Short-term certificates at JWCC provide quick training for in-demand fields

QUINCY — Sometimes it only takes a few months to learn a new skill to land a job or a promotion.  That’s why John Wood Community College offers more than 20 certificate programs — many offered fully online — to help students gain skills to meet the specific needs of regional employers.

In a press release, Kayla Wentz, director of career and technical programming, said, “The path to a career isn’t always linear or achieved through continuous enrollment. We create many of our two-year degrees with stackable certificates that can be achieved in several weeks or months. That way students can earn while they learn, gain skills, confidence and credentials as they progress through their education.”

JWCC offers the following certificates that can be completed in under one year:

• Ag Applications
• Beef Specialist
• Conservation Management
• Electrician
• Engineering – Solid Works
• Computer Network Support
• Technical Help Desk/Cybersecurity
• Diesel Technology
• Early Childhood Education
• HVAC
• Industrial Technician (Electrical and Mechanical)
• Certified Nurse Assistant
• Paramedicine
• Truck Driver Training
• Logistics
• Automation/Robotics
• Certified Production Technician
• Precision Machining – CNC
• Medical Office Assistant
• Swine Specialist
• User Experience Design
• Basic/Industrial Welding

Specific information on each certificate program and courses can be found at jwcc.edu/programs.  A listing of fall courses is available at jwcc.edu/student-resources/course-schedules.

Some of the most popular certificate programs that connect with in-demand positions are in the medical, manufacturing and transportation programs at JWCC.

Students can earn a certificate in medical office assisting completely online in less than a year, a logistics certificate online in two semesters, a truck driver training certificate in six or 16 weeks and a certified nursing assistant certificate in 16 weeks.

The medical office certificate is ideal for a working adult looking to transition into the healthcare field or for a high school student wishing to complete a short-term program to jumpstart a potential career path. Some in-demand local positions that connect with this certificate include patient service representative, surgery scheduler, patient financial counselor, electronic health records tech and pre-certification specialists.

A certified nursing assistant certificate puts students in high demand at all regional nursing homes and hospitals to serve in certified nurse assistant and patient care assistant positions.

Logistics and truck driver training certificates are valuable in the JWCC district given the numerous transportation and warehousing industries in the area. Some in-demand local positions that connect with these certificates are dedicated route driver, operations clerk, dispatch supervisor and supply chain analyst.

A computer network support certificate and technical help desk certificate prepares students to take the COMPTIA Network+ certification exam and connects with multiple in-demand local jobs such as computer technician, field service technician, help desk technician, IT server technician and cybersecurity support technician.

Registration for fall courses that begin in August is still underway. For more information, contact Wentz at 217-641-4957 or kwentz@jwcc.edu.