Move up from a Help Desk position to Programming?
I've been working at a medium-sized company's as a PC Support Specialist for more than a year. I got this position since I needed a job and I was unable to find a position as a programmer without having a degree and without having 5+ years of experience in the programming field.

I worked as a web developer in the past for 2 years in my home country and i also did a few freelancing jobs in the past, but since I took this position as pc support i haven't done any "paid programming" in a while.

I was majoring in computer science but i had to drop out due to financial problems.
I have continued studying and reading about programming in my spare time constantly.

While working here, i have made good friends with the Senior Enterprise Architect and have done a few programming assignments/tasks for him and he has told me I have talent and lots of future. The company only has 3 programmers, so i haven't really asked him if he could get me a position.

My questions are: does anyone think i have a chance of moving up into a junior programmer position in this company if i continue this way? or should i try to look for a job elsewhere?

and my other question is if there is any alternative career (hopefully shorter than 4 years)   other than computer science that would enable me to work as a programmer in the US. It seems to me like the only choice is computer science?
Back in my country, there are alternatives to taking computer science, such as analytic programmer and other careers that are 2 years long.

i know its a lot of questions and i should only be asking one question in the same post, but i think they are all related.

thanks in advance for your advise.
Move up from a Help Desk position to Programming?
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I've been working at a medium-sized company's as a PC Support Specialist for more than a year. I got this position since I needed a job and I was unable to find a position as a programmer without having a degree and without having 5+ years of experience in the programming field.

I worked as a web developer in the past for 2 years in my home country and i also did a few freelancing jobs in the past, but since I took this position as pc support i haven't done any "paid programming" in a while.

I was majoring in computer science but i had to drop out due to financial problems.
I have continued studying and reading about programming in my spare time constantly.

While working here, i have made good friends with the Senior Enterprise Architect and have done a few programming assignments/tasks for him and he has told me I have talent and lots of future. The company only has 3 programmers, so i haven't really asked him if he could get me a position.

My questions are: does anyone think i have a chance of moving up into a junior programmer position in this company if i continue this way? or should i try to look for a job elsewhere?

and my other question is if there is any alternative career (hopefully shorter than 4 years)   other than computer science that would enable me to work as a programmer in the US. It seems to me like the only choice is computer science?
Back in my country, there are alternatives to taking computer science, such as analytic programmer and other careers that are 2 years long.

i know its a lot of questions and i should only be asking one question in the same post, but i think they are all related.

thanks in advance for your advise.