Elevate America FAQ: Northern WV

What is Microsoft Elevate America?

Microsoft Elevate America is a program which provides free vouchers for online training and certification in computer skills. The vouchers are designed to help individuals obtain or improve IT skills or to gain certification which will help them be more employable. Microsoft has partnered with the State of West Virginia through Workforce West Virginia to make the vouchers available to West Virginia residents. The Northern Panhandle Workforce Investment Board, the Regional Economic Development Partnership, and West Virginia Northern Community College have partnered to implement the program in the Northern Panhandle.

What type of vouchers are available?

Training Vouchers - Two types of training vouchers are available – Business User training and Information Technology (IT) Professional Extended Library.

Vouchers for Business User training are available for Microsoft Windows and Office products. Office 2003 and Windows Vista and Office 2007 versions are available. IT Professional Extended Library vouchers are for people with advanced skills who are working, or want to work, in the field of IT.

Certification (Testing) Vouchers lead to Microsoft Business Certification. Vouchers are available in Office 2003 and Office 2007. You must specify which version when requesting the voucher.

Visit Microsoft’s Elevate America website to determine which course or exam best fits your skill level. A helpful visual is the Microsoft Learning ICT Curriculum Roadmap.

Where will the learning take place?

The e-learning is delivered over the web so modules can be accessed from any computer with a high-speed internet connection and the appropriate Microsoft software. People who do not have computer and internet access may use computers at any of the campuses of West Virginia Northern Community College or public access computers at a public library.

Where do I take certification exams?

The certification vouchers may be used at any Certiport testing site. West Virginia Northern Wheeling Campus is a Certiport site. Other Certiport sites in West Virginia are listed on the Elevate America website.

When do the vouchers have to be used?

Training vouchers must be activated before August 23, 2010 and must be used within 12 months of the activation date. Certification (testing) vouchers must be used by August 23, 2010.

Can I receive more than one voucher?

Only one training voucher or one testing voucher per person will be distributed at a time.

Where to I learn more about the program?

Complete information is available at West Virginia Elevate America.

Locally, contact Mike Koon at 304-214-8967 or at mkoon@wvncc.edu.