Remember when Puma released its cool augmented reality shoe, LQD CELL Origin AR? The viewers could play interactive games and bring the shoe alive on the app. Imagine being able to experience the fictional world of your favourite shoe brand or gaming characters.
Virtual reality has made it possible. VR gaming revenue alone amounted to $1.1 billion and is estimated to reach $1.6 billion in 2022. But Games aren’t the only place where Virtual Reality or Augmented reality is used. It is now used in medical, education, travel, and hospitality.
Want to be a part of this exponential field? Become a VR Specialist. Read the article and learn about how to become a VR specialist, courses and colleges you can try in India and abroad, the job preparation required, and the salary insights.
Virtual Reality (VR) Experts aim to improve the online experience by utilizing cutting-edge technologies to create special effects or animations. The slight difference between VR and Augmented Reality (AR) is, that while VR is entirely imaginary, AR uses the natural environment.
Learn more: How to become a Cinematographer- A complete educational guide!
A VR expert is expected to have knowledge of programming, web design knowledge, graphic rendering, and software development. Therefore, choosing degrees related to these knowledge pieces will help in acquiring the position.
One will have to choose the science stream after the completion of grade 10. Post which they can enroll in an undergraduate diploma or degree program in software engineering, virtual reality design, computer science, or related field.
The eligibility for certificate courses is a minimum of Grade 12 as it involves using technical tools and software. These certificate courses provide projects to get hands-on experience.
Here are a few certificate courses you can try:
| Name of the course | Duration |
| Professional Certificate in Virtual Reality (VR) App Development by UC San Diego | 5 months |
| Introduction to Virtual Reality by the University of London | 1 – 4 weeks |
| Introduction to XR Technologies by MIT xPro | 8 weeks |
| Biomedical Visualization by the University of Glasgow | 1 – 4 weeks |
| User Experience & Interaction Design for AR/VR by the University of Michigan | 1 – 4 weeks |
One can become a VR Specialist after the completion of an undergraduate course and master’s degree, or a few years of experience in the field as an assistant or related field.
How to become a VR Specialist after 10th
After the completion of Grade 10, one should enroll in the science stream. This would be a good time to get certificate courses to develop the skill set required.
The sooner you start the better, check out the Clever Harvey JuniorMBA Chief Technology Officer program.
How to become a VR Specialist after 12th
One can enrol in undergraduate courses that provide specialization in Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects, Digital Arts, Game and Interactive Media Design, Graphic Design, etc.
Also read: Career as a Game Designer
What to study in India to become a VR Specialist
A minimum of 55% in Grade 10 + 2 or equivalent in science stream (preferably PCM) from a recognized board or university. Additionally, there are university-specific entrance exams.
| Name of the course | Duration |
| Diploma of Augumented and Virtual Reality | 2 years |
| Specialist Diploma in Immersive Simulation (AR/VR) | 1- 2 years |
| Special Program in AR & VR Technologies | 12 months |
| Name of the course | Duration |
| Bachelors in Computer Application | 3 years |
| B.Voc. in Augmented Reality/ Virtual Reality | 3 years |
| B.E Computer Science Engineering on Gaming Programming and Immersive Technology | 4 years |
| B. Tech in Computer Science and Engineering (Virtual and Augmented Reality) | 3- 4 years |
| B. Tech in Computer Science and Engineering (Gaming, AR, and VR) | 3 years |
| Name of the College | Location |
| K. J. Somaiya | Mumbai |
| MIT – WPU | Pune |
| Chitkara University | Himachal Pradesh |
| The NorthCap University | Gurgoan |
| Vellore Institute of Technology | Vellore |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology | Chennai |
| Presidency University | Bangalore |
| Poornima University | Rajasthan |
| IIT Madras – Indian Institute of Technology | Chennai |
| Chennai Institute of Technology | Chennai |
To become a VR specialist abroad
To apply for undergraduate courses abroad you need a minimum of 55% in Grade 10 + 2 or equivalent from a recognized board and University in the science stream. The undergraduate courses are estimated to be 3- 4 years.
| Name of the course | Duration |
| Bsc (Hons) in Virtual And Augmented Reality | 3 years |
| Bsc in digital Media Design and Development | 3 years |
| Bachelors in Game Design and Development (Virtual Reality) | 3 years |
| Bsc(Hons.) in Games and Virtual Reality | 3 years |
| Name of the college | Location |
| University of Portsmouth | UK |
| University of Plymouth | UK |
| University for Creative Arts | UK |
| University of Greenwich | UK |
| SAE Institute | Australia |
| Glasgow School of Arts | UK |
| Mohawk College | Canada |
| York St John University | UK |
| Falmouth University | UK |
| Deakin University | Australia |
Internships in the field of Software Development, Higher Education, and Technology, Information, and Internet, are a great way to gain the required experience and skill set.
It would also be a good time to identify your niche in Virtual reality, whether it’s gaming, education, entertainment, etc. The mentoring received during these internships helps in building connections and connecting to the in-field requirements.
Portfolio for Virtual Reality specialist should include sample works, certifications related to technical tools, and relevant experiences or projects. Ensure to add certificates that highlight your mastery of technical tools.
To become a Freelance VR specialist you’ll require a few years of experience and references to your credit. Your portfolio will help attract potential recruiters.
Technical skills:
Inter-personal skills:
Since VR Specialist is a position that requires a few years of experience, the payscale offered for this position is good. The annual average salary based on payscale, ambitionbox, and others are as follows:
| Country | India(in INR) | UK(in pounds) | USA(in dollars) | Australia(in AUS dollars) | Canada(in CAN dollars) |
| Avg. Salary p.a | ₹ 12.7 lakhs | £61,750 | $50,128 | $200,000 | $42,900 |
As mentioned at the start of the article, it is one of the streams that have been growing exponentially in the past few years. With VR and AR extending their advantage to fields like medicine and education, the potential is unlimited. One should surely venture into this career.
Virtual Reality (VR) Experts aim to improve the online experience by utilizing cutting-edge technologies to create special effects or animations.
Programming, Machine learning, and computer vision, Software Development, Modelling and Animation, UI/UX Development, XR basics.
A VR Specialist earns ₹ 12.7 lakhs in India.
Yes, to become a Freelance VR specialist you’ll require a few years of experience and references to your credit.
VR gaming revenue alone amounted to $1.1 billion and is estimated to reach $1.6 billion in 2022. With VR and AR extending their advantage to fields like medicine and education, the potential is unlimited.
The slight difference between VR and Augmented Reality (AR) is, that while VR is entirely imaginary, AR uses the natural environment.
Embarking on a journey as a content writer requires passion, persistence, and continuous learning. With the increasing digitalization of businesses, the demand for skilled content writers is on the rise. Dive in, keep writing, and you’ll carve your niche in no time!
Delve deep into the mysteries of the oceans and uncover the secrets of its inhabitants. If the world beneath the waves intrigues you, a career as a marine biologist awaits. Discover the path to explore and study marine organisms and their fascinating world.
Dive into the world of event planning with our comprehensive guide. From understanding the role to building skills and networking, discover how to start your journey in creating memorable events.
© Callido Learning Private Limited All rights reserved 2021
