Computer Training Source: Find Top Courses & Training Locations

CTS focuses on small class sizes and an intimate learning environment. They provide students with one-day classes or longer programs to choose from with manual and practice exercise files included. CTS also allows students to retake a class within six months.

Computer Training Source, Inc., also known as Computer Training Source, has been in the software education business for 30 years. Patrick McNichols founded the school in the Chicago area in 1991—the year that the World Wide Web, Visual Basic, and Python all debuted. Computer Training Source serves individual students as well as businesses who want to support their employees with additional computer-based training. The school offers a wide variety of courses while maintaining small class sizes to maximize the interaction between students and instructors. In addition to an exam pass guarantee, Computer Training Source has also long offered a free course retake policy. Beyond individual and corporate training, the school offers consulting and tutoring services as well.

School Locations

Computer Training Source maintains three training centers in the Greater Chicago area: one in downtown Chicago, one in Schaumburg, and one in Naperville. The school also operates courses remotely and has done so since before 2020.

Subjects Taught at Computer Training Source

The school offers instruction in a wide range of subjects, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative programs as well as web design, web development, and digital marketing. They also host classes in project management and accounting software, and data analytics, database management, and tech/networking training for certification. Prospective students can compare Computer Training Source’s course offerings with other schools by using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me Tool. There, students can locate training options in Adobe, project management, social media marketing, and web design.

What Classes Are Available?

Students can take classes in everything from the standard Microsoft Office suite to Visio and Sharepoint, from Adobe Photoshop and InDesign to After Effects and Captivate. Their web design courses are divided by language and platform and include classes like JavaScript, MySQL, HTML and CSS, PHP, and Bootstrap. For those who want an education in digital marketing, Computer Training Source offers dedicated classes in WordPress, Google Ads and Analytics, and SEO. Students interested in data analytics can take classes like Python, Tableau, and SQL Queries. Project Management students have the opportunity to study Microsoft Project, SixSigma, Salesforce, AWS, Azure, QuickBooks, and Business Analytics. The school also offers Tech/Networking Training for certification in Cisco CCNA, CompTIA, Windows Desktop Support, and more.

Class Formats

For many years, Computer Training Source has offered both in-person and live online courses, with most operating on a hybrid model that allows both in-person and remote students to learn together. Even in hybrid courses, the school is dedicated to maintaining a low student-to-teacher ratio, with 6-12 students in a single class. Many classes are offered as one-day, two-day, or five-day intensives, or month-long evening courses. In most courses, textbooks and practice manuals are included with the registration fee. Students in certification courses will need to pass a final exam to receive certification.

Admissions Process

Enrolling in a CTA Training course is as simple as registering online. There is no interview or application process, and students need only provide their contact information, accept the school’s brief terms of service, and pay upfront for their course where applicable.

Pricing & Payment Options

Course prices range from $299 to $3,495, depending on the length and subject of the course. CTA Training offers group discounts for employers to buy for their employees. The school also has received government funding to cover all costs for students learning under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) in CTA Training’s approved WIOA/TAA courses.

Career Support Services

CTA Training offers programs oriented toward careers (project management, web development, digital marketing), but for the most part, the school is invested in teaching students individual skills rather than helping people entirely change their careers. However, the school does offer a basic review of job application materials and connects students with job leads.

Alumni Outcomes

CTA Training does not track student outcomes, in part because their clientele is only partly made up of students changing careers. Many students take their classes because they want to learn a basic skill or their employer wants to boost their abilities in their existing job. The school does, however, offer an exam pass guarantee for students in select courses who perform well on a practice exam.

What Do Students Say?

Students who have taken classes at Computer Training Source emphasize the professionalism of the school, their instructors, and their staff. Former students praise the structure of the classes, with one saying, “The courses are well-made and the instructors are great at conveying the most difficult information in plain and clear English.” Students also describe their instructors as highly engaging experts who know how to help learn the material. Another former student recalled that the instructor “gave us ways to remember the material so that we could pass the test.”

Computer Training Source classes are short compared to others in the industry. As one graduate noted, “The books are hefty and there’s lots of content per class, so [you’re] not likely to review all materials.” Still, because the instructors are so successful at teaching students how to learn in their classes, this student found that “the books are great resources I know I will be referencing for many years to come.” Many students who have reviewed the school are repeat clients, returning to learn a new skill or to study a more advanced course in their chosen subject.

Pros & Cons

Computer Training Source’s large course catalog offers prospective students much to consider when it comes to deciding where to study. When making that call, students can use the following list of advantages and disadvantages to reach an informed conclusion.

Pros of Computer Training Source Courses

A very wide variety of classes are available for those looking to study multiple different skill sets and technologies
Highly rated instructors help students to effectively learn the class content
Industry-recognized certificates are offered for many of the courses when students complete the exam for them
The simple admissions process allows anyone to study in Computer Training Source classes

Cons of Computer Training Source Courses

Classes are short, with many being a more introductory survey than an in-depth study of the class subject
The school does not offer comprehensive career support for students studying to change careers
Online instruction is available only on a Central Time schedule

Top Courses at Computer Training Source

Find the perfect course for you at Computer Training Source. We’ve selected 39 of Computer Training Source’s most popular courses. View the course catalog at ctstraining.com

Subjects Taught at Computer Training Source

QuickBooks

Quickbooks is an accounting software product primarily intended for small to mid-sized businesses. Quickbooks is often used by individuals as well, who use it to manage transactions, pay bills, and track spending.

In-Person QuickBooks Classes Live Online QuickBooks Classes

HTML & CSS

HTML and CSS are two essential coding languages for creating web pages. You cannot make a webpage without them! HTML creates the webpage and marks up the content. CSS styles the content.

In-Person HTML & CSS Classes Live Online HTML & CSS Classes

Excel

Microsoft Excel is the leading spreadsheet application and data analytics tool. With Excel, you can create charts, tables, automate workflow, track budgets and financials, and much more.

In-Person Excel Classes Live Online Excel Classes

Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is widely known as the best photo editing software for photographers and photo retouchers. It's also used by digital painters as well as graphic designers for creating a wide variety of designs such as social media graphics, web designs, app designs, graphics that will be animated in Adobe After Effects, and much more.

In-Person Photoshop Classes Live Online Photoshop Classes

Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is one of the most popular vector graphics applications. With seamless integrations across Adobe’s Creative Cloud, Illustrator is widely used by individuals and organizations to create resizable illustrations, design elements for videos and motion graphics, all through its powerful vector creation tools.

In-Person Illustrator Classes Live Online Illustrator Classes

InDesign

Adobe InDesign is the industry-leading layout design tool for print. Publishers of magazines, books, newspapers and other media rely on InDesign for page layouts and graphic design. InDesign can also be used to create digital documents such as PDFs and eBooks.

In-Person InDesign Classes Live Online InDesign Classes

PowerPoint

Learn how to make powerful and dynamic presentations that captivate your audience and leave a very strong impression. Microsoft PowerPoint is the industry-standard presentation application. With PowerPoint, you can quickly and efficiently create slideshows, presentations, and reusable templates. You can add animations, images, charts, and more, and as part of the Microsoft Office suite, it integrates well with other Microsoft applications like Excel.

In-Person PowerPoint Classes Live Online PowerPoint Classes

Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is the leading choice for video editing for TV, movies and the internet. It allows users to weave together video clips, graphics, and audio to produce professional grade video projects. It offers seamless integrations with Adobe Audition, After Effects, Photoshop and more.

In-Person Premiere Pro Classes Live Online Premiere Pro Classes

After Effects

Adobe After Effects is the industry standard for video post-production, compositing, effects, and animation. It's one of the most important apps for motion designers and can be used for creating animations and videos for social media, YouTube, websites, TV, and movies.

In-Person After Effects Classes Live Online After Effects Classes

Tableau

Tableau is a data visualization tool used to simplify raw data. Data visualizations take data and turn it into easily understandable analysis diagrams – even for non-technical users. Visualizations can be used for data journalism, business insights (BI), reporting, and research.

In-Person Tableau Classes Live Online Tableau Classes

Google Ads

Google Ads is an online advertising platform where businesses and organizations can pay to show up in the search results or display advertisements across the web through Google's Display Network. Google Ads can be a powerful tool for driving new prospects to your site and remarketing to previous visitors.

In-Person Google Ads Classes Live Online Google Ads Classes

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a free web and marketing analytics tool offered by Google that provides valuable information about your website traffic. Google Analytics is a fundamental component of digital marketing as it serves as the aggregator of our online efforts. It allows us to measure web traffic, see the success of our marketing efforts, learn about our users, and understand their behavior on our site. Google Analytics does much more than count website views; it provides a deeper understanding of what is going on before, during, and after a website visit.

In-Person Google Analytics Classes Live Online Google Analytics Classes

VBA

Visual Basic for Applications is an advanced Excel tool which allows users to visualize and conceptualize spreadsheets. In other words, VBA/Excel users think in three dimentions instead of two.

In-Person VBA Classes Live Online VBA Classes

PMP Certification

The Project Manager Professional (PMP) certification is an industry-recognized professional designation offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). To qualify for the PMP exam, a specific amount of hours and education level be met which makes this certification in-demand and valuable to employers.

In-Person PMP Certification Classes Live Online PMP Certification Classes

CAPM Certification

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification is for entry-level project managers looking to establish a marketable credential in their field. This program includes best practices for project and operations management, leadership styles, governance frameworks, change management, and budgeting. Achieving this certification is a stepping-stone to the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

In-Person CAPM Certification Classes Live Online CAPM Certification Classes

SQL

SQL is short for Structured Query Language and refers to a programming language designed for relational databases. SQL organizes data and allows for queries and sorting of data.

In-Person SQL Classes Live Online SQL Classes SQL Bootcamps

Data Analytics

Data analytics is the process of analyzing raw data in order to draw conclusions. Data analytics are used to study all kinds of data, including productivity, production, profit/loss and much more.

In-Person Data Analytics Classes Live Online Data Analytics Classes Data Analytics Bootcamps

SEO

SEO is the practice of optimizing your pages and website for search engine ranking. With a variety of SEO strategies and techniques, you can boost your websites ranking to start bringing in organic traffic. In SEO classes, participants will learn the fundamental ideas of SEO and strategies to succeed in the search engines.

In-Person SEO Classes Live Online SEO Classes

Social Media Marketing

Social media refers to websites and applications that allow people to interact, and commonly used tools are Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. Social media marketing involves leveraging those digital channels to achieve your business goals.

In-Person Social Media Marketing Classes Live Online Social Media Marketing Classes

JavaScript

JavaScript is a coding language primarily used to add interactivity to web pages. JavaScript is an essential language for Web Developers and is most commonly used for front-end development. With its libraries and frameworks, JavaScript is more efficient and versatile than ever before.

In-Person JavaScript Classes Live Online JavaScript Classes JavaScript Bootcamps

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School Locations

Subjects Taught at Computer Training Source

What Classes Are Available?

Class Formats

Admissions Process

Pricing & Payment Options

Career Support Services

Alumni Outcomes

What Do Students Say?

Pros & Cons

Top Courses at Computer Training Source

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Subjects Taught at Computer Training Source

QuickBooks

HTML & CSS

Excel

Photoshop

Illustrator

InDesign

PowerPoint

Premiere Pro

After Effects

Tableau

Google Ads

Google Analytics

VBA

PMP Certification

CAPM Certification

SQL

Data Analytics

SEO

Social Media Marketing

JavaScript

Map of Computer Training Source Locations