April is Community College Month, and we have an exciting opportunity to share as we celebrate the many great things that community colleges offer.
Wilson Community College was recently granted funding to cover the cost for students to earn their high school diploma and a certificate at the same time. One of six NC Community Colleges to offer the program, the Career Pathways program is designed to provide qualifying students certificates in Certified Nursing Assistant I (CNA I), Welding, and Income Maintenance Caseworker. The fees to enroll in these classes are covered through the program and include the cost of tuition, books, and supplies.
Dr. Vernita Williams, WCC’s Director of College & Career Readiness, explained that, in a nutshell, this opportunity prepares our adult learners for a better future by giving them the basic skills and job certifications needed to enter the workforce.
So, what does all of this mean? It means if you or someone you know wants to get a high school diploma and secure a job to make a better living, this is a great opportunity. And if you’re interested in taking it a step further to become a CNA, a welder, or an income maintenance caseworker, you can work on one of those certificates at the same time – with no out-of-pocket cost to you.
And what do CNAs, welders, and caseworkers do?
- Certified Nurse Aides (CNA) perform basic nursing skills for patients or residents in healthcare settings. They often work in hospitals, nursing homes, or with home health agencies. Currently, there are over 2,000 job postings for nurse aides in North Carolina.
- Welders often work in the construction and manufacturing industry. Using welding equipment such as TIG and MIG welders, they fabricate and put metal objects together.
- Income Maintenance Caseworkers typically work for the Department of Social Services and help social workers with their workload, providing information on agency services, and advising clients about services they may qualify for, like food stamps or Medicaid.
We offer orientation sessions and assessments during the week to get you entered into the program. Our flexible scheduling allows students to choose face-to-face, hybrid, and mail-in instruction – and we do this to meet the needs of our students who have life happening around them every day. The classes for the certificates vary and are all taught in person.
For more information, contact Dr. Vernita Williams at vwilliams@wilsoncc.edu, or Wes Hill, Dean of Continuing Education, at whill@wilsoncc.edu. #WilsonCC We make Wilson work.
What’s Happening
April 3 – First Day of Summer and Fall Registration
April 7 – College Closed for Good Friday