I Registered for the Free Google IT Certificate — Now What?

If you’ve signed up for the Google Professional Certificates through Volunteer State Community College and aren’t sure what to do next, you’re not alone. Follow the steps below to get started.

Step 1: Check Your Email for the Coursera Invitation

After registering through Vol State, you should receive an email from Coursera (not Vol State).

• Subject line may include: “You’re invited to learn with Coursera”
• This email contains your unique enrollment link

👉 Important: This step is required. You are not fully enrolled until you accept the Coursera invitation.

Step 2: Accept the Invitation

1. Open the Coursera email
2. Click the “Join Now” or “Get Started” button
3. Create a Coursera account OR sign in with an existing one

Once completed, your program will be activated.

Step 3: Access Your Courses

After logging into Coursera:

1. Go to your dashboard: https://www.coursera.org
2. Click “My Learning” (top of the page)
3. Your Google Certificate program should appear there

📌 Note: These courses will NOT appear in your Vol State student portal or class schedule

Step 4: Start Learning

Click on your program and begin with Course 1. Progress is self-paced, so you can start anytime.

Common Issues & Fixes

❓ “I got a confirmation email, but no classes are showing up.”

• You likely completed Vol State registration but did not accept the Coursera invite yet
• Search your inbox for: Coursera
• Check spam/junk folders

❓ “It says I’m already registered when I try again.”

• That means your application went through successfully
• You do NOT need to register again
• Go back and find your Coursera invitation email

❓ “I can’t find the Coursera email.”

Try this:

• Search: Coursera or Invitation
• Check spam/junk folders
• Wait up to 24–48 hours after registering

If still missing, contact support (see below)

❓ “I logged into Coursera but don’t see anything.”

• Make sure you logged in with the same email address you used to register
• If you have multiple emails, try signing out and back in with another one

Still Need Help?

If you’re stuck after trying the steps above, contact Workforce Development:

• 📧 Email: workforce@volstate.edu  or enter a request for service on the workforce page.

Please include:

• Your full name
• The email address you used to register
• A brief description of the issue