From Sign-Up to Certificate.
Here’s How It Works.
The United Way Academy gives St. Louis residents free access to 40+ career pathways powered by world-class Wiley content. No tuition. No hidden fees. Just opportunity.
Five Steps to a New Career
The Academy is designed to be simple, flexible, and completely free. Here’s your path from enrollment to employment.
Request Your Free Invitation
Submit your name, email, and area of interest on our home page. There’s no credit card, no application fee, and no prerequisites. If you live or work in the Greater St. Louis area, you’re eligible.
Choose Your Career Pathway
Browse 40+ curated pathways aligned to St. Louis growth sectors — from AI & Digital Productivity and Healthcare to Geospatial Intelligence (NGA) and Skilled Trades. Each pathway is mapped to real employer demand.
Complete the Curriculum
Each pathway is built from a series of focused digital workshops powered by Wiley’s industry-recognized content — including the trusted For Dummies collection. Learn on your own schedule from any device.
Earn Your Professional Certificate
Complete all workshops in a pathway to receive a Professional Certificate from the United Way Academy. Add it to your résumé and LinkedIn profile to stand out to employers.
Connect With Employers
Our employer partners use the Academy to find trained, certified talent in the St. Louis region. Your completed certificates signal job-readiness to organizations actively hiring in your field.
Everything You Need. Nothing You Don’t.
Every Academy learner receives full access to these resources at absolutely no cost.
Wiley-Powered Content
Industry-recognized curriculum from one of the world’s most trusted publishers, including the For Dummies professional series.
Professional Certificates
Earn shareable credentials for every completed pathway. Show employers you have the skills they’re looking for.
Learn From Any Device
Access your workshops from a phone, tablet, laptop, or library computer. Your progress syncs across all devices.
40+ Career Pathways
AI, Healthcare, GIS, Skilled Trades, Business Productivity, and more — all mapped to St. Louis regional growth sectors.
Employer Connections
Partner organizations use the Academy to discover and recruit community talent trained in the skills they need.
No Hidden Costs. Ever.
United Way funds this platform so you don’t have to. No tuition, no textbook fees, no subscriptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Academy is available to anyone who lives or works in the Greater St. Louis region. There are no age restrictions, educational prerequisites, or income requirements. If you want to learn, you’re welcome here.
There is no catch. The Academy is funded by United Way of Greater St. Louis as part of its economic mobility mission. You will never be asked for a credit card or payment of any kind.
Each pathway consists of multiple digital workshops that you complete at your own pace. Most learners finish a full certificate pathway in 4–8 weeks depending on the subject area and time invested.
Upon completing all workshops in a pathway, you receive a Professional Certificate from the United Way Academy. This is a shareable digital credential you can add to your résumé, LinkedIn profile, or job applications.
All curriculum is built on content from Wiley, one of the world’s leading educational publishers. Many pathways draw from the trusted For Dummies professional book series, adapted into interactive digital workshops by Sejal Learning Solutions.
The Academy offers employer partnerships including custom-branded learning portals, workforce analytics, and direct alignment with your hiring needs. Visit the Employer section on our home page or contact us to learn more.