Byte Back offers six key programs. Students may enter each program based upon their individual skill level. Beginners may progress from one level to the next, while students with previous experience or relevant education may test out of beginning and/or intermediate courses.  Full and partial scholarships are available!

Academic Programs

The following three programs consist of course work and lab work to prepare our students for entry level occupations in administrative and secretarial positions.

COMPUTER LITERACY TRAINING

Byte Back offers basic computer skills for those with little or no previous experience with computers. Our PC for Beginners class teaches typing and Mouse basics, how to manage files and folders, format text, search the internet and use email. Students may also opt to reinforce their basic skills by taking our Email and Internet Class, or by coming into the open computer lab to practice their skills by using our online typing tutorial or online games to improve mouse skills. Byte Back offers a special PC for Beginners course for senior citizens featuring a curriculum designed specifically for the particular technology challenges and available resources for our elders. Prerequisite: none. Sixteen hours of class time and 16 hours of lab time. Cost: $400.

OFFICE TRACK PROGRAM (leading to IC3 Certification)

Students learn Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, as well as job readiness skills. As students near the end of their training, they receive a free refurbished computer for their home. Students are encouraged to take the Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³®) examination. This certification is an internationally recognized standard for digital literacy and reflects the most relevant skills needed in today’s academic and business environments. Graduates from the Office Track program receive individualized job counseling from our job coordinator and are encouraged to add additional classes to their program to improve their chances of obtaining employment in the area of their interest, such as QuickBooks, HTML or PC Hardware. Prerequisite: PC for Beginners and/or successful completion of entrance tests for basic skills using the computer, keyboard and mouse. (Combined tuition for a beginning student to take PC for Beginners and Office Track: $1600.This does not include certification examination fees.)

MCAS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

This program will prepare you to take the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) examination. MCAS certification exams provide a globally recognized measure of advanced skills, technical proficiency and expertise in Microsoft desktop software. MCAS is similar to MOS certification, but has a focus on more recent versions of Microsoft Office software: 2007 Microsoft Office system, Windows VISTA and Windows 7. Microsoft Certified Application Specialist certifications are primarily for office workers who use Microsoft Office programs as a vital part of their job functions. Candidates who successfully complete the program by passing a certification exam show that they can meet globally recognized performance standards.  Candidates must pass one certification exam in order to earn the MCAS credential. Exams include Windows Vista, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook or Access. Students are strongly encouraged to take more than one exam. Prerequisite: Office Track or IC3 certification. (Combined tuition for a beginning student to take PC for Beginners, Office Track and three MCAS certification classes: $3,000. This does not include certification examination fees.)

Intensive Programs

NOTE: The following five programs consist of three components: classroom learning, independent lab work, and independent project work. In each of these programs, the student will meet regularly with the instructor during class-time and will attend regular supervised labs to practice what they have learned. Upon completion of the program, the student will take a test to measure his/her level of mastery of the material. Those students who pass this in-house test will move on to their independent projects, which consist of 32-60 hours of technology services performed for a nonprofit organization. Students will meet with the client organization to discuss technology needs. They will then perform an assessment of what work is needed to solve the problem and will meet again with the client to communicate their diagnosis and make recommendations. Depending upon the outcome of this meeting, students will repair and/or upgrade the client technology and will perform tests to determine whether the repairs and upgrades have been successful. Lastly, the student will have a final meeting with the client to demonstrate the improvements made and to have the client sign off on the successful completion of the project. Our students gain real world experience, as well as confidence and a feeling of satisfaction from giving back to the community. In addition, these projects provide needed technology services which would otherwise be a financial hardship for local nonprofit organizations. Upon successful completion of the independent project, students then sit for the certification examination.

MICROSOFT PROJECT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (MCTS certification)

The Microsoft Project Certification Preparation course provides students with the knowledge and skills to build, maintain, and control well-formed project plans. The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) credential demonstrates your specialized technical expertise and ability to successfully implement, build on, troubleshoot, and debug a particular Microsoft technology. This course is intended for both novice and experienced project managers and schedulers. These individuals are involved in or responsible for scheduling, estimating, coordinating, controlling, budgeting, and staffing of projects and supporting other users of Microsoft Office Project. A familiarity with key project management concepts and terminology is recommended as well as basic Windows navigation skills. Microsoft Office Project Standard 2007 and Microsoft Office Professional 2007 can be used to build, maintain, and control well-formed project plans. Students will learn about scheduling, estimating, coordinating, controlling, budgeting, and staffing projects and supporting other users of Office Project. They will gain familiarity with key project management concepts and terminology. Upon completion of the program, students take the examination for Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Managing Projects with Microsoft Office Project 2007. (Combined tuition for a beginning student to take ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­PC for Beginners, Office Track, Excel 2, Windows 7 and Microsoft Project Certification Prep is $3160. This cost does not include materials or certification exam fees.)

MICROSOFT CERTIFIED DESKTOP SUPPORT TECHNICIAN (MCDST) PROGRAM

By earning the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) credential, you can validate a unique set of skills required to succeed in a variety of job roles, such as Help desk technician, customer support representative, computer support specialist, technical support representative, and technical support specialist. An MCDST works in the typically complex computing environments of small, medium-sized, and large organizations.  This credential proves your ability to successfully troubleshoot desktop environments that run on the Microsoft Windows operating system. It also shows you have the necessary soft skills to educate users and help them solve hardware and software operation and application problems on Windows. Candidates should have six to twelve months of experience in supporting end users of a desktop operating system.  To earn the MCDST credential, you must pass both of the following exams, in any order: “Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Windows XP or Windows 7 Operating System” and “Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Windows XP or Windows 7 Operating System”—see these two courses below. (Combined tuition for a beginning student to take PC for Beginners, PC Hardware Basics, Office Track and both courses of the  MCDST Program: $3440. This cost does not include materials or certification exam fees.)

A+ CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

The CompTIA A+ certification is the industry standard for computer support technicians. The international, vendor-neutral certification proves competence in areas such as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security and troubleshooting.  More than 700,000 people worldwide have become CompTIA A+ certified since the program’s inception in 1993.  There are two exams in the current (2006 Edition) program (expires February 2010): A+ essentials and the choice of IT Technician (for jobs such as IT Administrator), Remote Support Technician (for jobs such as Help Desk Technician) or Depot Technician (for jobs such as Bench Technician). The CompTIA A+ 2009 Edition requires two exams to be certified: CompTIA A+ Essentials and CompTIA A+ Practical Application. CompTIA A+ Essentials measures the necessary competencies of an entry-level IT professional. It tests for the fundamentals of computer technology, networking and security, as well as the communication skills and professionalism now required of all entry-level IT professionals.  CompTIA A+ Practical Application is an extension of the knowledge and skills identified in CompTIA A+ Essentials, with more of a “hands-on” orientation focused on scenarios in which troubleshooting and tools must be applied to resolve problems.  (Combined tuition for a beginning student to take PC for Beginners, PC Hardware, Home Networking and A+ Certification Prep: $3,000. This cost does not include materials or certification exam fees.)

NET + CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

The CompTIA Network+ certification is the sign of a competent networking professional. It is an international, vendor-neutral certification that proves a technician’s competency in managing, maintaining, troubleshooting, installing and configuring basic network infrastructure.  Since its introduction in 1999, more than 235,000 people have become CompTIA Network+ certified. (Combined tuition for a beginning student to take PC for Beginners, PC Hardware, Home Networking, A+ Certification Prep and Net+: $4,600. This cost does not include materials or certification exam fees.)

LINUX CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

The CompTIA Linux+ certification is recognized throughout the industry as a benchmark certification for professionals who work with open-source platforms. CompTIA Linux+ is a vendor-neutral certification, generic across distributions. The CompTIA Linux+ (2009 Edition) certification is aimed at an IT administrator experienced in Windows or other operating systems. The Linux+ exam is a validation of “foundation” level Linux skills and knowledge, and is used by organizations and security professionals around the globe. Students will learn about installation, configuration, system maintenance and operations, common administrative tasks, application and services, networking and security, command line utilities, and troubleshooting. Prerequisite: A+ or Net+ certification. (Combined tuition for a beginning student to take PC for Beginners, PC Hardware, Home Networking and A+ Certification Prep and Linux Certification Prep:: $4,920. This cost does not include materials or certification exam fees.)