Information Technology

Ready to begin or advance your career in information technology (IT)? The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) can help. The IT Academy@SVHEC offers affordable, short-term training to prepare adults with the skills and certifications required for employment in Southern Virginia’s growing IT sector. Already an IT professional? Boost your IT career with additional skills and certifications.

About the IT Academy@SVHEC

As a Microsoft Datacenter Academy and CompTIA Academic Partner, the IT Academy can help you start or advance your IT career with certification-based training. The pathway begins with CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (10-week course) followed by CompTIA A+ (4 months), where you prepare to enter the workforce in entry-level IT positions like IT Specialist or Datacenter Technician.

Want to continue developing your IT skills? The IT Academy offers training in networking, cybersecurity, and Linux and cloud administration. New this fall are CompTIA Data+ and Intro to Computer Programming.

Our “secret sauce” is plenty of hands-on labs using real equipment, so you don’t just learn the WHAT— you learn HOW TO. We also cover employability skills during CompTIA A+, where you refine your resume and interviewing skills to help you land that dream job.

Other Benefits

Evening classes to accommodate your busy schedule
Some classes available online
Experienced, knowledgeable, caring instructors
Affordable classes with multiple financial assistance options

To get started, click the button to complete our interest form or contact or (434) 572-5566.

Enrollment Interest Form

View IT Academy Courses

Connections

As a CompTIA Authorized Partner, IT Academy staff have access to free training, market research, marketing materials, and exam vouchers. Student exam vouchers are greatly reduced, a savings which is passed along to students.

Students who take non-credit ITA courses and earn the related CompTIA certification may receive credit towards a DCC IT certificate or degree.

The IT Academy is a Microsoft Datacenter Academy. Through this workforce development program, Microsoft provides mentorship, training, scholarship and internship opportunities for students, and equipment and grants to support the IT Academy training lab.

Through this partnership, Southside students can take IT Academy classes for credit, earning a career studies certificate or degree while at the same time attaining skills and industry-recognized certifications.

Success Stories

From Cotton Fiber to Fiber Optics: Vara Chandler’s Story

“The (IT Academy) instructors were great. They had patience with us, and we even had some extra study time set up outside of class. To be able to read how to perform a certain task, then to be able to perform the task in class was awesome. I think that was the best part. To actually have the ability to have the hands-on experience helped me the most.”

Darryl Kent

The IT Academy trained us well, and it gave me more confidence to apply for IT jobs in the area. You will learn the fundamentals and be able to practice on equipment that will be in the real world. I believe it is one of the best opportunities for aspiring IT professionals.

Tina Jang

Tina Jang and her husband moved from Taipei, Taiwan to southern Virginia in 2018 to be closer to his family. The move opened a door for her to pursue a new career. Tina earned a Microsoft Datacenter Academy Scholarship and completed the IT Academy’s A+ and Server+ course in 2019. With her IT training and CompTIA certifications, Tina was offered a full-time job as a logistics technician at the Microsoft Datacenter in Boydton, VA. She has excelled in her position and credits the IT Academy with helping her launch a dream career.

Finding a Dream Career

Angelica Alves found her dream career as a Datacenter Technician at a company she loves. She credits the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center’s IT Academy for making it possible. Hear her story in her words.

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