Social Media for Business Certificate
2026-06-01 | Online 24/7
Get in on this exciting and growing way to communicate, market and serve your customers and clients. For businesses, nonprofits, government, and other organizations. From Facebook to Twitter, blogging, YouTube, LinkedIn, and more, discover the new principles of communication that apply across all networks and how these specific social networks work and the possible uses for your organization. Learn how social networks are used to develop a two-way communication and marketing strategy for your organization. Then find out what you can be doing, what you should be doing, and take back a plan to integrate social networks into your communication and marketing. Whether you are new to social networks or already involved, you will come away with both an understanding of social networks and practical, how-to techniques to integrate social networks into your organization or business. Your instructors are outstanding practitioners who also speak, write, and train others on social networks.
Three one-month courses.

CompTIA Network+ Prep and Certification FP
2026-06-08 17:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Laurel Ridge Middletown Campus, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA, 22654, United States
This course will cover the Network+ exam objectives from the following five domains: network architecture, network operations, network security, troubleshooting, and industry standards. You will concentrate on the configuration, management, and troubleshooting of common wired and wireless network devices, define the appropriate cabling and device technologies, determine the network troubleshooting methodology and appropriate tools, and examine physical security and common attacks while securing wired and wireless networks. At the end of this course, you will have learned the essentials needed to successfully pass the CompTIA Network+ Exam N10-009. Exam and materials are included.
Pre-requisite: Credential in CompTIA Tech+ and CompTIA A+

CompTIA Network+ Prep and Certification FP
2026-06-08 17:00 - 21:00 | Laurel Ridge Fauquier Campus, 6480 College Street, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States

Tech Careers: Fast-Track Your Future with Cybersecurity, Data Center Operations & More
2026-06-11 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-11-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Laurel Ridge Middletown Campus, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA, 22654, United States
Take the first step toward an exciting career in technology! Whether you’re new to the field or looking to enhance your skills with certifications, this session is your gateway to in-demand fields like Cybersecurity, Data Center Operations, and more.
Join us to discover how Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions’ fast-track programs are designed to fit your busy schedule. With flexible delivery options—live online, in person, or through on-demand replay—you can access hands-on training that works for you.
Learn about:
• The skills and certifications employers value most.
• Career pathways and growth opportunities in the tech industry.
• How our programs provide practical, career-focused education to help you succeed.
• Explore a mock data center to see the technology and tools in action.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore your future in technology and gain the skills you need to thrive!

HTML Fundamentals
2026-07-06 | Online 24/7
This course covers all the basics of HTML coding language. You will learn building simple web pages by hand coding, using HTML tags to create paragraphs, heading, lists, links, insert images and tables and more. We also cover creating a simple multi-page website with images, text and a navigation bar.

Mastering Microsoft Word
2026-07-06 | Online 24/7
Master the art of document creation and take your professional skills to the next level with Microsoft Word, which is essential for success in the modern business world. Discover how to format text, paragraphs, images, and pages with ease. Get hands-on experience creating professional-looking documents, from resumes and cover letters to reports and brochures.
Find out how to use templates and themes to save time and streamline your workflow. At the end of this class, you will be equipped with the skills to create, edit and share polished documents that will impress employers and coworkers and give you a competitive edge in the workplace.

Adobe Photoshop Essentials
2026-07-06 | Online 24/7
This fundamental course covers Adobe Photoshop CC most commonly used tools, menus and panels. You’ll learn all the basics of Photoshop to effectively work with selection and editing tools, layers, and masks to edit, retouch and enhance existing images or create your own composite digital art work. Impress your business organization, friends and family by enhancing their photos and create magazine cover quality enhanced images. Access to Adobe Photoshop software required.
One-month course.
Agenda
Unit 1: Getting to know the Interface and Selection Tools
-Interface menus
-Tools
-Panels
-Working with the various Selection tools
Unit 2: Working with Layers and Masks
-Layers and layer management
-Non- destructive editing using masks
-How to type and format text
-Using various type formatting and style tools and panels
Unit 3: Image Correction & Enhancement
-Photo correction and enhancement tools
-Crop, dodge and burn
-Recoloring, retouching
-Healing brushes
Unit 4: Using the Drawing Tools
-How to use the Pen tool
-Other drawing tools in Photoshop
-Advanced drawing and selection
-File formats
-How to save files for print or web

Boosting Your Website Traffic
2026-07-06 | Online 24/7
Acquire the basic skills to boost your website traffic, including how to analyze your visitor traffic, how to use search engine optimization to get greater visibility and exposure in Google searches, and how to redesign your web site copy to increase your visitors and results. No experience necessary, but if you are at an advanced level, your instructor is an SEO expert and can answer your toughest questions as well.
Agenda
Unit 1
Why web site analysis works
Why web site managers analyze their visitor traffic
Creating goals and objectives for your web site
Understanding the web site visitor experience
How data analysis can improve web site outcomes
Unit 2
How Google Analytics functions
Setting up Google Analytics accounts
Analyzing traffic sources and visitor traffic
Redesigning pages to improve retention
Testing web site versions with Google Optimizer
Unit 3
Search Engine Optimization
Understanding how page ranking and positions are determined
Redesigning the title bar, alt tags, heading area, and links your URL
Keyword density and rewriting web page copy
Strategies to improve your page rank
Unit 4
Moving to Web 2.0
Generation Y and the Web 2.0 Attitude
Developing user-created content
Creating interactive web sites
The future of web sites

Intermediate AI
2026-07-06 | Online 24/7
Dive deeper into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. Explore machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, and neural networks, while gaining hands-on experience with popular AI frameworks and tools. Take your AI expertise to the next level.

Marketing Using Social Media
2026-07-06 | Online 24/7
Develop a two-way communication and marketing strategy for your organization using social media. Let your instructor guide you in exploring major social media, including Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogging. Learn quick, easy ways to use Twitter, blogs and LinkedIn to engage your customers or clients and keep them interested in your organization or business. You’ll find out the advantages and disadvantages of each, and learn what’s right for your work and kind of organization.
Agenda
Unit 1.
Social media as two-way communication
The customer-business relationship
The power of viral marketing
Building customer loyalty with social media
Using social media to brand your organization
Unit 2.
Creating, marketing and communicating using Blogs
How blogs got started
Writing blogs for work and business
Marketing and promoting your blog
Business strategies for blogs
Unit 3.
How to use Twitter
Uniqueness of Twitter
Creating tweets and messages
Doing research and information gathering with Twitter
Integrating Twitter with other publicity
Unit 4.
LinkedIn: a social media for professionals
Why businesses and professionals use LinkedIn
How LinkedIn distinguishes itself among social networks
Getting connected with LinkedIn
Case studies and examples of business and professional uses
RequirementsInternet connection ,IE8 or higher, Chrome, FireFox and access to Adobe Flash Player

CompTIA Tech+ Prep and Certification
2026-07-13 17:00 - 21:00, 2027-01-11 17:00 - 21:00 | Laurel Ridge Fauquier Campus, 6480 College Street, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
This course is a great first step to a career in IT. Aimed to help students earn the CompTIA Tech+ certification, this course covers hardware, software, networking, and cybersecurity topics. The CompTIA Tech+ Certification shows employers that you are comfortable with IT concepts and is a great starting point for more advanced certifications. Exam and materials are included. Due to the nature of this profession, moderate knowledge of computer basics is required. Prerequisite: Complete the pre assessment. Please know that only your first attempt will count upon registration. You must score a minimum 120 points.

CompTIA Tech+ Prep and Certification
2026-07-14 17:00 - 21:00, 2027-01-12 17:00 - 21:00 | Laurel Ridge Middletown Campus, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA, 22654, United States

CompTIA Security+ Prep and Certification
2026-08-17 18:00 - 22:00 | Laurel Ridge Workforce Online Class, VIRTUAL - ONLINE
Do your job responsibilities include securing network services, devices, and traffic? If so, this course is for you. IT professionals need to successfully demonstrate their skill set in order to confidently perform their duties in any security-related role. During this class, you will be able to identify the fundamental components of information security, analyze risk, conduct security assessments to detect vulnerabilities, implement cryptographic solutions in the organization, and so much more. Materials and Exam included.
Pre-requisites: Credential in Security + and or 5 years in IT related field.

CompTIA A+ Prep and Certification
2026-09-08 17:00 - 21:00 | Laurel Ridge Middletown Campus, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA, 22654, United States
In this course, we will cover both the Core 1 and Core 2 exam objectives. With this highly interactive course, you will learn the IT essentials needed to successfully pass the CompTIA A+ Certification Exam. Your first module (220-1201) will concentrate on PC hardware and peripherals, mobile device hardware, and learning how to troubleshoot hardware and network connectivity issues through hands-on labs and real world examples. Your second module (220-1202) will specifically cover installing and configuring operating systems such as Windows, iOS, Android, Apple OS X and Linux. Additionally, you will learn and apply methods from two highly-sought areas in Cybersecurity and Cloud Computing. This course will prepare you to take and pass the CompTIA A+ exam, boosting opportunities for your IT career. Both exams and all materials are included.
Prerequisites: Successful completion and credential in CompTIA Tech +.

CompTIA A+ Prep and Certification
2026-09-10 17:00 - 21:00 | Laurel Ridge Fauquier Campus, 6480 College Street, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States

CompTIA Server+ Prep and Certification
2026-09-14 17:00 - 21:00 | Laurel Ridge Middletown Campus, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA, 22654, United States
CompTIA Server+ is designed for IT professionals who work with server hardware and software, including server administrators, system administrators, and data center technicians. It is a valuable certification for those who want to demonstrate their expertise in server-related tasks and responsibilities. This course will cover the following key areas server hardware and software, server virtualization, storage solutions, network infrastructure, security, and disaster recovery. Materials and exam included.
Pre-requisite: Credential in CompTIA Tech+ and CompTIA A+

CompTIA Cloud+ Prep and Certification
2026-09-15 17:00 - 21:00 | Laurel Ridge Middletown Campus, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA, 22654, United States
This course will validate student skills to implement, maintain, optimize, and troubleshoot cloud infrastructure services. This course will cover basic cloud architecture, deployment, operations, security, DevOps fundamentals, and troubleshooting. All materials and exam included. This course is very fast paced. An additional 20 hours or more of study time outside of class hours will be expected. Students must have reliable internet at home to be able to complete the labs and other assigned homework. Instructors will provide students all materials and codes on the first day of class. Instructors will provide students specific dates and instructions for testing. Individuals should have a moderate understanding computer skills and knowledge. Prerequisite: CompTIA A+ Certification or 9-12 months experience working in cloud systems role.

Microsoft Excel Essentials (Level 1)
2026-10-06 09:00 - 15:00 | Laurel Ridge Fauquier Campus, 6480 College Street, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Formulas and functions are the name of the game, and this course will give you the tools to create powerful formulas and understand why an Excel spreadsheet without formulas has no heart! In this course, you will learn: (1) Introduction to worksheets: Formatting sheets and cells, numbers, dates, basic calculations, (2) Rearranging data: Working with rows, cells, and columns, (3) Managing multiple worksheets, formulas, and cell references, (4) Data visualization with charts and images. Using tools for formatting and editing, and (5) Organizing large amounts of data: Sorting, freeze panes and window split.

ITIL Foundations Prep and Certification
2026-10-06 17:00 - 20:00 | Laurel Ridge Workforce Online Class, VIRTUAL - ONLINE
If you are an IT professional looking to get into IT service management using ITIL best practices, the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL®) Foundation Certification course is the first step in your preparation. The course will prepare you for the ITIL version 4 Foundation exam, introducing you to basic concepts used in IT service management. In this course, you will acquire the essential skills and information necessary to lead and manage an IT business service through every stage of its lifecycle. This course is completely online and students will attend classes via zoom. Textbook and exam voucher included.
Prerequisite: CompTIA A+ or 9-12 months of networking experience*

Microsoft Excel Advanced (Level 2)
2026-10-13 09:00 - 15:00 | Laurel Ridge Fauquier Campus, 6480 College Street, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Begin automating spreadsheets and learn how to create linking formulas that automatically connect data over many different worksheets, allowing for easy one-time data entry. Grow your portfolio by adding a group of the most powerful formulas frequently used in Excel and then splash your spreadsheet with useful graphics and templates to highlight and connect key informational points. In this course, you will learn: (1) advanced formatting: themes, cell styles, customizing page setup, (2) date and time functions, conditional formatting, (3) advanced functions for text and analysis: IF criteria, troubleshooting formulas, and (4) introducing lookup functions and the outline features.

CySA+ Prep and Certification (CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst)
2026-10-19 18:00 - 22:00 | Laurel Ridge Workforce Online Class, VIRTUAL - ONLINE
Are you looking to advance your career in cybersecurity? This program will prepare you to enter the cybersecurity field by teaching you threat and vulnerability management, software and systems security, compliance and assessment, monitoring and security operations and incident response.
Prerequisite: Credential in CompTIA Security+

Microsoft Excel Expert (Level 3)
2026-10-20 09:00 - 15:00 | Laurel Ridge Fauquier Campus, 6480 College Street, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Many users are aware of the basics. After this class you will have a distinct competitive advantage as the Excel go-to-person performing sophisticated data analyses. Show others how to stop wasting time on repetitive tasks, be the protector of spreadsheet data from errors and unwanted manipulation, and quickly share your work with others by converting workbooks to different file formats. In this course, you will learn: (1) Working with tables: Calculated columns, structured references, table features, (2) Financial functions and what-If analysis: PMT, PV and NPER Functions, (3) PivotTables and Pivot Charts, (4) Work with Macros and (5) Workbook protection and inspecting workbooks for compatibility.

CompTIA Project+ Prep and Certification
2026-10-27 17:00 - 21:00 | Laurel Ridge Middletown Campus, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA, 22654, United States
With the rising need of IT professionals with project management skills, CompTIA Project is a great starting point to gain entry level skills. This certification class prepares you to manage those small, less complex projects. Throughout this class, you will learn essential project management concepts such as the project life cycle, ensuring appropriate communication, managing resources and stakeholders, and maintaining project documentation. This class will prepare you to take the newest Project+ version, PK0-005 and provide experience required to advance to higher IT Management certifications, such as PMP. Prerequisite: CompTIA A+ or 9-12 months experience in IT management.

CompTIA Network+ Prep and Certification
2027-01-20 17:00 - 21:00 | Laurel Ridge Middletown Campus, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA, 22654, United States

CompTIA Network+ Prep and Certification
2027-01-20 17:00 - 21:00 | Laurel Ridge Fauquier Campus, 6480 College Street, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States

SecurityX Prep and Certification
2027-01-25 18:00 - 22:00 | Laurel Ridge Workforce Online Class, VIRTUAL - ONLINE
This advanced level program will cover skills relating to security architecture and senior security engineering. Other skills taught are governance, risk, and compliance.
Prerequisite: Credential in CompTIA CySA+
