WHEELING — A West Virginia firm is offering free online training — and potentially a job — to 100 people who complete the training in 100 days.

CentralApp, based in Huntington, connects companies with skilled technical workers living in Appalachian areas. It has issued the “CentralApp 100-Day Salesforce Administrator Certification Challenge,” urging people to complete the certification program in 100 days or less.

Participants will not be charged for the training, which is valued at about $800, according to Jessica Vodden, director of marketing and communications for CentralApp. Upon completion of the training, CentralApp will pay for the participant’s certification test, and if they pass they will be eligible for a $300 sign-up bonus if they sign with the CentralApp talent exchange. Only 100 participants will be selected.

Those selected will be trained in management of Salesforce software systems, Vodden said. Salesforce is the fourth largest software company in the world.

It powers the back-end processes of businesses, and anyone ordering something online or participating in an online chat system probably has used a Salesforce system, she said.

“During the training you will get to know the platform, how it works, and understand what a business is trying to achieve and advance their platform,” Vodden said. “By the end of the training, you will have a good understanding of its ins and outs.

“There are a lot of different career pathways if you have the skills, and this could be your ticket to entry.”

Product tracking is an important part of the platform, and the data derived can be important to marketing and sales directors.

“It can be a very versatile tool, and how to customize it is a growing demand,” she said.

Those hired start at a rate of $15 per hour, but the amount can quickly increase based on how much time and effort the trained worker puts forth, according to Vodden. She knows of at least one employee who now is earning a six-figure salary after just 18 months on the job.

The job isn’t necessarily a full-time position, and can be done on the side, she said.

“There are a lot of folks doing this after they have retired, and they want to continue to work a bit,” Vodden said. “But it can be a side job, for sure.”

The training is completely online, and can be done at any time of day or night, she said. It consists of video lectures that guide the participant through hands on activities and lessons, and the participant begins to pick up skills.

“It’s probably important that you are computer literate, but you do not need much skill beyond regular computer use,” Vodden said. “You don’t have to have a coding background.”

The 100-Day Challenge program is paid for by CentralApp, and a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission, through the Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board in Pennsylvania. The West Virginia Department of Education is also a partner in the effort.

Those eligible to apply must be a U.S. citizen and live in one of 312 counties within the Appalachian Region — which includes all local counties in West Virginia and Ohio, as well as in nearby Greene and Washington counties in Pennsylvania.

Participants also must be 18 or older at the end of the 100-day challenge.

The deadline to apply to participate in the 100-day challenge is Aug. 15. More information can be found at centralapp.us.