National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011
228 - Technical occupations in computer and information systems
2281 - Computer network technicians
Computer network technicians establish, operate, maintain and co-ordinate the use of local and wide area networks (LANs and WANs), mainframe networks, hardware, software and related computer equipment. They set up and maintain Internet and intranet Web sites and Web-server hardware and software, and monitor and optimize network connectivity and performance. They are employed in information technology units throughout the private and public sectors. Supervisors of computer network technicians are included in this unit group.
Illustrative example(s)
- computer network technician
- data centre operator
- Internet Web site technician
- LAN (local area network) administrator
- LAN (local area network) technician
- network administrator
- network support technician
- supervisor, computer network technicians
- system administrator
- Web technician
Exclusion(s)
- Advertising, marketing and public relations managers (0124)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (2147)
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (2174)
- Information systems testing technicians (2283)
- User support technicians (2282)
- Web designers and developers (2175)
Main duties
Computer network technicians perform some or all of the following duties:
- Maintain, troubleshoot and administer the use of local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), mainframe networks, computer workstations, connections to the Internet and peripheral equipment
- Evaluate and install computer hardware, networking software, operating system software and software applications
- Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks and to co-ordinate access and use of computer networks
- Provide problem-solving services to network users
- Install, maintain, troubleshoot and upgrade Web-server hardware and software
- Implement network traffic and security monitoring software, and optimize server performance
- Perform routine network start up and close down and maintain control records
- Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations
- Conduct tests and perform security and quality controls
- Control and monitor e-mail use, Web navigation, and installed software
- Perform shell scripting or other basic scripting tasks
- May supervise other workers in this group.
Employment requirements
- Completion of a college or other program in computer science, network administration, Web technology or a related field is usually required.
- Certification or training provided by software vendors may be required by some employers.
Additional information
- Progression to computer programming, interactive media development, Web development or systems analysis is possible with experience.
2282 - User support technicians
Technicians in this group provide first-line technical support to computer users experiencing difficulties with computer hardware and with computer applications and communications software. They are employed by computer hardware manufacturers and retailers, software developers, in call centres and in information technology units throughout the private and public sectors. Technicians in this group are also employed by independent technical support companies or they may be self-employed.
Illustrative example(s)
- call centre agent - technical support
- client support representative - systems
- computer help desk representative - systems
- computer help desk supervisor
- hardware installation technician
- hardware technical support analyst
- help desk technician
- software installation technician
- software technical support analyst
- systems support representative
- technical support analyst - systems
- technical support supervisor
- user support technician
Exclusion(s)
- Computer network technicians (2281)
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (2174)
- Information systems analysts and consultants (2171)
- Information systems testing technicians (2283)
Main duties
User support technicians perform some or all of the following duties:
- Communicate electronically and in person with computer users experiencing difficulties to determine and document problems experienced
- Consult user guides, technical manuals and other documents to research and implement solutions
- Emulate or reproduce technical problems encountered by users
- Provide advice and training to users in response to identified difficulties
- Provide business systems, network and Internet support to users in response to identified difficulties
- Collect, organize and maintain a problems and solutions log for use by other technical support analysts
- Participate in the redesign of applications and other software
- May supervise other technical support workers in this group.
Employment requirements
- Completion of a college program in computer science, computer programming or network administration is usually required.
- College or other courses in computer programming or network administration are usually required.
- Certification or training provided by software vendors may be required by some employers.
Additional information
- Progression to computer programming, interactive media development, Web development or systems analysis is possible with experience.
2283 - Information systems testing technicians
Information systems testing technicians execute test plans to evaluate the performance of software applications and information and telecommunications systems. They are employed in information technology units throughout the private and public sectors.
Illustrative example(s)
- application tester
- application testing technician
- software test co-ordinator
- software tester
- software testing technician
- systems tester
- systems testing technician
- user acceptance tester
Exclusion(s)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (2147)
- Computer network technicians (2281)
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (2174)
- Information systems analysts and consultants (2171)
- Software engineers and designers (2173)
- User support technicians (2282)
- Web designers and developers (2175)
Main duties
Information systems testing technicians perform some or all of the following duties:
- Develop and document software testing plans
- Install software and hardware and configure operating system software in preparation for testing
- Execute, analyze and document results of software application tests and information and telecommunication systems tests
- Develop and implement software and information system testing policies, procedures and scripts.
Employment requirements
- Completion of a college program in computer science, computer programming or network administration is usually required.
- College or other courses in computer programming or network administration are usually required.
- Certification or training provided by software vendors may be required by some employers.
Additional information
- Progression to computer programming, interactive media development, Web development or systems analysis is possible with experience.
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