Free IT Training in Chicago, IL | Creating IT Futures

Chicago, IL

With support from Boeing, Cognizant U.S. Foundation, workNet DuPage Career Center, and Wounded Warrior Project, IT-Ready is offering tech training in 2018 in DuPage County and in 2019 in the Avondale area of Chicago. The 14-week, full-time, classroom program in 2018 is held at the Illinois BIS office in Naperville. The 8-week, full-time, classroom program in 2019 is hosted at NEIU's El Centro Campus.

Are You Ready for a Career in IT?

We teach bright, motivated individuals who lack opportunity — free of charge — the technical and professional development skills needed to successfully secure work in information technology. These are just a few of the benefits after graduating from IT-Ready.

More Earning Potential

The average salary of an IT job in Illinois is 75% higher than the average state wage.

Career Mobility

More than 30,000 tech jobs are open in Chicago.

Future Growth

By 2026, the number of IT jobs in Chicago will grow by 11%

Qualification Checklist

With limited classroom space – and overwhelming demand – IT-Ready must be deliberate in its selection process, choosing motivated and interested candidates who are committed to success. The application process starts with these questions:

Are you at least 18 years old?
Are you a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant?
Can you demonstrate financial need?
Are you a high school graduate or do you have a GED?
Do you have access to a computer with internet connection?
Can you commit to eight weeks of unpaid training?
Will you be open to full-time work following your IT-Ready training?

If you answered "yes" to these questions, we encourage you to apply.

Apply to IT-Ready

Upcoming Classes

Class Type	CLASS STARTS	APPLICATIONS DUE
CSIS	October 1, 2018	September 14 - Applications are now closed.
Technical Support	February 11, 2019	January 11, 2019 - Apply Now.
Technical Support	April 22, 2019	March 22, 2019
Technical Support	July 8, 2019	July 7, 2019
Technical Support	September 30, 2019	August 30, 2019

For our class starting in October 2018, applicants must live in or last worked in DuPage County, Illinois. Our partner, the workNet DuPage Career Center of DuPage County, is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Classes holidays are November 22 and 23 and December 24 - January 1.

Our October 2018 class is held at Illinois BIS, 1100 E Warrenville Road, Suite #150, Naperville, IL 60563.

Our 2019 classes will be held at NEIU's El Centro Campus in the Avondale area of Chicago: 3390 N. Avondale Ave, Chicago, IL 60618.

Program Overview & FAQs

Students who enroll in our classroom-based, 8-week IT-Ready Technical Support program learn technical skills to help them successfully pass both parts of the CompTIA A+ certification exam. IT-Ready CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist (CSIS) students learn technical skills over 14 weeks to help them successfully pass three certification exams: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+.

All IT-Ready students also receive targeted professional development to refine critical business skills, such as communication and presentation, conflict management, teamwork and collaboration, and critical thinking and problem solving. Graduates are prepared to apply both technical and professional skills starting Day One of their next job.

Apply Today

Q1

How long does the class session last and how many people are in class?
IT-Ready TS and IT-Ready QA classes take place over eight weeks in a classroom environment with one instructor and up to 25 students. IT-Ready CSIS classes run for 14 weeks. The instructor shares material in a lecture format, but leaves plenty of time for questions, group projects and one-on-one attention, as well as hands-on labs.
Q2

How much does a class cost?
IT-Ready is underwritten by grants and financial donations, so that students can attend classes for free.
Q3

How long does each class run and is it every day?
Classes are held five days a week, Monday through Friday, beginning promptly at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. Students are required to be on time every day; the program allows only one absence and two tardies. Most classes run for 8 weeks, except for our CSIS class which runs for 14 weeks.
Q4

What materials do I need to take a class?
A pencil and paper to take notes are all you need for class. Textbooks and in-class computers are provided for students. However, students must dress as they would in an employment setting in “business casual” attire.
Q5

What type of job can I expect to get after completing IT-Ready and where?
Within four months of graduating, 75% students are working in a paid IT role in local area companies. Technical support and CSIS graduates move into help desk tech roles, building and maintaining a business’s IT environment and assisting its internal and external customers. QA graduates move into software testing roles. IT-Ready students who pass their certification exams are eligible for a tech job paying up to $15/hour. IT-Ready graduates are effectively employees of that company on a temporary, contract, or full-time permanent basis. IT-Ready staff remain in touch with graduates to ensure all goes smoothly.

More FAQs

Alumni Career Support

Our IT-Ready alumni benefits encourage continued professional growth and development

The strong and supportive relationships we build with IT-Ready students don’t end upon their graduation and employment. IT-Ready provides alumni benefits that encourage continued professional growth and development – and offers ways alumni can “pay it forward” and help other deserving individuals.

IT-Ready graduates who pass the CompTIA A+ certification exams qualify for additional IT training and certification vouchers at no personal expense.

Learn More

Alumni Success

Now with five years of IT industry experience under her belt, IT-Ready alum Ngina Baggett sees nothing but advancement opportunities ahead of her.
Read More