FERRUM, VA, February 24, 2025 – Ferrum College and NCLabs announced a new partnership that will offer more industry-recognized credential opportunities to college students. A signing event was held on February 24 in the college’s Blue Ridge Mountain Room. With courses starting in March, Ferrum will be the first college in Virginia to offer data analyst and Python programming training for college credit from online training provider NCLab.
NCLab, based in Nevada, provides a unique hands-on, interactive training platform that was developed by a university professor through years of educational and computational research. Python, the leading computer coding language in the country, has extensive applications in today’s technology-laden workplace. Skills as a data analyst or Python programmer are useful in a wide variety of fields such as website customization, mobile app development, artificial intelligence technologies, chatbot development, database forecasting, and desktop applications.
“We are very impressed with the commitment Ferrum College has made to its students to ensure they have practical, hands-on learning experiences which lead to industry-recognized certificates that they can bring to the workforce and launch successful careers,” said Leonard Lafrance, NCLab President. “That’s why our partnership makes so much sense. At NCLab, our online training methodology meets those high standards. Our training is like no other in that students truly learn the material. There’s no way to skip around. They learn by doing and then move on to the next concept. Students graduate with hundreds of completed projects, and are fully prepared to sit for the nationally recognized industry exam in Data Analytics and Python Programming.”
The courses will be available to current Ferrum students as well as those not currently enrolled. The first classes will be offered in a seven-week term that begins March 10, 2025. Training modules in the Data Analyst 1 course include SQL Fundamentals, Data Literacy Data Visualization, and Data Analysis. In the Python Programming 1 course, training modules include Computational Literacy, Introduction to Python, Working with Text, Plotting and Drawing, and more.
Data Analyst 2 and Python Programming 2 will be offered in the next 7-week term, beginning in May. Students can earn three Ferrum College credit hours for each of the four courses, acquiring the skills and knowledge to pass industry-recognized certification exams that enhance any degree. For data analyst, the national credential is CompTIA Data+ and for Python Programmer it is the Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer (PCEP).
Ferrum College President Mirta Martin said, “This partnership with NCLab represents an exciting new opportunity for learners of all backgrounds to gain the high-demand technical skills needed to thrive in today’s job market. With flexible, AI-supported instruction and a truly accessible approach, these programs remove barriers to career advancement and open doors to well-paying opportunities in fields like data analysis, automation, and Python development. At Ferrum College, we are committed to preparing students for the future, and this innovative collaboration ensures that they will be job-ready with real-world experience and industry-recognized credentials. We are proud to be at the forefront of this workforce transformation.”
These training opportunities will appeal to anyone with a curious mind who loves solving puzzles, working with cutting-edge tools, and making an impact in industries such as healthcare, sports, technology, entertainment, and agriculture. Students interested in enrolling in Ferrum’s courses should take NCLab’s Career Readiness Assessment before their first class begins. It is available at https://nclab.com/ferrum-assessment/.
