If the Operating System could be a person, it would have been a Chief Technology Officer, also known as CTO. A CTO is known for carefully considering the business acumen when planning, implementing and managing an organization’s technical goals and objectives.
In the C-suite industries, it is one of the most sought-after executive roles. Despite being well-paid, it requires a strong understanding of the tech industry, business acumen for long-term objectives, and leadership experience.
If you are someone whose answer to, ‘Where do you see yourself ten years from now?’ is, CTO, this blog is for you. The blog discusses how to become a chief technology officer after 12th, educational qualifications (degrees and colleges), skills, and experience required to become a CTO. The certifications requirements, top hiring industries in India and abroad, and insight on payscale.
A CTO supervises product strategy and technological advancement to increase business output while lowering production time and costs. A role that is often confused with CTO is CIO, Chief Information Officer. A CIO is someone who oversees all the aspects of the IT department as opposed to the technological aspects managed by a CTO.
One should select science stream post Grade 10 if they aspire to become a CTO in future. A person can start his/her journey after the 12th by enrolling in a Bachelor’s program in computer science, software engineering, or related fields.
During and after Grade 10 or 12, one can enroll in certificate courses related to computer science, coding or technology to develop skills expected in the field. You can check out Clever Harvey’s Junior MBA course on Chief Technology Officer for hands-on technical and problem solving skills.
Though certifications aren’t compulsory to become a CTO. Recruiters prefer and appreciate candidates who have managed to gain the following certifications. An individual who constantly upskills oneself in the tech field is always looked up for a C-suite position.
| Sr. No. | Name of the course | Validity |
| 1. | Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) | 5 years |
| 2. | Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) | 3 years |
| 3. | Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) | 3 years |
| 4. | Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) | 3 years |
It is an executive-level role that demands ten to twelve years of experience with a minimum of bachelor’s level educational qualification. An ideal candidate is one who has a master’s in Business Administration and relevant experience in senior technological roles.
How to become a CTO after 12th
After the completion of 12th grade, a candidate can apply for a graduate program in computer science, software engineering, or related fields. One has to score a minimum of 55% overall to be eligible to apply for the course. And JEE, CET score.
The programs one can apply for are:
| Name of course | Duration |
| Bachelors in Software engineering | 3 years |
| Bachelors in Computer Science | 3 years |
| Bachelors in Information Technology | 3 years |
| Bachelors in Digital Forensics | 3 years |
| Bachelors in Web Development/ Web design | 3 years |
Also read: SAT Exam Sample Papers & Practice Papers – How to prepare
Here’s a list of the top Universities in India from where you can pursue degrees to become a Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
| Name of the Institute | Location | Estimated Fees |
| Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) | Mumbai | 8,33,000 |
| Indian Institute of Technology – Kharagpur | Kharagpur | 8,32,000 |
| Vellore Institute of TechnologyTamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu | 4,50,000 |
| Indian Institute of Science – Bangalore | Bangalore | 3,00,000 |
| Amrita University | Vellore | 1,67,000 |
| Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology | Punjab | 13,04,000 |
| Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee | Roorkee | 6,96,000 |
| Indian Institute of Technology, Madras | Madras | 8,04,000 |
| National Institute of Technology- Tiruchillapalli | Tiruchirappalli | 5,71,000 |
| National Institute of Technology- Karnataka | Surathkal | 5,48,000 |
To become a chief technology officer abroad
Post 12th grade, a candidate can apply for a graduate program in computer science, software engineering, or related fields. The eligibility criteria are as follows:
Apart from the above mentioned criteria, one will be expected to submit relevant documents such as Letter of Recommedation (LOR) or Statement of Purpose (SOP) and portfolio.
The programs one can apply for are:
| Name of course | Duration |
| Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Engineering | 3 years |
| Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Software Engineering ) | 3 years |
| Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Electronics and Data Engineering | 3 years |
| Bachelor of Design in Computing | 3 years |
| Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence MSci/BSc (Hons) | 3 or 5 years |
| Computer Hardware and Software Engineering BEng (Hons) | 3 or 4 years |
Here’s a list of the top Universities abroad from where you can pursue degrees to become a Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
| Name of University | Location |
| Harvard University | USA |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | USA |
| Coventry University | Coventry, UK |
| University of Toronto | Toronto, Canada |
| The University of British Columbia | Vancouver, Canada |
| University of Alberta | Edmonton, Canada |
| Arizona State University | Tempe, USA |
| The University of Melbourne | Melbourne, Australia |
| Stanford University | Stanford, USA |
| York University | Toronto, Canada |
Most of the growing companies offer internships in technical fields. One can apply for these internships after the second year of their under graduation. Internships strengthen your knowledge and skills which can encourage you to work on individual or team projects.
A portfolio should include relevant certifications, case studies with mapped inputs and design best solutions. Any projects or internships you have worked on and the skills you have acquired from these experiences.
It is never too early to start making a portfolio, check out the Clever Harvey Junior MBA Program on Future CEO that one can enroll in right after Grade 10!
CTO is a challenging job that requires a skilled, experienced person from the field to overlook and coordinate various teams. Though most companies require the CTO to be a full time, there are freelance opportunities that are available in the job market.
Technical Skills
CTO is one of the top most positions with respect to technology in a company. Thus, this position requires a person to have excellent technical skills.
Business Skills
A CTO works with the other executive leaders to plan strategies and objectives for a profitable endeavour. It requires knowledge in subject areas such as,
Interpersonal Skills
Based on the payscale data available on ambition box, payscale and glassdoor. The estimated average salary of a CTO are as follows:
| Country | India | US | UK | Australia | Canada | Singapore | Germany |
| Currency | (in INR) | (in dollars) | (in pounds) | (in Australian dollars) | (in canadian dollars) | (in SGD ) | (in euros) |
| Avg. Annual Salary | 31.7 lakhs | $258,676 | £93,901 per year | $110818 | $117697 | SGD 2,25,000 | €97,324 |
| Top Hiring Companies for CTOs in India |
| Tata Steels |
| Mahindra |
| Birla Chemicals |
| Reliance |
| Adani |
| Nestle |
| Kotak Mahindra |
| Infosys |
| Larsen & Tuubro |
| Airtel |
| Bajaj Finserv |
| HCL |
The roles and responsibilities of a Chief Technical Officer (CTO) may differ from one industry to another. Few of the industries that hire CTOs are
| Top recruiters abroad CTO |
| JMJ Philip |
| Stanton Chase |
| Spencer Stuart |
| Boyden |
| Vitestro |
| IBM |
| Amazon |
| Dell Technologies |
| Y Scouts |
Due to the rapid advancement of technology, the chief technology officer position is rapidly changing. Given the extensive training and experience needed to become a CTO, businesses understand how crucial it is to compensate CTOs well. Beyond a good salary, becoming a CTO has other advantages.
A CTO has the authority to foresee how technology can help a business succeed. According to Forbes, a passion for learning and the capacity to see the big picture are crucial characteristics for any CTO.
A CTO is the Chief Technology Officer of a company.
A Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is the person in charge of overseeing and managing a company’s technical decisions.
Yes, it is a stressful job because of the sheer number of tasks and responsibilities a CTO has to handle. But it is also one of the most highly paid jobs.
A CTO earns a minimum of 14 lakhs a year to a maximum of 102 lakhs a year.
Traditionally a Masters’ degree wasn’t compulsory. In today’s time, candidates with an MBA are preferred for the position.
Apart from a Bachelors’ and Masters’ degree, a CTO is required to have relevant experience in tech and leadership-related fields.
CTO positions do not require a certificate. However, a candidate who has honed the skills and acquired a certification such as CAPM, CSIM, etc. is preferred.
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