Increase your skills.
Free Certifications are back, and it’s easier than ever to learn, practice and certify! Introducing an all-new portal to connect you with learning resources and certification exams, all free to you with your library card!
Learn or sharpen your technology skills with resources from your Pierce County Library. Once you’ve mastered a program, get certified and take your resume to the next level.
Browse the list below to learn more about the certifications currently available.
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
Do you have Office skills? Earn your certification in Word, Access, PowerPoint, Excel, & Outlook to showcase your knowledge! Learn more about Microsoft Office certifications.
Microsoft Certified Fundamentals
Intuit Quickbooks Certification
Learn the most popular accounting software used by small businesses in your area today. Learn more about the Intuit certifications available.
Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Certifications
IT Specialist Career Credentials
Interested in a career in Information Technology (IT)? Give yourself a boost by earning one or more certifications in the fastest-growing industry today! Learn more about the IT certifications available.
CompTIA Certifications
Interested in a career in Information Technology (IT)? Give yourself a boost by earning one or more certifications in the fastest-growing industry today! Learn more about the CompTIA certifications available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can enroll?
Free certifications are available to all Washington residents with a state or local library card, including your Pierce County Library card. For even more information on free certifications, visit the Washington State Library’s certification website.
How much does it cost?
The learning resources and final exams are provided to you through your state and local libraries and are free with your library card. Don’t have a library card? Get one now.
Do I need to have my own computer?
Yes, you will need access to a computer or laptop to take the final exam. Learn more about using computers at the library or accessing free Wi-Fi in library locations.
Can I enroll for more than one certification?
Yes! We encourage you to pursue any certifications that may help you in reaching your goals, though we do recommend focusing on just one at a time. You can enroll in another program as soon as you have passed your certification exam for the previous program.
What is G-Metrix?
G-Metrix is a learning platform we use that offers learning resources and practice exams for our certification program: you will be asked to create a free account to utilize your practice test code.
If you experience technical issues while using G-Metrix, we advise you to contact G-Metrix directly at Support@GMetrix.com or (801) 323-5800.
What is Certiport?
Certiport is the company that provides the certification testing software, and you will need to create a free Certiport Account to take your final exam. Pierce County Library is a Certiport Authorized Testing Center.
You can familiarize yourself with the Certiport testing environment through their exam tutorials. See the full list.
I saw additional certifications on the Certiport website. How can I get those?
Additional certifications, such as Unity and Adobe, are available for purchase through Certiport. You may also suggest future certifications for consideration via email at certify@sos.wa.gov.
What are the system requirements for the certification exam?
Below are the technical requirements listed by the testing center. Learn more here.
| Item | Required / Minimum | Recommended |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Enterprise, Professional, Home, or Education | Windows 10 Enterprise, Professional, Home, or Education Ver. 1607 build 14393.2515 or later (32-bit and 64-bit) |
| Admin Rights | Local Windows Administrator rights are required to install Compass, configure the settings, and administer local exams. | |
| Processor | Pentium 4 or equivalent 1.3 GHz or higher | Core i5 or equivalent2.6 GHz or higher |
| Note: Some Live-in-the-Application exams support only 64-bit processors. We do not support ARM processors. | ||
| RAM (LITA exams) | 4GB | 8GB |
| RAM (non-LITA exams) | 2GB | 4GB |
| Hard Drive | 5GB | +1GB over min per exam program installed |
| Video Resolution | 1280 x 800 (Widescreen 16:9)1024 x 768 (Standard 4:3) | 1920 x 1080 (Widescreen 16:9) 1280 x 1024 (Standard 4:3) |
| Security Protocol | TLS 1.1 or higher | |
| Internet Connection Speed | 256 kbps or DSL | High-speed internet connection |
| Supported Internet Browsers | Latest versions of Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Firefox | |
| Keyboard & Mouse | 2-button wheel mouseKeyboard | |
| Browser Settings | Cookies must be enabled |
Free Certifications are made possible in partnership with Washington State Library: if you are a library card holder in Washington State, certifications are available at no cost to you! Don’t have a library card yet? Sign up now!
Library Resources
Enjoy these resources free with your library card.
Additional Resources
More Information
Please contact the Library’s Job + Business Center.
