CompTIA and national employment services nonprofit the Center for Economic Opportunities are partnering to create pathways to IT careers for people returning from jail or prison.
The new career training program to help “justice-impacted individuals” find a job in IT will at first include up to 35 people in a free online training program. The training is designed to help individuals find work as a help desk technician, IT specialist and junior system administrators.
The 22-week, part-time program will be administered by CompTIA and help people learn the necessary skills and certifications to pursue those IT careers, which CompTIA says have average starting salaries between $50,000 and $60,000.
According to the organizations, the training package covers computer curriculum geared toward the CompTIA IT Fundamentals and CompTIA A+ certifications. The organization defines CompTIA IT Fundamentals is an introduction to basic IT knowledge and skills that provides digital literacy to help individuals determine if a career in IT is right for them. Meanwhile, CompTIA A+ is called “the industry standard” for launching IT careers in today’s digital world and is the preferred qualifying credential for technical support and IT operational roles.
According to CompTIA’s monthly Tech Jobs report, there is a strong market demand for tech workers, including 23,000 job openings for IT support specialists last month.
The Center for Economic Opportunities will cover the cost of the program for up to 35 participants, including a computer, hotspot and ongoing services and support during and after the training with the goal of helping individuals earn jobs.
The first cohort of the program is expected to begin this month and run through April 2023. The response to the program has been strong and there is currently a waiting list for the next training cohort, the organizations say.
“As organizations increase their reliance on technology, tech support professionals have taken on greater responsibilities,” says Courtney Fong, CompTIA’s chief operating officer and CEO of the CompTIA Tech Career Academy. “They have hands-on involvement in cloud computing, cybersecurity, data and other technology solutions that are vital to business operations. Participants who complete this program will be well prepared for the challenges and opportunities they will encounter.”
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