A service center technician performs repairs, maintenance, and installation tasks on various equipment and devices. For example, one type of technician may work with computers while another focuses on automobiles. To become a service center technician, you will typically need at least a high school diploma, though some jobs may require you to have a diploma, certificate, or degree in a technology-related major. Additionally, you will likely need communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills as well as math aptitude and manual dexterity to qualify for this job.
A high school education is usually the minimum required when you want to become a service center technician. Many employers will accept equivalent credentials, such as a General Educational Development® (GED®) diploma for this position, however. There aren't any specific high school courses you have to take to qualify for this job, but you may benefit from enrolling in those that help you build mechanical abilities and improve your mathematical aptitude and understanding of basic science and engineering concepts. If, for example, your school offers vocational classes in such subjects as automobile mechanics, you may do well to enroll in those.
While you may find many jobs for which you can qualify with a high school diploma or a GED®, you may need higher education to become a service center technician with some companies. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have completed a technical training program that ends with a certificate, diploma, or associate's degree. Others will only give jobs to individuals who have earned bachelor's degrees. To ensure that you choose the best educational options, you can research local companies in your area to determine the level of education they usually require for this job.
If you opt to enter a training program in an effort to become a service center technician, you will likely find a combination approach to learning. These programs, which typically grant diplomas or certificates, often combine classroom learning with hands-on training. Community college programs typically end with either the granting of a certificate or an associate's degree, and usually give the student hands-on learning opportunities as well. Those that end with an associate's degree require students to take basic courses in such subjects as composition, history, science, and math in addition to the technical and mechanical subjects.
Earning a bachelor's degree in an engineering or other technological major may also help improve your chances of landing the position you want. As with associate's degree programs, those that lead to bachelor's degrees usually require you to take a range of basic courses in addition to those in your major. For example, if you choose to major in electrical engineering technology, you will likely learn about design, drafting, science, and technology, but also study composition and math and take electives.
The skills you will need to become a service center technician will generally include those related to problem solving and critical thinking. You will most likely need good manual dexterity, computer skills, and the ability to follow directions for this job. Additionally, good math and communication skills are usually required.
