LearnKey Blog

EmployabilityHub.AI: The First-of-Its-Kind AI-Enabled Employability Resource Transforming Career Exploration

AI employability resource helping students explore careers, build resumes, and prepare for interviews using EmployabilityHub.AI
EmployabilityHub.AI is coming soon—an AI employability resource designed to help students explore careers and prepare for better jobs.

AI Employability Resource Coming Soon | EmployabilityHub.AI

As the workforce evolves rapidly, students need more than training—they need clear guidance and intelligent support to successfully navigate today’s job market. LearnKey has built a reputation for employability through certification and coaching. Now, we’re introducing EmployabilityHub.AI—a new AI-driven platform that transforms how students explore careers and prepare for real jobs.

 

EmployabilityHub.AI is coming soon. It will be the first of its kind—a fully integrated AI-powered tool for career discovery, resume optimization, and interview readiness, all within the OnlineExpert LMS. This resource marks a breakthrough, pairing LearnKey’s employability approach with artificial intelligence to offer students a smarter, more intuitive way to plan their careers. As highlighted in a recent NACE article on AI-powered career and life design, artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a transformative tool for helping students explore identity, evaluate pathways, and create meaningful professional journeys. EmployabilityHub.AI builds on these trends.

Why AI Is Reshaping Career Exploration for Students?

According to industry experts, AI has emerged as a powerful tool for career design because it helps students do three critical things more effectively:
  1. Reflect on their strengths and interests
  2. Discover opportunities they didn’t know existed
  3. Connect their skills to real careers and real qualifications
Career exploration is no longer about random guessing online. AI systems empower students to understand themselves, analyze their potential, and receive personalized career suggestions from data-driven insights. These platforms enable learners to explore different identities, consider diverse futures, and design educational experiences aligned with real possibilities. This is the foundation of EmployabilityHub.AI.
Our AI-based tools help students map their strengths to job pathways, identify transferable skills, and receive personalized guidance as they advance through LearnKey’s certification programs. For students who feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or are exploring options for the first time, this can be life-changing.
Introducing EmployabilityHub.AI: Smarter Tools. Stronger Skills. Better Jobs.
EmployabilityHub.AI will give LearnKey students exclusive access to three groundbreaking AI-powered employability tools—each built to simplify and personalize their journey from education to employment.
1. Strength-Based Career Finder (AI-Powered)
Career exploration becomes easier and more accurate when AI helps students reflect on their interests, strengths, and natural tendencies.
This tool will allow students to:
  • Discover career paths aligned with their personality and training.
  • See how their chosen LearnKey program connects to in-demand roles.
  • View job titles and skill requirements curated specifically for them.
  • Explore new possibilities based on strengths—not guesswork.
AI helps students see more job options, understand their choices, and feel more confident picking a direction.
2. AI Resume Editor & LinkedIn Optimization Tool
Once a student identifies their career goals, they need a polished professional presence that accurately reflects their abilities.
LearnKey’s AI resume tool will:
  • Write, rewrite, or refine resumes using clean, modern formatting.
  • Optimize wording for applicant tracking systems.
  • Highlight strengths, certifications, and job-aligned skills.
  • Assist with LinkedIn profile summaries, headlines, and skills lists.
This is especially valuable for students entering the workforce for the first time or pivoting careers. Instead of struggling with resume templates or outdated advice, they receive AI-driven guidance that reflects current employer expectations.
3. Mock Interview Pro – AI Interview Simulation
Interview anxiety is real, but practice makes a difference. LearnKey’s AI interview simulator helps by providing:
  • Behavioral, situational, and technical interview practice
  • Real-time coaching and suggestions
  • Tailored interview questions based on target job roles
  • Feedback on clarity, structure, tone, and confidence
Students can practice interviewing anytime. This helps build comfort and competence before speaking with real employers.
Enhancing Student Success Through AI + Human Support
One key insight from the NACE article is that AI should support, not replace, human guidance. Students still need structure, coaching, and accountability. AI speeds up self-discovery and preparation, while educators and coaches help students reflect, process, and apply insights.EmployabilityHub.AI is built on this exact philosophy. Students will continue to get personalized help from LearnKey’s Employability Team, including resume reviews, LinkedIn guidance, career advising, and mock interviews. The new AI tools make this process faster by offering students quick feedback, more control, and more chances to practice before meeting with coaches. This approach creates a holistic employability ecosystem that blends expert support with advanced technology.
Why EmployabilityHub.AI Is a First-of-Its-Kind Resource
No non-degree-granting proprietary institution in our sector currently offers an AI employability platform that fully integrates career exploration, resume building, interview practice, and workforce readiness inside their LMS, like EmployabilityHub.AI.
EmployabilityHub.AI stands out because it:
  • Integrates directly with LearnKey’s training pathways and certifications
  • Combines career discovery with real-world job preparation
  • Uses AI to personalize each student’s experience
  • Reinforces soft skills and professional behavior development
  • Prepares students to use AI responsibly—an essential workplace skill.
  • Creates faster clarity and more confidence for new job seekers
How AI Improves Student Agency and Confidence
Research shows students feel more confident when they can try out future jobs, not just read static advice. AI offers quick chats and instant tips so students can improve their choices as they go.
EmployabilityHub.AI improves student agency by allowing them to:
  • Explore multiple professional identities.
  • Receive high-quality feedback without waiting.
  • Practice interviews whenever they want.
  • Build resumes that feel polished and professional.
  • Understand the job market more clearly.
  • Take ownership of their career journey.

This sense of agency is a proven driver of better job outcomes.

Preparing Students for a Future Where AI Is Everywhere
EmployabilityHub.AI doesn’t just teach students how to look for jobs. It also teaches them how to use AI as a job skill.
Employers increasingly expect new hires to be comfortable using AI for:
  • Problem-solving
  • Communication
  • Research
  • Productivity
  • Resume tailoring
  • Project analysis
By using AI often in EmployabilityHub.AI, students get real practice they can use at work.
This turns LearnKey graduates into stronger candidates—trained in both industry certifications and AI-empowered professional skills.

Value of Industry Certifications | LearnKey Training Programs

Value of Industry Certifications for Career Advancement
LearnKey is demonstrating the value of industry certifications for student career growth

2026 Spotlight: The Value of Industry Certifications in Today’s Skills-Based Economy

In today’s fast-changing workforce, the value of industry certifications has never been more critical. As technology evolves faster than traditional education can keep pace, employers are increasingly relying on certification programs to validate fundamental skills and identify job-ready candidates. For learners, especially high school graduates, young adults, and career changers, industry certifications offer a direct and trusted path into high-demand careers. This trend is expected to continue in 2026, as the value of skills-based certifications is on the rise.

At LearnKey, our mission is to deliver world-class training that helps people achieve industry-recognized certifications and the opportunities that come with them. In 2025, our blog content primarily focused on preparing learners for certification-based roles in over twenty different certification pathways. This emphasis reflects a powerful trend shaping the global workforce: certifications are becoming essential currency in the job market.

This article explores why industry certifications matter, how they help close the skills gap, and how LearnKey’s long-standing partnership with Certiport empowers young adults to gain the certifications they need to succeed.

Industry Certifications Are Now a Core Part of Career Success

The rise of skills-based hiring is reshaping the employment landscape. Companies are placing less weight on traditional degrees and more weight on verified competencies, especially in technology-driven roles. Industry certifications provide a reliable means for employers to verify that an applicant has acquired the necessary skills for a particular position.

This shift became a significant theme in LearnKey’s 2025 blog posts. Whether we were discussing IT support roles, cybersecurity pathways, QuickBooks Online Version 4, Adobe design skills, or our broader Upskill Academy programs, the message was consistent: certifications are becoming the foundation of modern career development.

Industry certifications offer several significant advantages:

1. Certifications Prove Real Skills

Unlike degrees, which can vary widely in curriculum and instruction, certifications are standardized. A Microsoft Office Specialist certification means the same thing whether earned in Utah, India, Brazil, or the UK. Employers trust these credentials because they are measurable, repeatable, and verified through an examination.

2. Certifications Shorten the Path to Employability

Many young adults lack the time or financial resources to pursue multi-year education programs. Certifications provide a faster route—weeks or months, rather than years—to job readiness.

3. Certifications Boost Earning Potential

Across fields such as IT, accounting, cybersecurity, and design, certified workers often earn significantly more than their non-certified peers. In 2025, LearnKey highlighted multiple student success stories and new pathway updates showing how certifications led to promotions, salary increases, and career transitions.

4. Certifications Build Confidence

For many learners, especially those entering the workforce for the first time, earning a certification creates a sense of accomplishment and momentum. It signals that they belong in professional environments and are capable of achieving more.

The Youth Skills Gap Makes Certifications Essential

To understand the growing urgency behind certifications, it is essential to examine the broader labor landscape. Pearson VUE, parent company of Certiport, recently published a powerful article titled “Empowering Young People to Bridge the Skills Gap.”

The article highlights a global truth:

Young people no longer feel adequately prepared for the workforce, and employers are increasingly uncertain about their ability to hire effectively.

Several factors drive this widening gap:

  • Technology is advancing at a pace that schools can’t always keep up with.
  • Employers want hands-on skills, not just theoretical knowledge.
  • Many students graduate without exposure to real-world tools and workflows.
  • Economic pressures demand faster, more flexible ways to gain skills.

Industry certifications are emerging as one of the most effective solutions.

 Why Certifications Close the Skills Gap

Pearson VUE’s research indicates that young adults are increasingly seeking training that directly connects to job opportunities. Certifications support that by:

  • Providing structured skill development
  • Offering automated feedback through practice tools (like GMetrix)
  • Aligning with real workforce needs
  • Building digital and technical readiness
  • Giving learners globally recognized proof of what they can do

This aligns perfectly with LearnKey’s 2025 blog series on certification-focused pathways. Whether discussing IT Support Specialist roles, cybersecurity technician training, or QuickBooks proficiency, our message has remained consistent: certifications help learners bridge the gap between education and employment.

The LearnKey + Certiport Partnership: A Timeline of Impact

LearnKey’s commitment to helping students earn industry certifications goes back decades, but a key milestone occurred in 2016. That year, LearnKey announced its partnership with GMetrix and Certiport, a Pearson Vue-owned company known for its industry-leading performance-based testing tools. The announcement marked the beginning of a productive collaboration focused on helping students and workforce learners prepare and pass Certiport exams.

This partnership created significant advantages:

1. Integration of Practice Exams with Course Training

Learners using LearnKey courses gained access to GMetrix practice tests, which allowed them to prepare for the real certification exam in an environment that felt authentic and familiar.

2. Better Outcomes Through Realistic Readiness

Practice tests simulate actual exam conditions, helping students understand the timing, question formats, and skills-based tasks they will encounter during the actual exam.

3. Expansion of Certification Offerings

The partnership helped LearnKey expand into key Certiport credentials, including:

  • Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
  • QuickBooks Online
  • Adobe Certified Professional
  • IC3 Digital Literacy
  • IT Specialist certifications
  • Autodesk certifications
4. Scaled Access for Schools and Workforce Programs

Together, LearnKey and Certiport have empowered thousands of learners, especially young adults, to acquire digital, business, and technical skills, as well as certifications.

This partnership continues to evolve, remaining one of the strongest foundations of LearnKey’s impact on the global workforce.

Certifications in LearnKey’s 2025 Blog Themes

LearnKey’s 2025 blogs repeatedly emphasized the importance of certification-centered learning. Several themes emerged across the year:

1. Career Pathways Built Around Certifications

LearnKey published updated guidance on IT support pathways, cybersecurity career steps, and business administration training—all of which incorporate certifications at each milestone.

2. Digital Literacy and Software Proficiency

Our 2025 blog posts highlighted training for QuickBooks Online Version 4, Microsoft Office apps, and Adobe Illustrator. These certifications help learners compete for administrative, accounting, graphic design, and office roles.

3. Job Readiness Through Cert Prep

Blogs published in 2025 discussed the importance of mock exams, skill-building exercises, and aligning training with national standards—all essential for passing certification exams.

4. The Role of Practice Testing

We highlighted the role of performance-based practice tools (including GMetrix) as essential for student success, particularly in MOS, Adobe, and QuickBooks certification prep.

5. Empowering First-Time Job Seekers

Several articles explored topics like communication, professionalism, and adaptability—critical soft skills that complement technical certifications.

These blogs formed the foundation of LearnKey’s workforce development message in 2025: certifications empower learners, create opportunities, and lead to hiring success.

Hiring managers know certified employees require less training and onboard faster, making them highly desirable

As we look forward, the value of industry certifications is expected to continue accelerating for several reasons.

Technology Will Never Slow Down

AI, automation, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and software ecosystems are advancing rapidly. Certifications will remain key for verifying up-to-date skills.

Skills-Based Hiring Is Here to Stay

More companies are adopting hiring models that prioritize skill demonstrations over formal degrees. Certifications fit perfectly into this shift.

Certifications Are Becoming Global Standards

Certiport, CompTIA, Adobe, Microsoft, and other leaders have made certifications truly global. A credential earned in one country is recognized worldwide.

Learners Want Faster, Flexible Education Options

Certifications provide structure without forcing learners into multi-year programs. This flexibility attracts career changers, students, and working adults alike.

Employers Use Certifications to Reduce Hiring Risk

Hiring managers know certified employees require less training and onboard faster, making them highly desirable.

How LearnKey Supports Students Through Certification Success

LearnKey’s certification training programs are designed to help students succeed from start to finish.

We focus on:

 1. Beginner-Friendly Lessons

Even complex concepts, such as networking, cybersecurity, or financial analysis, are broken down into simple modules.

2. Real Practice

With Interactive-based labs, hands-on activities, and GMetrix practice tests, students build fundamental skills.

3. Career Pathways

We provide students with recommended sequences of courses, strengthening their journey from first skill to their first job.

4. Employability Training

LearnKey’s workforce readiness resources help students prepare for interviews, create résumés, and develop soft skills.

5. Certification-Driven Course Design

Every course is aligned to an official exam blueprint, ensuring learners are prepared for exactly what they’ll see on test day.

Conclusion: Certifications Open Doors for Learners Everywhere

Industry certifications change lives. They help people launch new careers, earn higher wages, gain confidence, and stay relevant in an evolving workforce. LearnKey’s long-standing partnership with Certiport and GMetrix strengthens our ability to deliver top-quality certification preparation to learners worldwide. As reflected in our 2025 blogs and Pearson VUE’s research, certifications are essential tools for closing the skills gap and empowering young adults to succeed.

Whether someone is entering the workforce for the first time or preparing for a career change, certifications offer a clear, proven, and globally recognized pathway to opportunity.

Adobe Certifications: Understanding The Importance of Getting Certified

Understanding the Importance of Adobe Certification

In today’s competitive job market, standing out is more important than ever. Achieving an Adobe certification in visual design and Photoshop is a significant step towards showcasing your expertise and dedication to your craft.

LearnKey a recognized leader in creating Adobe Certification courseware recently blogged on the topic of the value of certifications in today’s competing job market. They will also be releasing 2024 Adobe visual design later this month.  Adobe certifications are globally recognized and provide an official seal of professional approval that can make a notable difference in your career prospects.

 

Navigating the Visual Design Landscape with Adobe

Adobe’s software suite is at the forefront of the visual design industry, offering tools that are essential for professional-grade digital artistry. By navigating through Adobe’s comprehensive tools for visual design, aspiring designers can develop a keen understanding of digital aesthetics and technical skills, which are crucial for mastering visual design workflows.

 

Mastering Photoshop: A Key Component of Visual Design

Photoshop is arguably the most powerful tool in Adobe’s creative cloud suite, known for its robust features that cater to everything from basic photo editing to complex digital art. Achieving Adobe certification in Photoshop as part of your visual design expertise not only enhances your skill set but also proves your ability to tackle diverse design challenges professionally.

 

The Benefits of Pursuing Adobe Certification in Visual Design

Pursuing an Adobe certification in visual design and Photoshop can dramatically boost your credentials. Certified designers often enjoy better job opportunities, potential for higher earnings, and greater respect within the creative community. Moreover, being certified means you are up to date with the latest design trends and software updates, keeping you relevant in a fast-evolving field.

 

Crafting Your Path: Steps to Achieving Adobe Certification in Photoshop

Achieving Adobe certification in visual design and Photoshop requires a structured approach. Start by familiarizing yourself with the Adobe certification roadmap, which outlines the exams you need to pass. Invest time in comprehensive study, practical exercises, and use LearnKey or Adobe’s official training resources. Here are nine (9) tips for obtaining an industry certification using LearnKey courseware. Regular practice and preparation are key to mastering the skills needed to pass the certification exams successfully.

 

Exploring the World of Visual Design: Adobe Certification Insights

Holding an Adobe certification in visual design and Photoshop opens up a new realm of possibilities. Certified professionals gain deeper insights into the industry’s best practices and are often considered for leading roles on major projects. Additionally, this certification encourages a continual learning process that can lead to personal and professional growth.

 

Leveraging Adobe Tools for Professional Visual Design Certification

Adobe’s tools are indispensable for visual designers, and learning to leverage them through Adobe certification can provide a significant advantage. Certification ensures that you understand and can effectively utilize Adobe software to create high-quality, impactful designs that meet professional standards.

 

Unveiling the Secrets of Successful Adobe Certification in Photoshop

Success in Adobe certification exams requires more than just memorization of tools and functions. It demands a deep understanding of how to apply these tools in practical, real-world scenarios. Engaging with the broader Adobe community, participating in forums, and exploring advanced tutorials can enhance your learning experience and prepare you for the certification exams.

 

Practical Tips for Excelling in Adobe Certification Exams

To excel in Adobe certification exams, focus on practical application of your skills. Engage in regular practice sessions, take full advantage of Adobe’s educational resources, and join study groups to exchange knowledge and tips with peers. Mock exams can be particularly helpful in understanding the format and requirements of the actual test.

Additional 2024 Adobe Creative Cloud Online Courses to be released later this year.

LearnKey is excited to announce that it will be releasing Adobe InDesign – Print & Digital Media Publication June 28th, 2024, and Adobe Premiere Pro- Digital Video in July 2024. Staying ahead with the Adobe suite is your path to success.                            

Building Your Career: The Role of Adobe Certification in Visual Design

An Adobe certification in visual design and Photoshop not only demonstrates your technical skills but also signifies your commitment to professional growth and excellence. This certification can serve as a cornerstone in your career, enhancing your portfolio and helping you stand out in the competitive field of visual design.

 

Do Certifications Still Matter In a Post-Pandemic World?

Certified Image

In a word, yes. Though technology and markets have changed, and attitudes toward working at home vs. working in an office vs. working on an island with a satellite… OK, I’m getting carried away here, but certifications still matter. Our CEO, Jeff Coruccini, outlined this in a blog post at the beginning of the year, but let me add some statistics here about certifications themselves:

According to CompTIA, the certification body for A+, Network+, and Security+, three industry-leading certifications, 96 percent of human resource managers use IT certifications as part of the screening process for candidates. 96 percent; that’s 24 out of every 25 human resource managers. According to Coursera, 59 percent of cybersecurity jobs require at least one related certification.

But lest you think these percentages are limited to IT jobs, consider this. According to Indeed, 62 percent of those surveyed for QuickBooks positions indicated they got a higher starting salary because they obtained a QuickBooks certification. And let me share a personal anecdote. My first IT training full-time position was at a hospital. I had Microsoft Office Suite (MOS) certifications; those certifications put me at the high end of the starting salary range, a full 25% higher than if I had not obtained those certifications.

Certifications are more than proof that one has expertise in the certification earned. They also prove several characteristics that make for an outstanding employee:

  • A willingness to learn, often in a very compact amount of time
  • The ability to study and research
  • The fortitude to finish a project from start to finish
  • The ability to succeed on a task after not succeeding. In this context, that would mean retaking an exam if one does not pass on the first attempt (it happens to the best of us)

So, which IT certifications are most important for those starting an IT career? This article from Coursera lists the top 10 IT certifications in 2023, and we have courses for six of the top seven certifications on the list. If you are looking at an IT career path and have not started the journey of obtaining any certifications, consider this an invitation to do so. I’ll be rooting for your success down your chosen path.

Lying Down on the Job

I know, I know. I haven’t been in this blog space for a while. As you can see, I’ve been lying down on the job. Well, not really. The past several weeks I’ve been doing anything but lying down as our production crew has been busy filming not one, but two new CompTIA courses: Security+, and Network+. The Security+ course, which will be out soon, is tied to the new Security+ exam, exam SY0-501. The exam covers these security topics:

  • Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities
  • Technologies and Tools
  • Architecture and Design
  • Identity and Access Management
  • Risk Management
  • Cryptography

Security+, in my humble opinion, has really gained in importance for anyone who wants to be employable in an IT Security position. I’ve known companies to actually make this a requirement as a condition of employment, i.e., get the Security+ certification in the first 90 days to stay at the job.

The other major course we are working on is the new Network+ course, tied to exam N10-007. Again, a Network+ certification certainly helps employability, specifically in the area of network administration jobs. The Network+ course goes through these topics:

  • Networking Concepts
  • Infrastructure
  • Networking Operations
  • Network Security
  • Troubleshooting

This course and exam will be out early in 2018.

By the way, which concept were we filming when I was lying down here? It is one that is actually in both the Security+ and Network+ courses. And, a certain TV character named Malcolm would get it right away. That’s your hint. The answer will come in the next blog. In the meantime, with around 1400 exam objectives between the two courses, I think I will lie down here for a just a few minutes longer and rest a little before resuming production.

New Security+ on the Way

Hello, everyone. It’s fall season here at LearnKey, and a busy fall it is going to be with many new courses on the horizon. One of the major courses we are working on (in fact we are filming this one very soon) is the brand new Security+ course, to map to the CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 exam (also brand new).

This new version of the Security+ exam really reflects the changing landscape of both security needs in an organization and the role of the Security Administrator or similar position in an organization. Today’s security administrator needs to be a very versatile individual, not only able to secure an existing IT infrastructure but be more involved in planning security, specifically as it relates to Architecture and Design and Risk Management, which, by the way, are two domains on the new Security+ exam.

The other four domains on the exam are: Technologies and Tools; Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities; Identity and Access Management; and Cryptography and PKI (Public Key Infrastructure). For each of these domains, we will have comprehensive video training, pre-assessment and post-assessment tests, practice labs, and a robust project workbook, all mapped to the Security+ exam objectives. And, though I won’t reveal exactly how (you’ll have to see the course to find out) we’re going to present this in such a way as to improve your employability prospects for any junior to mid-level security administrator position, I will say this: If you want to know what it’s like the first few days on the job as a new security administrator, you’ll actually feel like you are there through this course.

Well, time for me to get back to putting the finishing touches on the material for this course. Stay tuned to this space for more updates as we will be releasing several courses this fall in the areas of IT administration and programming.

Timing is Everything – A Programming Track Update

A hearty summer greetings to you from your humble senior instructor. I have occasionally brought to you in this blog space some news about our new programming track. Well, it has officially started with last month’s release of the Introduction to Programming course, which is a course that focuses mainly on programming and design concepts.

Now, about the “timing is everything” part. In building this programming track, we were (or at least I was) trying to come up with a way to bridge the Introduction to Programming courses to some of the existing Microsoft MCSA Certifications, which are more geared for those with 1-2 years of experience in programming (or possess equivalent knowledge). And, a great percentage of you looking to explore this programming track are probably new to programming (hence the Intro to Programming course).

All that said, Microsoft is rolling out, over the next few months, four new MTA (Microsoft Technology Associate) certifications. They are:

  • Exam 98-381: Introduction to Programming using Python
  • Exam 98-382: Introduction to Programming using JavaScript
  • Exam 98-383: Introduction to Programming using HTML and CSS
  • Exam 98-388: Introduction to Programming using Java

These courses/certifications are the perfect gap between the Introduction to Programming course and the MCSA and other advanced courses we have for our programming track, which we are rolling out over the next several months. And, these courses fit in nicely with our three programming tracks: Web Development, Mobile Development, and General Languages. They mold so well, we even built a road map for you, which you will find a link to at the end of this blog.

Over the next several weeks, I will be posting blog entries for each of the courses in the programming track we are releasing this year.

You see, timing is everything.

Oh, that link: https://www.learnkey.com/careertracks/programming_and_development

Time To Get Animated With Our Upcoming Adobe Animate CC Course

How many of you remember when Macromedia Flash first became a big “thing” on the Internet? No? How about Adobe Flash? Maybe? How about this question: How many of you feel skunked when you tap to a website on your mobile device only to get the dreaded message, “Your browser does not support Flash”?

Well, you’re not alone if this has happened to you. And just as Flash was the big thing years ago, HTML5 is now. However, Flash and HTML5 did not really work well together, because, to export from Flash, you had to get a plug-in or tool or some kind of extension. It just wasn’t a smooth, seamless process.

Fortunately, those days are over. What was once known as Adobe Flash is now Adobe Animate, one of the newest additions to the Adobe suite of programs. In a nutshell, Adobe Animate is Flash plus the ability to easily create files for ActionScript (the native Flash format), HTML5, and WebGL (Web Graphics Library).

With a new program comes a brand new Adobe Animate course, due to launch late spring/early summer. This course is going to be a thorough, yet clear and concise, introduction to Adobe Animate and will serve two purposes: to improve your employability skills in the areas of web and graphic design as they relate to Adobe Animate, and to get you prepared to pass the Adobe Certified Associate in Multiplatform Animations using Adobe Animate CC exam and obtain your ACA in Animate.

How are we going to do this, you ask? First, we are going to cover animation terms and definitions and build a project in this course while focusing on these five major exam topics:

  • Setting Project Requirements
  • Understanding Rich Animated Media
  • Understanding Adobe Animate CC
  • Creating Rich Animated Media Content Using Animate CC
  • Testing, Publishing, and Evaluating Rich Animated Media Elements Using Animate CC

To cover these, we will have several (but not too many) hours of video training, pre-assessment and post-assessment tests, practice labs, and a project workbook full of practice exercises. All of these tools are here to, again, increase your employability prospects and help you obtain the Animate CC ACA certification.

Finally, for those of you wondering which version of Animate we will be covering, technically the course is going to be built for the latest certification offering, which is Animate CC 2015, but the course will work just as well for anyone trying to learn Animate CC 2017.

Can You Become a QuickBooks Certified User Without Being a CPA? Absolutely!

That question above was one of many questions I got when I used to teach QuickBooks in a classroom setting. I’m not a CPA and I’m a certified QuickBooks user, so you can become one too. What is QuickBooks, you ask? It’s an industry-leading accounting software program, geared toward helping businesses of all sizes organize and perform their accounting duties.

We are currently working on our updated QuickBooks Certified User course, which we have completed filming and are in the process of fine-tuning. This course maps to the 10 domains on the QuickBooks Certified User certification exam. The 10 domains are:

  • QuickBooks Setup
  • QuickBooks Utilities and General Product Knowledge
  • List Management
  • Items
  • Sales
  • Purchases
  • Payroll
  • Reports
  • Basic Accounting
  • Customization and Shortcuts

Our new QuickBooks course covers these 10 domains in such a way to help you prepare to pass the QuickBooks Certified User exam (done through Certiport) and obtain your QuickBooks Certified User certification. We present the material in a very concise, easy-to-follow format, kind of like the QuickBooks program itself.

This course will have video training, pre-assessment and post-assessment tests, practice labs, and a project workbook, all geared toward solidifying your QuickBooks knowledge not only for the certification, but also to improve your employability prospects for any position requiring QuickBooks knowledge. Or you may have a small business of your own and want solid knowledge of QuickBooks, so you can let it do the major accounting work for you, leaving you to do what you do best—run your business.

So, back to the original question: Can you get the QuickBooks Certified User certification without being a CPA? Yes, indeed! And you can get this without being a financial planner or tax preparation expert or, well, you get the drift.

Stay tuned to this blog space for my update next week. I promise you, it will get “animated” at times!

Premiere Pro CC 2015 Test Prep Released!

Today, we are excited to announce the release of our Premiere Pro CC 2015 Test Prep course.

Premiere Pro CC 2015 Test Prep

LearnKey’s Premiere Pro CC 2015 Test Prep course is a complementary resource to go along with the Premiere Pro CC course, authored by Expert Ryan James. Although the Premiere Pro CC course readies you for the Premiere Pro CC exam, there are new objectives and types of test questions which are covered in the Premiere Pro CC 2015 Test Prep course. LearnKey Senior Instructor Jason Manibog takes you through these changes, so you will have the tools you need to confidently pass the Premiere Pro CC 2015 exam.

Our hope is that through our courseware we may provide learners with the guidance, preparation, and skills they need to succeed. For more information and to learn about additional LearnKey products visit our website.