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What is Computer Training Classes used for?
Computer Training Classes is a Chicago-area IT and business-skills training provider, with centers in Chicago, Schaumburg, Naperville and Northbrook. It is used by working professionals, career changers and job seekers who want instructor-led classes and certification prep rather than self-paced online courses.
Its catalog covers several distinct audiences:
- Office and business users – Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project, SharePoint, Visio and Windows.
- Accounting and finance staff – Excel-based accounting plus QuickBooks.
- Creative and marketing professionals – Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, Premiere, After Effects and Captivate, alongside web topics such as WordPress, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL and Bootstrap.
- IT and networking staff – CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+ and CTT+, plus CCNA.
- Project and data roles – PMP, Agile, SAFe Scrum, ITIL, Six Sigma, business analysis, SQL queries, Tableau and Python, with newer offerings in AI prompt engineering, Azure and AWS.
How people typically use it
A common scenario: someone in an administrative role wants to move into data or project work. They might take advanced Excel and SQL first, then Tableau or PMP prep, using the suburban locations to fit classes around a job. Another: an IT help-desk technician preparing for CompTIA A+ or Network+ before moving toward CCNA.
Beyond scheduled classes, the site lists private and onsite training, tutoring, database and QuickBooks consulting, and training-room rentals. It also references WIOA/TAA funding paperwork, which matters if you are unemployed or displaced and hoping a workforce program covers tuition.
What to weigh
Instructor-led classroom training suits people who need structure, a fixed schedule and someone to ask questions. The trade-off is travel to a physical center and less flexibility than video courses. Before enrolling, confirm the current schedule, class format and whether funding applies to your situation.
A practical next step: pick the single skill closest to your next role, check the outline for that class, and ask about the next start date at your nearest location.
Do you offer online or in-person computer training classes in Chicago and the suburbs?
Yes. Computer Training Classes serves the Chicago area through three physical training centers — Chicago, Schaumburg and Naperville — and also lists online and onsite options, so you can choose the format that fits your schedule and location.
What the delivery options look like
- In-person, at a training center: Chicago, Schaumburg and Naperville locations are listed, with separate phone numbers for each. This suits people who want a classroom setting, direct instructor access and a reason to leave the office or home.
- Onsite training: The site lists onsite training classes, meaning instruction can be arranged at your organization's location. This is usually the better fit for teams that need several staff trained on the same software without travel.
- Private training: Private classes are also listed, useful when a group needs a custom pace or a topic not covered on the public schedule.
- Online: Online training appears in the catalog. Treat "online" as a format, not automatically a self-paced course — ask whether a session is live, recorded or a mix.
Subjects and who they suit
The catalog is broad rather than niche. It spans Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project, SharePoint, Visio, Windows), accounting (QuickBooks), Adobe creative tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, Premiere, After Effects, Captivate), web development (WordPress, PHP, HTML/CSS, MySQL, JavaScript, Bootstrap), and IT certification tracks (CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, CTT+, CCNA, plus PMP, ITIL, Agile, SQL, Six Sigma, business analysis and Tableau).
That range means one provider can cover a mixed group: an administrative team needing Excel and QuickBooks, a marketing hire needing Adobe, and an IT staffer pursuing CompTIA or Cisco certification. The trade-off is depth — for a specialized certification, compare the specific course outline against your exam objectives rather than assuming broad coverage equals exam readiness.
Practical next step
Decide your constraint first: if travel is the barrier, ask about online or onsite; if your team needs a custom syllabus, ask about private training. Then confirm three things before enrolling — whether the session is live or self-paced, whether it runs at the location nearest you, and whether a course outline exists for your exact class. The site provides outlines for several programs, including Windows 10, Python, AI, Tableau and QuickBooks Online, which is the fastest way to check fit.
For comparison, other Chicago-area training providers include New Horizons and Learning Tree.
Which computer training classes are best for someone preparing for CompTIA A+ or Cisco CCNA certification?
For CompTIA A+ or Cisco CCNA preparation, the relevant tracks on this site are its Tech/Networking Classes, which list CompTIA A+, CCNA, Network+, Security+, and CompTIA CTT+.
CompTIA A+ suits people starting in IT support: hardware, operating systems, troubleshooting, basic networking and security. If your goal is a first help-desk or desktop-support role, start here.
Cisco CCNA is narrower and more advanced: it assumes comfort with IP addressing, routing and switching, and it points toward network administrator or network technician work. If you already have some IT foundation, or your target jobs list CCNA, go straight to that class.
How to choose
| Your situation | Better starting class |
|---|---|
| New to IT, no certs, want an entry role | CompTIA A+ |
| Some IT experience, targeting network roles | CCNA |
| Unsure, but want networking eventually | A+ first, then CCNA |
| Need to satisfy a job posting naming one cert | That named cert |
A practical next step: check the class outlines and schedules for the A+ and CCNA entries, then confirm which exam versions the class maps to before enrolling. If you are near Chicago, Schaumburg or Naperville, the site also lists onsite and private training options, which can matter if you need a faster pace or a group session.
For comparison, CompTIA publishes its own exam objectives at CompTIA, and Cisco publishes CCNA exam topics at Cisco. Match any class outline against those official objectives — that is the clearest test of whether a course actually prepares you for the exam you plan to take.
Can I get funding or payment assistance for computer training through WIOA or TAA?
Yes — this site explicitly lists WIOA/TAA among its offerings, which means it presents itself as an approved training provider for workforce-funded students rather than a purely self-pay school. Whether you qualify depends on your state or local workforce board, not on the school.
What the site shows
- A dedicated WIOA/TAA entry in its main navigation, plus a WIOA Candidate Information page and a WIOA Orientation Form.
- Class locations in Chicago, Schaumburg and Naperville, so approvals may differ by location and by program.
- Catalog areas that commonly appear on state-approved training lists: Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project, SharePoint, Visio), accounting/QuickBooks, Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, Premiere, After Effects, Captivate), web (WordPress, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL, Bootstrap), tech/networking (CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, CTT+, CCNA), plus PMP, ITIL, Agile, Six Sigma, business analysis, SQL, Tableau, Python, AWS, Azure and AI-related classes.
- Private, onsite and tutoring options, which are usually funded only if the same course is on the approved list — confirm before assuming.
How the two programs differ
| WIOA | TAA | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it serves | Adults, dislocated workers, youth meeting local eligibility rules | Workers affected by foreign trade or offshoring, certified by the Department of Labor |
| Who decides | Local workforce board / American Job Center | State TAA coordinator, based on your certification |
| Typical use | Short-term training tied to in-demand jobs | Retraining, often with extended income support while enrolled |
| Practical catch | Funding is limited and course must be on the approved list | You generally need a trade certification and an approved training plan first |
Your next step
Call the campus nearest you and ask two questions: "Is this specific course on the current approved training list?" and "Which workforce board do you bill for my address?" Then contact your local American Job Center before enrolling — approval usually must be in place before the class starts, and retroactive reimbursement is rare. Useful starting points: CareerOneStop for your local center, and U.S. Department of Labor for TAA eligibility rules.
If your goal is a quick credential, ask whether a shorter CompTIA or QuickBooks course is approved — shorter programs are often easier to fund than multi-course diploma tracks.
What options are available for private or onsite computer training for my company?
Computer Training Classes offers private and onsite training as dedicated formats, alongside its public classroom schedule. The main distinction is where the class happens and who is in it: private training is typically one company or a small group working with an instructor, while onsite training brings that instruction to your location. Both sit apart from the open-enrollment classes listed for Microsoft Office, accounting, Adobe, web, tech/networking and project management topics.
What the site lists
- Private Training Classes
- Onsite Training Classes
- Tutoring
- Microsoft Access Database Consulting
- QuickBooks Consulting
- Training Room Rentals
- WIOA/TAA support and WIOA candidate information
How the options compare
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Private training | Teams that need confidentiality or a custom pace | You forgo the variety of a mixed public class |
| Onsite training | Groups at one office, especially with several attendees | Requires space, equipment and scheduling coordination |
| Tutoring | Individuals filling specific gaps | Less structured than a full class |
| Consulting (Access, QuickBooks) | Solving a database or accounting workflow problem | Focus is your system, not general curriculum |
| Training room rentals | Running your own session in a equipped space | You supply the instructor and materials |
Topics that can be covered
The catalog spans Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Word, Project, SharePoint, Outlook, Windows, Visio), accounting (Excel, QuickBooks), Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, Premiere, After Effects, Captivate), web (WordPress, PHP, HTML/CSS, MySQL, JavaScript, Bootstrap, online marketing), tech/networking (CompTIA A+, CCNA, Network+, Security+, CompTIA CTT+), project management (PMP, ITIL, Agile, Microsoft Project, SQL Queries, Six Sigma, business analysis, Tableau), plus newer areas such as AI prompt engineering, Azure, Python and AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate.
Next step
Call the location nearest your team — Chicago, Schaumburg or Naperville — and describe your group size, skill level and target topic. Ask whether the session can be tailored to your own files or systems, and whether it can be delivered at your office or in one of their training rooms. If your goal is a certification such as PMP, CompTIA or CCNA, confirm the exam objectives are covered before booking. For related official resources, see Microsoft and CompTIA.
Which Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, or Adobe classes should I take to improve my job skills?
Choose by the job task you want to perform, not by the software brand. This provider groups classes into Microsoft Office, Accounting/QuickBooks, Adobe, Web, and Tech/Networking tracks, with physical locations in Chicago, Schaumburg, and Naperville and options for private, onsite, and tutoring sessions. The right pick depends on whether you need to produce documents, manage books, or create visual assets.
If your goal is general office work
Start with Excel, then add one or two supporting tools.
- Excel is the highest-leverage class for most administrative, analyst, and operations roles. It is the common language of reporting and data cleanup.
- Word for document-heavy roles (legal, HR, publishing).
- PowerPoint if you present to clients or management.
- Outlook if your job is email- and calendar-driven.
- Access only if your team already uses Access databases; otherwise Excel plus a reporting tool is more portable.
- Project, Visio, SharePoint are role-specific: project coordination, process diagrams, and team document management respectively.
A practical sequence: Excel first, then the tool you touch weekly. Taking five Office classes at once rarely sticks.
If your goal is bookkeeping or accounting support
QuickBooks is the direct route for small-business bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, and office manager roles that handle invoicing. The catalog lists QuickBooks classes alongside Excel and QuickBooks consulting.
- Take Excel with QuickBooks if you will reconcile accounts, build summaries, or export reports.
- Take QuickBooks Online Part 2 and Part 3 if you already know the basics and need payroll, banking, or reporting depth.
- If you are aiming at a formal accounting path rather than bookkeeping, ask about the accounting program sequence before committing.
If your goal is design, marketing, or content production
Adobe classes map to specific outputs:
| Class | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Photoshop | Photo editing, retouching, social imagery |
| Illustrator | Logos, vector graphics, print layout elements |
| InDesign | Multi-page print and digital publications |
| Acrobat | PDF editing, forms, document workflows |
| Premiere | Video editing |
| After Effects | Motion graphics and effects |
| Captivate | E-learning and interactive training modules |
For a marketing generalist, Photoshop plus one of Premiere or InDesign is usually enough to be useful. For an e-learning or training role, Captivate plus basic video skills is more relevant than print design.
A decision rule
Ask: which task appears in my job description or performance review? Take that class first. Then check whether the class has a prerequisite outline and whether the schedule fits your location or remote preference.
Next step
Call the location nearest you and describe your role and the tasks you need to perform; ask which outline matches. The site lists Chicago, Schaumburg, and Naperville centers, plus private, onsite, and tutoring options if a group class does not fit. If you are funding training through a workforce program, ask specifically about WIOA eligibility before enrolling, since the catalog references WIOA candidate information and orientation forms.
For comparison, you can also review general Microsoft Office training options at Microsoft and Adobe's own learning resources at Adobe, but a local instructor-led class is often better when you need accountability and hands-on feedback.
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