The South Carolina Department of Employment & Workforce, in partnership with CompTIA is offering the SC CompTIA IWT Scholarship program for businesses to upskill their workforce!

The South Carolina Department of Employment & Workforce, in partnership with CompTIA is offering the SC CompTIA IWT Scholarship program for businesses to upskill their workforce!

FREE 
training
program!
Valued at
over $5,000

Maryland | CompTIA
DEW_DUSK

Free Training for Your Business

South Carolina employers can apply for their employees to receive a scholarship to enroll in A+, a 16-week program, or Security +, an 8-week program offered through CompTIA that includes 1:1 mentored learning & certification preparation package, valued at over $5,000.

  • For Employees of South Carolina Businesses
  • Upskill employees through a scholarship opportunity
  • Access to CompTIA learning management system and 1:1 mentor support
  • Everything employees need to pass the certification examination and earn a CompTIA IT certification

The SC CompTIA IWT Scholarship program is designed to help mitigate some of the barriers many businesses are facing today to become cyber-savvy. The two programs offered will help businesses in developing a more knowledgeable IT department.

Does Your Business Qualify?

The “Incumbent Worker”:

  • Is employed;
  • Meets the Fair Labor Standards Act requirements for an employer-employee relationship;
  • Has an established employment history with the employer for six months or more;
  • Has an average or better understanding of the information technology environment.
  • Business is located in the state of South Carolina
  • Have at least one (1) full-time employee other than the owner of the business
  • Have a need for desktop or cybersecurity personnel
  • Be current on all state tax obligations

Businesses can receive up to 10 scholarships – 5 employees in A+ and 5 employees in Security +. Don’t miss your chance, apply today!

  • Employee is required to attend a mandatory orientation session at the start of the course (90 minutes on the first day of the course)
  • Employee has access to 2 optional workshops per week as part of a self-paced mentored learning
  • Employee will have up to 16 consecutive weeks of access to learning management system and 1:1 mentor support, depending on course chosen
    • Week 1 = Orientation
    • Weeks 2-7 (or 15) = Active & Mentored Learning
    • Weeks 8 or 16 = Preparation for certification examination

CompTIA A+ and Security+ certified professionals are proven problem solvers

CompTIA helps employers find the go-to person in end point management & technical roles

A+ is the only credential with performance-based items to prove pros can think on their feet to perform critical IT support tasks in the moment. The certification validates core skills and abilities demanded in the workplace.

CompTIA Security+ is a globally trusted, vendor-neutral certification that validates the baseline skills necessary to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career.

CompTIA A+ helps employers find the go-to person in end point management & technical roles

A+ is the only credential with performance-based items to prove pros can think on their feet to perform critical IT support tasks in the moment. The certification is regularly re-invented by IT experts to ensure that it validates core skills and abilities demanded in the workplace.

96%

Of managers use certifications as criteria during recruitment.

$55K

The median annual wage for computer user support specialists.

28%

Increase of open IT positions is expected by 2029.

What They’ll Learn

Being CompTIA A+ certified means that you will learn cutting-edge fundamentals of computer hardware and software. You’ll understand how to troubleshoot a wide range of devices, from computers to smartphones. CompTIA A+ is the best starting point for any career in IT – it can help you get your first job in IT, and set you on a path to IT success.

The Security+ exam will certify that you have the knowledge and skills required to assess the security posture of an enterprise environment, recommend and implement appropriate security solutions, monitor and secure hybrid environments, operate with an awareness of applicable laws and policies, and identify, analyze, and respond to security events and incidents.

About this project

The SC CompTIA IWT Scholarship program is offering businesses the opportunity to train their employees in A+, a 16-week course in the fundamental understanding of computer hardware, networks, and systems. The A+ certification will offer your business an IT support technician or IT administrator with a strong foundation in IT knowledge and skills.

Security+ certification is 100% focused on cybersecurity. The exam covers foundational principles for network and operation security, threats and vulnerabilities, access control and identity management and cryptography. This certification will offer your IT personnel a better understanding of network security, help to identify and mitigate security threats, understand application, data, and host security issues and implement access control and identity management.

What’s Included?

CompTIA's A+ and Security+ training

Comptia A+

CompTIA A+ Complete Bundle

CompTIA A+ is the industry standard for establishing a career in IT and the preferred qualifying credential for technical support and IT operational roles.

Comptia Security+

CompTIA Security+ Complete Bundle

CompTIA Security+ is the first security certification IT professionals should earn. It establishes the core knowledge required of any cybersecurity role.

For Whom?

Requirements needed to apply

Your business needs to be located in the state of South Carolina, have at least 1 full-time employee (other than the owner) and in need of desktop and cybersecurity workers, and be current on all state tax obligations.

To qualify under the Incumbent Worker criteria, the Incumbent Worker must have an established employment history with the employer for six months or more and meet the Fair Labor Standards Act requirements for an employer-employee relationship

See Program Guidelines

Requirements needed to apply

Your business needs to be located in the state of South Carolina, have at least 1 full-time employee (other than the owner) and in need of desktop and cybersecurity workers, and be current on all state tax obligations.

The “Incumbent Worker” must have an established employment history with the employer for six months or more and meet the Fair Labor Standards Act requirements for an employer-employee relationship

Why CompTIA?

CompTIA is the world’s leading technology association. CompTIA advances IT professionals with successful industry-leading certifications and business credentials in the areas such as PC maintenance, networking technologies, and security.

Powerful and respected credential trusted by employers.

Globally trusted, vendor neutral certifications.

Join 100,000 other CompTIA users and grow your career.

Erin Waterman, Career Changer Retail to Tech

“The holistic attitude CompTIA has, how they stay with students and have the alumni program, that’s what really sets it apart."

Teela Moua, Network Engineer

“If you don’t have any job experience or a connection in that field, nobody is going to hire you. So, obtaining a CompTIA certification that said, ’I know what I am talking about’ was very important.”

Train Your Employees to bolster your business’ IT department!

Apply Now

Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. To request an aid, please contact us here.

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SC CompTIA IWT Scholarship
A. Program Guidelines

SCOPE

This document provides guidance on the operation of the state’s Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) program in partnership with CompTIA. Unless otherwise specified, the provisions outlined below apply to the state sponsored SC
CompTIA IWT Scholarship program only.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Annually, there are almost 1,300 cyber related job openings in SC. The SC CompTIA IWT Scholarship is intended to increase the competitiveness of the employee by increasing worker skills, wages, advancement opportunities, and credential attainment in the cyber environment for desktop applications and security.

BUSINESS ELIGIBILITY

Employers applying for a CompTIA IWT Scholarship must meet the following requirements:

Training entities and city, county and state governments are not eligible for CompTIA IWT scholarships. Businesses receiving similar training services through other training providers may not be eligible for the CompTIA IWT Scholarship program if the training is a duplication of services already received.

INCUMBENT WORKER DEFINED

To qualify as an incumbent worker, the worker must meet the following requirements:

Workers who are not eligible include:

TRAINING CAPABILITIES

Employers participating in the SC CompTIA IWT Scholarship program are required to enable access to the training, which may result in additional costs that are not covered by the scholarship.

HARDWARE / SUPPLY REQUIREMENTS

In order to participate and successfully complete the training, participants need to have the following:

  1. Internet access with a minimum of 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speeds. Higher is always better.
  2. Headphones and a microphone compatible with the computer that will be used for the duration of the training.
  3. Computers with the minimum specifications:
    1. Windows: 1.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 or faster processor (or equivalent), Windows 10, 8.1 (32-bit/64-bit) or Windows 7 (32-bit/64-bit), 512 MB of RAM (1 GB recommended),
    2. Mac OS: 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo or faster processor, 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended).

SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS

Participants will spend a minimum of 11.5 hours per week participating in the course for the duration of the training. Participants will receive instructions from Pearson Vue the Friday after orientation to schedule certification examination. Finally, as a suggestion, employers should follow their employees’ progression from registration through to certification.

TRAINING

CompTIA A+ and Security+ are online, self-paced training courses.

In addition to self-paced learning, individuals have the opportunity to communicate with CompTIA certified experts either one-on-one or as part of scheduled live virtual workshops that focus on critical IT skills.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The CompTIA IWT Scholarship program provides funding for the CompTIA course and the final certification examination. The employer will not be reimbursed for any costs list below, including equipment, supplies, or services necessary for providing access to the training.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

All businesses approved for scholarships must sign an agreement with the Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) before implementing the CompTIA IWT Scholarship program. Additionally, employees must sign a disclosure agreement prior to course orientation, allowing DEW to share information with CompTIA, employers, SC’s General Assembly and other relevant stake holders as well as allowing CompTIA to release progress and outcomes related to the course(s) and assessments to the Department of Employment and Workforce, and your employer. Finally, the business is required to submit an Employer Survey within 30 days of the training actual end date. The purpose of the survey is to help DEW determine the effectiveness of the program.

APPLICATION

The SC CompTIA IWT Scholarship program awards scholarships on a first-come, first-served basis. Employers interested in receiving a scholarship must complete an application, Form B. Employer Application, located at the following website: SC CompTIA IWT Scholarship Landing Page

ASSESSMENT

After submitting the Employer Application, employees listed on the employer’s application must complete and submit Employee Eligibility Assessment form when it is emailed to employees and submit the completed form to [email protected]. Employers are typically in the best position to assess employee skills. However, due to the type of training, all employees identified as potential candidates for the SC CompTIA IWT Scholarship program must successfully complete up to two assessments prior to the start of training. The two assessments include ITIQ Skills Evaluation, gauging the employee’s IT knowledge and the Wonderlic Contemporary Cognitive Ability Test, an assessment used to measure cognitive ability and problem-solving aptitude. After successful completion of the two assessments, the employer will be notified of scholarship approval.

AGREEMENT

Following successful completion of employee assessments, employers will receive Agreement Packet from DEW. Submit completed form to [email protected].

ORIENTATION

After Employer submits the completed agreement packet, DEW will notify CompTIA. CompTIA will then email the employee providing instructions to register for a mandatory ninety (90) minute orientation session. Admission to the program is not complete until employee complete a mandatory orientation session, which occurs every 30 days on Mondays, 9:00 AM or 3:00 PM. Once orientation is complete, eligible, enrolled participants will receive an email from CompTIA with the required training materials and instructions to join CompTIA’s online platform, Canvas, to start their respective training periods

The orientation and training schedule is as follows:

SESSION NAME

LAST DAY TO REGISTER

ORIENTATION DATE

SESSION START DATE

SESSION END DATE

A+

2/25/2022

3/7/2022

3/14/2022

6/27/2022

A+

3/25/2022

4/4/2022

4/11/2022

7/25/2022

A+

4/22/2022

5/2/2022

5/9/2022

8/22/2022

A+

5/27/2022

6/6/2022

6/13/2022

9/26/2022

A+

7/1/2022

7/11/2022

7/18/2022

10/31/2022

A+

7/22/2022

8/1/2022

8/8/2022

11/21/2022

A+

9/2/2022

9/12/2022

9/19/2022

1/2/2023

A+

9/23/2022

10/3/2022

10/10/2022

1/23/2023

SESSION NAME

LAST DAY TO REGISTER

ORIENTATION DATE

SESSION START DATE

SESSION END DATE
Security +

2/25/2022

 3/7/2022 3/14/2022 5/2/2022
Security +

3/25/2022

4/4/2022

4/11/2022

5/30/2022
Security +

4/22/2022

5/2/2022

5/9/2022

6/27/2022
Security +

5/27/2022

6/6/2022

6/13/2022

8/1/2022
Security +

7/1/2022

7/11/2022

7/18/2022

9/5/2022
Security +

7/22/2022

8/1/2022

8/8/2022

9/26/2022
Security +

9/2/2022

9/12/2022

9/19/2022

11/7/2022
Security +

9/23/2022

10/3/2022

10/10/2022

11/28/2022

CERTIFICATION EXAM

Friday after orientation, and after the employee starts the course, the employee should expect to receive an email from CompTIA with explicit instructions to register for the final certification examination. The final certification examination is conducted by Pearson Vue. The instructions will offer the employee directions for a virtual or in-person examination, dependent on the proximity of the employee’s location to the examination location. Neither CompTIA nor DEW will have access to the outcome of the examination. Please instruct your employee to notify the employer and DEW of the employee’s outcome so that DEW will be able to report this information as necessary.