High School
Math courses will help you prepare for the technical nature of this career, along with vo-tech, electronics, and other courses that involve hands-on experiments. Computer courses will also be valuable. Take English, speech, foreign language, and other courses that will help develop communication skills.
Postsecondary Training
As telecommunications technology becomes more complex, postsecondary education in electronics and computer technology is increasingly becoming the standard requirement for employment in this field. Some employers may require an associate's or bachelor's degree in an area such as engineering. Installers may be required to take continuing education courses, either as part of in-house training or through a college program, due to the rapid advancements of telecommunications technology.
Some telephone companies may still hire applicants who have no previous experience with another telephone company and then train the beginners to work with the equipment used in their own system. Companies generally prefer applicants who are high school or vocational school graduates and who have mechanical ability and manual dexterity.
Some telecommunications technicians train for the field by participating in apprenticeships. Visit https://www.apprenticeship.gov/apprenticeship-industries to learn more about apprenticeships.
Certification
The National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning offers certificate programs in telecom essentials, broadband, and related fields. Visit https://www.nactel.org/ for more information.
Other Education or Training
The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers provide continuing education classes and webinars. Visit https://www.scte.org/education for more information.
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