What are the best application support analyst qualifications and training to get ahead?

What is the best training for becoming an application support analyst? What types of ongoing training or certifications are necessary to be an effective application support analyst?

What do non-traditional career paths look like?

As I said in a previous reply, often the best app support people are ex-developers who know how the app works and fits together and therefore how best to support it. Another "in" is from the complete other side; business. You know how the app is used and common support issues and just need to learn the IT behind it
A traditional career path is one where, say, you graduate in IT, enter software development, becoming an analyst designer, modeller to running a software house (independent or within a large company). Non traditional is when you make sideways steps to enter new careers