How do I get an IT Associate's Degree?

To earn an information technology (IT) associate's degree, you will typically have to choose an educational institution that grants two-year degrees in this field. You may find these programs at community colleges and some four-year colleges. Once you've found programs that interest you, the next step is to choose a program concentration, such as business systems analysis or health information technology. Next, you may choose to pursue an IT associate's degree on a part-time or full-time basis. If you attend school full time, you may earn this degree in two years; you may need three or more years to earn it on a part-time schedule, however.

Depending on where you live, you may have many choices when it comes to choosing a school at which to earn an IT associate’s degree. For example, one of the most common places to pursue an associate’s degree is through a community college. You may, however, also find some associate’s degree programs in IT offered by certain four-year colleges. Many of these associate's degree programs are provided at traditional on-campus settings, but some distance learning programs may offer IT associate's degree programs online as well.

When you want to earn an IT associate’s degree, you typically have to spend a couple of years in an educational program. In most cases, you can earn an IT associate’s degree in two years of full-time study. You may also pursue an associate’s level IT degree on a part-time basis. In such a case, you may earn an associate’s degree in three or four years rather than two.

You may have a range of concentration options to compare when you want to earn an IT associate’s degree. Depending on the institution at which you decide to study, you may have the opportunity to pursue an IT associate’s degree with a focus on business systems analysis or information systems security. You may also consider a degree program with a concentration in multimedia and visual communications or networking and telecommunications. Some schools may also offer you the chance to pursue an associate's degree in health information technology.

Earning an IT associate’s degree may provide adequate preparation for an entry-level job in a field such as technical support. Earning a bachelor’s level degree may provide you with more opportunities, however. For this reason, you may consider earning an associate’s degree to get started in IT and then continuing your education to earn a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree in the IT field.