Training Rules

1. Introduction

These Training Rules ("Ground Rules") apply to everyone enrolled in School of Freelancing's Linux Freelancing Training. They exist to keep the training environment fair, focused, and productive for both trainees and mentors, and they may be updated from time to time as our program evolves.

2. Enrollment & Eligibility

• You must provide accurate information when enrolling in the training.
• You must have your own PC, a dedicated high-speed wired internet connection, and a valid photo ID.
• Use of a VPN is not permitted during training sessions.
• Dual-booting or using Windows during the training period is not permitted.
• You may not attend other training programs or vendor certification exams while enrolled in this training.

3. Attendance & Scheduling

• Regular sessions run five days a week (excluding Friday and Saturday). Attend on time, with full attention, and stay seated properly throughout.
• Coordinate a session time with your mentor in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts.
• To start or cancel a session, reconfirm with your mentor at least two hours beforehand.
• Arriving more than 30 minutes late may result in your mentor moving on to the next trainee in the queue.
• You may not take other phone calls during a session (aside from your mentor's); doing so may result in the session being cancelled without further notice.
• You may not perform other office work during a scheduled session; if this occurs, the mentor may disqualify that session and reschedule it for a day when you're free of other obligations.
• List Friday as unavailable on your freelancing marketplace profile, though you may still reach your mentor for advice on a Friday project if needed and available.

4. Program Duration & Absence Policy

• The full program consists of 90 business-day sessions, to be completed within six months of your start date.
• You may pause training for up to two weeks total. An absence of one month results in temporary disqualification; you may restart from scratch after paying 25% of the training fee as a re-admission charge.
• An absence of six months from enrollment results in permanent disqualification. Restarting after that requires paying 50% of the training fee within one year of your original enrollment, and re-enrollment is subject to available capacity as communicated by your mentor.
• Trainees fully detached from training for one year are not eligible to rejoin any School of Freelancing program in the future and will be removed from Trello and Launchpad (GitHub access is retained).
• The "guaranteed earning" outcome applies only to trainees with no absences who complete Day 1 through Day 80 without interruption. Your mentor may reschedule a session if they are unable to attend for any reason.

5. Communication Tools & Conduct

• All training is conducted through one-to-one Telegram chat, WhatsApp voice calls, and AnyDesk for remote sessions.
• Maintain prompt, professional communication with both your mentor and your clients/buyers throughout training and project work.
• Communication must remain respectful and professional at all times — no offensive language or swearing toward your mentor, clients, or buyers.

6. Scope of Mentor Support

• Your mentor supports you through communication and technical guidance to help you land and complete your first Linux freelancing job — not an unlimited stream of future jobs.
• You may not ask your mentor to complete a project on your behalf, or to communicate directly with your client in your place; you handle client SSH access and project delivery yourself, with advice from your mentor.
• You may not offer your mentor, or School of Freelancing, outside business arrangements.
• You may not ask your mentor for help with personal or office tasks unrelated to your training.
• You should stay online and responsive when actively applying to jobs across marketplaces.

7. Proof of Work & Trello Usage

• After each completed session, upload a Gist, YouTube link, and/or screenshot to the relevant Trello card as proof of work for mentor review.
• Trello is to be used strictly for training-task submissions and review — not for unrelated purposes.

8. Freelancing Income During Training

Our goal is to help you finish sessions and gain real experience, so during training we only support you in earning your first Linux freelancing income. Chasing more income than that during the program can distract from the sessions and your learning focus. Once training is complete, you're free to take on as many projects as you'd like.

9. Behavior & Security

• You may not attempt phishing or hacking against School of Freelancing's accounts, intellectual property, or any mentor's PC.
• Violations involving inappropriate language, phishing, or hacking will result in a temporary training pause and a notice on your Trello board requiring an explanation within 72 hours. A satisfactory explanation allows training to continue; failure to provide one results in disqualification and removal from Trello and GitHub.
• If a technical or natural issue disrupts training, your mentor may suspend sessions from either side without waiting for the issue to be resolved.

10. Training Topics & Changes

• If something is unclear, ask your mentor directly and respectfully.
• School of Freelancing may change training schedules or module topics at any time; trainees will be notified promptly of such changes.
• If an OS or application update or bug affects a session and is outside the vendor's control at that time, your mentor may adjust the session topic accordingly.
• Discussion should stay within the scope of the training curriculum, and project work should relate to the skills being taught.

11. Completion & Post-Training Support

• After successfully completing training and earning your first freelancing income, you're asked to leave a review of your experience and mark the training complete in Trello.
• You may reference your time with School of Freelancing when applying for jobs, and we may list you as a current or past trainee.
• After training, extended advisory support is available for a $300/year membership fee, with communication handled via Telegram and other agreed channels.

12. Suspension & Disqualification

Violations of these rules — including unexcused absence, inappropriate conduct, unauthorized VPN or dual-boot use, phishing/hacking attempts, or performing office work during sessions — may lead to session cancellation, temporary suspension, or permanent disqualification as outlined above. If your account on any platform is suspended due to your own actions, you are responsible for the consequences.

13. Miscellaneous

14. Contact Us

Ask any questions about training rules, to our email office@schooloffreelancing.com.