Are you thinking about going back to school, but not necessarily wanting the commitment of a two-year degree? Maybe you’d like to advance in your job or make more money, or maybe you’re looking at changing careers completely.
Wilson Community College’s Division of Continuing Education serves literally thousands of people every year for these very reasons.
So, what is continuing education exactly? It’s non-credit courses for both personal and professional learning needs. Offerings include professional and business development and certification courses, fire and police training and certifications, leisure/recreational courses, adult basic education courses and workforce training courses. Through these offerings, you can prepare for certification and licensure exams and earn industry-recognized credentials in so many fields. We even provide free assistance to potential or existing small business owners and entrepreneurs.
The classes are designed to provide occupation-specific knowledge and/or to upgrade workers’ skills. Some are offered completely face-to-face, some are online and others are offered as a combination of classroom and online instruction.
And you’ll be taught by qualified experts, too. Instructors may be Wilson Community College faculty members, local industry professionals or someone with advanced experience in the topic of instruction. In some cases, the college partners with regional and national training providers.
We offer continuing education classes throughout the year and at different times throughout the day, even online. In many cases, you don’t have to wait to start because many new ones begin every week depending on the course content.
To give you an idea of what we have to offer, here’s just a sample to get you started toward a new career:
• Health occupation programs and courses prepares students for high-demand, entry-level health care careers. Our Nurse Aide I and Nurse Aide II students earn a licensure to work in health care facilities. The phlebotomy and pharmacy technician classes enable students to meet entry-level job requirements. Phlebotomists draw blood and pharmacy technicians work in pharmacies assisting the pharmacist. We offer emergency medical technician training, which can lead you to get national certification and work at a rescue squad. And we also have a Paramedic Academy.
• Occupational Extension, or Workforce Development, courses are for individuals seeking to upgrade their job skills or learn a whole new set of skills. Our biowork process technician, industrial welding, income maintenance caseworker and wastewater treatment plant operator classes are just a few of those.
• Personal enrichment/hobby classes are solely for fun, and we see folks of all ages. Maybe you want to learn to dance, paint, decorate a cake or even sew. If that’s the case, we have a class for that.
• Our basic skills programs and courses allow students to complete their high school education. We offer the adult high school diploma, N.C. high school equivalency and English language programs. You can even work on it online. And, best of all, the courses are free.
To enroll, you must be at least 18 years of age, or secure your principal’s permission if you are 16 or 17 and still in high school. However, some programs (i.e. Nurse Aide I and II, Fire Academy, EMT) have age requirements that are set by outside agencies. You don’t have to be admitted as a WCC student, but you do have to register with us.
While the majority of our continuing education classes are fairly inexpensive, we do have some scholarship funds to help cover registration and fees.
For more information about classes offered, visit our website at www.wilsoncc.edu/continuing-education/ or give us a call at 252-291-1195 for information on your specific area of interest. #WilsonCC — we make Wilson work.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
• Aug. 25 — New student orientation and nursing information session.