Workforce Development & Community Education

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Ongoing changes in technology, and career and job requirements, create the need for life-long learning for individuals in both occupational and vocational areas. The Workforce Development and Community Education Division is responsible for responding to these needs by providing services to individuals, organizations, businesses, and industries within Alleghany, Ashe, and Wilkes counties. Tailored to the needs of our service area, the courses range from basic skills to advanced courses in various technical fields. In addition, a range of vocational courses are offered that are designed to meet the needs and interests of the citizens of the region.

These are non-curriculum courses that provide Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and are made available whenever there are a sufficient number of students interested in a specific subject area.

Adults may also attend these courses to improve vocational and practical skills. These courses are available to adults 18 years old or older.

The Workforce Development and Community Education Division is located on Wilkes Campus in Kendrick/Church Hall (building 13 on the campus map).

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Because attendance is pivotal to student success, students are expected to regularly attend all scheduled class meetings. Individual attendance records are maintained and retained, and students must meet attendance requirements to receive recognition for the course. Many certification and licensure courses have specific attendance requirements that must be met for successful completion of the course. In certain instances, missed class time may be made up within a specified timeframe, with the permission of the faculty, the respective program director, and in accordance with state auditing and accrediting body guidelines.

Workforce Development and Community Education courses do not earn college credit. Certificates, however, are awarded for the completion of some courses. Licenses, diplomas, or other forms of recognition may be awarded for specific courses by agencies outside the college upon successful completion of the specified course.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are awarded to students who satisfactorily complete specific courses. One CEU is awarded for each 10 contact hours of participation in a specific continuing education course of the college. A permanent record of each student’s CEUs is maintained by the college. Individuals, firms, and professional organizations may use compilations of CEUs for measures of recognition or non-credit educational attainment.

WCC’s Non-Credit to Credit Policy (Continuing Education to Curriculum) can be found in the Academic Credit section of the Academic Regulations page.

Classes are offered at the college’s locations in Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties and in various other places throughout the three-county service area. Customized training courses are often offered at specific businesses or industries.

A wide variety of online continuing education courses are available through the college. Typically, students have the option of logging in to the courses through the Internet at times that are most convenient to students.

Insurance

The following courses are offered through partnership with IES:

  • Property Insurance Pre-licensing: This course is designed to prepare student for the NC Property Insurance Agents exam. Students are given 30 days to complete the course. The total cost is $205 ($70 tuition + $135 non-refundable supply/technology fee).
  • Casualty Insurance Pre-licensing: This course is designed to prepare students for the NC Casualty Insurance Agent exam. Students are given 30 days to complete the course. The total cost is $205 ($70 tuition + $135 non-refundable supply/technology fee).
  • Property & Casualty Insurance Pre-Licensing Bundle: This series of courses is designed to prepare students for the NC Property and Casualty Insurance Agents exams. Students are given 60 days to complete both courses. The total cost is $345 ($125 tuition + $220 non-refundable supply/technology fee).
  • Life Insurance: This course is designed to prepare students for the NC Life Insurance Agents exam. Students are given 30 days to complete. The total cost is $205 ($70 tuition + $135 non-refundable supply/technology fee).
  • Health & Accident or Sickness: This course is designed to prepare students for the NC Health & Accident or Sickness Insurance Agents exam. Students are given 30 days to complete. The total cost is $205 ($70 tuition + $135 non-refundable supply/technology fee).
  • Life and Health & Accident or Sickness Bundle: This course is designed to prepare students for the NC Life and Health & Accident or Sickness Insurance Agents exams. Students are given 60 days to complete. The total cost is $345 ($125 tuition + $220 non-refundable supply/technology fee).
  • Medicare Supplement and Long Term Care: This course is designed to prepare students for the NC Medicare Supplement/Long Term Care Insurance Agents exam. Students are given 60 days to complete. The total cost is $170 ($70 tuition + $100 non-refundable supply/technology fee). Prerequisite required: students must have completed the Health & Accident or Sickness course.
  • Self Employed Adjuster: This course is designed to prepare students for the NC Property and Liability Adjuster exam. Students are given 60 days to complete. The total cost is $345 ($125 tuition + $220 non-refundable supply/technology fee).
  • Personal Lines: This course includes everything the Property & Casualty bundle does except for the Commercial section which is not included on the state exam. This course is designed to prepare students for the NC Personal Lines Insurance Agents exam. Students are given 60 days to complete. The total cost is $345 ($125 tuition + $220 non-refundable supply/technology fee).

Career Training – CareerStep

Prerequisite: Must be 18 years old and have a high school diploma or high school equivalency. Don’t have a high school diploma or high school equivalency?  Opportunities are available through WCC’s College & Career Readiness Division.

  • Computer Technician: Our CompTIA approved course will prepare you to work with hardware, software, networks, security issues and more. The Computer Technician course that we offer is 182 hours, completely online and self-paced. It includes A+ test prep and a voucher to take one CompTIA A+ exam (a $350 value). The total cost is $180 (all books/materials are included).
  • Health Information Technician: HIT program provides hands-on training with government-certified electronic health records software. It prepares the student for the CMAA (Certified Medical Administrative Assistant); CEHRS (Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist) and the CompTIA A+ certification exams. Vouchers are included to sit for the A+ exams (a $438 value). The cost is $180 for Part 1 and $180 Part 2, for a total of $360 (all books/materials are included).
  • Medical Administrative Assistant w/ EHR: Our NHA (National Healthcareer Association) approved curriculum is designed to train you on the industry-standard exEMRx EHR software. You will be able to create and update patients’ electronic health records as well as keep medical offices running smoothly. It prepares students for the CMAA (Certified Medical Admin Assistant) and CEHRS (Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist) certification exams through NHA. The total cost is $180 (all books/materials are included).
  • Medical Coding & Billing w/PCS: Our AHIMA approved curriculum will teach you to use all of these codes – CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10 including the new PCS procedural code set.  It prepares the student for either the CCA (Certified Coding Associate) Certification exam through AHIMA or the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) exam through AAPC. The cost is $180 for Part 1 and $180 Part 2, for a total of $360 (all books/materials are included).
  • Medical Office Manager: The MOM program provides hands-on training with government certified electronic health records software, billing forms, and bundled payments to minimize on-the-job training. It  prepares students for the CBCS (Certified Billing & Coding Specialist), CMAA (Certified Medical Admin Assistant) and CEHRS (Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist) certification exams.  A voucher for the CEHRS exam is included with the course (a $210 value). The total cost is $180 (all books/materials are included).
  • Medical Transcription Editor: Our AHDI (Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity) approved curriculum simulates the real world by training you on hundreds of authentic physician dictations while preparing you for the future of the industry as it relies more on speech recognition technology. It trains you to begin working from home.  Upon completion you are  prepared for the RHDS (Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist) certification exam. The cost is $180 for Part 1 and $180 Part 2, for a total of $360 (all books/materials are included).
  • Microsoft Office Specialist: This program includes training in the five core Microsoft Office applications – Access, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Word. You will have over 100 hours of training covering beginning, intermediate, and advanced topics.  Upon completion, you will be prepared to take the Microsoft Office Specialist Master credential exam. The cost is $180 for Part 1 and $180 Part 2, for a total of $360 (all books/materials are included).
  • Pharmacy Technician: The ASHP/ACPE approved curriculum is specially designed to prepare you for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board certification exam (PTCE) and train you for careers in both retail and institutional healthcare setting. There is also an externship in nation-wide Pharmacies included in Part 2 of the program to give you hands on experience in a real world setting. The cost is $180 for Part 1 and $180 Part 2, for a total of $360 (all books/materials are included).
  • Physical Therapy Office Professional: This program includes training in office/electronic health record information as well as physical therapy aide.  It also prepares the student to take the Basic Life Support certification (which the student can get while in the course).  The class prepares the student to take the CEHRS (Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist) and the CPTAS (Certified Physical Therapy Aide Specialist) certification exams. The total cost is $180 (all books/materials are included).
  • Veterinary Assistant Office Professional: The comprehensive curriculum includes images, exercise, learning games and instructive videos to increase your knowledge of the key concepts. It prepares students for the CMAA (Certified Medical Administrative Assistant) certification exam. Upon completion the student will be prepared for a career as a veterinary assistant or in medical office administration. The total cost is $180 (all books/materials are included).

Information Technology

  • Google IT Support Certificate: This program, developed by Google, teaches the skills needed to prepare for an entry level career in IT Support. Students will learn troubleshooting, customer service, networking, operating systems, system administration and security. The content is not exclusive to just the Google brand. It will instruct you to be able to support any network. Upon successful completion of this program, students will be prepared for the CompTIA A+ certification exam. The total cost is $185 (all books/materials are included).

Ed2Go Online Courses

Introduction to Networking, Accounting Fundamentals, Computer Skills for the Workplace, Introduction to QuickBooks Online, Speed Spanish, TEAS Prep Series, Teacher Renewal courses, and much more are available via Ed2Go.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact:

Image of Marina Brannock
Marina Brannock, BS
Business & Specialty Careers Director
Phone: 336-838-6210
mwbrannock859@wilkescc.edu

Students are encouraged to preregister for courses. Many courses are available for online registration. Alternatively, phone registration is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Names are taken on a first-come, first-served basis until classes are filled.

Pre-registration only assures a person a space in the class if that person is on time for the first class meeting. Registration will be completed at the first class meeting when students pay fees (unless otherwise required). Classes without a minimum number of paying students physically present and on time to register at the first class meeting will be canceled. A student may not register for someone else. Late registration is permitted through the second class meeting.

Students must pre-register in person for the following classes: Notary Public, Phlebotomy, Nurse Aid I, Nurse Aid II, Law Enforcement, Defensive Driving, and Cosmetology.

The registration fees for continuing education courses vary and are based on the number of hours for the course. Self-supporting course fees also vary, depending on the instructional costs, including the cost for the instructor and any textbooks, supplies, and materials. In accordance with North Carolina statutes in effect at the time of the registration, registration fees for qualifying individuals may be waived for specified continuing education courses. There are no charges for College Readiness courses offered through continuing education.

Refund Policy

A registration fee refund shall not be made except under the following circumstances:

  • For courses that are scheduled to meet four times or less, a 75 % refund shall be made upon the request of the student if the student officially withdraws from the course(s) prior to or on the first day of class(es).
  • For courses that are scheduled to meet five or more times, a 75 % refund shall be made upon the request of the student if the student officially withdraws from the course(s) prior to the 10% point of the course(s). Requests for refunds will not be considered after the 10% point.
  • For contact hour courses, 10 calendar days from the first day of the course(s) is the determination date for a refund.

At the time of official withdrawal under this policy, the college shall notify the student of the right to receive a refund.

Course Repeat Policy

Action taken by the 1993 term of N.C. Legislature requires that students taking an Occupational Extension class more than two times within a five-year period will be required to pay the full cost of the course beginning with the third repeat.

The above provision is waived if course repetition is required by standards governing the certification or licensing program in which the student is enrolled.

In 2018, SECU Foundation introduced the SECU Bridge to Career Program. This program is available to all 58 North Carolina Community Colleges. Designed to help remove financial barriers for students seeking to obtain state-regulated or industry-recognized credentials that lead to sustainable wage careers within their local communities, SECU Bridge to Career Program will fund $500 scholarships to be awarded to eligible students at each of the 58 NC Community College campuses.

SECU Bridge to Career Program will focus on assisting unemployed and underemployed adults, military veterans, and members of the National Guard with marketable job skills that lead to sustainable wage careers within their local communities. Participants must be enrolled in a program that leads to a state recognized or industry supported credential. Interested candidates should contact:

Image of Jeff Shore
Jeff Shore, MA
Director of WDCE Administration/Occupational Training
Phone: 336-838-6206
Fax: 336-903-3174
wjshore321@wilkescc.edu

Contact Information

Wilkes Campus: 336-838-6103

Ashe Campus: 336-846-3900

Alleghany Center: 336-372-5061