UNM Continuing Education partners with Albuquerque Public Schools and New Mexico Workforce’s TechHireNM offer CompTIA Certification training to APS IT employees.

Through collaboration and discussions from UNM Continuing Education, Albuquerque Public Schools, and New Mexico Workforce’s TechHireNM, Albuquerque Public School IT employees are given the opportunity to further their IT skills.

“By combining our resources, we are able to create a powerful collaboration that successfully provides professional development opportunities to APS IT employees,” said Marth Becktell of UNM Continuing Education. “The partnership not only positively impacts our institutions, but also impacts our community in ways that make real change.”

CompTIA A+ and Network+ certifications are well respected and nationally recognized. The CompTIA training consisted of three rigorous courses taught by Glenn Norman, UNM Continuing Education IT instructor and Certified Ethical Hacker. All participants completed training while working full-time in their jobs at APS. The training ensures Albuquerque Public Schools IT employees receive in-demand IT skills making them highly qualified in their jobs.

Additionally, TechHireNM provided an education grant to pay for the tuition for all participants. Being a part of Workforce Connection of Central New Mexico, TechHireNM is funded by a four-year, four-million-dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.

The first of 50 APS IT employees to complete their CompTIA Exam Preparation training were honored last month at a certificate ceremony held at UNM Continuing Education’s Auditorium.

Guest speakers at the event included Dr. Richard Bowman, APS Chief Information and Strategy Officer, Tawnya Rowland, TechHireNM and New Mexico Workforce Connection Director, and C. Lucas Gutierrez, APS Director of Technology Services and Support.

UNM Continuing Education, APS, and TechhireNM will continue their partnership to offer future IT training for APS IT employees, solidifying the shared commitment to propel education in New Mexico.