Google IT Support Professional Certification
Prepare for an In-Demand Career in IT
Are you looking for a career in that is considered essential no matter what? Become on-the-job ready for an entry-level position in IT in under six months with the Google Information Technology (IT) Support Professional Certificate. For a limited time, when you enroll at HCC you can take the five-course online certificate program for free.
The program, which HCC is offering in partnership with Google, includes a mix of video lectures, quizzes, and hands-on labs and widgets to introduce you to:
- Troubleshooting
- Customer Service
- Networking
- Operating Systems
- System Administration
- Security
With a commitment of only five hours per week, you can complete in under six months. If you dedicate more hours per week, you may complete the program faster.
Once you finish, you’ll be ready for a position as an entry-level IT support specialist, doing in-person or remote work at a small company or a large enterprise organization.
You can also build on this program by taking our A+ certification course. Once you can take and pass the Comp TIA A+ certification exam you will earn a CompTIA and Google dual credential.
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How to Apply
To be successful in this program, you must have basic computer data entry skills and internet access. No degree required. To begin the program, an application for the Google IT Support Professional Certification must be submitted. The application will be available soon. For more information, contact bjohnson@howardcc.edu.
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FAQs
What is IT support?
Companies rely on technology every day, but sometimes that technology fails us. Computers break, systems fail, phones die; and when that happens, we need experts to fix them. IT support is all about troubleshooting and problem solving when the tech fails and providing great customer service along the way.How much does it cost?
For a limited time, you can take this five-course online certificate program as an HCC student for little to no cost. Preference is given to applicants who are unemployed, veterans, or have financial need.Is this course really 100% online?
You will need access to the internet. This course is completely online, you can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via a computer or your mobile device.How long does it take to complete?
Approximately six months, five or more hours/week. It depends how quickly you move through the program. However, if necessary, you can take as long as eight months to complete.Why did Google create this program?
Google has long faced an issue that many other companies also contend with -- open IT Support roles, and not enough qualified candidates to fill them. So, a few years ago Google began working with a nonprofit organization to build out trainings and pathways to roles in technical support at Google. Google learned that not only is IT support a highly teachable field, but that they could teach someone completely new to the industry the IT fundamentals in under six months. So, Google decided to build an IT training program on Coursera, created entirely by Googlers who are expert in IT support, so that this training could be available to everyone.What background knowledge is necessary?
To be successful in this program, you must have basic computer data entry skills and internet access. No degree is required.Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?
We highly recommend taking the courses in the order presented, as the content builds on information from earlier lessons.What kind of companies hire IT Support professionals?
Nearly every company whose employees use computers has a need for IT Support professionals. The majority of IT support positions do not require a college degree, but they do require prior experience. This certificate will give learners the training and experience they need to get a job in tech. In the U.S. alone, jobs in this field are projected to grow 10% between 2016 and 2026 -- faster than the average of all other occupations (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-support-specialists.htm).What is unique about this program?
The IT Support Professional Certificate is a first-of-its kind program with highly interactive content, like hands-on labs and widgets, exclusively developed by Google. For those who successfully complete the program, you’ll have a direct route to get your info into the hands of top employers.Will completing the certificate prepare me for the CompTIA A+ exams?
The Google IT Support Professional Certificate program aligns with the objectives covered by the newly updated CompTIA A+ certification but does not completely prepare you for the exam. The broad coverage of IT topics you receive provides a pathway into the computer field and further training. Students are exceptionally well positioned to pursue A+ training and then achieve success on the CompTIA A+ exam. -
Certification Courses
Each course is hosted on the Coursera learning platform. By dedicating at least five hours a week, you can complete this certificate program in six months of less. However, if necessary, you can take as long as eight months to complete.
1. Technical Support Fundamentals
In this course, you’ll be introduced to the world of IT. You’ll learn about computer hardware, the Internet, computer software, troubleshooting, and customer service. This course will give you an overview of what’s to come during the rest of the certificate program.
2. The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking
This course is designed to provide a full overview of computer networking. We’ll cover everything from the fundamentals of modern networking technologies and protocols to an overview of the cloud to practical applications and network troubleshooting.
3. Operating Systems and You: Becoming a Power User
Learn about the main components of an operating system and how to perform critical tasks like managing software and users and configuring hardware.
4. System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services
Transition from working on a single computer to an entire fleet. Learn about the infrastructure services that keep all organizations—big and small—up and running. You’ll discover everything from typical cloud infrastructure setups to how to manage cloud resources. You'll also learn how to manage and configure servers and how to use industry tools to manage computers, user information, and user productivity. Finally, you’ll find out how to recover your organization’s IT infrastructure in the event of a disaster.
5. IT Security: Defense Against the Digital Dark Arts
Gain background of encryption algorithms and how they’re used to safeguard data. Then, dive into the three “A”s of information security: authentication, authorization, and accounting. You will also learn about network security solutions, ranging from firewalls to Wifi encryption options. The course is rounded out by putting all these elements together into a multi-layered, in-depth security architecture, followed by recommendations on how to integrate a culture of security into your organization or team.