Post job

Client support specialist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a client support specialist. Client support specialists usually study business, psychology, or communication. 62% of client support specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 3,606 real client support specialist resumes to see exactly what client support specialist education sections show.

The most common colleges for client support specialists are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online client support specialist courses to help get the education required to be a client support specialist.

There are certain client support specialist certifications that you should consider. These client support specialist certifications include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL).

What education do you need to become a client support specialist?

What degree do you need to be a client support specialist?

The most common degree for client support specialists is bachelor's degree, with 62% of client support specialists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 20% and associate degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 62%
  • Associate, 20%
  • High School Diploma, 7%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a client support specialist?

You should major in business to become a client support specialist. 29% of client support specialists major in business. Other common majors for a client support specialist include psychology and communication.

Most common colleges for client support specialists

Client support specialists often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and Georgia State University. Here are the most common colleges for client support specialists in the US based on their resumes.
Client support specialist common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix23.51%
DeVry University9.47%
Georgia State University5.96%
Strayer University5.96%
University of Connecticut4.91%

Best majors for client support specialists

Best colleges for client support specialists

The best colleges for client support specialists are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A client support specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for client support specialists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become client support specialists.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Maine Maritime Academy

Castine, ME • Private

In-state tuition

$13,478

Enrollment

979

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

6. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

7. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

8. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

10. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

20 best online courses for client support specialists

Advertising disclosure

1. Introduction to Technical Support

coursera

Technical Support professionals are in great demand! This is the first course in the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate program, designed to prepare you for a rewarding career in technical support. You will begin this self-paced course by learning what Informational Technology (IT) support is all about. You'll find out the roles and responsibilities of Technical Support professionals and become familiar with all the different career paths you can take in Technical Support. You will also...

2. Supporting Clients

coursera

To reach your goal of becoming a Career Coach or Navigator, you have learned about relationship management and human-centered career coaching in course 1 and gained skills to recruit and work with clients in course 2. This third course in the Career Coach and Navigator Professional Certificate will help you advise people as they move along their career paths; assist with job searches, interviewing, and resume creation; and set them up for success as they start their careers. By the end of the...

3. IT Support Technical Skills Helpdesk

udemy
4.7
(1,561)

Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Learners...

4. IT Support Technical Skills Bootcamp

udemy
4.5
(1,653)

Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Professionals...

5. Customer Service Fundamentals

coursera

There are a growing number of exciting, well-paying jobs in today’s tech industry that do not require a traditional college degree, an one of the hottest areas with high demand is in IT customer service and support. Customer Service is a perfect entry point to start your career in IT, with a multitude of job openings ranging from onsite or remote help desk work to customer care or client support. We can help you get there with the Customer Service Fundamentals course. We will help you to build...

6. Create Customer Support Data with Google Sheets

coursera

By the end of this project, you will create a Google Sheet that transforms a business’s raw customer support data into a useful data set that provides the business with an overview of past support requirements. You will be able to determine which areas of the business are exceeding standards and which departments are performing below standard. This course will include an introduction to Google Sheets, how to leverage formulas, how to link multiple tabs, and how to utilize Google Sheets to...

7. Desktop IT Support Level 1 & 2 in real life (Troubleshooting

udemy
4.2
(1,443)

Learn everything in real life Troubleshooting for IT Help Desk , Helpdesk , IT Support , System Administration and IT...

8. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience

udemy
4.6
(2,666)

Customer service, customer support, and customer experience training. Loyal clients through world-class customer service...

9. Network Support Fundamentals

coursera

Dive into the realm of network support with the Network Support Fundamentals course. This online course is meticulously designed to introduce you to the essential skills needed for supporting enterprise networks - one of the most in-demand skill sets in the digital landscape. By the end of this course you will be able to explain network security basics, monitor network performance, and provide essential professional support. Ideal for beginners aiming for an entry-level IT career or current IT...

10. Healthcare IT Support

coursera

Are you looking to get your foot in the door as a Healthcare IT Support specialist? Do you want to solve technical problems for healthcare professionals and health system employees? Have you always wanted to enter an in-demand field in Health Information Technology? The courses in this specialization are designed to pique your interest regarding the ever-evolving field of IT support in healthcare. In order to help physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and a wide range of other allied health...

11. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

udemy
4.5
(941)

Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

12. IT & Technical Support Guide to Helpdesk, Desktop & Servers

udemy
4.2
(1,138)

Learn how the different levels of IT technical support work, from service desk to infrastructure and server support...

13. Advanced IT Troubleshooting for Helpdesk Support Technicians

udemy
4.2
(1,080)

Learn some of the less common IT troubleshooting techniques for Windows computers...

14. Introduction to Business Support System - BSS

udemy
4.5
(319)

Learn about business support system employed in telecom domain...

15. [Active Directory] Management using Windows PowerShell

udemy
4.5
(1,078)

[Power Shell] Simplified practical knowledge for automation & management of [Active Directory] using Windows Power Shell...

16. IT Support and Service Desk jobs -Crash Course for Beginners

udemy
4.6
(787)

Let me help you land your first job in IT. Learn about different roles, procedures, tools, and applications - Part 1...

17. Active Directory & Group Policy Administration for IT Techs

udemy
4.5
(651)

Active Directory & Group Policy Administration Basics for Helpdesk and Desktop / IT Support Technicians...

18. Active Directory on Windows Server

udemy
4.6
(8,804)

Learn how to deploy and manage all aspects of Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS and many more technologies...

19. Become a Master of Client and Account Management

udemy
4.2
(1,124)

Learn how to effectively manage, retain and grow clients...

20. TOTAL: Active Directory with Windows Server 2016

udemy
4.6
(2,189)

Identity, Access, and Authentication with Microsoft AD and Identity with Windows Server 2016...

Top 10 most affordable universities for client support specialists

The most affordable schools for client support specialists are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for client support specialists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for client support specialists.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

8. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Cost of attendance

22,990

10. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for client support specialists

The hardest universities for client support specialists to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for client support specialists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for client support specialists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

8. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

9. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

10. Brandeis University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

31%

SAT average

1,398

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for client support specialists

The easiest schools for client support specialists to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a client support specialist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for client support specialists.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

6. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

7. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

8. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

9. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

10. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

Average client support specialist salary by education level

Client support specialists with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $47,140 annually. With a Doctorate degree, client support specialists earn a median annual income of $45,108 compared to $41,272 for client support specialists with an Bachelor's degree.
Client support specialist education levelClient support specialist salary
Master's Degree$47,140
High School Diploma or Less$37,173
Bachelor's Degree$41,272
Doctorate Degree$45,108
Some College/ Associate Degree$37,943

Client support specialist education FAQs

Search for client support specialist jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse computer and mathematical jobs