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Digital Skills Resources for Washingtonians

Walk-through of available resources, learning paths, and value of outcomes.

Do You Live, Work or Attend School in Washington State?

Free Certifications: You spend the time, we spend the money!

Header: Illustration of a young person with a lightbulb above their head, and their hand is selecting from different badgesQR code linking to www.wsl.infojinicloud.com

  • Public, Tribal, and College Libraries statewide offer free education to learn digital skills.

  • Start where you are comfortable: We offer educational resources from beginner computer user to advanced technical certifications that build your career and earning potential.

  • ALL FREE for anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Washington.

  • This program is funded by the state legislature, through the Washington State Library to build more accessible pathways to living wage jobs.

Logo of the Washington State Library, a division of the Washington Secretary of State's Office

Why Get Certified?

Image from the National Digital Inclusion Alliance stating:” Businesses of every size and industry have high demand for digital skills. Nationally, the demand for digital skills is significant for jobs posted by small (90%) and large (94%) businesses alike. Demand is consistently high across industries, including priority sectors for Washington, such as information (99%); healthcare (95%);; arts, entertainment and recreation (90%); and agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting (86%). Washington’s most in-demand Foundational digital skills are: Computer literacy, data entry, typing, Microsoft Office, word processing, google apps and barcode scanning. Examples of in-demand, industry specific skills: Healthcare: Electronic medical records, Dentrix practice management software, telehealth. Manufacturing: Computer Numeric Control (CNC); Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. Retail: Robotics, computer aided drafting/design (CAD); SAS retail analytics and consumer goods software. Finance and Insurance: Mobile banking; Empower; information security.Image of a pie chart. In the center text says 91% of Jobs in Washington State definitely requires or likely require digital skills. In dark blue, 49% of jobs definitely require digital skills. In lavender, 42% likely require digital skills. In turquoise, 9% do not require digital skills.

^1 National Skills Coalition, "Expanding Opportunities: Defining Quality Non-Degree Credentials for States" (2019) https://nationalskillscoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/9.18-NSC_QNDC-paper_web.pdf.

What Do You Offer?

 Northstar

Northstar Logo, a Black, bold letter N surrounded by yellow and turquoise triangles 

  • Assessments of digital skills & online classes to learn digital skills needed for daily life.

  • Northstar is used in public, tribal, and college libraries and community-based organizations across Washington.

  • Visit our Northstar Guide for more details.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning Logo, Blue text reading LinkedIn Learning

  • Access to video tutorials, courses, and full learning paths that prepare learners for a wide variety of professional, technical, and creative jobs.

  • Includes courses and learning paths that prepare learners for industry-specific certifications.

  • Available in every public Library in Washington.

  • Visit our LinkedIn Learning guide for more details

GMetrix

GMetrix Logo: Blue text reading GMetrix with an orange rainbow above

  • Hands-on, real world simulations of the software you're learning, including timed practice exams to help you prepare for the actual exam environment.

  • Detailed Feedback: Gives learners feedback and performance, highlighting areas for improvement to focus efforts.

  • Learning materials, labs, workbooks, and other study tools included.

  • Visit our GMetrix guide for more details.

Cisco Networking Academy

Cisco Networking Academy Logo: The word Cisco and a stylized image of a bridge in black, the words Networking Academy in Blue

Microsoft LEARN (Formerly Imagine Academy)

Microsoft LEARN Logo: Grey background with Text "Microsoft" in dark grey, and the Words LEARN in rainbow, stylized text.

  • Microsoft LEARN provides up-to-date information and hands-on training materials for people looking to learn or enhance their skills in Microsoft technologies.

  • Offers a wide range of free, self-paced courses, documentation, and tutorials, available to keep up-to-date with ever-changing products.

  • Visit our Microsoft LEARN guide for more details.

FREE CERTIFICATION EXAMS

QuickBooks Certification Badge: Circle with bright green outline. The center is whitee with black text that reads "Intuit Quickbooks Certified User Online"
  •  
  • Use LinkedIn Learning, GMetrix, Cisco Networking Academy, and Microsoft LEARN to prepare.
  • Score 80% or higher on a practice test or (of show passing classroom grade)
  • Your library or partner agency will refer you to schedule your exam.  Exam voucher and proctoring are paid for by the state of Washington.
  • Visit How to Use the Free Certification Program for more details