Tuition-Free, Noncredit Certificates
Are you interested in Innovation and Entrepreneurship? Would you like to start a gig business? Do you want to pick up skills which can be used for any type of job in any industry? Are you looking to add certifications to your resume or college application?
The Las Positas College Business Department offers 11 tuition-free, online, asynchronous, noncredit courses to help you earn two different certificates: Small Business Management and/or Customer Service.
In our courses you will learn:
- Decision Making and Problem Solving – The 6-step problem solving process and the 6-step decision making model
- Time Management – Strategies to help accomplish more and ensure your tasks align with your values
- Success in the Gig Economy – How to identify a gig that aligns with your interests and skills, and how to be successful
- Design Thinking for the Entrepreneur – How to use empathy to solve a consumer problem and develop innovative solutions
- Conflict Resolution – How you can minimize unhealthy conflict and reap the rewards of healthy conflict, which will impact all of your relationships
- Developing Your Business Plan – How to communicate your business idea to potential employees, customers, and other stakeholders
- Team Building – What it takes to have a strong, productive, and satisfied team
- Communication in the Workplace – The communication cycle and how you can ensure your messages are understood as intended
- Customer Service – How to successfully interact with internal, and external, customers to drive career success
- Legal Aspects of Small Business – The many legal issues which could affect your business
- Attitude in the Workplace – Where your attitudes come from and how to recognize when you need to change your perspective
All of the classes are online and asynchronous. You will use the Canvas online learning program to listen to lectures, participate in discussion threads, read articles, and submit assignments. Each course is intended to take about 15 hours. You can complete the work at your own pace!
Certificate Requirements
Customer Service Certificate
To earn the Customer Service Certificate, you need to complete 5 of these courses:
Must complete one of these two courses:
- Customer Service| NBUS 210 (Fall semester) OR
- Comunication in the Workplace | NBUS 200 ( Summer, Fall)
and 4 of the following:
- Attitude in the Workplace | NBUS 202 (Fall)
- Decision Making and Problem Solving |NBUS 203 (Summer, Fall)
- Team Building |NBUS 205 (Fall)
- Time Management | NBUS 206 (Fall)
- Conflict Resolution | NBUS 207 Fall)
Small Business Management Certificate
To earn the Small Business Management certificate, you need to complete 5 of these courses:
- Legal Aspects of Small Business |NBUS 213 (Summer, Spring)
- Developing Your Business Plan |NBUS 212 (Summer, Spring)
- AND 3 of the courses below
- Design Thinking for the Entrepreneur |NBUS 211 (Summer, Fall)
- Success in the Gig Economy | NBUS 212 (Summer, Spring)
- Communication in the Workplace | NBUS 200 (Fall)
- Attitude in the Workplace | NBUS 202 (Fall)
- Decision Making and Problem Solving | NBUS 203 (Summer, Fall)
- Team Building | NBUS 205 (Fall)
- Time Management | NBUS 206 (Fall)
- Conflict Resolution | NBUS 207 (Fall)
- Customer Service | NBUS 210 (Fall)
** Certain courses meet the requirements for both certificates. It is possible to take 7 courses and earn both certificates.
Summer 2025
New for the Summer 2025 term we will be offering all of the courses needed to earn the Small Business Management certificate – and one optional course. You will have the entire 8-week summer term to complete these courses.
- Developing Your Business Plan | NBUS 212
- Legal Aspects of Small Business | NBUS 213
- Design Thinking for the Entrepreneur | NBUS 211
- Decision Making and Problem Solving | NBUS 203
- Success in the Gig Economy | NBUS 214
- Communication in the Workplace | NBUS 200 (optional)
High School Students
High school students will be “concurrently enrolled” at Las Positas and your high school. You will need to apply to Las Positas College. In addition, you will need to complete a Concurrent Enrollment form, which your high school will also approve. Concurrently enrolled students pay no fees or tuition for this certificate program, it is zero-cost.
How to Register
Once you have a W number (our LPC ID number) you can register for these courses on MyPortal. The registration dates will depend on the term and your student status.
For More Help
For questions about these certificates or courses, email instructor Christina Nystrom at cnystrom@laspositascollege.edu
Note: This program is not intended as a substitute for any credit certificate or associate degree.