Rural residents in Eastern Washington can gain skills to compete for remote work in the post-pandemic economy through a completely online, professional certificate course, through a new session beginning in January.
Launched this fall, the Remote Worker Certification course, hosted by WSU Extension, is a one-month, 30-hour program at helps prepare participants to be an effective remote worker, whether as an employee, entrepreneur, or freelancer.
Developed by Utah State University Extension, this course has been made available to Washington with support from the Washington Rural Initiative, a partnership between Washington State University Extension and the AWB Institute with support from Avista and STCU.
The registration fee for the course is $299. Scholarships are available for those in the Avista service area, and who are currently unemployed or underemployed.
The course announcement is focused on Lincoln, Spokane, and Whitman counties, but is open to participants from other locations, and continues expansion of access which started with a successful initial offering in Pend Oreille, Ferry and Stevens counties. It is offered monthly, except December and July.
“If an individual has the skills, and the certificate to demonstrate they have those skills, they can be competitive in the digital employment marketplace,” said Mike Gaffney, assistant director of WSU Extension. “This project provides the key to a door that individuals in rural communities might not otherwise be able to walk through.”
Students will learn how to improve time management, gain familiarity with a variety of online communication and project management tools, create a digital work portfolio, start a career development plan, and work to develop many other skills. The course also covers how to execute a successful job search.
At the end of the four weeks, participants will receive a certificate of completion of the Remote Work Professional course jointly issued by WSU and USU.
The next session begins Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, and runs through Jan. 28. Application deadline is 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021.
For more information or to start your registration process, visit the Remote Work Certificate course website.