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Independence, Inc.

Computer Learning Center

Vocational Certification Program

 Students applying for the Vocational Certification program will be well served by their desire to obtain employment, ability to maintain a schedule, ability to meet goals and deadlines, and an ability to perform the required work.  

•     Vocational Certification courses are designed to train people for entry or return to the workforce.  As a result, just as in a real job, regular attendance and being on time is mandatory, as is notifying us before class is scheduled to begin if you will be unable to attend class that day.  Students failing to meet attendance requirements may be dropped from the class.
  

•      Non-refundable enrollment fees* will be required by the start of Vocational Certification classes.  Vocational Certification exam fees will be the responsibility of the students.
  

•     The Vocational Certification Programs require a certain amount of on-the-job training here at Independence, Inc.  Office Assistant students will be expected to serve at the front desk or assist with various office duties.  A+ Certification students will be expected to help repair donated computers for the Computer Giveaway program.  This work can be included on resumes and counted as job experience.
  

•      High school students enrolled in our Vocational classes can also receive Independent Study credit if approved by the school.
  

•      Students completing the Vocational Certification programs will be given the opportunity to be listed in our database of potential employees.  A waiver will be required if you wish us to give your name to a business wishing to contact you regarding employment.

 * Fees:  $25 ($250 for people without disabilities).  Exams are currently $70 each. Exams are sold at our cost and will increase as our cost increases.  

** Prerequisites: Completion of “Introduction to Computers I” or equivalent or permission of the instructor.  Students will be expected to have basic computing skills and know how to save and manage their files.

 Spring 2007 Vocational Courses 

Office Assistant  (Tuesdays through Fridays, 8:30 – 10:20 AM, Jan 16 – May 18, 2007)  

The Office Assistant program is designed to train people in office skills.  Classroom focus is on Microsoft Word and Excel, and will cover such things as formatting worksheets, modifying cell sizes and borders; creating, applying and naming ranges; using functions, inserting graphs and charts; using columns; creating tables, adding borders and shading, merging cells and rotating text; creating a tri-fold brochure, mail merge, etc. Students will also learn such skills as multi-line phone systems, photocopying, faxing and other basic office skills. Students completing the program successfully will be on track to pass the Microsoft Office User Specialist examinations.  

This is an intensive class and requires basic computer skills.  

Information Technology Careers I  (Saturdays, 12 - 4 PM, Jan 20 – May 12, 2007 )  

This is an introductory four part class designed to give the foundations to those who seek to obtain a job working in the IT industry as well as those desiring to have a greater knowledge of computer.  The first of a series of classes designed to prepare students to not only pass some of the certification exams available in today’s market but also to give them real world experience in order to help them obtain and keep a job in the industry.  This course will be followed by IT Careers II, which will give the students a deeper understanding of the areas that they will be introduced to in IT Careers I.  The four sections that will be given are:

1. Introduction to Hardware:  The discovery of the evolution, function, and specification that make today’s computers function.

2. Introduction to Operation Systems:  Learning about the purpose of the Operating System as well as the development and history of Operating Systems.  Planning and implementing a clean install of Windows XP will also be learned.

3. Introduction to Networking:  Learning about the evolution of computer networks to understand their function.  Also an introduction to the parts of a network and the layers of network topography.

4. Introduction to Security:  A discussion of the critical nature of security in modern computers.  Learning the best practices of having a stable network and discussing some of the laws that govern modern computer security.

*This course will be followed in the fall semester by Information Technology Careers II, which will give the students a deeper understanding of the areas that they will be introduced to in Information Technology Careers I.

Vocational Application printable form

Vocational Application On-Line form