Career Ed

Certifications, Certificates & College Credit

Jump start your career!
Earn a Poway Adult School Pathway Certificate

  • Self-paced. So, you go as fast or as slow as you need.
  • Qualified instructors meet with you when you need help.
  • ​Start anytime in our open-entry format to earn your certificate to a new career today.
Entry-level Clerk Certificate (79 hours)
  1. Intro to Basic Clerical Skills
  2. MS Word Level 1
  3. MS Excel Level 1
Clerical Assistant Certificate (196 hours)
  • ​Prerequisite: Entry Level Clerk or Competency Test
  1. MS PowerPoint 1 or Google Slides
  2. MS Word 2
  3. MS Excel 2
Administrative Assistant Certificate (252 hours)
  • Prerequisite: Entry Level Clerk Certificate or Competency Test
  1. MS Word 3 (with Microsoft Office Specialist option)
  2. PowerPoint 2
  3. MS Outlook
  4. MS Excel 2, 3 (with Microsoft Office Specialist option)
Accounts Payable / Accounts Receivable Billing Clerk Certificate (164 hours)

  1. Accounting Level 1 and 2  (with college credit option)

  2. ​MS Excel Level 2, Level 3 (with Microsoft Office Specialist option)

  3. QuickBooksPro  (with QuickBooks Certification option)  

For pathway courses, see Accounting, Business & Finance and Computer Applications.

What's the difference between certifications and certificates?

Certification generally represents an earned credential that demonstrates specialized knowledge, skills, and experience. Certifications are usually awarded upon passing a proctored exam under a strict protocol. Earning a certification is a way to prove competencies defined by the related industry. Certifications are usually backed by companies that are industry leaders such as Microsoft, Comptia, and Intuit to name a few.

Certificates are different from certifications in that certificates are generally awarded upon successful completion of educational courses and / or programs. Students who complete Poway Adult School Pathway Certificate programs are awarded a Pathway Certificate endorsed by the Poway Adult School and validated by the School's business partners who are experts in their fields.

Industry Certifications      

  • ​Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications
MOS certifications are a solid way to prove to employers you know Microsoft Office skills and are workplace ready! Select your Microsoft Office courses from the options, complete approximately 150 hours practicing and studying your coursework. Then, plan for your certification exam! Poway Adult School (PAS) students can purchase Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam vouchers with free retake and practice tests for a discounted price of *$120.00. Make an appointment to take your exam at the Poway Adult School (PAS) Certiport Authorized Testing Center. Contact us for your exam discount.  MOS Exam Objectives
  • ​QuickBooks Certification QBCU_Logo-(2).png
Show employers you've got what it takes to manage their QuickBooks by first taking a QuickBooks course. Then, by earning your QB certification and listing it on your resume! Poway Adult School (PAS) students can purchase QuickBooks Certified User exam vouchers with free retake and practice tests for a school discounted price of *$102.99. Contact us for your exam discount.
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  • ic3 Certification

​The ic3 certification (Internet Core Competency Certification) Digital Literacy certification is a global benchmark for basic computer literacy, including operating systems, hardware, software, and networks. Start by taking the Computer Concepts & Applications course and then take the ic3 certification test to prove your computer literacy to employers.

  • ​​Comptia N+ Certification

Proves you have the knowledge and skills to: design, implement and manage networks and manage network devices; identify pros and cons of protocols and troubleshoot network problems. Take the Networking Fundamentals course to prepare for this certification.

  • Comptia A+ Certification
Proves you know what's needed to enter a career in technical support and IT operations. Take our Hardware & Operating Systems course to prepare for this certification.
  • Southwest Airlines Professional Communications Certification
This certification assesses industry-valued and recognized standards produced by Southwest Airlines, a leader in their class. The certification validates knowledge and skills in interpersonal, oral and graphic communication. It's hard evidence to prove you have what it takes in soft skills for careers requiring good communication and excellent customer service skills. Sign up for our next offering of the Professional Communications course and prepare to earn your industry-valid certification! Watch the  Southwest Airlines Professional Communications video for more information.

Palomar College Credit

Poway Adult School partners with Palomar College to offer you the opportunity earn college credits in the courses listed below. Each course is worth three (3) credits upon completion with an "A" or "B." This is at no additional cost to you!
How can college credit help me?

College credit is demonstrated on a transcript that is generally lasting evidence of coursework you've completed. Transcripts are received by most colleges. So, credits you earned may be accepted at the school of your dreams! And, you can keep adding to your credits to use them later towards a college degree or certificate. 

Students who complete all required coursework at a grade of “B” or better in any of these PAS courses:
  • Computer Concepts & Applications (Palomar CSIT  105)
  • Accounting 1, 2 (Palomar ACCT 101)
  • Hardware (Palomar CSNT 110)
  • Networking Fundamentals (Palomar CSNT 111)
Follow these steps to earn college credit in one of the courses listed above.
  1. Let your Poway Adult School instructor know you will be taking the course for college credit. He or she will direct you in the process and ensure you receive a letter grade upon completion.
  2. Complete all of the course requirements with an "A" or "B" grade.
  3. To get college credit, you will have to be a Palomar College student. You won't be charged to get this credit. Follow both of the next steps in order and make sure to save your login information for both systems in which you will need to create accounts.
    1. Enroll in Palomar College (instructions here). 
    2. Follow the Quick Start instructions here.
  4. Contact your instructor or the Career Education Specialist for help with the process if needed!

Complete your business education at Palomar College:
Bookkeeping / Accounting Clerk Certificate

ACCT 101 Bookkeeping 3 (take this at Poway Adult School) 
ACCT 104 Accounting Spreadsheet Concepts 2
ACCT 110 Quickbooks 2
ACCT 115 Sales Tax, Payroll Taxes, and Employee Benefits 2
TOTAL UNITS 9 - 10

Typing Tests

Call the Poway Adult School at (858) 668-4024 to schedule a typing test appointment.
Test with one certificate copy is $20 ($5 for additional copies of your certificate)

The Poway Unified School District (PUSD) is an equal opportunity employer/program and is committed to an active Nondiscrimination Program. PUSD prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, immigration status, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental ability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For more information, please contact: Title IX/Equity Compliance Officer, James Jimenez, Associate Superintendent of Personnel Support Services, Poway Unified School District, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA 92128, 1-858-521-2800, extension 2761, jjimenez@powayusd.com. For students, you may contact Title IX Coordinator Jamie Dayhoff, Director of Attendance and Discipline, Poway Unified School District, 1-858-521-2840, jdayhoff@powayusd.com
Poway Unified School District, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA 92128-3406