Unemployed workers in the Tampa Bay area who are interested in a career in information technology can receive free IT certification training at St. Petersburg College or Hillsborough Community College.
To be eligible, individuals must be 18 or older, a resident of Pinellas or Hillsborough counties, have a high school diploma or GED and be unemployed.
The Tampa Bay Hi-Tech Training program is funded by a $3.8 million grant awarded to the Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance and WorkNet Pinellas by the U.S. Department of Labor. The grant covers tuition, books and fees for certification training at SPC and HCC for individuals who meet the qualifications.
“Information technology is one of the fastest growing career fields in Florida and across the country. Job seekers with specific IT related training and certifications are in high demand,” said Sharon Setterlind, dean of SPC’s College of Computer and Information Technology. “The HITT program will help create a diverse pool of talented workers to meet the needs of IT employers.”
In addition to being in high demand, information technology is a high-paid career field. Last year, the median hourly wage for the IT industry in the Tampa Bay area was $29.55.
Full details about the grant are available on the websites for WorkNet Pinellas and the Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance. Call 608-2479.
![[Image]](/content_images/070312_pco-01z_front.jpg)
