Top 10 Service Desk Technician Certifications

Certifications are important for a service desk technician in the job market because they demonstrate that the technician has the knowledge and skills required to perform the job. They provide potential employers with assurance that the technician is capable of handling tasks related to customer service, troubleshooting, problem solving, and other technical support skills. Certifications also serve as a benchmark for professional development and can help technicians stand out from their competition when applying for jobs.

This article reviews and explains how top certifications for Service Desk Technicians can contribute to their career advancement.

What are Service Desk Technician Certifications?

Service desk technician certification is an industry-recognized certification that demonstrates a service desk technician’s knowledge and proficiency in the field. It validates a service desk technician’s ability to provide technical customer service, troubleshoot software and hardware problems, and assist users with basic IT tasks.

Having this certification can be beneficial for those looking to pursue a career in service desk support as it shows employers that they are knowledgeable in the field. By having the certification, candidates can prove their understanding of the core competencies required to work as a service desk technician and demonstrate that they have invested in their professional development. The certification also provides an advantage over non-certified applicants since employers may prefer to hire those who have demonstrated expertise in customer service and IT problem solving.

Having this certification also allows technicians to keep up on the latest trends and technologies related to service desk support. With continuing education opportunities offered by organizations such as CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association), certified technicians can stay up-to-date with best practices and new technologies, which will help them continue to provide excellent customer service.

Overall, obtaining a Service Desk Technician Certification is beneficial for those looking to pursue or advance their career in the field of customer service and IT support. It demonstrates mastery of essential skills needed for success as well as commitment to professional development, making certified technicians more attractive candidates for employers seeking experienced professionals for their organization.

Pro Tip: When considering service desk technician certification, make sure to look for certifications that are accredited by industry-leading organizations such as CompTIA and Microsoft. These certifications will help ensure that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in your role.

Related: What does a Service Desk Technician do?

Top 10 Service Desk Technician Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Service Desk Technicians today.

1. ITIL Foundation Certification

ITIL Foundation Certification is an entry-level certification in the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) framework. It is designed to provide a basic understanding of IT service management and how it can be used to improve the delivery and support of IT services. The certification is awarded by EXIN, a global provider of professional certifications.

The ITIL Foundation certification typically takes about two days to complete, depending on the course format chosen. The exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 60 minutes. To pass, candidates must score at least 65% on the exam.

To prepare for the ITIL Foundation certification, candidates should take an accredited training course or study independently using books and online resources. Accredited courses are offered by various organizations including PeopleCert, AXELOS, APMG International, EXIN and PeopleCert-Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs).

The cost of obtaining an ITIL Foundation certification varies depending on the training provider but typically ranges from $200-$1000 USD.

2. CompTIA A+ Certification

CompTIA A+ is an industry-recognized certification that validates the knowledge and skills of IT professionals. It is a vendor-neutral certification, meaning it is not tied to any specific hardware or software provider. The certification covers a wide range of topics, including hardware, networking, mobile devices, operating systems, security, troubleshooting, and customer service.

The CompTIA A+ certification consists of two exams: 220-1001 (Core 1) and 220-1002 (Core 2). Both exams must be passed in order to earn the A+ certification. The Core 1 exam focuses on hardware and networking topics while the Core 2 exam focuses on software and mobile device topics.

It typically takes between three and six months to prepare for the CompTIA A+ exams. This includes studying course materials, taking practice tests, and gaining hands-on experience with computers and networks.

To get your CompTIA A+ certification you will need to register for the exams at a Pearson Vue testing center or online through CompTIA's website. You can also purchase study materials from CompTIA or other third party providers. Once you have registered for the exams you will need to take both in order to receive your certification.

The cost of the CompTIA A+ certification varies depending on where you take the exam and which study materials you use. Generally speaking, it costs around $200 USD per exam plus any additional fees associated with taking the test at a Pearson Vue testing center.

3. HDI Customer Service Representative Certification

HDI Customer Service Representative Certification is an industry-recognized certification program designed to validate the knowledge and skills of customer service representatives. It is offered by the HDI (Help Desk Institute), which is a global organization that provides professional development, training, and certification for customer service professionals.

The HDI Customer Service Representative Certification program consists of two parts: a written exam and a practical assessment. The written exam tests your knowledge of customer service principles, processes, and procedures. The practical assessment evaluates your ability to apply those principles in real-world scenarios.

The entire certification process typically takes about six weeks to complete, depending on the availability of the testing center and your own schedule. To get certified, you must first register for the program online through the HDI website or contact their customer support team directly. You will then receive instructions on how to register for the written exam and practical assessment at an authorized testing center near you.

The cost of the HDI Customer Service Representative Certification varies depending on where you take the test, but it typically ranges from $250-$400 USD.

4. Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)

Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) is a certification program designed to validate the skills and knowledge of IT professionals who are responsible for designing, implementing, configuring, and managing Windows Server systems. The MCSA certification is a prerequisite for more advanced certifications such as Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE).

It typically takes six to twelve months to complete the requirements for the MCSA certification. To get started, you must first pass two exams: one on networking fundamentals and one on Windows Server administration. After passing these exams, you can then take additional elective exams in areas such as virtualization, security, and cloud computing.

The cost of obtaining the MCSA certification varies depending on which exams you choose to take. Each exam costs around $165 USD. Additionally, there may be fees associated with taking an online proctored exam or attending an in-person testing center.

Overall, the cost of obtaining the MCSA certification can range from several hundred dollars up to several thousand dollars depending on how many exams you need to take and what type of training materials you use.

5. Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)

Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) is a certification program designed by Microsoft to recognize the skills and knowledge of individuals working in the IT industry. It is designed to validate an individual’s expertise in specific areas of technology, such as Windows Server, Exchange Server, SQL Server, and SharePoint.

The MCITP certification requires passing a series of exams that test an individual’s knowledge and skills related to their chosen technology area. Depending on the particular track chosen, it can take anywhere from six months to two years to complete the requirements for the MCITP certification.

To get certified, you must first decide which area of technology you want to specialize in. Then you will need to register for and pass all of the required exams. You can find more information about each exam on Microsoft’s website. Once you have passed all the exams, you will receive your official MCITP certificate.

The cost of getting certified varies depending on which track you choose and how many exams you need to take. Generally speaking, each exam costs around $150-$200 USD and there may be additional fees associated with registration or other services.

6. HDI Support Center Analyst Certification

HDI Support Center Analyst Certification is a certification program offered by HDI, the world’s largest membership association for technical service and support professionals. The certification is designed to equip IT professionals with the knowledge and skills required to provide effective customer service and technical support.

The HDI Support Center Analyst Certification program consists of two parts: an online training course and a certification exam. The online training course takes approximately 8 hours to complete and covers topics such as customer service, problem solving, troubleshooting, communication, conflict resolution, and more. Upon completion of the training course, candidates must pass a 90-minute certification exam in order to receive their HDI Support Center Analyst Certification.

To get started with the HDI Support Center Analyst Certification program, individuals must first register for the online training course. The cost of the online training course is $295 USD (or equivalent in local currency). After completing the online training course, individuals can then register for the certification exam which costs $195 USD (or equivalent in local currency). Once both parts of the program are completed successfully, individuals will receive their HDI Support Center Analyst Certification.

Overall, it typically takes around 2 weeks to complete both parts of the HDI Support Center Analyst Certification program.

7. CompTIA Network+ Certification

CompTIA Network+ is an industry-recognized certification that validates the knowledge and skills of networking professionals. It is designed to ensure that network administrators and engineers have the necessary skills to manage, maintain, troubleshoot, install, operate and configure basic network infrastructure. The certification covers a wide range of topics related to networking technologies, including network design, configuration, implementation, management, security and troubleshooting.

It typically takes about 6 months to prepare for the CompTIA Network+ exam. Candidates should be familiar with networking concepts such as TCP/IP protocol suite, routing protocols (OSPF & RIP), switching technologies (VLANs & STP), wireless networks (802.11a/b/g/n) and network security (firewalls & encryption).

To get the CompTIA Network+ certification you must pass the N10-007 exam which consists of 90 multiple choice questions. The exam can be taken at any Pearson VUE or Prometric testing center worldwide.

The cost of the CompTIA Network+ exam is $329 USD.

8. HDI Desktop Support Technician Certification

HDI Desktop Support Technician Certification is a professional certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective technical support for desktop computers. The certification is offered by HDI (Help Desk Institute), an industry leader in providing training, certification, and resources related to customer service and technical support.

The HDI Desktop Support Technician Certification is a two-part program that includes both an online course and an exam. The online course covers topics such as troubleshooting, problem solving, customer service, system administration, hardware installation, software installation, networking fundamentals, and more. Upon completion of the online course, participants must pass a 90-minute exam in order to receive their certification.

To get certified as an HDI Desktop Support Technician, you must first complete the online course and then register for the exam through HDI's website. The cost of the exam is $395 USD plus applicable taxes. Once registered for the exam, you will be provided with instructions on how to access it. You must complete the exam within 6 months from registration date or you will need to re-register and pay again.

In order to maintain your certification status, you must recertify every three years by completing at least 20 hours of continuing education activities related to desktop support technology or customer service/technical support topics.

9. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) is a certification program offered by Microsoft that validates an individual’s ability to design, implement, and manage complex IT solutions. The MCSE certification demonstrates a person’s expertise in the latest Microsoft technologies such as Windows Server, Exchange Server, SharePoint Server, SQL Server, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), and Azure.

To become certified as an MCSE, you must pass one or more exams related to the technology you are certifying for. Depending on the technology and exam you choose, it can take anywhere from one to four months of study to prepare for the exam(s).

In order to get certified as an MCSE, you must register with Microsoft and purchase a voucher for the exam(s) you wish to take. The cost of each exam varies depending on the technology being tested; however, most exams cost between $125 and $165 USD.

Once you have passed all required exams for your chosen technology track, you will receive your MCSE certification from Microsoft.

10. HDI Problem Management Professional Certification

HDI Problem Management Professional Certification is a professional certification offered by the Help Desk Institute (HDI). It is designed to recognize professionals who have mastered the skills and techniques required to effectively manage problems in an IT service environment.

The certification program consists of two parts: an online exam and a practical assessment. The online exam covers topics such as problem management principles, processes, tools, and techniques. It takes approximately 90 minutes to complete the exam.

To get certified, you must pass both the online exam and the practical assessment. The practical assessment requires you to demonstrate your ability to apply problem management principles, processes, tools, and techniques in a simulated environment. This assessment takes approximately 3 hours to complete.

The cost of the HDI Problem Management Professional Certification varies depending on where you take it. Generally speaking, it costs around $500 USD for both parts of the certification process (online exam and practical assessment).

Do You Really Need a Service Desk Technician Certificate?

When considering a career as a service desk technician, it is important to consider whether or not you need a service desk technician certificate. While having a certificate may be helpful in some cases, it is not always necessary to land a job as a service desk technician.

First and foremost, when looking for a job as a service desk technician, your experience will be the most important factor. Employers typically look for applicants with at least two years of relevant experience in IT support roles. If you have this kind of experience, then you should have no problem finding work without needing to get certified.

However, if your experience is limited or nonexistent, then having a certificate can help set you apart from other applicants. A certification demonstrates that you have the technical knowledge and skills necessary to do the job effectively. It also shows that you are willing to take extra steps to demonstrate your commitment and dedication to the field. This can be an attractive quality for employers looking for reliable employees who are up to date on the latest technologies and best practices.

In short, if you already have the necessary experience for the position, then getting certified may not be necessary. However, if your experience is limited or nonexistent, then getting certified can be beneficial in helping you stand out from other applicants and demonstrate your commitment to the field of service desk technicians.

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FAQs About Service Desk Technician Certifications

Q1. What is a Service Desk Technician Certification?

A1. A Service Desk Technician Certification is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates a professional’s knowledge and expertise in managing customer service requests, performing troubleshooting tasks, and providing technical support.

Q2. What are the benefits of obtaining a Service Desk Technician Certification?

A2. Benefits of obtaining a Service Desk Technician Certification include increased job opportunities, potential salary increases, and better recognition from employers and peers.

Q3. How long does it take to become certified as a Service Desk Technician?

A3. The amount of time it takes to become certified as a Service Desk Technician varies depending on the certification program chosen and the individual’s prior experience and knowledge in the field. Generally, most certification programs can be completed within 1-2 years with enough dedication and study time.

Q4. Is there an exam required to obtain a Service Desk Technician Certification?

A4. Yes, most certification programs require successful completion of an exam or series of exams in order to obtain certification.

Q5. Where can I find more information about becoming certified as a Service Desk Technician?

A5. You can find more information about becoming certified as a Service Desk Technician by researching online or contacting organizations such as CompTIA or HelpDesk Institute (HDI).