Workforce Development Programs
Expert Training for our Community’s Active Workforce
- Industry Training and Consulting
- Registered Apprenticeships
- Professional Development and Certifications
- American Heart Association Training
- Leadership Initiatives @ the Costa Leadership Institute
Industry Training & Consulting
Our Professional and Workforce Training department specializes in training and advising to meet the needs for businesses, industries, and individuals. Training includes a myriad of courses and workshops in areas such as management, accounting and finance, manufacturing, hospitality, electronics, computers, quality, and technology. Please contact the department for current training options.
Our staff works closely with business and industry partners in conducting needs assessments and developing industry-specific curriculum that include support such as:
- On-site Training
- On-campus Training
- Customized Training specific to your needs
- Experienced Facilitators
- Credit and Non-credit Training Programs
- Industry Credentials
- Strategy Development
- Workforce & Workplace Planning
Grant Opportunities are available to assist businesses and individuals with funding their training.
Tax Practitioner Update Seminar – $345
December 1 & 2, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Niceville campus
Register here
Registered Apprenticeships
Not all learning fits into a traditional academic model and at Northwest Florida State College, we are committed to helping our community and businesses attract and retain a talented, vibrant, and skilled workforce. A registered apprenticeship program blends classroom instruction and On-the-Job learning to provide businesses with a proven solution for recruiting, training, and retaining world-class talent.
What is a Registered Apprenticeship?
- Nationally recognized programs
- Earn and learn model for newly hired or existing employees
- Provides on-the-job learning and job-related technical instruction
- Over 1,000 available occupations
- Typical programs range from one year to four years to complete
- Can include academic credit courses, non-credit courses, and industry credentials
The Professional & Workforce Training team at NWF State College has experience helping companies design training plans and develop apprenticeship models that work for them. These apprenticeship programs are completely customizable for each company.
Apprenticeship occupations include: Carpentry, Plumbing, CNC, Culinary, HVAC, Building Maintenance Repair, Computer Support Specialist, and Network Systems Administrator.
Online Certification Training
In today’s competitive professional climate, earning certifications and continuing education units is key to building and maintaining your reputation as a trusted industry leader. Most training programs offered in-class and online.
Some of our Certification Courses include:
- PMP Certification Exam Prep
- CompTIA Security+, Network +, Linux+, and A+ (Test Vouchers included)
- Microsoft Office Certifications
- Microsoft Product Training
- Cisco CCNA prep
- High School Diploma with Industry Training included
- Many More
View Ed2Go Non-Credit Personal & Professional Enrichment Courses
View Ed2Go Career Training Programs
Amazon Web Services Academy
FREE Cloud Computing Certification Training with Amazon Web Services Academy to Select Florida Students*
Northwest Florida State College is participating with AWS Academy, an Amazon Web Services (AWS) program that provides ready-to-teach cloud computing curriculum. Local students* can enroll in the AWS Academy Cloud Foundations course as a first step in pursuing a career in the fast-growing cloud computing industry. Students who already have an AWS Cloud Practitioner certification can enroll in the AWS Academy Cloud Security Foundations course.
These online, self-paced courses help students become proficient in cloud technology and are offered for free with available funding to cover certification testing fees to qualifying students*. All students who sign up for these classes will be expected to complete the course and take the corresponding certification exam. Students who do not meet this criteria will be marked as incomplete in the course.
*This program is available to all students in the following Florida counties: Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Wakulla. Available funding has been exhausted to students outside of the above counties.
AWS
Certification Courses offered during the Summer Semester:
AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
Description:
AWS Academy Cloud Foundations is intended for students who seek an overall understanding of cloud computing concepts, independent of specific technical roles. It provides a detailed overview of cloud concepts, AWS core services, security, architecture, pricing, and support.
Duration:
Approximately 20 hours. AWS Academy Cloud Foundations should take a minimum of least two weeks to complete. The class will be online and fully-self paced.
The current course is full, please check our website in April for announcements of upcoming courses.
Intended audience
To ensure success in this course, students should have the following:
- General IT technical knowledge
- General IT business knowledge
For the online enrollment form, Click Here
AWS Academy Cloud Security Foundations
Description:
The Northwest Florida State College (NWF) Pathway to Cloud Security program is a cybersecurity training program with the purpose of equipping students with the necessary skills of designing, deploying, and managing cloud-based solutions utilizing Amazon Web Services (AWS) tools. The key area of focus for this program is cloud security. The AWS Academy program course covers various aspects of cloud security, including securing data and applications in the cloud, configuring and managing network security, and monitoring and managing security in the cloud environment.
Duration:
Approximately 40 hours. AWS Academy Cloud Security Foundations should take a minimum of least four weeks to complete. The class will be online and fully-self paced. Intended audience
To ensure success in this course, students should have the following:
- A working knowledge of basic IT skills and an understanding of both cloud computing and cybersecurity.
- Need to have a strong interest in cybersecurity and cloud computing.
- Students who sign up will be required to first complete the AWS Academy Cloud Foundations course offered through NWF and to pass the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification prior to signing up for the AWS Cloud Security Foundations course. (Students with existing AWS Cloud Practitioner certification can skip this step with proof of certification.)
- Have an understanding of cybersecurity operations and risks.
- Have IT security experience in designing and implementing security solutions and/or have completed courses in cybersecurity like CompTIA Security+
For the online enrollment form, Click Here
For more information, please contact Tim McSwain at mcswaint@nwfsc.edu or (850) 678-5111 ext. 6102.
American Heart Association Training Center
Northwest Florida State College offers the following classes in partnership with the American Heart Association. View each course’s schedule below and enroll via the online enrollment form.
Course Fee: $65
The AHA’s BLS Course provides the foundation for saving lives from cardiac arrest. It teaches both single-rescuer and team basic life support skills for application in both prehospital and in-facility environments, with a focus on high-quality CPR and team dynamics.
Registration for class will be closed 7 days prior to class meeting date in an effort to avoid last minute cancellations. Please make sure to register no later than 7 days prior to the scheduled class date.
All classes will be taught in person and limited to no more than 6 students per class. In the event that classes are moved online, you will be notified of the change.
For questions regarding AHA guidelines, please contact AHA TCC Don Pendergraft – pendergd@nwfsc.edu
Leadership Initiatives @ the Costa Leadership Institute
Northwest Florida State College offers professional and leadership education opportunities at the Costa Leadership Institute, a world-class training location on the Niceville Campus. This location provides a flexible and technologically advanced learning environment that is safe, healthy, comfortable, aesthetically pleasing and accessible.
Below are some of the Leadership Initiatives held at the Costa Leadership Institute.
President’s Leadership Academy
The President’s Leadership Academy of Northwest Florida State College is an intensive internal leadership development program designed to provide professional and personal development for Northwest Florida State College personnel. The Academy will enable participants to deepen their understanding of higher education topics at the national, state, and local level. Participants will engage with peers to discuss challenges and propose solutions grounded in research and best practices. Throughout the Academy, internal and external speakers will highlight leadership skills essential for career advancement in higher education.
A cohort of Northwest Florida State College employees will be selected annually to actively participate in the 9-month program. Participants will be selected through an application process that will be open to personnel from all divisions and departments of the College. The President will appoint members of the selection committee.
Support for the President’s Leadership Academy is provided in-part by the following endowments: Charles K. and Eileen H. Arpke; Carr, Riggs, and Ingram; Allyn C. Donaldson, Jr.; Goetsch Gallery; and Janet Nadel Morell.
Leadership Okaloosa
This nine-month experience is designed to enhance the participant’s leadership skills and provide community awareness. Hosted from September to May, participants receive classroom training by certified instructors and are given opportunities to interact with various key community leaders throughout the process.
Tours of key areas such as Destin, Crestview, Niceville, Valparaiso, Fort Walton Beach, Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field and Legislative Days in Tallahassee provide participants with a better understanding of the community. Each participant takes part in a group project to benefit the community while focusing on project management, time management and team building skills.
The application cycle for Leadership Okaloosa is now open! Applications are due by end-of-business day August 15, 2022. Please click on the link to access the application.
Leadership Okaloosa Application
Community Leadership Development
Northwest Florida State College offers a variety of free courses intended to enhance the leadership capabilities of our local business talent. The skills obtained in these courses are designed to bolster workplace synergy and provide a positive impact on our local economy.
Instructors chosen to teach Community Leadership Development courses are renowned authors, leaders in military and civilian government, and business and community influencers. Their expertise combined with specialized, personal training, provides a unique environment in which participants thrive.
The free courses (noted below) are offered at the Costa Leadership Institute, located on the 3rd floor of building 400 on the Niceville campus.
Support for these training events is provided in-part by the Costa Leadership Institute Endowment.
Request More Information
For more information, please contact our team at workforce@nwfsc.edu or (850) 729-4956.