Upgrade Skills for State Colleges and Universities Employees

Sometimes an unexpected career event — such as a layoff — can be an excellent time to brush up on your skills. You have several options for training and education.

In a competitive job market, make sure you have the basic or specialized skills you need for your chosen positions.

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1. Research Training

   Learn which type of background and training requirements are most desired.

   • Research employers: Get started learning about occupations, industries, and companies.
   • Tools and technology: When thinking about possible training, explore cutting-edge software, equipment, and tools that workers may use in specific occupations.



2. Short-term Training

   Find training options that fit your chosen professions' industry standards and trends such as a course, a certification, an occupational license, or a training program that lasts less than one year.

   Courses: Find courses from public and private educational institutions that support your career goals. You can narrow your search results by region, type of school, degree offered and other variables.

   Certifications: Certifications are examinations that test or enhance your knowledge, experience, or skills in a specific occupation or profession. The directories below allow you to search for certifications by keyword, industry, or occupation.

   • Administrative assistants certifications
   • Academic professionals / education administrators / supervisors
   • Building maintenance / trades: Janitors and Energy
   • Faculty: see — Education/Training/Library
   • Information technology specialists
   • Student service providers: see Educational Counselor
   • All certifications by occupation

   Occupational licenses: Learn about occupations that require a license in Minnesota.

   • Administrative assistants: see Business and Financial Operations Licensed Occupations
   • Academic professionals / education administrators/Supervisors: see Education, Training And Library Licensed Occupations
   • Building maintenance / trades: Landscaping and Construction
   • Faculty: see Education, Training And Library Licensed Occupations
   • Information technology specialists: none listed
   • Student service providers: see Education, Training, and Library Licensed Occupations
   • All other licensed occupations in Minnesota
   • All licensed occupations in Wisconsin
   • All licensed occupations in other states

   Short-term programs: Find programs from public or private educational institutions that support your career goals. You can narrow your search results by region, type of school, degree offered, and other variables.




3. Begin or Finish a Degree

   Many people find that after a layoff or in a tight labor market is an excellent time to head back to school to begin or finish a four-year or graduate degree. You can narrow your search results by region, type of school, degree offered, and other variables.

   • Academic professionals / education administrators / supervisors: see Education and Training
   • Building maintenance / trades: see Architecture and Construction
   • Faculty: see Education and Training
   • Information Technology
   • Student services providers: see Education and Training
   • Learn about the types of degrees and awards available.
   • Find Minnesota schools, majors (fields of study), and four-year or graduate programs.



4. Pay for Training

   Financial aid 101
   Financial aid programs are most often based on financial need. Most students qualify for some type of financial aid. Explore other training funding options (543KB, .pdf) for working adults and nontraditional students.

   Free online training (263KB, .pdf)
   Lists free online computer and job training that can help upgrade your skills. In addition to these online trainings, many local libraries and community centers offer free or low-fee computer training.

   Pell Grants and other federal programs
   Learn about Pell grants and other new educational opportunities for unemployed workers.

   Scholarships
   Awarded for academic achievement, athletic achievement, special skills, or can be based on race, ethnicity, religion, or military affiliation. Most scholarships are offered directly to students through the colleges. Most do not have age requirements. There are also some scholarships specifically for experienced workers.