Because all races can learn magic, societal standards have come to demand that everyone should. Because of this, an average New Washingtonian generally feels socially obligated to learn a form of magic and gain at least a passing level of skill. A Washingtonian without Mag-Cert will be as challenged to obtain a job (even as a grocery clerk) as a citizen who never obtained a Secondary Education Certificate.
Many New Washingtonians who have poor magical skills or simply can't be arsed to specialize simply learn Civilian Class Defense Magic, or CCDM. CCDM is simple, easy to learn, and taught by nearly every teaching body in New Washington. Ethertech University, the premier magic school in the city, offers an inexpensive but highly intensive three-week crash course teaching the most basic spells (Heal, Hurt, Trigger and Light). Many copycat courses are available of varying quality, even from non-magical schools like New Washington University.
Many students will wish to gain a more in-depth knowledge of an art, especially those who seek to take combat-oriented occupations. The vast majority of students of the magical arts attend Ethertech University, though there are numerous smaller schools that serve more specialized ends. Magic certification follows a similar path to VC's categorizations: Apprentice, Journeyman, Adept, Master (Archmage). In addition, those who reach a certain level in an art can obtain mid-level Precertification, which marks a midpoint between official certification levels. Please refer to the list of Catalogued Magic of the Age of Corporations to see the 26 types of magic recognized by the Ethertech Guild of Magical Records.
It bears mentioning that magic preferences run down racial lines as well. While Technomancy cannot be taught, humans have a much better ability to use it than other races. Elves naturally gravitate toward the Elven Arts, Mutants are the only civilized race possessed of Elemental Intrinsic Magic, and no one truly knows why Faceless Magic is listed as a registered type, since no classes at any school are offered on it.
It's best to consult your Storyteller or Dog for magical matters, at least until a more comprehensive description of the magic types is written.
If you are doing a Step by Step character creation, you can move on to Martial and Weapons Certification or go back to Job or Role.
Otherwise, you can go back to the Character Creation Index.