Well if you work for a small or relatively small firm and they trust you might get in to do some stuff, but they will require you to take some classes at the community college and at least get an AA (2 year degree) If you are working for Intel, Microchip, any Financial or Medical firm they won't touch you unless you have a degree and maybe certifications.

What do you want to do in IT, do you just want to repair computers, connect computers together (networking) or do you like programming (writing code) ? What do you want to do ? Large firms will pay for training but they won't touch you unless you have at least a 2yr degree and most likely a 4 year bachelor degree. Now the 4 year doesn't have to be in tech the 4 year could be in Basket weaving or something completely unrelated.

Try volunteering at places, then see if you can get hired on, but again they will require you to take some classes. Try getting some friends old computers that are broken and they would just throw away and try monkeying around. Also, you can go to new egg and buy the parts and put together your own computer, its more expensive then just ordering a box but its good experience. Research online, and see what are good motherboards, video cards/sound maybe you only want on board video and sound. In addition, how much ram and what type of operating system you want etc.

What's wrong with taking some classes, meeting some people and offering to help fix or work on their computers or networks? There are tech classes at community colleges, the community classes are a 1/3 the cost of state universities and considerably cheaper than private.

6 years ago I had classmates that didn't need their degrees and certifications to get in but employer required it later. Job climate has changed there are people who got laid off going for entry level positions. Try staples and best buy I don't know what they require because you had to sign up in order to see the job postings. I already have an entry level job I work for my community college in their computer department.

Volunteer at local schools, churches, YMCA's etc. As long as you get to play with the computers that's all what matters. These organizations need people to setup wifi, and or do basic code. Furthermore, there is an organization called strut (Students recycle Used Technology) that teaches students how to repair computers

For certifications the common ones are A+ ( for computer repair/maintenance) MCSE (for Microsoft support of severs etc) and CISCO (Networking) the new A+ cert test has Cisco stuff added to it. You can look into boot camps but just like military they are fast, quick and nasty. Tech you in 2 days what others learn in 16 weeks, because of 8-10 hour or longer days of intensive training. Also, there is Linux certification but they aren't as common.

Well you could start with a data entry job, or some other job. And then ask to transfer to the IT department. But in truth, with so many experienced IT professionals, with associate, or bachelor's degrees, someone with no degree, has LITTLE CHANCE.