Career-Ready Training at AVTECH
We guide Antelope Valley youth (priority 16–24) from training to industry certification to college or career. Our cohorts are AJCC-aligned and feed directly into Antelope Valley College.
Google IT Support Certificate — AVTECH Cohort
The Google IT Support Professional Certificate delivered through AVTECH prepares learners for entry-level help desk and IT support roles. We combine Google’s coursework with AVTECH’s hands-on labs, mentoring, and job-readiness so graduates are prepared for work — and positioned to continue at Antelope Valley College using ACE credit recommendations recognized by college registrars.
What You’ll Learn
- Technical Support Fundamentals
- Networking — The Bits & Bytes
- Operating Systems
- System Administration
- IT Security
How It Works
- Sequence: Google Fundamentals → full Google IT Support Certificate (5 courses)
- Schedule: 16 weeks • 3 in-person days/week • 3 hours/day • ~6 hours independent
- Guide model: 2 AVTECH Guides lead labs, simulations, study halls, and weekly progress checks
- Career toolkit: resume, LinkedIn, mock interviews
- Laptop/connectivity support as available
Where It Leads
- Entry roles: IT Support, Help Desk, Desktop Tech
- Feeder to Antelope Valley College (AVC): ACE credit recommendation supports registrar evaluation toward CIS/Cyber pathways
- AJCC work-based learning and referrals (WEX/OJT coordination)
Weekly Plan — Model B (Preview)
Three in-person days per week at 3 hours each, plus ~6 hours of guided independent work.
| Week | In-Class (3 × 3h = 9h) | Independent (~6h) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orientation • IT roles • Hardware intro • Coursera setup | Course 1 videos & quiz • Syllabus acknowledgment |
| 2 | PC components lab • Assembly/disassembly • Ports & cables | Hardware modules • Reflection |
| 3 | OS installs (Windows/Linux) • File systems • Users/permissions | Permissions lab • Updates/config |
| 4 | Networking basics • IP/DNS/DHCP • Cabling • Troubleshooting drills | CLI checks • Ping/Traceroute • Quiz |
| 5 | OSI/TCP-IP • Ports/services • Packet flow walk-through | Wireshark capture task • Quiz |
| 6 | Router/switch/firewall demo • Troubleshooting playbook | DNS/DHCP scenario lab • Quiz |
| 7 | Linux CLI • Navigation • Permissions • Intro shell script | Bash practice • Script submission |
| 8 | SysAdmin • Users & groups • Cron/logs • SSH/RDP | Monitoring/logs mini-lab • Quiz |
| 9 | OS maintenance • Diagnostics • Ticket simulations | Case labs • Ticket write-ups |
| 10 | Servers & infra • File/print server • AD/DNS/DHCP roles | Server role simulation • Worksheet • Quiz |
| 11 | Cloud computing • VMs • Containers • Snapshots | Cloud VM lab • Containers basics • Quiz |
| 12 | Backup & recovery • Imaging • BCP tabletop | Backup plan template • Restore walkthrough • Quiz |
| 13 | Security fundamentals • Auth • Encryption • VPN • Phishing lab | Security modules • SOC basics micro-lab • Quiz |
| 14 | Incident response • Logs • Triage • Escalation • Policy writing | IR policy draft • Log-review task • Quiz |
| 15 | Capstone prep • Mock help desk • Resume/LinkedIn build | Finish modules • Portfolio checklist |
| 16 | Capstone presentations • Completion review • Career workshop | Final Coursera submissions • Exit survey |
How Instruction Works
The Google IT Support Professional Certificate coursework is delivered on Coursera by Google Career Certificates. AVTECH Guides facilitate in-person learning, labs, study halls, and weekly progress check-ins to keep the cohort on pace.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Google Career Certificates (Coursera): Video lessons, auto-graded quizzes, and labs.
- AVTECH Guides: In-person support, group labs, progress tracking, mentoring.
- Learners: Complete Coursera modules and labs, attend in-person sessions, submit weekly proofs.
Instruction Credit
Instruction is officially provided by Google Career Certificates on Coursera. AVTECH integrates this coursework into a guided, hands-on classroom format for successful completion.
ACE College Credit
- ACE ID: GOOG-0006
- Credit Recommendation: up to 15 semester hours
- Validity Window: current recommendation through Nov 30, 2028
- AVC Feeder: Credits considered via ACE transcript and registrar evaluation
Each college decides how ACE-recommended credit applies toward degrees/certificates.
Career Targets (O*NET)
| Code | Title | 10-Year Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| 15-1232.00 | Computer User Support Specialists | ≈ −1% growth, strong replacement openings |
| 15-1231.00 | Computer Network Support Specialists | +1–2% growth |
| 15-1212.00 | Information Security Analysts | +29% growth (next-step pathway) |
Help-desk may be flat, but it is the launchpad into higher-growth roles in networking and security.
Employer Network
- Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium: 150+ companies
- Examples with LA/AV presence: T-Mobile, Wells Fargo, Siemens, Google
- AJCC Business Services: job fairs, referrals, WEX/OJT coordination
AVTECH partners with AJCC to connect graduates to local employers and opportunities.
Google and Google Career Certificates are trademarks of Google LLC. Pathways with AVC and AJCC are active priorities and formalization follows standard partner processes.