Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy

What

Iowa College and Career Readiness Academy is a suite of Iowa-specific online courses for college access and success professionals. The courses enable educators, school counselors and administrators to provide equitable postsecondary opportunities for all students.

Why

School counselors and other educators are crucial to Iowa students’ postsecondary access and success!

Iowa College and Career Readiness Academy graduates help their schools and districts develop practices that lead to postsecondary success, ensuring that all students—especially low-income and first-generation—have access to postsecondary opportunities. Participants learn to effectively prepare students for education beyond high school, whether through on-the-job training or at a trade school, college or university.

These are Iowa’s only online interactive college and career courses, developed by our state’s professionals and based on current data. Iowa College and Career Readiness Academy is open to anyone working in the college access field. Participants earn a certificate and can also earn license renewal or graduate credit.

When

2025-26 Course Schedule

Course Descriptions

101: Foundations of College & Career Readiness in Iowa

Description: Provides an overview of the current state of college and career readiness in Iowa for all participants; prerequisite for all other College & Career Readiness Academy courses. (2 credits)

201: Creating Iowa's College & Career Readiness Culture

Description: Focuses on the distinct yet interrelated roles of teachers, school counselors and administrators in creating the systems that support a college and career readiness culture; includes emphases on equity and utilizing district plans. (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 101

301: Systems & Optimization

Description: Explores the necessary systems and structures for student college and career readiness, including Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), Individual Career and Academic Planning (ICAP) requirements, advisories, financial aid, college admissions, equity and transition. (3 credits)
Prerequisites: 101 and 201 

401: Planning & the District's Role in Creating a Student-Centered Career & Academic Plan

Description: Targets the roles of district staff and administration in ICAP processes, including counseling, career planning, transitions, postsecondary opportunities, and issues of equity relative to special populations. (2 credits)
Prerequisite: 101 

501: An Introduction to Planning, Accessing & Financing Postsecondary Opportunities

Description: Offers an introductory overview of the college application and financial aid processes in order to better prepare school counselors and other college access professionals in supporting students and families as they navigate the complexities
of applying to postsecondary institutions and financing various options. (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 101

601: Advanced Equity Issues in Planning, Accessing & Financing Postsecondary Opportunities

Description: Engages participants in an in-depth exploration of unique equity issues related to postsecondary access, college applications, and financial aid processes and advances college access professionals’ knowledge of issues that arise in supporting traditionally underrepresented students. (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 101 & 501 (501 may be waived for participants with comparable knowledge and work experience)   

602: Supporting College & Career Readiness for Systems-Involved Youth

Description: Provides professional development for individuals who work on issues at the intersection of systems-involved youth and education. The course explores challenges and opportunities that face systems-involved students as they transition through care, high school, and onto a postsecondary path. Additionally, participants engage with resources and strategies that can support students who plan to pursue ongoing education, and for those who plan to enter the workforce. (2 credits)
Prerequisite: N/A

603: Supporting Graduation, College & Careers for English Learners

Description: This course identifies challenges and potential barriers unique to families new to the U.S. or have students developing their academic English language proficiency and targets actions that schools can take to support English Learners better as they work toward graduation and prepare for their transition to college or career training programs. 603 is available for both no credit and licensure renewal credit.
Prerequisite: N/A

701: College & Career Readiness for K-5 School Counselors & Educators

Description: Participants explore their role and engage in strategies related to building a strong college and career readiness foundation for students in the early grade levels. While the class was developed with a focus on the role of school counselors, other elementary professionals may benefit from the course content as well. (3 credits)

Certificates

• College Access Professional Certificate – Awarded upon completion of Courses 101–301.
• College Access Specialist Certificate – Awarded upon completion of Courses 101–501.
• Specialist Certificate and Equity Badge – Awarded upon completion of Courses 101–601.