Onward to Opportunity (O2O) is a no-cost industry-focused and validated career skills program that connects transitioning service members and active duty military spouses to high-demand careers in Customer Service Excellence, Information Technology, and Business Management. Training is designed to meet the needs of private sector partners to help bridge the gap between the military-connect population and skills the employers are seeking.
All in-person installation candidates begin O2O by completing an introductory professional development course, Onward to Your Career!, then move on to complete the courses in their selected learning pathways. Distance learners will have the opportunity to learn more about professional development offerings once they begin the online cohort.
| Career Track | Industry Specialization | Course Pathway | Industry Certification? | Certification Exam Prerequisites | Course Content Provider | Recommended Career Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Technology | Cloud Services | AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials | Yes | None See AWS for complete details | AWS | Beginner | |
| Information Technology | Integration | Dell Boomi Associate and Professional Integration Developer | Yes | None See Dell Boomi for complete details | Dell Boomi | Beginner | |
| Information Technology / Cyber Security | Cloud Services / Information Security | Cloud Security | Yes | None See CCSK for complete details | IVMF's Cisco Networking Academy | Intermediate | |
| Information Technology | Integration | Dell Boomi Production Administrator | Yes | None See Dell Boomi for complete details | Dell Boomi | Advanced | |
| Information Technology | Entry Level IT Technician | CompTIA A+ | Yes | Recommended: 1. 18-24 months IT experience. 2. 6-12 months hands-on experience in the lab or field See CompTIA for complete details | Skillsoft | Beginner | |
| Information Technology | Linux | CompTIA Linux+ | Yes | Recommended: Prior certification in CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and 12 months of Linux admin experience See CompTIA for complete details. | Skillsoft | Intermediate | |
| Information Technology | Information Security | CompTIA Security+ | Yes | Recommended: CompTIA Network+ and two years of experience in IT administration with a security focus See CompTIA for complete details. | Skillsoft | Beginner | |
| Information Technology | Information Security | CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) | Yes | A minimum of ten years of experience in IT administration, including at least five years of hands-on technical security experience. See CompTIA for complete details. | Skillsoft | Advanced | |
| Information Technology | Information Security | Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) | Yes | Required: 1. Minimum 1 year of cumulative paid full-time work experience in one or more of the 7 domains of the SSCP CBK ***Without required experience: you may sit for the exam and become an Associate of (ISC)² until you have gained the required experience. See (ISC)² for complete details. | Skillsoft | Intermediate | |
| Information Technology | Information Security | Information Systems Security Certified Professional (CISSP) | Yes | Required: 1. Minimum 5 years cumulative paid full-time work experience in two or more of the 8 domains of the (ISC)² CISSP CBK®. 2. Candidates may receive a one year experience waiver with a 4-year college degree, or regional equivalent or additional credential from the (ISC)² approved list, thus requiring four years of direct full-time professional security work experience in 2 or more of the 8 domains of the CISSP CBK. 3. Six years overall to earn experience to become a CISSP. ***Without required experience: student can become an Associate of (ISC)² by successfully passing the CISSP exam. See (ISC)² for complete details. | Skillsoft | Advanced | |
| Information Technology | Networking | CompTIA Network+ | Yes | Recommended: 1. CompTIA A+ Certification. 2. Nine months of networking experience See CompTIA for complete details. | Skillsoft | Beginner | |
| Information Technology | Networking | Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) | Yes | None See Cisco for complete details. | Skillsoft | Intermediate | |
| Information Technology | Networking | Cisco Networking Essentials | No | None See Cisco for complete details. | IVMF's Cisco Networking Academy | Beginner | |
| Information Technology | Programming / Development | Cisco JavaScript Essentials 1(JSE) | No | See Cisco for complete details. | IVMF's Cisco Networking Academy | Beginner | |
| Information Technology | Programming/Development | Java (SE8 Certification) | Yes | Required: For Java SE8 Programmer II exam (1Z0-809), must posses Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE8 Programmer I certification. See Oracle for complete details. | Skillsoft | Intermediate | |
| Information Technology | Programming, Data Management | SAS Programming | SAS- SAS Certified Base Programmer | None | SAS | Beginner to Intermediate | |
| Information Technology | Cloud Services | CompTIA Cloud+ | Yes | Recommended: 24 to 36 months of work experience in networking, storage or IT data center administration. Familiarity with any major hypervisor technologies for server virtualization. See CompTIA for complete details. | Skillsoft | Intermediate | |
| Information Technology | Server Systems | CompTIA Server+ | Yes | Recommended: 6-12 months hands-on experience in lab or field See CompTIA for complete details. | Skillsoft | Beginner | |
| Information Technology | Database Management | Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) | Yes | None See ITIL for complete details. | Skillsoft | Intermediate | |
| Information Technology | Database Management | Oracle 12c Database | Yes | None See Oracle for complete details. | Skillsoft | Intermediate | |
| Business Management | Data Science | Data Science Core Concepts | No | N/A | Skillsoft | Beginner | |
| Business Management | Project Management | Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI - ACP) | Yes | Required 1. A bachelor's or post-graduate degree (or global equivalent) from a GAC (Global Accreditation Center) accredited program 2. 8 months of agile project experience 3. 35 hours of agile practices education/training OR 1. A high school diploma or an associate's degree (or global equivalent) 2. 12 months of general project experience (earned in the last 5 years) 3. 8 months of agile project experience (in addition to the 12 months of general project experience required) 4. 21 hours of agile practices education/training *Note: for PMP and/or PgMP certification holders, PMI has already verified you have exceeded the project experience requirements. **Additional Note: If you are a graduate of a GAC accredited degree program, you will receive a 12-month credit towards the work experience requirement. Also, you can use the GAC course work to fulfill the 35 education contact hour requirement See PMI for complete details. | Skillsoft | Advanced | |
| Business Management | Project Management | Project Management Professional (PMP) | Yes | Required 1. A four-year degree 2. 36 months leading projects 3. 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM(r) Certification OR 1. A high school diploma or an associate's degree (or global equivalent) 2. 60 months leading projects 3. 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM(r) Certification | Skillsoft | Advanced | |
| Business Management | Project Management | Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) | Yes | Required: 1. Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate's degree or the global equivalent) 2. 23 hours of project management education completed by the time you sit for the exam. Our Project Management Basics online course fulfills this educational prerequisite. | Skillsoft | Beginner | |
| Business Management | Six Sigma | Six Sigma (Green Belt) | Yes | Recommended: Three years of full time, paid work experience in one or more areas of the Six Sigma Green Belt Body of Knowledge | Skillsoft | Intermediate | |
| Business Management | Six Sigma | Six Sigma Yellow Belt (SSYB) | Yes | None See ASQ for complete details. | Skillsoft | Beginner | |
| Business Management | Human Resources | aPHR | Yes | A high school diploma or global equivalent. See HRCI for complete details. | Skillsoft | Beginner | |
| Business Management | Human Resources | PHR | Yes | Required: • A minimum of 1 year of experience in a professional-level HR position with a Master's degree or higher, OR • A minimum of 2 years of experience in a professional-level HR position with a Bachelor's degree, OR • A minimum of 4 years of experience in a professional-level HR position with less than a Bachelor's degree. See HRCI for complete details. | Skillsoft | Intermediate | |
| Business Management | Human Resources | SPHR | Yes | Required: • A minimum of 4 years of experience in a professional-level HR position with a Master’s degree or higher, OR • A minimum of 5 years of experience in a professional-level HR position with a Bachelor’s degree, OR • A minimum of 7 years of experience in a professional-level HR position with less than a Bachelor's degree See HRCI for complete details. | Skillsoft | Advanced | |
| Customer Service Industry | Customer Service | Customer Service Excellence | N/A | N/A | Skillsoft | Beginner | |
| Customer Service Industry | Customer Service | Call Center Fundamentals | N/A | N/A | Skillsoft | Beginner | |
| Information Technology | Programming | PCEP: Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer | Yes | None See Cisco Networking Academy for details | IVMF's Cisco Networking Academy | Beginner | |
| Information Technology | Programming | PCAP: Programming Essentials in Python | Yes | None See Cisco Networking Academy for details | IVMF's Cisco Networking Academy | Intermediate | |
| Information Technology | Linux | NDG Linux Essentials | Yes | None See Cisco Networking Academy for details | IVMF's Cisco Networking Academy | Intermediate | |
| Information Technology | Linux | NDG Linux I | Yes | None See Cisco Networking Academy for details | IVMF's Cisco Networking Academy | Advanced | |
| Information Technology | Linux | NDG Linux II | Yes | Linux I | IVMF's Cisco Networking Academy | Advanced |
“For military spouses like me, having the certifications that Onward to Opportunity helps you earn will give you a leg up on your competition in each new city you move to. The program really gave my resume the boost it needed by adding an additional certification, allowing me to be seen over the other candidates.”
Military Installation: Tri-Base Jacksonville
Six Sigma Green Belt (SSGB) Graduate
Industrial Engineer, Boeing
Dakota Haines
Military Spouse (US NAVY)
