In The Community
Wake Tech Offering Online IT Courses to Workers Displaced by COVID-19
RALEIGH, N.C. (April 08, 2020) - Wake Tech, a leader in computer training, is responding to the needs of workers who have lost their jobs or had their hours reduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The college is offering two online, entry-level computer courses – CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ and Computer Basics for Windows 10 -- that will help students improve their employability or even transition to a new career in information technology.
CompTIA IT Fundamentals+, a 36-hour course that runs for four weeks, leads to an entry-level industry certification and is the stepping stone to additional training and certifications such as CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and Cisco CCNA Networking. Computer Basics, a 24-hour class that runs for three weeks, prepares students to use computers in their professional life, in any career field.
The college is offering scholarships for the classes and can accommodate up to 40 students. The scholarships will be based on workforce continuing education scholarship criteria as well as performance on a technical assessment.
The first class, CompTIA IT Fundamentals+, will start April 27 and will be held on Microsoft Teams.
An online orientation is required before registering for the courses. Orientation sessions are scheduled for April 14 from 10 a.m. until noon and April 21 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Students should register for the orientation here.
Dr. Keith Babuszczak, Wake Tech provost of information technology programs and RTP chief campus officer, says this is an opportunity for Wake County residents to get valuable training.
“We want to help service and retail workers, and anyone else who finds themselves unexpectedly laid off and might be looking for an alternative,” said Babuszczak. “These free courses provide computer skills that could lead to a new career.”
In addition to the free training, students will have access to career coaches who can provide academic support and help connect students to employment tools for job seekers.
Information technology education at Wake Tech is aligned with the needs of business and industry. The college offers specialized degree programs such as networking, programming, analytics, and data storage and short-term non-degree programs that lead to industry certifications for immediate employment.
Anyone with questions about the free classes starting later this month should email the non-credit computer education staff at [email protected].
