individuals with no prior tech experience and who are interested in pursuing an information technology career can now enroll in Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) certificate program. CompTIA ITF+ is an eight-week program that covers areas ranging from entry-level IT support to advanced specialized fields. Full scholarships are provided to all participants covering the cost of instruction, learning resources, and the certification exam.
“Goodwill has a long history of providing valuable training programs to help individuals get good jobs in their communities,” said Jennifer Belden-England, Director of Client Services at Goodwill SWPA. “Recently, we’ve been offering a wide array of digital skills programs to help people become more comfortable using technology in their daily lives and we are excited to offer this new CompTIA ITF+ program to provide even greater opportunities for a meaningful career.”
In the CompTIA program, students will learn all areas of IT foundations, including concepts and terminology, infrastructure, applications & software, software development, database fundamentals, and security. Classes are held three evenings per week, including one weekly evening class at Goodwill’s Workforce Development Center in Lawrenceville, with the other two evenings being taught virtually. The first cohort will take place from May 9, 2022 to July 1, 2022.
To be eligible for the program, students must be able to travel to class in at Goodwill’s Workforce Development Center one evening per week. Free and convenient parking is available, and the facility is along a Port Authority bus line. The program requires home internet access and laptop or desktop, with loaner devices available as needed. Enrollees must also have a high school diploma or equivalent or be enrolled in a program that will result in a diploma or equivalent prior to the completion of the CompTIA ITF+ certificate program.
While enrolled in the program, students can utilize additional benefits including individual resume assistance and interview practice through Goodwill’s Career Services, connections to other resources through Goodwill’s Welcome Center, and preparation for additional professional credentials such as the CompTIA A+ certificate or Google IT Support certificate.
Goodwill is hosting a virtual CompTIA ITF+ information session on Thursday, March 10 at 6:00pm. To register for the information session or apply for the program, visit www.goodwillswpa.org/comptia-itfplus. Those with questions or who require application assistance should e-mail digitalskills@goodwillswpa.org or call 1-877-499-3526.