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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?

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

  • 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.

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