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Technical support advisor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a technical support advisor. Technical support advisors usually study business, computer science, or computer information systems. 43% of technical support advisors hold a bachelor's degree, and 24% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 3,551 real technical support advisor resumes to see exactly what technical support advisor education sections show.

The most common colleges for technical support advisors are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

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

There are certain technical support advisor certifications that you should consider. These technical support advisor certifications include Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP).

What education do you need to become a technical support advisor?

What degree do you need to be a technical support advisor?

The most common degree for technical support advisors is bachelor's degree, with 43% of technical support advisors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 19%.
  • Bachelor's, 43%
  • Associate, 24%
  • High School Diploma, 19%
  • Diploma, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a technical support advisor?

You should major in business to become a technical support advisor. 26% of technical support advisors major in business. Other common majors for a technical support advisor include computer science and computer information systems.

Most common colleges for technical support advisors

Technical support advisors often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, New Mexico State University, and DeVry University. Here are the most common colleges for technical support advisors in the US based on their resumes.
Technical support advisor common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix16.36%
New Mexico State University9.82%
DeVry University6.91%
Florida State College at Jacksonville5.82%
Arizona State University5.09%

Best majors for technical support advisors

Best colleges for technical support advisors

The best colleges for technical support advisors are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A technical support advisor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for technical support advisors. 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 technical support advisors.

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 technical support advisors

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1. Introduction to Technical Support

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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. IBM IT Support

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Prepare for an in-demand career in Information Technology (IT). In this program, you’ll develop a strong foundation in IT fundamentals, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing to get job-ready in as little as 3 months, with no prior experience or degree needed to get started.\n\nAlmost every organization, business, or individual relies on technology. A career in IT Support is about providing technological assistance to better optimize organizational efficiency. This can include...

3. IT Support Technical Skills Helpdesk

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

4. IT Support Technical Skills Bootcamp

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

5. Akamai Customer Consulting and Support

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Are you interested in end-to-end project management? Want to deliver the best solutions to our customers while collaborating with teams from all over the world? You will never stop learning in this fast-moving environment and across our cutting-edge technologies. This beginner level certificate is designed to provide you with in-demand skills that range from internet technology fundamentals, networking, operating systems and problem solving techniques.\n\nThis certificate program consists of...

6. Healthcare IT Support

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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...

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

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

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

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

9. Network Support Fundamentals

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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. Computer Hardware, Operating System and Networking

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For Any Graduates/Engineering/Diploma/Arts & Science/Freshers/Home Users/Individuals/Desktop Support/FM/Service Engineer...

11. Basic Computer Course - Windows 7/10 - IT & Desktop Support

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Basic computer course with troubleshooting skills -computer hardware and computer networking, for IT support technicians...

12. Computer Network Fundamentals- IT Helpdesk & Desktop Support

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Learn the basic fundamentals of computer networking & OSI model for desktop support and IT service desk technicians...

13. Advanced IT Troubleshooting for Helpdesk Support Technicians

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

14. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

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

15. IT/Desktop Computer Support- Troubleshooting for Technicians

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Learn how to troubleshoot desktop computer issues as an IT Support Technician on real-world organisational networks...

16. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience

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17. Technical Writing: How to Write Software Documentation

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

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19. Introduction to Business Support System - BSS

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

20. Zendesk for Customer Service Agents Training Course

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How to provide great customer support using Zendesk, a course for beginners...

Top 10 most affordable universities for technical support advisors

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

If the best universities for technical support advisors 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 technical support advisors.

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 technical support advisors

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

Some great schools for technical support advisors 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 technical support advisors 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 technical support advisors

The easiest schools for technical support advisors 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 technical support advisor 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 technical support advisors.

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 technical support advisor salary by education level

According to our data, technical support advisors with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $125,649 annually. Technical support advisors with a Doctorate degree earn an average annual salary of $120,716.
Technical support advisor education levelTechnical support advisor salary
Master's Degree$125,649
High School Diploma or Less$101,242
Bachelor's Degree$111,345
Doctorate Degree$120,716
Some College/ Associate Degree$103,148

Technical support advisor education FAQs

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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.

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