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Student Applications for Inaugural Class Are Due by March 18

Edina, Minn. — To help prepare adults for further classes and certifications to launch their technology careers, Creating IT Futures is debuting a new class called IT Core Skills. The first cohort in Edina is accepting applications now through March 18 and begins class on April 8, 2019.

In the IT Core Skills class, students earn CompTIA’s IT Fundamentals+ Certification while exercising the math, reading, writing and presentation skills that are key to the work of IT professionals. Students also receive instruction in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel and Word).

This eight-week course is designed to prepare the student for additional learning to earn industry certifications as needed for a career in technology. Graduates will be introduced to other local IT education programs – from coding boot camps to IT help desk and network training to cybersecurity and software testing programs – that can help them gain the higher-level tech knowledge they’ll need after IT Core Skills to find a tech job.

“Working in the technology field is more than just understanding bits and bytes. It’s also about being ready to process new knowledge on a continual basis,” said Sue Wallace, executive director national workforce solutions, Creating IT Futures. “IT professionals need to know how to communicate with teammates and customers—verbally and in writing—to tackle projects. They need to use computational skills to solve both technical and business problems. Our new IT Core Skills class helps students bridge the confidence gap so they can go onto more tech learning.”

The class is offered over eight weeks in a full-time classroom setting, every weekday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No previous experience is necessary and only a high school diploma or GED is required. The course is underwritten by grants and financial donations, so that students can attend classes for free. Students receive free tuition, books and learning materials, more than 240 hours of classroom and hands-on tech and soft skills training, and certification vouchers.

Students should apply for the first cohort by March 18 at https://www.creatingitfutures.org/apply. Class will run from April 8 to May 31.

Creating IT Futures is part of the Minneapolis/St. Paul TechHire Initiative which aims to close the workforce skills gap in the high-tech economy by building a path for diverse workers to access training, support and tech jobs across the Greater Minneapolis Region. The IT Core Skills class is a great entry point for students who wish to start their IT training with any of the MSP TechHire partners. For a full list of classes that Creating IT Futures offers in the Twin Cities, check out https://www.creatingitfutures.org/it-ready/twin-cities-mn.

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