Aspire

Why settle for any job when you could pave the way to landing the career of your dreams?

Go Beyond Average

Employers decide who gets an interview based on a single page description of your qualifications. Top candidates are selected by their unique accomplishments like committing 100+ hours beyond a college degree to obtain a certification. Speaking like a seasoned professional will impress interviewers so much that you can practically call them your future employer.

Mission Statement & Student Eligibility

Our objective is clear, we want to maximize the number of opportunities given to current undergraduate Information Technology (IT), Computer Science (CS), and Computer Engineering (CpE) students entering the workforce upon graduation. All qualifying students will receive an email from Alexis.Burn@ucf.edu within a month of the start of each semester that the program is offered. Prior to signing up for the program, please check your email to assure you qualify. Please see below for further details on qualification.

In order to qualify, students must:
-Be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours during that specific semester
-Be an undergraduate IT, CpE or CS student
-Have a GPA of 2.0 or above (this excludes first semester students from the program)
-Follow the program deadlines given for that specific semester

Qualifying Certifications

The 7 state approved certifications include: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Linux+, Oracle: OCA Database (11g), Oracle: OCA Java Programmer I, and CIW JavaScript Specialist.

certifications for IT professionals.

CompTIA A+ is the starting point for all careers in IT. The exam covers mobile devices, networking technology, hardware, virtualization and cloud computing, operating systems, security, software and operational procedures. Candidates must complete both 1101 and 1102 to earn certification. Exams cannot be combined across the series.
CompTIA Network+ is best suited for network administrators, network technicians, network installers, help desk technicians, and IT cable installers. The exam covers 4. network connectivity, network documentation, purpose of network services, basic data center, cloud and virtual networking concepts, monitoring network activity, identifying performance and availability issues, network hardening techniques, network infrastructure.
CompTIA Security+ exam will verify the successful candidate has the knowledge and skills required to assess the security posture of an enterprise environment and recommend and implement appropriate security solutions; monitor and secure hybrid environments, including cloud, mobile, and IoT; operate with an awareness of applicable laws and policies, including principles of governance, risk, and compliance; identify, analyze, and respond to security events and incidents.
CompTIA Linux+ is the starting point for a career in IT. The exam covers how Linux powers the cloud. This includes cutting edge technologies that help automate and orchestrate business processes, including infrastructure as code and containers.
*Please visit the CompTIA website to learn more details about and to purchase these specific exams*

certifications for software developers.

Oracle OCA Java (SE8) helps any software developer increases their value and job security to any present and future employer.
Oracle OCA Database (11g) maximizes your potential by broadening your knowledge and skills through a wide array of important database features, functions, and tasks.
*Please visit the Oracle website to learn more details about and to purchase these specific exams*

certifications for web developers.

CIW JavaScript Specialist teaches web developers how to use JavaScript to design client-side, platform-independent solutions. (ie: this website)
*Please visit the CIW website to learn more details and to purchase these specific exams*

Certification Retail Cost Program Cost Cost to Enroll**
A+ (220-1101/1102)$253 (x2)$115 (x2)$230
Network+ (N10-008)$369 (x1)$178 (x1)$178
Security+ (SY0-601)$404 (x1)$262 (x1)$262
Linux+ (XK0-005)$369 (x1)$178 (x1)$178
** amount does NOT factor in the $300 institutional aid award, please check for exact pricing
*A+ certification requires two exams*

To help get to the next level

Eligible students will have their course materials provided to them at no cost thanks to state funding from the ITPF and BoG grants. To enroll for a qualifying certification course complete the signup form, purchase the voucher through the respective certification website directly, and upload proof of exam voucher (make sure this upload includes the specific exam and date it was purchase) to the signup portal before the 3/22/24 signup and purchase deadline.

Exclusive Academic Partnership Pricing

Our academic partnership with CompTIA allows for discounted exam vouchers to be sold to all UCF undergraduate IT, CS, and CpE students until March 22, 2024 directly through the respective certification website using the student’s UCF info. Please keep in mind, all students can only take each exam through this program once. If they do not pass the first time, they may be able to take a different exam during a different semester.

Course Materials

All study materials will be ordered after the exam purchasing deadline. Activation codes for these materials will take approximately two weeks to be sent via email to students able to upload all proof of purchase needed to the CECS website. Course materials are all online, self-paced, and do not have an instructor.

Certification Office Hours

Students are encouraged to read through this page completely in order to fully understand the process of the program. If there are further questions, students are able to email questions or set up a zoom meeting with Lexi @ Alexis.Burn@ucf.edu with respect to her office hours below.

Tuesdays 10:00am - 5:00pm
Fridays 10:00am - 5:00pm



Click Here To Enroll Today!

Do you have what it takes to get the institutional aid award?

Eligible students can also apply for a one-time $300 institutional aid award meaning you can not only get certified but come out with a little extra in the bank*. Simply submit proof of your recently obtained qualifying certificate by the June 28, 2024 completion deadline. If students are able to pass and provide proof of passing to the CECS website by this deadline, they may qualify for the institutional aid award. All awards will be processed after the passing deadline and will show up on MyUCF approximately one month after the passing deadline.

Click Here To Apply For Institutional Aid Award - Coming Soon

*cost of exam voucher varies by certification

How can we help you get certified?

For an effective communication, please use the @knights.ucf.edu email address. This will prevent personal emails from being lost amid spam emails.

Nanette Aubert
Interim Program Director
nanette.libertyaubert@ucf.edu
Lexi Burn
Interim Program Assistant
Alexis.Burn@ucf.edu