Is becoming a network administrator right for me?

The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:

Overview
What do network administrators do?
Career Satisfaction
Are network administrators happy with their careers?
Personality
What are network administrators like?

Still unsure if becoming a network administrator is the right career path? to find out if this career is right for you. Perhaps you are well-suited to become a network administrator or another similar career!

Described by our users as being “shockingly accurate”, you might discover careers you haven’t thought of before.

How to become a Network Administrator

Although a few positions may be attainable with an associate's degree, employers prefer to hire individuals that have a bachelor's degree. Several fields of study, such as computer and information science, network administration, or electrical engineering could all be suitable majors for this career. A bachelor's program with a concentration in networking usually includes courses in routing and switching, information security, network applications, and web programming.

Microsoft, Novell and Cisco offer certifications that can be useful for network administrators. Cisco offers the Cisco Certified Network Associate and the Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician designations. Microsoft awards the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate designation for SQL server and Windows server professionals.