Google’s affordable IT certificate training could help you start a new career

In today’s digital world, the information technology job sector continues to grow. If you’re looking to break into this in-demand field, Google offers an online IT Support Professional Certificate for those interested in developing the needed skills for an entry-level job. And, perhaps the best part, it’s affordable!

The course, which has been offered since January, takes about eight months to complete and students should expect to spend about eight to 10 hours each week on their studies. The program includes hands-on labs and interactive assessments and introduces participants to all aspects of IT support jobs, including customer service, networking, operating systems, system administration and security.

The cost is $49 per month, and no previous experience or degree is required.

The program, which is offered in partnership with online learning platform Coursera, will also be introduced as part of the curriculum at 25 community colleges across seven states starting this fall. To make the program as accessible as possible, Google.org, the tech giant’s charitable arm, is offering need-based scholarships to more than 10,000 participants.

“Google is committed to training the work force of today and tomorrow, and we are thrilled to team up with community colleges to help graduates jump-start a new career in IT support,” Jesse Haines, the director of Grow with Google, the company’s initiative to help train people for employment, said in a statement. “Community colleges play an important role in helping Americans get ahead, and they will be strong partners in Grow with Google’s mission to create more economic opportunities for Americans.”

Although all of the course content is developed by Google, the company does not intend to cash in on all of the program’s participants as future employees.

The company promises that the certificate is intended to be a direct “pathway to jobs,” and the program also includes a job search component that allows participants to share their information directly with top employers hiring for IT support positions, including recognizable companies in a variety of industries such as Bank of America, General Electric, Digital, Hulu, Sprint, Walmart and, of course, Google.

Check out the full course curriculum, as well as some frequently asked questions about it, at Coursera’s website.