CompTIA Newsroom

Applications for Inaugural Class in Edina Are Due by June 14

Edina, Minn. — Building out its IT-Ready portfolio of classes, Creating IT Futures is launching its new IT-Ready Business Analyst (BA) class this summer in the Twin Cities. Students will learn entry-level business analysis, project management and soft skills. As with all IT-Ready classes, IT-Ready BA is underwritten by grants and financial donations, so that all students can attend for free.

“With most businesses having multiple issues they are trying to solve with technology, they need IT business analysts and project managers to make sure that the teams working on the solution stay organized and on time and on budget. In our new IT-Ready BA class, we’ll prepare new workers for these job roles to make businesses more efficient and successful,” said Sue Wallace, executive director, national workforce solutions, Creating IT Futures.

Students will work toward the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) Level 1 – Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) and CompTIA Project+ certification, building toward a first job as an IT junior business analyst and/or project coordinator. They receive free tuition, learning materials, nearly 100 hours of tech and soft skills training, and certification vouchers.

All IT-Ready students also receive targeted professional development in key business “soft” skills such as professional communication and presentation, teamwork and collaboration, and critical thinking and problem solving. IT-Ready graduates are grounded in these key skills and prepared to apply them on day one of their new jobs. Beyond the training and certifications, Creating IT Futures staff help connect graduates to employers by working with dozens of local partners.

Unlike Creating IT Futures’ other classes which are either fully classroom-based or fully online, IT-Ready BA is a hybrid of the two with class held in a physical classroom all-day on Saturday and online with a live instructor on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for 8 weeks. Students will have access to CompTIA’s Certmaster Practice for Project+ and receive additional materials and homework to reinforce what they learn in the classroom.

“As with all our IT-Ready courses, Creating IT Futures is dedicated to training, certifying and placing unemployed and under-employed adults in their first jobs in the information technology (IT) field. We especially encourage women, people of color and veterans to apply to our classes,” added Wallace. 

Prospective students can apply at https://www.creatingitfutures.org/apply. No previous experience is necessary, and only a high school diploma or GED is required. The inaugural IT-Ready BA class will begin on July 13 with applications due by June 14.

Beyond recruiting for participants for IT-Ready training, Creating IT Futures is looking for businesses to consider the resumes of certified IT-Ready graduates and interview qualified candidates for entry-level IT positions. Interested employers can contact learn more at https://www.creatingitfutures.org/hire/hire-overview or contact Kate Kirschner, employer relationships manager, at kkirschner@comptia.org. 

About Creating IT Futures 
Founded in 1998 by CompTIA, Creating IT Futures is a 501(c)(3) charity with the mission of helping populations under-represented in the information technology industry and individuals who are lacking in opportunity to prepare for, secure, and be successful in IT careers. Learn more at www.creatingITfutures.org. 

Media Contact:
Lisa Fasold
Creating IT Futures
630-678-8558
lfasold@comptia.org