Area residents will soon see course schedules in their mailboxes or around town that are full of exciting and rewarding continuing education classes at Beaufort County Community College. The Continuing Education Division offers everything from high school equivalency to paramedic training. Personal enrichment classes such as cooking, guitar lessons, print-making and field trips to the opera are also available.

New this fall are Career and College Promise Workforce Pathways. Employers in today’s workforce are facing a skills gap; they need trained and qualified workers to fill a variety of positions in the medical, home repair and transportation fields. The Career and College Promise Workforce Pathways are designed for eligible high school juniors and seniors to earn industry-recognized credentials while still in high school for free.

This innovative statewide program has helped high school students work toward college degrees, and now it is open to students who want to go into technical fields. Students will be responsible for purchasing textbooks and paying local course fees associated with the course. They can remain a part of their high school and participate in athletics, clubs and activities along with their classmates. The classes will be presented on the BCCC campus, on-line, broadcast and, in some cases on the high school campus.

Students can choose from any of the following pathways in Beaufort County or Washington County Schools:  Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technician, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Truck Driving, and Phlebotomy Technician. The Pharmacy Technician pathway is only available at Beaufort County Schools. CCP Workforce Pathway courses do not count as a high school credit towards graduation.

Continuing education classes do not require students to go through a normal admissions process. Students can sign up for as few or as many classes as they would like. All classes require students to register, but some, such as the small business seminars and the high school equivalency classes, are free of charge.

Residents of Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties have access to these classes since a variety of them are offered across all four counties. BCCC runs a mix of computer, crafting, and occupational classes at its Washington County Center in Roper and at the Hyde County Davis Center in Engelhard. It also runs programs through Tyrrell Hall in Columbia.

These classes offer ways for residents to expand their businesses, build their skills, increase their success in the workforce and take joy in participating in a new activity. Fall registration for both degree programs and continuing education classes is now taking place. Residents can view the catalog at www.beaufortccc.edu/assets/documents/coned/2018-Fall-Catalog.pdf or call 252-940-3675 and ask to join the mailing list.

These classes are available through the Continuing Education Department at BCCC. To register, call 252-940-6375 or email continuingeducation@beaufortccc.edu.