Per Scholas FAQs

Yes, depending on your campus. We do have classes that are online/remote as well as in-person and hybrid. Whether remote, in-person, or hybrid all of our classes are live and instructor-led with strict attendance policies. The individual course pages will tell you if the course is delivered in person, remotely, or hybrid. Additionally, for classes tied to a physical Per Scholas campus, we require candidates to live within a commutable distance of that specific campus.

We do have National Remote courses available to learners from any U.S. city, however, due to licensing restrictions, some campuses and states are ineligible. If you are interested, you can see these course offerings here!

Courses offered at all of our campuses (except for National Remote) are full-time, M-F, 9am-4pm.

However, we offer part-time and flexible IT Support courses as part of our National Remote campus. You can take a look at these courses and our other National Remote courses here. Keep in mind that some campuses and states are ineligible for these courses due to licensing reasons. 

Thank you for reaching out and for your interest in our courses! Our future TEKsystems course page is meant to represent possible TEKsystems courses that have not yet been scheduled. Our TEKsystems course offerings are largely determined by the job opportunities available at TEKsystems, and so course curriculum, campus, and start dates are announced 8-12 weeks prior to the course start depending on demand.

Possible TEKsystems courses include our Full Stack Java Developer course, Low Voltage Telecomms Technician, End User Desktop Support course, Cybersecurity, React Developer, Data Engineer, or possibly another course. It is worth noting that no single course will give you all the certifications listed on the future TEKsystems course page, but these are listed to represent the different certifications offered by different possible TEKsystems courses.

Per Scholas does not pay learners to attend training. Our Learner Support Team, including your Learner Support Manager and Financial Coach, can help you find outside programs that may assist with covering personal expenses such as housing, utilities, food, or childcare expenses. Additionally, eligible full-time IT Support learners can apply for a Zero Percent Loan from Ascent to help cover personal expenses during training.

Attendance is imperative in order to maintain academic requirements and successfully complete our courses. As such, our campus-specific courses require a Monday through Friday full-time (typically 9am-4pm) commitment. You can view our attendance policy here.

We do offer part-time and flexible IT Support courses as part of our National Remote course campus. These courses are completed on your own time with hours of live instruction mixed in. You can view more about these courses and their schedules on our National Remote course page here. 

Refer to the Attendance Chart for details. We strongly encourage attendance at all times, especially the first week, because it is imperative in order to maintain academic requirements and successfully complete the course. As a reminder, this training program is very rigorous, so it’s easy to fall behind. That said, missing one day should be okay. It will count towards your allotted number of absences. Just make sure you communicate this information to your instructor ahead of time and that you make up all missed work prior to the deadline.

You can view our attendance policy in detail here.

You can view the corresponding certifications and courses below. The certification exam is built into the curriculum (typically toward the end of the course). Per Scholas will cover the cost of all certification exams.

*Please note that not all of these courses are offered at every campus/year-round. 

• AWS re/Start – AWS Cloud Practitioner certification
• Cybersecurity Analyst – CompTIA CySA+ & Splunk Core Certified Power User certifications
• Data Center Technician powered by TEKsystems – OSHA 10-Hour General Industry  & OSHA NFPA 70E certifications
• End User Desktop Support – CompTIA A+ & Google IT Support Professional certifications
• End User Desktop Support powered by TEKsystems– CompTIA A+ certification
• Flexible IT Support – CompTIA A+ certification
• Help Desk Agent – ServiceNow Certified System Administrator (CSA) certification
• IT Data Center Technician – CompTIA A+, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, & OSHA NFPA 70E certifications
• IT Support – CompTIA A+ & Google IT Support Professional certifications
• IT Support & Security Fundamentals – CompTIA A+
• Part-Time IT Support – CompTIA A+
• Salesforce Administrator – Salesforce Administrator Certification

We are currently working with the NECHE to explore accreditation, but at this time, we are not accredited. However, thanks to a relationship with Western Governors University, Per Scholas alum are able to use their training to receive credits with their institution, as well as discounted tuition.

You must reside in the United States in order to take Per Scholas courses. Additionally, we cannot process your application until you have received clearance to work in the U.S. However, if you are experiencing problems, we can refer you to other organizations that may be able to help.

[Here is a list of some related programs that are available internationally such as Grow With Google, Code Academy, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Udacity, Thinkful, Dataquest, Revature, LaunchCode, and My Computer Career.]

Absolutely! We comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other relevant laws and regulations. Please contact [email protected] to discuss your specific situation and needs.

Depending on the campus and course, Per Scholas training is approved for people receiving unemployment, as well as other benefits that would ordinarily require them to spend time working or looking for work. If you have questions or concerns about your situation, please contact admissions.

To be enrolled at Per Scholas, prospective learners must meet all minimum eligibility requirements and provide documented proof of eligibility.

See below (or click here) for the additional requirements and approved forms of documentation.

Proof of Social Security

• Social Security Card
• Federal or State Income Tax W-2
• Federal or State Income Tax or Earning Statement (SSA-1099)

Proof of Eligibility to Work in the U.S.

• Employees must provide documentation to their employers to show their identity and authorization to work. To ensure you’re set up for employment opportunities post-training, Per Scholas requires proof of I-9 documents.
• These document(s) must establish both Identity and Employment Authorization. Jobseekers have two options for proving their employment eligibility:
  • Option A: Upload 1 Document that establishes both Identity and Employment Authorization
  • Option B: Upload 2 Documents – 1 that establishes Identity + 1 that establishes Employment Authorization
• For further details on accepted documents, please see here

Proof of Age

• Must be 18 or older

• State Driver’s License, Permit or Non-Driver ID (not expired)
• Birth Certificate
• Passport (not expired)

Proof of Address

• Must reside in the U.S. – Cannot be a P.O. Box

• State Driver’s License, Permit, or Non-Driver ID, must be current physical address (not expired)
• Bank Statement
• Current utility bill with applicant’s name & current address
• Pay Stub

Proof of Education

• Must have a High School Diploma or a G.E.D.

• • Transcripts or Diploma Certificates for any degrees earned
  • Letter from the registrar of your academic institution verifying completion of your degree
  • Combination of documents that form a complete record of your education (must show degree and date earned)

• *Foreign credentials require degree evaluation

Proof of Income

• Last few pay stubs (must show one month of income)
• Child Support Payments
• Social Security Disability or Social Security Income printout
• Unemployment printout
• Letter of Support template from an individual who will be financially supporting the applicant during training (if you have no other income source)
• Letter of Self-Attestation template (if the applicant has no other income and is capable of financially supporting self)

You can find out more information about this course on our website here! When you’re ready, click the “get started” button on the course page to start your application or follow this link. Once you submit the form you will receive information on the next steps!

During the admissions process, we assess each candidate’s needs individually, including computer requirements specific to their curriculum track. Similarly, during onboarding, we review each learner’s needs to ensure they are well-supported. If you have concerns about your situation, please reach out to the admissions team for assistance.

National Remote learners are required to have their own tech equipment. If you are interested in taking a National Remote course, you can view our National Remote tech requirements here.

Yes, in order to be enrolled in our programs, you must provide all documents requested. These documents ensure you meet our eligibility requirements and support our ability to receive funding to keep our training at no-cost.

Our Work Authorization policy exists to ensure our organization is legally compliant with applicable U.S. Employment laws, and that learners are set up for success to be placed in full-time employment immediately following completion of our training. Although Per Scholas learners are not technically employees of Per Scholas, we are considered an employment agency when determining which laws apply to our learner admissions and enrollment process. Specifically, employment agencies and employment training programs are required to follow the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) rules, and federal civil rights laws like Title VII  and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

To meet federal compliance and to ensure learners can attain jobs post-training, enrolled learners must be able to provide proof of U.S. Work Authorization. To ensure adequate time for job attainment, Proof of Work Authorization must be valid for at least 6 months post-graduation.

No, due to various federal and state regulations, you may only participate in our programs while in the United States.

In general, learners must:

• Live within eligible distance of the Per Scholas Site
• Have basic digital literacy
• Meet the pre-training income policy guidelines
• Can attend classes full-time for the entire duration of the course
• Are aged 18 or older
• Have a High School diploma, equivalent, or higher
• Must be able to provide proof of valid U.S. work authorization
• Can read, write, and speak in English
• Able and committed to launching tech career immediately following training
• Ready to make an important commitment to building your future

You can see specific requirements by class on the individual course pages!

Since Per Scholas is a non-profit organization, we are required to collect certain data points for grants and funder requests. We do not use these questions to determine eligibility for our courses and the answers to these questions will not be shared with third-parties! 

If you aren’t accepted for a course, you are welcome to move forward with a different course in the future. If you didn’t pass one of the exams, you may have to wait 90 days to retake it, but other than that there is no restriction.

Our Learner Support and Career Services teams actively support you in attaining your desired career. We equip you with the resources, guidance and opportunities that empower you throughout your job search journey, including the tools and skills necessary to secure meaningful employment. Your proactive efforts combined with Per Scholas’ comprehensive support and resources set you up for success in your new technology career.

If you want to take another Per Scholas course, we ask that you wait at least two years after graduation to apply. This will allow you to gain some real-world experience! As a Per Scholas graduate, you can also take our alumni-only courses, which you can see here.

This new program is a way to recognize and incentivize future applicants and enrollees. I appreciate your ongoing support and am excited for you to take advantage of this great new opportunity. There is no maximum on how many referrals you can be rewarded for, so keep ’em coming!

Our Learner Support and Career Services teams actively support you in attaining your desired career. We equip you with the resources, guidance, and opportunities that empower you throughout your job search journey, including the tools and skills necessary to secure meaningful employment. Your proactive efforts combined with Per Scholas’ comprehensive support and resources set you up for success in your new technology career.

Currently, Per Scholas is a GI Bill-approved provider in the states of New York and Ohio (specifically Cincinnati). We are in the process of gaining approval in other campuses. You can view more about our Vets In Tech initiative here!

No, due to various federal and state regulations, you may only participate in our programs while in the United States.

For classes tied to a physical Per Scholas campus, whether delivered remotely or in person, we require candidates to live within an eligible distance of that campus.

We do have National Remote training courses that are open to learners across the United States. Please keep in mind that due to licensing restrictions, some campuses and states are not eligible for our National courses. You can view more information about our National courses here.

As a state-licensed training provider focused on providing technical training, we are subject to state-specific education licensing requirements.  As we expand our National Remote training to all 50 states, there are some states we are not yet able to train learners from. Since you currently reside in one of these states, we are unable to include you in training opportunities with Per Scholas at this time. Please check back with us for future opportunities as these location restrictions may change over time.

Each Per Scholas campus has its own geo-restrictions for learners, but generally, if you are within one hour of the campus, you are eligible to take courses at that location.

The next step is to watch your campus-specific admissions overview, which you can find here.

After you submit an online application you will be sent an email with a link to watch a mandatory Admissions Overview that will provide detailed information on the assessment, interview, possible pre-work, and additional steps. Each training requires either an academic assessment, a tech assessment, or both. Individuals who meet the assessment score requirements will be invited (via email) to attend a behavioral interview. The Admissions team will then review assessment scores and interview results and offer seats to eligible candidates!

Only a small, specific group of Per Scholas employees can view the information and documentation you upload to the portal. These staff members use this data to check if you qualify for the program and to ensure we are compliant with funding requirements to ensure our training can remain free. The portal uses strong security methods to keep your information safe, such as scrambling (encrypts) your data into a code called ciphertext that can’t be read without a special key. The encryption process uses a trusted and secure method called AES (Advanced Encryption Standard with a very strong 256-bit key. A special way of organizing the encryption, called CBC mode adds extra security by mixing up the data further. After being encrypted, your data is saved securely on a platform called Salesforce which is a trusted system for managing such information. Specifically, Per Scholas utilizes Salesforce Shield, a trio of security tools that ensures an extra level of data trust, compliance, and governance and includes Shield Platform Encryption, Event Monitoring, and Field Audit Trail features.

You can view an in-depth Kick-Off FAQ page here.

An email containing detailed information for your first day will be emailed to you no later than the Friday before Day 1.

You can access the class Zoom link by clicking on the “Zoom” menu option located on the side menu bar on Canvas. You can also reach out to your technical instruction team. Please contact Kaycie McLaughlin at [email protected] for those details.

The typical class schedule can vary depending on the course delivery and duration. In general, our typical class schedule will consist of instruction, assigned breaks, and tutoring. 

• Full-time courses will consist of 8-hour days. We encourage ALL FULL-TIME learners to set aside 15-20 hours of additional study time per week 
• Flexible and Part-time courses are held on several days throughout the week and can take place during mornings, afternoons, evenings and/or weekends. We encourage ALL non-FT learners to set aside 15-40 hours of additional study time per week.

Macs and Chromebooks are NOT compatible with AWS re/Start, IT Support, and Cybersecurity courses. Additional tech specs may be required, and your admissions lead will coordinate with campus and instructors if your laptop/computer is not compatible with the requirements.

We always recommend you find a job after graduation to gain experience; however, we invite you to re-enroll for a future cohort after 2 years. During those 2 years, you have access to upskilling opportunities as an alumni such as self-paced asynchronous classes, evening and weekend instructor-led classes and micro cohorts that focus on enhancing skills & tech tool knowledge.

Please email [email protected] with a screenshot of the error.