Two certificates, then the degree
Start with help desk skills in one term, add networking in the second, and continue into the cybersecurity degree if you want more.
Start here
Help Desk Fundamentals certificate
1 term
$1,550 full program
- Financial aid eligible
- Online, with evening lab hours
- Prepares you for an entry-level industry exam
Most students choose
IT Support certificate
2 terms
$3,100 full program
- Financial aid eligible
- Online
- Adds networking and a 60-hour internship
Go further
Associate degree in Cybersecurity
2 years
$10,400 full program
- Financial aid eligible
- Evening at Kestrel Bend, or online
- Every IT Support course counts
Illustrative costs for a fictional college: in-district tuition and fees for the whole program, before aid. Industry exam vouchers are included; a laptop is not.
Photo: Quilia on UnsplashWhat you’ll do
- Set up, fix and secure Windows, macOS and Linux computers in a virtual lab you reach from home.
- Run a help desk ticket queue the way a real one works, with a service level to meet.
- Build a small office network and troubleshoot it when the instructor breaks it.
- Write clear instructions and notes the next technician can follow.
- Finish with a 60-hour internship at a valley employer or the college’s own help desk.
Program map: IT Support certificate
Two terms, online, about 15 hours a week. Lab hours are open evenings and Saturdays at Kestrel Bend for anyone who wants hands on the hardware.
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Term 1
- Computer hardware and operating systems
- Help desk operations
- Customer communication for technicians
Earn Help Desk Fundamentals
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Term 2
- Networking basics
- Security essentials
- Internship, 60 hours
Earn the IT Support certificate
The Cybersecurity associate degree adds four terms of network defense, scripting and general education.
Jobs this leads to
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Help desk technician
First line of support for a company, school district or hospital.
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Desktop support technician
Sets up and repairs computers and printers on site.
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Field service technician
Travels to small businesses and clinics that have no IT staff.
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Network technician
Installs cabling, switches and wireless access points. Usually needs the second term.
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School technology aide
Keeps classroom devices running for a school district.
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Junior systems administrator
Manages accounts and servers. Usually after the degree or a year of experience.
We don’t list wages here because they vary by region and employer. For current pay and job outlook, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. Sample outcome for this fictional program: 84 percent of 2025 completers were working in IT within six months. The figure is invented for the concept.