Coconino Community College is offering a Google IT Support Professional certification program beginning this summer. Courtesy photo.
FLAGSTAFF — The scenario is all too common: The computer isn’t working right. What’s wrong with it?
The customer dials a number or submits a ticket via email. The line engages; the email is answered.
“Support desk,” the voice says. “How may I help you?”
Coconino Community College is collaborating with Google to offer an Information Technology Support Professional certificate beginning this summer, and the three-class program can be completed before the end of the year.
“The students will get not only a certificate from CCC, but they will also get their Google certificate – an actual credential from Google,” said Sarah Rencher, faculty for CCC’s Computer Information Systems programs. “Students do not need to have any experience or background. We’re going to teach them everything they need to know to get an entry-level IT support position.”
Rencher added that students will also be prepared to test for other industry-accepted Computer Information Systems certifications in IT support, like CompTIA A+.
Lisa Blank, CCC Dean of Career and Technical Education, said, “CCC is really excited to offer this workforce opportunity. It rapidly moves CCC students into jobs that provide a living wage and positions them for numerous career-advancement opportunities. It’s a win for the community, families, students and CCC.”
CCC also recently started a cloud computing certificate program in cooperation with Amazon Web Services, Inc. Both the Google IT certificate and the AWS certificate are strong examples of how CCC hopes to contribute to the “reskill and recovery” effort that is going on across Arizona, Blank said.
The Google IT Support Professional certificate program is a five-part program divided into three classes. Students who start with the first class, CIS 132, this summer, can take the second class, CIS 134, in the first eight weeks of the fall semester and the final class, CIS 136, in the last eight weeks of the fall semester. Therefore, students who start in June complete the certificate by the end of 2021 – which is important for people looking to reskill and recover from the changing job markets of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This program is going to get you into a job,” Rencher said. “That is what it is designed for.”
The courses not only prepare the students for an IT support job, but they also support students to get the jobs, with job-hunting skills, resume building and more, Rencher said. As for the coursework, students will learn the fundamentals – from troubleshooting, customer service and networking to operating systems, system administration and security.
“It’s all about the initial interaction a person has with the first level of support,” Rencher said.
The very interactive online program offers virtual studio time, interaction and support with instructor and other students in an online environment. The students stay together as a class, with group projects. The course can be taken from anywhere in the county.
“You won’t be alone, because you will be interacting with CCC faculty and your other classmates regularly,” Rencher said.
Before the entire program is complete, students will be able to assemble computers from scratch, install operating systems, solve a multitude of computer problems while delivering exemplary customer service and understand networks and cloud computing, among a whole host of other skills.
In addition to successfully completing the requirements for each class, students must also meet all Google defined grading thresholds to complete the program and receive the certificate.
For more information about this and quick career training pathways, visit www.coconino.edu/pathways , or contact Sarah Rencher at Sarah.Rencher@coconino.edu , or (575) 322-8045.