Computer Support Specialist Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.
On July 26, 2022, The Language Acquisition Research Foundation registered three Apprenticeship programs with the United States Department of Labor. These programs come on the heels of a new initiative to bolster the number of certified IT professionals across the nation. There is a huge shortage of qualified tech talent, especially in the Borderland. LARF is working diligently to create relationships with CompTIA, several local employers and workforce development boards to provide a sustainable local tech talent pool. Good IT technicians often leave the Borderland because pay rates are lower than other non-technical professions in El Paso. We envision a brighter future through Apprenticeship and economic change in our community by keeping our tech talent local, paying them appropriate wages and providing superior training - unlike traditional training methods which have failed to change this landscape for the last 30 years.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Computer Support Specialist
Computer Support Specialists are responsible for analyzing, troubleshooting, and rectifying day-to-day technology problems and challenges. This role may support internal clients (employees within the company) or external customers either in-person, on the phone, or via webchat. The specialist may focus on helping individuals and businesses better use or troubleshoot the company’s own technical products, or the specialist may offer support to those using third- party hardware and software applications to do business. In the latter role, the Tech Support Specialist is the person one might call to troubleshoot one’s Wi-Fi router when the internet is down, obtain online permissions to access accounts or files, or to set up a new employee’s email and workstation. In short, Tech Support Specialists are the steady and calm go-to people for those of us who pull our hair out when something goes wrong with our computers.
Program Details
Program Length
The term of the apprenticeship is competency-based with an OJL attainment of not less than 2000 hours or completion of competencies and supplemented by the completion of the minimum required 350 hours of related instruction. Estimated completion time of the program is 1 year (12 months).
Apprentice Wage Schedule
Apprentices shall be paid a progressively increasing schedule of wages based on either a percentage or a dollar amount of the current hourly journeyworker wage rate, which is: $18.00 per hour:
Certifications Obtained
Apprentices progress through our program by taking and passing CompTIA exams. With each certification, the apprentice earns more money and has greater incentive to continue to certify!
