What is a certified technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Julia Johnson

Certified technician has received official recognition and validation of their knowledge and skills in a specific field of technology. They have passed a certification exam that demonstrates their expertise, typically administered by an industry organization or vendor. Certified technicians are capable of performing complex tasks related to installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of technical systems and equipment. Their responsibilities may vary depending on the technology they specialize in, but they are expected to provide high-quality service.

What general advice would you give to a certified technician?

Julia Johnson

Professor, Automotive Technology, Skyline College

You will be starting out as a Lube Tech for your first job in the automotive industry. You will be expected to perform maintenance services accurately and within the industry standard timeframe. It may seem like it’s not challenging enough or too repetitive, but you will be expected to prove yourself at this level before you can advance.

ScoreCertified TechnicianUS Average

Salary

4.1

Avg. Salary $52,208

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.7

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.81%

Asian 4.99%

Black or African American 9.68%

Hispanic or Latino 18.79%

Unknown 4.24%

White 61.49%

Gender

female 24.69%

male 75.31%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

7.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.2

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a certified technician?

Pros

Opportunity for hands-on work in a technical field
High demand for skilled technicians, leading to job security
Opportunity to work with a variety of technologies and equipment
Opportunity to work independently or as part of a team
Ability to work in a variety of industries, including healthcare, automotive, and IT

Cons

Long hours or being on call may be required depending on the employer or industry
Need to be constantly learning and adapting to changing technology and equipment
Potential for conflict with customers who may be frustrated or upset with technical issues
Potential for burnout due to the fast-paced nature of the job and high workload
Limited opportunities for advancement without additional education or certifications

Key steps to become a certified technician

Explore certified technician education requirements

Most common certified technician degrees

Bachelor's

32.8 %

Associate

28.5 %

High School Diploma

22.0 %

Start to develop specific certified technician skills

Skills	Percentages
A+	45.18%
Patients	12.70%
Patient Care	8.21%
Diagnosis	4.61%
Customer Service	2.46%

Complete relevant certified technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New certified technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a certified technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real certified technician resumes.

Gain additional certified technician certifications

Certified technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific certified technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for certified technicians include Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and CompTIA A+ Certification.

More About Certifications

Research certified technician duties and responsibilities

Lead and architect MDM migration from Sybase Afaria to Airwatch.
Manage a crew of 5 service technicians, providing repair and maintenance services for all HVAC.
Attain and maintain advanced level ASE certification.
Manage daily repair activities for high-volume Honda repair facility.

Prepare your certified technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your certified technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a certified technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable certified technician resume templates

Build a professional certified technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your certified technician resume.