Do I need specific credits before applying to basic tech jobs/internships?

That is a great question. In any job search, the most important thing to do is either look for the online posting and make sure you have all listed minimum qualifications for the role, or talk to a recruiter from the company and they can assess if you are a fit. Otherwise, you will be wasting your time on the wrong roles.

I will also add, that after several years recruiting in tech I have found that education (while important) is often less important then skill level and personality.

Yes! Definitely! Most tech jobs off the bat always prefer some sort of experience to even get a interview so if you take a internship at anythign tech would be fantastic for your resume

Hello, I would say it's never to early to start looking and applying for jobs even without credits. The worst thing that could happen is you get told you need more experience. I recommend going online and checking out the websites for the companies you are interested in working for and see what types of technologies they work with. If you aren't taking specific classes in school, you can visit the technology websites to see if they have free classes you can complete and add to your resume.  

For some companies no you do not. They want the privilege of teaching you their way of dealing with tech depending on how in-depth you want to get. I suggest looking up different internships you have qualify for before you graduate high school so that you are well prepared and start applying. Google and Verizon are great places to start!

If you haven't taken any official tech courses as yet, do you have the hobby base and the self-teaching to be able to convince them you have the skills? I 100% agree with John Cline, the education can get your foot in the door if you have no experience, but the experience will stand you in far more stead. Be personable, develop your customer service skills (all tech is customer service to some extent - without customers to buy and use the tech we wouldn't exist), do support/web design/whatever your target is for friends and family, volunteer for charities or small businesses if you can, if you can convince a tech company to give you an internship over the summer months then go for it. I'd rather hire someone who shows some interest and passion for technology (and can demonstrate it - don't forget to document what you do) than someone who has nothing but schooling and no real hands on experience even if the experience is only being the unofficial tech support to their friends. Depending on how your study is going, it may also be worth doing a few hours a week at a small local tech company or small business, you get a few extra bucks towards tuition/living expenses, and a good case of being hired permanently at the end. My last company had at least one summer intern who asked if he could stay on for a day a week over the next semester to gain experience - he worked his study schedule around that and committed to one full day a week and when he graduated they hired him full time.