Remote Work Certificate
Remote work (also known as telework) is a work arrangement that does not require employees to work from a central location, instead allowing a worker to complete their assigned duties from home or other self-selected location. Remote work opportunities have increased by 173% since 2005, which means that there are employment opportunities regardless of where you live.
Washington State University Extension is partnering with Utah State University Extension to offer the Remote Worker Certificate to Washington residents to prepare them to take advantage of remote work opportunities.
The 9 modules of this 4-week course will help you build skills that make an effective remote worker, whether as an employee, entrepreneur, or freelancer.
Program Details
- The course will take approximately 30 hours over four weeks
- There will be one interactive workshop each week with other students and coaches
- The course work is spread over 9 modules.
- You will be assigned a coach to provide support during the course
- The registration fee is $299.
- Participants will receive a course certificate upon completion and join a growing alumni network, where you can share and receive information, job postings, and tips moving forward
Course Requirements
Participation in the course requires:
- A reliable broadband internet connection
- Test my internet connection
- Your download speed should be at least 10 Mbps
- If your speed is below that you will need to find a publicly available network. There is a map of publicly available wifi hotspots in Washington.
- Computer, web camera, and microphone. There are resources available to provide technology for those in an Avista service area.
- Basic computer proficiency, including the ability to:
- Send an email
- Download or upload files from your desktop
- Do basic tasks in a word processing and spreadsheet program (Microsoft Word, Google Docs, etc.)
Interested in taking the course?
Remote Work Course Application Form, click here
This form collects basic information about applicants interested in the remote worker certification course. You will be contacted by email with payment and registration information if there are spots available in your selected course.
Partners
We could not provide this opportunity without the contributions of our partners.
WSU Extension’s Remote Work Certificate opens world of work opportunities
August 28, 2023By Joe Roberts
Benefitting employers and those seeking employment, the Remote Work Certificate offered through Washington State University Extension is boosting Washington’s workforce by teaching digital literacy skills.
Washington state residents can develop their remote working skills through a roster of monthly Extension workshops that begin in August and continue through November of this year.
Partners in success
Close partnerships with Washington state chambers of commerce, business nonprofits, and county leaders, as well as research and testing by WSU Extension faculty and staff, helped make the launch a success in 2021.
Mike Gaffney, assistant director of WSU Extension, points to an early partnership with the Association of Washington Business Institute, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Washington Business, as instrumental in the development of the program, which began as a regional pilot based on a Utah State University Extension certification.
“The Institute knew that WSU Extension had been involved in workforce development via our decadeslong work with digital initiatives,” he said. “They were interested in partnering with us to explore Utah State’s remote work certification, then potentially offer a Washington-focused version.”
After an experimental trial run of Utah’s program that involved 14 testers — five from Extension, five from the Association of Washington Business, and four from a large, regional health care provider — it was determined that the program would fit Washington state’s needs.
“We adopted Utah’s program, but we’ve made some changes to accommodate the regional needs of the populations we work with,” said Gaffney.
“If a participant doesn’t know how to use the technology or doesn’t have access to the appropriate technology, we can connect them to crucial resources offered via support from partner organizations,” he added.
Those partners include WorkSource, Avista Utilities, People for People, and Spokane Teachers Credit Union, which provide support through scholarships or post-course employment resources. Pierce County also provided scholarships for Pierce and Thurston County residents for the May and June 2023 courses.
Gaffney cites Extension’s long-term work mapping access to statewide, free broadband as another example of support for participants.
“WSU Extension’s initiative to connect people with free broadband access points dovetailed really well with the Remote Work Certificate offering,” he said.
Growing interest and tangible results
Christina Sanders, director of the WSU Division of Governmental Studies and Services, has worked on the Remote Work Certificate project since its inception.
“People started hearing about this certification, and we were getting more and more interest,” she said. “Initially, we were going to offer this program on a county-by-county basis, but, due to demand, we were able to make this a statewide offering.”
Nearly 100 certificates have been awarded to participants so far.
Kayla Wells-Yoakum is an associate professor in Stevens County and the Remote Work Certificate program coordinator with WSU Extension. Participants have told her how much more hopeful and prepared they feel after completing the certification.
“I was excited to hear that after the May course, a participant was offered a remote job within three days,” she said. “She was able to articulate to the interviewers the skills she had developed. A separate May certificate awardee is in the process of interviewing for a position.”
“It’s really exciting to see the program’s tangible impacts,” she added.
Further resources
More information about the Remote Work Certificate program’s launch and development is available through CAHNRS News, or visit WSU Extension’s Remote Work Certificate website to learn more.
Media contacts
Mike Gaffney, phone: 509-335-4611, email: mjgaffney@wsu.edu
Christina Sanders, phone: 509-335-4811, email: cmsanders@wsu.edu
Kayla Wells-Yoakum, phone: 509-422-7248, email: kayla.wells@wsu.eduCategories: Community & Economic Development, Extension, Featured