Frequently Asked Questions

Digital Workshop Center (DWC) is a workforce training provider based in Fort Collins, Colorado that delivers live, instructor-led certificate programs and professional development classes 100% online. DWC has been operating since 2006 and serves individual students, government agencies, and private employers across the United States. All training is live and taught by active industry professionals, not pre-recorded video content. DWC’s certificate programs are approved as higher education professional certificate programs by the State of Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS) and are eligible for WIOA and DVR workforce funding.

DWC is approved as a private occupational school by the State of Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS) under the Colorado Department of Higher Education. DWC also holds authorization to operate and enroll students in Utah (Department of Commerce, Division of Consumer Protection), Oregon (Higher Education Coordinating Commission), Indiana (Board for Proprietary Education), Iowa (Bureau of Iowa College Aid), and Illinois (Board of Higher Education). Each of these state agencies oversees private postsecondary and occupational education within their jurisdiction. DWC’s certificate credentials are recognized by workforce agencies, WIOA administrators, and DVR offices in all approved states. DWC is not a degree-granting institution. It is a workforce training provider focused on helping adults build job-ready skills through structured, credential-bearing programs and professional development classes. Students from states not listed above are welcome to enroll; contact the admissions team to discuss eligibility and funding options for your state.

All DWC instructors are active professionals working in the fields they teach. They are not career academics or teaching assistants. Instructors bring current industry experience into every session, which means the tools, workflows, and expectations they teach reflect what employers are actually hiring for today. Class sizes average a 5 to 1 student-to-instructor ratio in cohort programs, and several programs are delivered as private one-on-one instruction where the student works directly with a single instructor for the duration of the program.

DWC offers certificate programs across design, technology, business, and IT. Current programs include Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Graphic Design, UX Design, Frontend Web Development, Digital Media Production, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, QuickBooks Bookkeeper, Business Administration, and Blueprint Basic Digital Literacy. Each program page includes a full curriculum overview, tuition, schedule, career outcomes, and funding information. Download program guides for all certificate programs to compare curricula side by side.

Every DWC certificate program awards a higher education professional certificate recognized by the state regulatory bodies in the states where DWC is approved to operate. DWC holds authorization through the following state agencies, each of which oversees private occupational and postsecondary education within their jurisdiction:

Colorado: Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS) under the Colorado Department of Higher Education. DWC’s primary credentialing authority. All certificate programs are issued as DPOS higher education professional certificates.

Utah: Postsecondary School Authorization under the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Consumer Protection.

Oregon: Private Career Schools Licensing under the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), Office of Academic Policy and Authorization.

Indiana: Indiana Board for Proprietary Education under the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

Iowa: Postsecondary School Authorization under the Bureau of Iowa College Aid, Iowa Department of Education.

Illinois: Illinois Board of Higher Education, which oversees private postsecondary institution authorization in the state.

These credentials meet the documentation requirements of WIOA case managers, DVR counselors, and workforce agencies in each state. Some programs also prepare students for additional industry certifications: the CompTIA A+ and Network+ programs include exam vouchers and prepare students for CompTIA certification exams, the Business Administration Certificate aligns to the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification pathway, and the QuickBooks Bookkeeper Certificate prepares students for the free QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification through Intuit.

Program length varies. The six-month cohort programs (Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Project Management, UX Design, Frontend Web Development, and Digital Media Production) run approximately six months with 198 total class hours. The Graphic Design Certificate runs approximately six months with 115.5 total hours. The CompTIA A+ runs six weeks (36 hours) and the CompTIA Network+ runs seven weeks (42 hours). The private instruction programs (QuickBooks, Business Administration, and Blueprint Digital Literacy) range from 48 to 83 total hours and are completed on a flexible schedule set by the student and instructor, typically over three to six months.

Yes. DWC is recognized nationally by employers and workforce agencies as a leading provider of live, instructor-led workforce training. Students can enroll from any state in the United States. There are no geographic restrictions on enrollment, and the credential you earn is the same regardless of where you live.

Every graduate receives a professional certificate from the Colorado Department of Higher Education, issued through the Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS). This is a higher education professional certificate, not a completion badge or internal credential. It is a state-issued, verifiable workforce credential that employers and government agencies can confirm directly with DWC or with the State of Colorado.

The six states where DWC is registered as a private occupational school (Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois) are the states that provide regulatory oversight and governance of DWC’s operations, curriculum standards, and student protections. Registration in these states means DWC meets each state’s standards for private postsecondary education providers. It does not mean enrollment is limited to students in those states. Students from all 50 states are welcome to enroll, and the DPOS credential carries the same recognition with employers, WIOA administrators, and DVR offices nationwide.

If you are working with a case manager or DVR counselor in a state not listed above, contact the admissions team. DWC provides full credential verification and program documentation to any employer or agency that requests it.

DWC offers multiple ways to pay for training. Most certificate programs are eligible for WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) workforce funding through local American Job Centers, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) funding for students with qualifying disabilities, DWC scholarships (Tech Skills, Women in Tech, and Veterans Skills), employer tuition assistance, and financing through Climb Credit including 0% interest payment plans. Many students complete their programs at little or no out-of-pocket cost through a combination of these options. Full details are on the financial aid page.

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) provides funding for eligible individuals with disabilities who are working toward employment. If you are working with a DVR counselor, they can contact DWC directly to initiate enrollment and coordinate funding. DWC’s admissions team has experience working with DVR offices across multiple states and provides all documentation DVR counselors need, including program descriptions, learning objectives, tuition costs, credential verification, and progress reporting. The Blueprint Basic Digital Literacy Certificate is the program most commonly attended by DVR-funded students, though all DWC certificate programs are DVR-eligible. If you think you may qualify for DVR services but do not yet have a counselor, contact your state’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to begin the intake process.

WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) is a federal workforce development program administered through local American Job Centers. Eligible individuals can use WIOA funds to pay for approved training programs, including all DWC certificate programs. Eligibility is determined individually by your local American Job Center based on employment status and income level. DWC works directly with case managers to provide all required documentation, including program descriptions, learning objectives, tuition costs, credential information, and labor market alignment data. State-specific WIOA guidance is available for Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois. If your state is not listed, contact the admissions team for assistance.

Yes. Many employers offer professional development stipends, tuition reimbursement, or workforce training budgets that can be applied to DWC certificate programs and professional development classes. DWC also works directly with organizations to deliver workforce development training and leadership development for teams, customized to the organization’s needs. If you are an employer exploring training options for your team, contact DWC to discuss group training and corporate enrollment.