Microsoft and New Horizons Computer Learning Centers are jointly hosting the Microsoft Tech-Ed Virtual Study Sessions. These sessions are exclusively offered to any Microsoft Learning customers (customers who have taken training from any Microsoft Training Partner).
Reinforce Your Learning
Prepare for a Microsoft Certification exam by refreshing the technical knowledge you gained from training and get your questions answered before you sit for an exam. If you are preparing for an exam and time has passed since you attended training, join these study sessions to help you recall the material and improve your understanding of the subject matter. You can also use these sessions to get extra clarification on difficult topics to increase your preparedness for the certification exam.
Mentoring From a Certified Trainer
Microsoft certified trainers from New Horizons lead the study sessions to answer questions, mentor students with difficult topics, and probe students on their understanding of the material in order to help them pass their certification exams on the first try. Students can interact with each other, share their experiences, and refresh their knowledge in this virtual learning environment to be better prepared to take and pass a Microsoft certification exam.
These hour long Virtual Study Sessions are free of charge, and are typically scheduled a couple of times each month.
Enroll Today!
Take advantage of these free sessions to help prepare for your certification. Register today to reserve your spot! Click HERE to view the study session dates and times and to complete your registration.
Information Technology Training Program
With the increasing difficulties in finding workers with the right skills, it is important for information technology firms and departments to develop, retool, refine, and broaden the skills of their existing workers. The rapidly changing and evolving nature of the industry requires a more flexible response than is currently provided under traditional job training programs. The IT Training Program provides funds for IT firms and departments in Iowa to upgrade the technical skills of existing high-level employees.
I. Eligibility
Iowa-based IT companies or IT departments of Iowa companies (except for those engaged in the retail or healthcare industries) are eligible for the program. In order to receive training dollars, an employee must be primarily engaged in the delivery of information technology services in one of the following, or any similarly situated, SOC job classification: Networking and Systems Support, Programming and Engineering and Assembly, Installation and Repair.
II. Awards and Spending Guidelines
Awards are available up to $25,000 per company per state fiscal year. Applicants may apply to the program multiple times until the $25,000 limit is reached. Applications must be received and approved prior to the start of training. Awards are then managed on a reimbursement basis. All expenditures under an award must be supported with invoices or other appropriate documentation. The following training expenses are eligible for program funding:
Cost of tuition
Cost of company, college, or contracted trainer or training services
Training-related materials and supplies
Lease or rental of training facilities
Training-related travel
Subcontracted services
Contracted or professional services
Equipment and software, when used for training, may be an allowable cost. If equipment or software is purchased for use in training but subsequently retained for use in the general operation of the applicant's business, only the prorated portion of the equipment or software costs directly related to the training shall be eligible for program funding. Reimbursement of employee wages while in training is not allowed.
Program training may be provided in-state or out-of-state. Funding shall be commensurate with training needs. Program funds shall not be used to cash flow a business or to retroactively support training which has occurred.
III. Matching Requirement
Companies must match the award with at least two dollars of non-state funding for every one dollar of state funding. No funds that have been generated through any state source can be used as matching funds; federal funding is an eligible match.
IV. How to Apply:
An eligible business must submit an application for training assistance to the Iowa Department of Economic Development, 200 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 in a form provided by the department. Forms and instructions are available at this address.
V. Information Technology Training Program
Fact Sheet [PDF: 255k]
Administrative Rules
Chapter 103, Information Technology Training Program [PDF: 109k]
Application and Resources
Application [MS WORD: 222k] or [PDF: 75k]
Iowa's Open Record Law [www.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE/1999/22/] — Copies of Iowa’s Open Record law and IDED’s administrative rules relating to public records are available from the Department upon request or online.
SOC job classifications — [MS Excel: 27k] or [PDF: 75k]
NAICS codes — NAICS codes for three sectors [PDF: 16k]
Sample Affidavit — [MS WORD: 27k] or [PDF: 7k]
Average County Wage Thresholds
To Learn More:
Iowa's Information Technology Strategic Roadmap
Phone: 515.725.3193
E-mail: innovation@iowalifechanging.com