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How Skills Training Works

Advance Your Career with Skills Training

OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY

Working adults have multiple demands on their time, and completing a college degree or certificate may not be something you can consider at this point. Ivy Tech's skills training classes are open to anyone in the community looking for a flexible option to earn an industry certification, advance their job skills, or get into the workforce quickly. Our class offerings are specially designed to support community needs.

An Accelerated Way to Gain New Skills

Ivy Tech's skills training (sometimes called workforce training, professional development, or certification classes) focuses on training that can build in-demand skills and competencies that help you prepare for an industry certification, learn new skills for your employer, or satisfy professional needs.

The main goal is to teach students a specific skill in a short time period to help them jump-start their careers or stay competitive in their industry. You can use the skills you learn in these classes to build your resume and qualify for a new, better job or promotion. Each class is designed to help you stay relevant with new trends, skills, or certifications. 

FLEXIBLE CLASSES

We offer classes for all types of roles, from production workers and front-line staff to key executives. Classes are available in-person or online and range from a single day to several weeks. Our skills training classes do not earn you college credit (see more on this below) but they do show up on your student transcript and can result in a certificate of completion or industry certification. 

WHAT'S OFFERED

Ivy Tech's selection of skills training classes is based directly on the needs of each Indiana community we serve. This means that the types of training offered vary from campus to campus. Contact your nearest Ivy Tech location to see what skills training classes are offered near you.

Our skills training covers a wide variety of topics, including:

  • Safety and environmental management
  • Logistics and supply chain, including truck driving
  • Healthcare
  • Information technology
  • Leadership and supervision
  • Business skills and human resources
  • Manufacturing and maintenance, including welding
  • Hospitality
  • And more!

HOW SKILLS TRAINING WORKS

  • Individuals

    Registering for Training

    Individuals may sign up to take any one of Ivy Tech's skills training classes—no need to apply to Ivy Tech. The registration process for each class is different, so contact your local Ivy Tech location to see what skills training classes are being offered near you and how to register.

    Cost

    The cost for each class varies widely depending on the scope and length of the class. Students can pay for a class on their own, submit the cost for reimbursement (for example, if their employer has a tuition reimbursement plan), or seek authorization to bill to a third party. In general, most students do not qualify for financial aid for non-credit classes; however, in some cases, full tuition for training may be covered by Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant funding. See if you qualify.

    Employers

    Employers may work directly with an  Career Link representative to arrange for their employees to register for a specific class or to arrange for payment.

    See more information for employers about: Employee Skills Training Classes

  • Skills Training

    You might take a skills training class (sometimes called workforce training, professional or personal development, or certification classes) to gain job skills or to stay relevant in today's competitive employment environment. Ivy Tech skills training classes do not earn you college credit on their own, but they may crosswalk into Ivy Tech's academic degree programs should you decide to pursue that route in the future.

    Examples of Skills Training Students

    • You're taking a class in Microsoft Office to improve your skills and beef up your resumé.
    • You're taking a SafeServ Manager class because you are required to have this certification for your job.
    • You're working toward a front-line production certification in manufacturing, so you can land a job in that field.

    Credit Classes

    You might take a credit course if you plan to eventually earn a credit certificate or degree. The number of credits a course is worth is based on the time and rigor of the class. You earn credit by attending, participating, and successfully completing a course. Credits add up and can be applied toward a degree. 

    Examples of Credit Students

    • You're working toward an associate degree in Nursing. You plan to get a job in a hospital after graduation.
    • You're working toward an associate degree in Psychology. You plan to transfer to a four-year college after graduation to earn your bachelor's degree.
    • You're attending a four-year college but are home for the summer. You decide to take a course that will transfer to your home school and apply to your four-year degree.
    • You're working toward a long-term certificate (known as a technical certificate or TC) in Business Administration. You are looking to escape your minimum wage job and start working in an entry-level business job quickly.
  • Turn Your Skills Training into Credit Later On

    Ivy Tech skills training classes do not earn you college credit on their own, but they may exempt you from needing to take a specific course as part of a for-credit program's curriculum in the future.

    In fact, many of Ivy Tech's skills training classes are designed to crosswalk into academic (for-credit) programs offered by Ivy Tech to give you credit for your prior learning. Speak with your advisor to learn more.

INdustry-Recognized Certifications

Many business sectors have identified industry-recognized certifications to ensure their workforce is equipped with specialized knowledge and skills. At Ivy Tech, you can take classes that will prepare you for those certifications, such as:

ServSafe Logo     American Heart Association Logo      .     

CLASSES TO SUPPORT INDIANA'S GROWTH

Ivy Tech's skills training is offered in a variety of formats and content to support the growth of key Indiana economic sectors and community needs. We actively work with state and local government agencies and leading employers to identify training needs.

The result is a wide variety of short-term, high-demand training classes specially designed to serve the needs of employees in Indiana’s business, industry, nonprofit, and government sectors to continuously move Indiana’s economy forward and provide you with high-impact competencies.

QUESTIONS ABOUT SKILLS TRAINING?

Contact Us

If you have questions about skills training, contact your local Career Link career coach.

Upcoming Classes

Every Ivy Tech campus offers a unique set of training classes, so check your local Ivy Tech location to see what skills training classes are being offered near you.

Tuesdays@TheTech

You can also take advantage of Tuesdays@TheTech by stopping by your local campus on any Tuesday to get personal support and guidance to sign up for training.

Find Local Skills Training Program Manager Contact Info

Don't see a nearby Skills Training Program Manager location? Call 1-888-489-5463 and we'll get you started.

Dusty Arney-Clark
CareerLink Program Manager
765-643-7133
darneyclark@ivytech.edu

Rhonda Jackson
Ivy+ Career Link Program Manager
812-374-5182
rjackson125@ivytech.edu

Lori Staack
Program Manager
lstaack@ivytech.edu
219-256-7511

Lori Staack
Program Manager
lstaack@ivytech.edu
219-256-7511

Nicholas A. Bragin
Director, Employer Engagement
812-492-0269
nbragin@ivytech.edu
   
Amanda Vandewege
Employer Consultant
812-429-9847
avandewege@ivytech.edu
   
Rick Small
Program Manager
812-429-1465
rsmall12@ivytech.edu
 
Nick Gathercole
Program Manager
812-429-1464
ngathercole@ivytech.edu
   
   

Kassandra Flanagan
Career Connections & Employment Program Manager
260-480-4214
kflanagan9@ivytech.edu

 

Lori Staack
Program Manager
lstaack@ivytech.edu
219-256-7511

Kelly Brooks
Tyffani Middleton

Bonnie Devers, Program Manager
Bdevers3@ivytech.edu

Kathleen Kostecka
Program Manager
219-476-4761
valparaiso-careerlink@ivytech.edua

Holly Brown
Program Manager, Ivy+ CareerLink
765-269-5862
hbrown163@ivytech.edu

Lake County has 3 full-service locations. Select a location below to see contact information for their Skills Training Program Manager department.

Matt Dole
Employer Consultant
Ivy+ Career Link
Office: 812-537-4010 ext. 8103
Cell: 513-638-8483
mdole3@ivytech.edu

Carol Brown
Executive Director Ivy+ Career Link
cbrown206@ivytech.edu

Jordan Steiner
Director of Strategy and Economic Impact
765-289-2291 ext. 1648
jsteiner3@ivytech.edu

 

Diane Koelndorfer
dkoelndorfer@ivytech.edu
874-830-0375

Genie (Yevgeniya) Feldleyfer
yfeldleyfer@ivytech.edu

Monday-Friday | 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m.

812-298-2485
aakers@ivytech.edu

Amy Akers
Skills Training Program Manager
812-298-2485
aakers@ivytech.edu

Kathleen Kostecka
Program Manager
219-476-4761
valparaiso-careerlink@ivytech.edua

CLASSES FOR SAFE CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT

At Ivy Tech's Environmental Management Institute

Safety and compliance are key for every industry. Ivy Tech offers non-credit classes for asbestos, hazardous material, HAZWOPER, lead, and OSHA compliance.

COMING SOON: ACCELERATED IT TRAINING

Non-credit classes for adult students

Learn new skills and build your resume to qualify for a new or better job in the rapidly growing field of IT. Custom training can be developed for employers too!

File your 2024-2025 FAFSA before April 15 Indiana’s priority deadline for the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is April 15. File your application as soon as you can to receive maximum consideration for financial aid.