As part of the Elevate America effort, Microsoft is providing 1 million vouchers
to states for no-cost access to Microsoft E-Learning courses and select Microsoft
Certification exams. This comprehensive offering also includes:
Elevate America enhances the range of resources available to people who are looking
to develop or enhance their current skills to meet the demands of the current job
market, or to pursue economic opportunities as entrepreneurs.
In addition offering no-cost training, participating governments can choose to make
additional Microsoft training and certifications available to general consumers
through a low-cost purchase beyond the initial voucher allocation, to help up-skill
and re-skill individuals to meet the needs of employers.
A voucher contains a code that is provided by Microsoft as part of Elevate America
through government-designated agencies. This access code enables you to participate
in training resources and certification exams for no cost. Vouchers are used to
activate a “Learning Plan” (a guide to deepening your technology skills through
online learning) and Microsoft certifications (an industry-standard validation of
your training).
3. Who is eligible to participate in Elevate America?
That’s the great thing—everyone is eligible. Whether you’re currently employed and
simply looking to brush up on your technology skills or are in the market for a
career, Elevate America can help.
4. Where will Elevate America be available?
We will work with each state that is interested to establish the process for an
individual to request a voucher for Microsoft E-Learning or a voucher for a certification
exam leading to a Microsoft Business Certification.
After receiving a voucher through the process set up by the state, an individual
can complete the training and/or certification at several locations.
For people who are interested in basic technology-skills training programs that
they can take advantage of today, our Unlimited Potential Community Technology Skills
partners, listed on this site, currently offer basic technology-skills training
courses.
Additionally, the Elevate America Web site highlights resources that individuals
can take advantage of today.
5. What types of training are being offered?
Microsoft is offering a range of e-learning and instructor-led training based on
the needs of each state and community partner.
- Basic digital literacy through the Microsoft Unlimited Potential and Digital Literacy
curricula, offered as self-paced training for individuals or through community partners
- Information Worker resources aligned with Microsoft Business Certification—including
specific e-learning courses leading to Microsoft Office Specialist (Windows XP and
Microsoft Office 2003) and Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (Windows Vista
and Microsoft Office 2007) certification
- Technical professional e-learning course resources aligned with Microsoft Certified
Professional certification through the Career Assist program, a discounted learning
package currently available to Second Shot registrants; Second Shot allows people
who have failed a certification exam to take it again for free, and the Career Assist
package enables them to purchase an e-learning collection at a highly discounted
rate
- Student and educator resources to prepare students for successful careers through
the Career Forward offering, which includes career roadmaps and learning plans
- Discounted membership fees to IT Academy participating institutions to expand the
capacity to provide in-classroom IT training
6. What credentials and certifications are offered?
Microsoft annually certifies thousands of technical workers around the world to
repair and maintain Microsoft products, a seal of approval that significantly raises
workers’ value and attractiveness to employers. Microsoft has trained roughly 51
million software developers and technology workers globally over the past decade.
In the past six months there has been an 18 percent increase in technical certifications
as workers seek to differentiate themselves in a challenging economy.
Individuals have several options depending on their current needs and skill level.
Elevate America will offer everything from certificates of completion for the basic
IT training courses (for example, basic Web navigation) to more-formal Microsoft
Business Certifications (Microsoft Office Outlook, Office Excel, Office Access).
These credentials will be offered at low cost and no cost.
7. Can individuals sign up, or do they need to wait for their city or state to join?
Individuals can access low-cost and no-cost training resources immediately through
the Elevate America Web site. Microsoft is working with governments to offer a broader
range of tools through Elevate America.
8. What kinds of "designated partners" will offer Elevate America on behalf of government
entities?
We expect to work with government-designated agencies that implement workforce development
programs on behalf of states, cities, and counties, as well as with nonprofit organizations
that provide training and other job-related resources.
9. I am a trainer and I want to train for the Elevate America program; how do I
get involved?
The Elevate America initiative and the Community Technology Skills Program are being
implemented by government and nonprofit organizations across the United States.
Please reach out to those organizations, some of which are listed on our Web site,
to see if they have opportunities for you to assist.
