Harford's Leading Edge Training Center Powered by the Ratcliffe Foundation
Harford's Leading Edge Training Center Powered by the Ratcliffe Foundation allows Harford Community College to provide convenient, valuable training in the southeastern portion of the County.
Home to programs in construction and trades, manufacturing, warehousing/supply chain/logistics, and business, most programs at Harford's Leading Edge Training Center are offered at no cost through scholarships provided by the Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation.
Students are guided thorough programs with help from dedicated Career Navigators and are provided with scholarship, interviewing and resumé writing assistance, resources, and networking opportunities with local employers. The goal of the programs is to get students trained in skill areas that enable them to secure living wage employment and/or to provide business and entrepreneurial skills so they can become self employed.
Contact a Career Navigator
to learn more about the programs below and to apply for funding.
Workforce and Career Training Programs leading to industry certifications and/or badging.
NCCER Core Construction 5 months to complete.
This program enables students to explore the construction industry and learn practical
construction skills needed for employment. Projects provide hands-on work with construction
tools and networking with local employers.
Brick Masonry 3 months to complete.
Learn about the highly valued and in-demand trade of masonry through hands-on experience.
Students qualify to apply, with an advantage, to the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
apprenticeship program.
Certified Logistics Technician 3–4 months to complete.
CLA/CLT courses teach skills that industry recruiters value for front-line material
handling and supply chain logistics jobs in fulfillment centers, warehouses, distribution
centers, and factories.
Heavy Equipment Operation 8 months to complete.
Companies are looking for skilled workers to drive the machinery used to build roads,
bridges and buildings. This four-course training gets you ready to apply for those
jobs.
Industry 4.0 Associate
This introductory credential prepares individuals to work where Industry 4.0 controls,
automation, and processes are used and prepares them with a core knowledge of advanced
manufacturing and a Silver Certification.
Forklift Certification Training
Includes both classroom and hands-on training for first-time drivers as well as those
who need refresher training. Funding is available. Students who successfully complete
this course satisfy the requirements of OSHA’s 1998 revised Powered Industrial Truck
Operator Training Standard. Students must pass a written and practical test.
Train in a Day, Gain Skills for a Lifetime
Word in a Day
Learn how to use Microsoft Word to format text and paragraphs; work with tabs and
margins; add borders and shading; insert headers and footers; add and format page
numbers; and create, format, and edit tables.
Excel in A Day
Maximize your time with tools and techniques to create professional spreadsheets.
Create a spreadsheet from scratch; insert formulas and functions; use formatting features;
and create a simple chart.
PowerPoint in A Day
Create imaginative and attention-grabbing PowerPoint presentations by inserting objects,
modifying the master slide, and using animation.
Employment Skills for the Working Professional
This is a great place to start if you’re planning a career in IT or want to be more effective when it comes to technology. It’s a world-wide benchmark used to gauge where a student is in terms of their knowledge of computer systems.
Digital Literacy 1, 2, & 3
Time to Complete: 1 month for each of three courses, 3 months total
Credential(s) earned: Students prepare to sit for three certification exams: IC3
Computing Fundamentals, IC3 Living Online, and IC3 Key Applications. Upon passing
all three individual exams, the cumulative IC3 Digital Literacy Master Certification
is awarded. This certification validates the certification holder’s ability to navigate
the digital world.
Job Readiness and Customer Service Training
1 month to complete.
Provides new and incumbent workers with essential customer service skills needed to
enter the workforce and increase employability. Resume writing, communication, and
interviewing are included.
Intro to Business Computing 3 weeks to complete.
Learn the basics of Microsoft Windows, file management, Microsoft Word, Excel, and
PowerPoint.
Word for Work 3 months to complete.
This class covers: managing documents; creating/managing tables and lists; creating/managing
references; inserting/formatting text, graphics; and collaborative editing.
Excel for Work 3 months to complete.
This class covers: managing worksheets/workbooks, data cells, ranges, tables, table
data, formulas and functions; and creating charts.
Outlook for Work 3 months to complete.
This class covers: creating presentations, slides; inserting and formatting graphics,
shapes, tables, charts, and other media; applying transitions and animations.
PowerPoint for Work 3 months to complete.
This class covers: creating presentations, slides; inserting and formatting graphics,
shapes, tables, charts, and other media; applying transitions and animations.
Microsoft Office Specialist® [MOS] Certification Prep 6 months to complete.
This online preparatory class covers three of the MO exams required to achieve the
MOS certification: Word MO-100, Excel MO-200, and PowerPoint MO-300. All exam objectives
are covered in this asynchronous, at your own pace, instructor supported course. Exam
vouchers are included in the cost of this course for use at Harford’s Pearson Vue
test center.
"The training students receive makes them job-ready, and for local employers,that's who they'll hire first. If you're looking for skilled
employees, contact me for the opportunity to tour our facility and meet our students."
Dr. Austin Hill, Director for Strategic Partnerships
Celebrating the first Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Scholarship recipient completers.
First Heavy Equipment Operations cohort completes training with 100% employed as a result!
