Oct 03, 2024  
2021-2022 Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
2021-2022 Catalog and Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Continuing Education



Center for Workforce and Community Education

The Center for Workforce & Community Education serves as the community’s resource for career and professional development training. It promotes workforce and community education through comprehensive training programs, educational services and participation in economic development initiatives. The Center is a catalyst for economic growth and enhanced competitiveness of the local workforce in the Germanna service region.

The Center’s workforce services are designed to meet the needs of local business, government, industry, public schools, community partners and individuals. Workforce development services include pre-employment training, adult career coaching services, apprenticeship pathways and programs, career credentialing, customized training, open enrollment professional development classes, online courses, and event facility rental. Makers Space is available at the FredCAT Center, to support the entrepreneurial community and encourage creative collaboration and idea exchange.

Training programs and business services are developed and led by experts in their fields. Programs and services are scheduled to allow flexibility for the working adult. Classes offered as open enrollment can also be customized to the individual needs of business and industry. Our training and credential programs are offered at one of our convenient locations, and through online and/or hybrid formats, or can be delivered on-site at your location. New class offerings are developed and added on a regular basis.

Recognizing that the economic vitality of the region depends upon the ability of its workforce to respond to ever-changing demands, The Center for Workforce offers professional and credentialing programs in the areas of Industry & Trade Licensure, Apprenticeship Pathways, Health Care, IT & Cybersecurity, Small Business Development & Technology, and Transportation, among others. Keeping pace with changes in technology and the demand for 24/7 accessibility, the Center also offers many new online and hybrid class offerings, with rolling admissions, meaning class participants can “register anywhere, anytime,” and thereby remove the constraints of strict class start and end dates.

Our Workforce programs are designed in partnership with the local business community to ensure that skills and knowledge are upgraded continuously as new workforce patterns and trends emerge. The Center for Workforce & Community Education also offers courses to prepare participants for a variety of in-demand industry credentials. A sampling of certification preparation courses available include:  Clinical Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, and Medical Office Specialist; CompTIA IT Fundamentals, A+, Network+, and Security+; CISCO (CCENT and CCNA); CISSP; Apprenticeship pathways in HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, Industrial Maintenance, Heavy Equipment Operation, Open Pit Mining, Asphalt Technology, IT, and many more; CDL Truck Driver, PMP (Project Management), Microsoft, and Adobe; and Machining and Welding. Technology plays an important role in course design and participant access, where applicable, to ensure a meaningful learning experience for all.  Through our authorized Amazon Web Services Academy we offer certification preparation for the AWS Academy Cloud Foundations and Cloud Computing Architecture exams.  New courses are frequently added; please visit our website for current course listings.

Registering for Noncredit Community Education Courses

Students who want to take noncredit Workforce classes do not need to apply for regular admission to the College. Registration is directly available online, by phone and in-person when facilities are open. You may contact the Center for Workforce & Community Education at (540) 891-3012 or visit us on the web at germanna.edu/workforce. Course registration is recommended at least one week prior to the start of class.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Continuing Education Units are awarded upon successful completion of professional course requirements. The CEU is a nationally recognized standard for recording participation in noncredit continuing education. One CEU is defined as ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.

Students under Age 18 Taking Noncredit Classes

The Center for Workforce & Community Education occasionally receives requests for students under 18 years of age to enroll in Workforce classes. These students may enroll in Workforce classes provided both the parent or guardian and the student sign a letter indicating they both understand and acknowledge:

  • The student will be in a class intended for adults.
  • Any behavior that is not that of a responsible adult may result in the student being asked to leave the class and the campus.
  • Full payment of tuition and fees must be made at the time of registration.

We retain the option of denying enrollment to students younger than 18 in courses the College deems potentially hazardous, unsafe, or otherwise inappropriate for minors. Minors are not eligible to enroll in noncredit Workforce classes that are also offered as credit classes. Workforce health care classes may have specific application and admission processes.

Event Facility Rental

Event rental space is available at the Fredericksburg Area Campus in Spotsylvania and Germanna’s Joseph R. Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper. Whether the event is a meeting or a conference, facilities are available at one of the convenient Workforce locations. We also provide rental space for corporate and private events, both large and small, provide technical support, and suggest catering and local hotels. We can accommodate groups of up to 600. Please call (540) 937-2916 for information about our event facility rental services or our facility rental webpage.

Senior Citizens

Students at least 60 years of age who have been domiciled in Virginia for at least one year may be eligible to take up to three noncredit Workforce classes free of charge each term if space is available. Some exclusions may apply.