Visiting Microsoft’s Mountain View office on Wednesday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the ‘Elevate America’ free training program – which has already been initiated by 12 other states – for the Californians.

The Microsoft-financed training initiative aims at giving the California residents free access to the company’s online computer courses and certification exams – ranging from basic computer training like Web navigation to formal professional certifications in Microsoft Office applications, like Excel, Outlook, and Access.

Under the program, Microsoft will not only offer thousands of Californians free training in its office software programs, but will also hand out 18,500 vouchers to offer computer professionals a ‘no-cost’ opportunity to upgrade their skills.

While both working Californians as well as the unemployed will be eligible for the training, the vouchers will be made available on a ‘first-come, first-served basis’ via One-Stop Career Centers run by state and local authorities.

Noting that the technology training program will put more people back to work in technical skills, at a time when the state’s unemployment rate is fairly high – it leaped to 12.5 percent in January -; Schwarzenegger said that he had visited the Microsoft office to thank local Microsoft chief Dan'l Lewin for the initiative.

In an auditorium packed with Microsoft employees, the Governor said: “We appreciate it so much I wanted to come here myself.”