Tuition-Free, Online IT Certificates at Edmonds Community College

Discussion in 'IT and Computer-Related Degrees' started by sanantone, Mar 12, 2015.

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  1. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    Through the Department of Labor's Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant Program, Edmonds Community College has created PACE-IT programs that are tuition-free, competency-based, and online. PACE-IT stands for Progressive, Accelerated Certificates for Employment in Information Technology. You do, however, have to pay for fees which vary based on the number of credit hours in the program chosen. These fees range from just under $200 to just under $500 for 15 to 44-credit certificate programs. You also have to pay for any books, software, or certification exams required. The total cost for these programs range from just under $200 to over $1,000, but this is still a great deal for 15-44 quarter hours.
    Edmonds Community College: PACE-IT Program

    You first fill out a simple application for a PACE-IT program where you'll need to upload a resume or CV. They will later send you a link to take a Smarter Measurement Assessment which is supposed to gauge your potential for success in a distance learning program. It's supposed to take 1-2 hours, but it took me 30 minutes. 5-10 business days later, they will tell you if you've been accepted and give you instructions for applying for admission to Edmonds. You do not need to take the Accuplacer or any other placement test. I wanted to do the Ethical Hacker program, but did not meet the prerequisites. I'll be in the Web Developer program instead, which will help me fulfilling the programming requirement for TESC's BSBA in CIS.

    Data Management Certificate 15 quarter hours (10 semester hours)
    Prerequisite(s): At least one year of experience in a business analyst, IT or data management related role, or equivalent education in a related program of study.
    $196.80

    Introduction to Network Security Certificate 19 quarter hours (12.67 semester hours)
    Prerequisite(s): A and Net certification or CIS 205 or CIS 125, 161, 163 and CIS 171, each with minimum grades of 2.5 or equivalent experience.
    $620

    Technology and Integration Support Certificate 44 quarter hours (29.33 semester hours)
    Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into a PACE-IT grant certificate.
    $705-1,115

    Web Developer Certificate 44 quarter hours (29.33 semester hours)
    Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into a PACE-IT grant certificate.
    $660.24-825.24

    Ethical Hacker Certificate 19 quarter hours (12.67 semester hours)
    Prerequisite(s): Security certification or CIS 206 or CIS 201, 274 and 278 each with minimum grades of 2.5 or equivalent experience.
    Total cost unknown, but the fees should be $237.28.

    Edmonds Community College: Computer Information Systems - Course Descriptions
     
  2. Pelican

    Pelican Member

    Anyknow know what "Technology and Integration Support" is?
     
  3. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    It's a program that prepares you for the CompTIA A+ and Network+ plus exams. It basically educates you for jobs in technical support, computer repair, and maybe some entry-level network jobs.
     
  4. nyvrem

    nyvrem Active Member

    Any idea when does the PACE IT program end ?

    *might do it next year if I have time*

    :D
     
  5. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    I don't know.

    If you live in these states/territories, ECC is not authorized to offer distance learning programs to you.

    Alabama District of Columbia Minnesota
    Alaska Indiana Puerto Rico
    Arkansas Maryland Wyoming
     
  6. Messdiener

    Messdiener Active Member

    Are they authorized to offer their programs to those residing abroad?
     
  7. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    The Data Management Certificate looks interesting....
     
  8. Pelican

    Pelican Member

    Do you know if these will award real undergraduate credits and a transcript? Or are these some other kind of credits, like CEUs?
     
  9. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    There was a court case that required schools to follow other states' rules when it comes to offering distance education programs, so this is mostly an American issue. If a country allows U.S. schools to offer programs to their students, then you shouldn't have a problem. You do, however, have to be a U.S. citizen to participate in this program. I can't remember if they allow permanent residents.

    You're actually earning college credits.
     
  10. msganti

    msganti Active Member

    Their Acceptance page says Permanent residents qualify:

    Acceptance to the PACE-IT program is based on the following criteria:

    U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
    Successful completion of high school diploma or GED.
    Completed online application (with cover letter and resume).
    Score of national average or above on SmarterMeasure assessment test, which measures a student's likelihood of succeeding in an online learning environment. (Note: SmarterMeasure national averages are updated monthly.)



    Edmonds Community College: PACE-IT - Acceptance Criteria
     
  11. Messdiener

    Messdiener Active Member

    msganti,

    Thank you for the clarification.

    Messdiener
     
  12. Pelican

    Pelican Member

    Does anyone know if these are traditional on-line courses, with actual instructors, or some kind of self-study, self-paced, or exam-based courses?
     
  13. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    They are competency-based. Competency-based programs are almost always self-paced and don't have instructors. They usually have mentors/tutors who you can contact and a discussion forum so that you can communicate with other students.
     
  14. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    For those who might be interested, you only have to pay fees for one class at a time. I just paid $45 for my first course or quarter. Whatever it was, I didn't have to come up with the full $400 and something.
     
  15. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    The grant ends on 09/30/15, so you have to finish the program by then unless they get an extension.
     
  16. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Good find!
     
  17. ELIAS

    ELIAS New Member

    How are you liking the program so far? Can you give us some feedback as far as work load etc. and any other information on your current experience with the program.
    Thank again.
     
  18. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    The first few modules are easy, but I haven't gotten to the programming modules yet. I'll be starting those soon, and I know they'll slow me down. Because it's a 44-credit hour program, it's going to be a push for me to finish before funding possibly ends in September. If I weren't taking summer courses in my PhD program, then it wouldn't have been a problem. I just found out they changed the certification policy in the Web Development program. At first, you were required to take one of three CIW exams, and it was advised to take Javascript because it's the most marketable. Now, they're making everyone take Internet Business Associate which is pretty much worthless. You can still take the other exams, but if you aren't in Washington to take them at Edmonds, then they are $150 a piece.
     
  19. Pelican

    Pelican Member

    I don't understand your last line. Do you mean out-of-state people need to pay more? Or some classes must be taken within Washington and are not on-line?

    Are there many other programming courses within the Web Development certificate?
     
  20. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    The CIW certification test is only $30 if you take it at EdCC; it's $150 if you take it at Pearson Vue or Prometric (I can't remember which one it is). The Web Development program covers Javascript, PHP, HTML5, CSS3, jQuery, Joomla!, and MySQL.
     

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