Training and Certification
Apple Authorized Training Center for Education
Program Overview
Apple Authorized Training Center
for Education
Program Overview
Contents
What’s an Apple Authorized Training Center for Education? ......................................................3
What Does it Take to Be an AATCE? ........................................................................................................4
Why Become an AATCE? .............................................................................................................................7
Interested in Becoming an AATCE?.........................................................................................................8
Program Costs .................................................................................................................................................9
Frequently Asked Questions ...................................................................................................................10
AATCE Terms ...................................................................................................................................................11
Apple Authorized Training Center
Program Overview
What is an Apple Authorized Training Center for Education?
Quality, Simplicity, and Innovation
The Apple Authorized Training Center for
Education logo can be used in marketing
communications and signage.
These values have made Apple one of the most exciting and valuable brands in the
world today. From San Francisco to Paris to Beijing, Apple customers expect these
values to be present in all aspects of the brand, from product design to customer
service to training.
Apple has an incredible history of creating innovative products, notably the Mac,
iPod, and iPhone. The same innovative spirit guided the creation of Apple’s chain of
world-class retail and online stores, plus the revolutionary iTunes Store. In fact, Business
Week recently concluded that Apple was the #1 innovative company in the world, citing
its ability to deliver “great consumer experience with outstanding design.”
Apple Authorized Training Center for Education Program
The Apple Authorized Training Center for Education (AATCE) program was developed
along the same principles of quality, simplicity, and innovation.
Apple will continue
to create exceptional
products and services
for many years to come.
Schools that provide an
exceptional learning
experience today will
give students a career
jump-start.
AATCE
Program Overview
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The AATCE program provides unique benefits to schools that use Apple’s professional
software solutions in their own academic curriculum. Academic institutions incorporate
the Apple Certified Training into their existing accredited curriculum and administer
certification to their enrolled students and faculty. This program is flexible in its design,
providing the Apple Pro Training series textbooks to augment the existing curriculum.
AATCEs deliver Apple’s proprietary courses to their own students and faculty through
Apple Certified Trainers who meet Apple’s quality standards.
Apple classes are scalable to fit all needs of an educational institution within a normal
semester-length class, and are the perfect addition to your current new media program.
What Does it Take to Be an AATCE?
“Our district’s Career
Technical and Adult
Education Department
had the vision to
allocate Carl Perkins
funds to help build our
Apple Authorized
Training Center, which
gives my students real,
long-term career
opportunities.”
Give your students an education that is more relevant in the real world. Educate them in
the use of Apple’s Creative and IT solutions. Certify their skills. See them thrive in the film
and video, music and audio, and Information Technology professions where Apple
solutions are the standard tools the pros use. Do what many other universities,
community colleges, and high schools are already doing—train and certify your
students for career success.
Ross Kallen, Digital Media Advisor,
Rancho Bernardo High School
A classroom focused on Apple products gives students confidence that they’re receiving
the best training and advice available. It offers them a wide range of courses and exams,
ensuring that students can find the training and certification they need.
In order to ensure all AATCEs are able to deliver an exceptional student experience,
Apple has developed comprehensive and objective program terms that must be met at
all times. Program terms can be summarized under the following headings:
• Apple Focus
• Classroom Excellence
• Student Experience
Apple Focus
AATCEs are expected to:
• Furnish at least one dedicated classroom with Apple equipment; AATCEs may not
deliver Apple certification training on non-Apple systems.
• Offer a range of Apple certification courses—IT and Creative
• Offer the full range of Apple’s certification exams—even if the student or faculty
member has not attended a course.
• Engage an Apple Certified Trainer to deliver all Apple Certified training courses
Apple Authorized Training Centers provide training and certification on the full range of Apple software.
AATCE
Program Overview
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Classroom Excellence
A classroom that’s well designed and provides plenty of space to learn, study, and
complete exams will ensure that students are comfortable and confident as they learn
new skills. To give your students the most meaningful educational experience, your
facility’s equipment should be comparable to what they will encounter in the “real
world.” An AATCE that provides compelling and clear certification and training
information will encourage learners to continue their Apple education—earning
additional certifications as Apple continues to innovate.
AATCEs are expected to:
• Maintain classrooms in accordance with the Facility Requirements Document (PDF).
• Ensure the classroom layout is elegant and uncluttered, with high-quality and
well-maintained fixtures.
• Ensure that equipment and software are up-to-date and meet all specifications for
the products and courses they must support.
• Actively promote the value of Apple Certification.
AATCEs can deliver
certification training on
OS X and Apple's
professional digital
applications to
matriculated students
and current faculty.
AATCE
Program Overview
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Student Experience
Well-trained staff and a range of training and certification options will ensure students’
success. Apple Certification can jump start your students' futures and distinguish them
as professional-level users of OS X and Apple's pro applications.
AATCEs are expected to:
• Ensure that all courses are offered by talented, professional ACTs; each AATCE should
have at least two ACTs on staff.
• Ensure that well-trained technical staff are available to support the classrooms.
• Assist students in determining the most appropriate training and certification path.
• Encourage all students to seek Apple certification.
AATCEs can offer Apple
technical training for
students who are planning
careers in film, television,
editing and a host of other
media-driven professions.
AATCE
Program Overview
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Why Become an Apple Authorized Training Center?
Recognition by Apple
AATCEs benefit from being able to use the AATCE logo in their marketing materials and
website. The Apple logo is recognized worldwide (AATCEs must abide by the specific
guidelines for its use).
Established Curriculum
Use Apple’s proven curriculum for every subject, and take your IT and media programs
to the next level by offering high-quality training on the same professional software
used every day in current television shows, films, and recording studios - on the most
stable OS in the world:
• OS X
• OS X Server
• Aperture
• Final Cut Pro
• Logic Pro
• Motion
Student Certification
Certified skills open doors.
“ Everything we hear
from our grads says
that their Final Cut Pro
experience is getting
them jobs.”
Dave Pollock, Dean, School of
Filmmaking, North Carolina
School of the Arts
With an ever increasing number of media outlets creating an increasing demand for
creative film, video, audio, music, and photographic content, career opportunities for the
developers of that content are burgeoning.
As Apple grows, so does the demand for qualified IT professionals to support and
manage OS X implementations.
Students with certified technical skills are in high demand all over the country and, in
fact, around the world. By adding Apple Authorized Training to your curriculum, you can
help your students meet that demand.
Teacher Training
Get the most out of Apple’s solutions by ensuring that teachers, administrators and IT
staff have the training they need to use them effectively.
Marketing Materials
AATCEs benefit from a range of marketing materials supplied by Apple for use inside
and outside their facilities. They also receive marketing guidelines and recommendations
developed specifically for AATCEs. AATCEs may also access product imagery, keynote
presentations, demo movies, and other marketing materials.
Training Materials
AATCE
Program Overview
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AATCEs have access to all the materials instructors need to deliver Apple certification
training courses, including instructor notes and presentation material, course exercises,
comprehensive student guides, access to online exams, and study resources. AATCEs can
purchase materials directly from Peachpit Press with a generous AATCE discount.
Interested in Becoming an AATCE?
AATCEs are carefully selected to meet Apple’s highest standards in all areas, including
facility, instructors, course delivery, and infrastructure. The goal of the program is to offer
Apple customers and students the highest-quality training experience—from students
to faculty to administrative staff.
Talk with your Apple Account Executive about whether the AATCE program is right for
your school. To be accepted into the program, schools must meet the criteria in the
AATCE Terms at the end of this document.
How to Apply
Step 1: Review the certification and training course descriptions on training.apple.com
to decide which courses you want to offer and talk with your Apple account executive
about the program.
Step 2: Review the program guide and complete an application at training.apple.com/
aatc/education. If your application is accepted, Apple Education Marketing will schedule
a conference call to answer your questions and confirm your eligibility. The application
should include photos of your facility and identify the Apple Certified Trainers with
whom you’ll be working.
Step 3: If you plan to have your own instructors become Apple Certified Trainers, they’ll
have to complete the requirements for the Apple Certified Trainer program. Details and
an application appear at training.apple.com/act.
Step 4: Complete a contract with Apple. If you already have a fully executed agreement
with Apple, we’ll simply send you an AATCE addendum, which you’ll have thirty (30)
days to review, sign, and return.
If you’re a new Apple customer, the Contracts team will work with you to execute the
AATCE Addendum along with your contract.
Avoid delays by adding [email protected] to your address book, and verify that your
email account will accept attachments.
Step 5: Start delivering Apple certification training!
AATCE
Program Overview
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Program Costs
There’s no cost to apply and interview for the AATCE program. Once accepted, the costs
of starting an AATCE program depend on the size of the classrooms, number of
students, and a variety of other factors.
The following table is designed to help plan your budget.
Item
Cost
Quantity
Copy of relevant Apple software
Market price* minus the
Education discount
One per student
station, plus one for
instructor station
Student Mac + display
Market price*
One per student
Copy of relevant Apple Pro Training Series
book
Varies/ ~$75
One per student
Exam voucher
Varies/ most exams are $75
One per student
Instructor Mac + display + printer
Market price*
One per classroom
*Market price: http://store.apple.com/us
AATCE
Program Overview
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take to process my application?
Once your application is submitted, please allow 30–60 days for processing. Apple will
contact you regarding the next steps.
What is an Apple Certified Trainer (ACT)? How many do I need to have?
An ACT is an independent teacher (not an Apple employee) who has completed the
Apple Certified Trainer program—a rigorous training and certification program. Only
ACTs can deliver Apple Certified Training. For more information regarding the ACT
program, please visit the Apple Training website at training.apple.com/act.
AATCEs may hire independent ACTs, or they may send their own teachers through the
ACT certification program. An AATCE must have at least one ACT on staff, and Apple
recommends having at least two.
What courses are available through AATCEs?
All Apple IT and Creative certification courses may be delivered by AATCEs. Visit the
Training & Certification website at training.apple.com to see a complete listing of Apple
Certification courses.
What’s the difference between an Apple Authorized Training Center (AATC) and an
Apple Authorized Training Center for Education (AATCE)?
The AATCE program is designed to provide unique benefits to schools that use Apple
professional software solutions in their own academic curriculum. An AATCE offers
courses and certification exams only to students or faculty enrolled in their own
programs and cannot offer courses or exams to the general public, even as part of
extension or enrichment programs. AATCs, on the other hand, offer courses to the
general public.
Can my AATCE become an AATC?
Some educational facilities may be eligible to offer both academic delivery as an AATCE
and commercial delivery as an AATC. However, acceptance into the AATCE program
doesn’t guarantee acceptance into the AATC program. Apple considers market
saturation, geographic location and AATCE performance among other factors when
approving AATCs. K12 facilities are not eligible to become AATCs.
What if I need help? What kind of support can I expect?
Apple Training & Certification provides all the tools your educational facility needs to be
self-sufficient. AATCEs have access to a detailed instructions, guidelines and FAQs on
Apple’s sales portal: Apple Sales Web.
The Training & Certification team can be reached by email at [email protected],
and guarantees a response to every email within two business days, but does not offer
phone support.
AATCE
Program Overview
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AATCE Terms & Requirements
• Deliver a minimum of one (1) course and five (5) exams per location, per quarter or
semester.
• Employ or contract with at least one Apple Certified Trainer (ACT) for delivery of all
Apple Certification courses.
• Maintain one copy of current Apple software per student and instructor system based
on the Apple courses the training center is authorized to deliver.
• Maintain a classroom that meets the standards required of the program. See the
Facility Requirements Document (PDF) on training.apple.com/aatc for details.
• Provide one set of student course materials per student.
• Email is the primary form of communication for the AATCE program. Schools must
have an email account that will accept attachments. All email queries are answered
within two business days, unless otherwise noted. • Read the email program update and keep up to date on changes
• Participate in Apple audits to help ensure quality delivery of Apple courses and exams.
• Direct students to complete online class evaluations at the end of each Apple course
delivered.
• Provide Apple with monthly reports on number of exams and classes delivered.
AATCE
Program Overview
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