexible career choices in many tech-related fields
- High-paying jobs that have great advancement opportunities
- In-demand jobs that are basically future-proof
- The chance to contribute positively to society
- Work-from-home opportunities
- Innovative and exciting new career options