ITWorks: high school grads, apply for this free IT training program

High school graduates can get tech training and work experience with TechImpact (formerly NPowerPA)’s ITWorks, a free four-month-long program that aims to prepare youth for tech jobs.

The spring class will begin at the end of March and includes a five-week internship with a local firm. Participants work toward achieving their CompTIA A+ Professional Certification. About 90 percent of participants get their certification, according to the ITWorks website.

Apply here by March 8.

Read more about the program’s first class, which graduated in 2010, here.

It’s worth noting that many IT certifications are not heavy on the most innovative, creative or inspiring portions of technology — instead focusing on enterprise support, legacy maintenance and other task-orientated roles. For one, that focus is often driven by a direct workforce pipeline — and the corporate support to maintain it — and two, the argument can be made that a program focused on work readiness, even if the relevance of A+ certifications have been questioned, the awareness they can provide is a start, considering the need for STEM ready talent.