Google-Supported IT Training Program Starts this Fall

Google IT Support Professional (CSC 117) to help fill growing need

Parkland College is launching a new program on campus this fall that trains students for entry-level work as IT help-desk technicians, an initiative supported by Google.

Completing the six-credit-hour Google IT Support Professional course (CSC 117) certifies students to provide entry-level IT support in just one semester at Parkland College and help fill a growing need. According to Google, Google Help Desk technicians are in-demand with many national corporations, from GE and Intel to Smucker's and Walmart. The national median wage for IT support specialists is $52,000, and about 150,000 unfilled IT support jobs need to be filled across the U.S.

No experience with computers is needed beforehand to start the program. Students will learn customer service skills along with how to provide troubleshooting support with G Suite apps, system administration, security, networking, and more. The hybrid course features mostly online class time with one evening a week on campus for lab work.

For more information, please contact Cyndia Hinton, program manager (217/351-2414 or chinton@parkland.edu) or Derek Dallas, faculty chair (217/353-2351 or ddallas@parkland.edu), Parkland College Business/Computer Science and Technologies.