Continuing Education Professional and Technical Training for Working Adults
Roy Lock, Professional and Technical Training Coordinator
757-789-1751
rlock@es.vccs.edu
Eastern Shore Community College (ESCC) offers an extensive selection of short-term programs and services to help people learn new work skills and qualify for new or continuing professional certifications. A variety of courses are available to the public on an open-enrollment basis each semester. Programs are scheduled to conveniently fit into the working adult’s busy schedule of work, family and other commitments.
Among the regular offerings are classes in:
- computer software
- building and industry trades
- entrepreneurship
- hospitality
- food safety
- and many more.
Most classes are offered on a non-credit basis, but some classes are offered for college credit. The current non-credit class schedule can be found here.
Classes can be developed and offered in response to specific community requests and may take the form of:
- short courses
- conferences
- institutes
- seminars
- workshops
Many professions and trades require continuing education for license renewal. ESCC works with licensing and certification agencies to offer such coursework in classroom settings and through distance learning.
Business and professional organizations may also work through this program to develop training and professional development opportunities for their membership. Training needed to prepare for credentialing exams in the Career Pathways program is also available.
The Navigator
The Navigator is issued twice each year for the fall and spring semesters, and details the classes offered under the Workforce Development Continuing Education program.
Basic Contractor Licensing and Tradesmen Continuing Education License Requirements
Basic Contractor Business Licensing Class
Effective August 21, 2006, the Designated Employee or a member of Responsible Management of all contractors applying for initial licensure (for an entity that is not currently licensed) must successfully complete an eight hour business class approved by the Board for Contractors. The course is designed to provide a basic look at the statutes and regulations that govern contractor licensing in Virginia, including a review of the different types of licenses available and the qualifications for each, ‘Standards of Practice’, ‘Prohibited Acts’, and ‘How to Avoid Violations of the Regulations’. This course alone is not considered to be sufficient preparation to enable a contractor to pass the license examinations required for A or B licenses.
Tradesmen - Plumbers, Electricians, HVAC Mechanics, and Gas Fitters
Starting January 2008, the Virginia Board of Contractors requires all Journeymen, Master Plumbers, Electricians, HVAC Mechanics, and Gas Fitters to take a pre-determined number of continuing education hours specific to their trade as part of the licensing or license renewing process. Plumbers, HVAC technicians and Electricians must take three hours of continuing education in their field. Gas fitters must take one hour. (This one hour class for Gas Fitters is intended for Journeyman and Master Gas Fitters, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Fitters, and Natural Gas Fitters.) Each course covers new definitions, code changes, general requirements, impact on the job, general use and special equipment included in the respective codes. These classes are recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and the Virginia Board of Contractors, and certificates of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be issued to all Virginia tradesmen upon successful completion of the class
ESCC is longer able to offer any of the above as classroom courses at the Melfa campus. Students wishing to take any of these courses now have two options: take the class online, or travel to Tidewater or Thomas Nelson Community College (being the closest to the Eastern Shore).
Basic Contractor Licensing online classes
Go to the DPOR website for list of approved suppliers of this course: http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/con_Approved%20provider%20list.pdf
Tradesmen Continuing Education License Renewal
(electricians, HVAC, plumbers, gas fitters) online classes are available through ESCC. Call 757-789-1751 for details.
Basic Contractor Licensing & Tradesmen Continuing Education classroom classes across the Bay
Tidewater Community College: Regional Workforce Development Center, 7000 College Drive, Suffolk, VA, 23435, Phone: 757-822-1234 (also Advanced Contractor Licensing class)
Thomas Nelson Community College: Hampton III Building, 525 Butler Farm Road, Hampton, VA 23666, Phone: 757-825-2937 or 757-825-2935
To Fulfill Professional Requirements for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, Landscape Architects and Other Professions
After March 31st, 2010 the Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects, requires sixteen “continuing education credit hours” be completed for any license renewal. To check on the requirements for your professional body and to look for courses which satisfy your professional needs, go to https://vccs.redvector.com/es
To Become a Journeyman Electrician
For training or licensing courses to become a journeyman electrician, go here.
To Become a Journeyman Plumber
For training or licensing courses to become a journeyman plumber, go here.
To Become a Certified Welder
Credit classes are offered to learn welding: curriculum sheets showing courses required for a Career Studies Certificate in welding can be downloaded at Welding CSC Curriculum Sheet
To Become a Certified Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Mechanic
For training or licensing courses to become a certified or journeyman HVAC mechanic, go here.
To Take Training Courses in Other Trades
For training or licensing courses to become an auto repair technician, carpenter, diesel mechanic/heavy truck mechanic, furniture & cabinet maker, interior decorator or landscaper go here.
For further information contact Roy Lock at 757-789-1751, rlock@es.vccs
Online Courses for Individuals
ESCC has links with four organizations through which it offers a wide range of online courses for individuals, both work related and for personal enrichment.
The first of these can be found at http://www.ed2go.com/es/
- Unless otherwise specified, the majority of courses run for six weeks and cost $95. For these, you will be granted access to two lessons each week for six weeks. Each lesson will be accompanied by a short, multiple-choice quiz, and some lessons may also include a hands-on assignment. You are expected to try and complete each quiz and assignment within two weeks from when the lesson is released. The course will conclude with a final exam. You will have two weeks from the day the final exam is released to complete your studies and submit the final exam for evaluation. All instructors are qualified and experienced and you can view their resumes online.
- Courses in this range fall under the following general headings: Test Prep., Languages, Accounting, The Internet, Graphic Design, Certification Prep., Web Page Design, Sales & Marketing, Personal Enrichment, Writing & Publishing, Law & Legal Careers, Personal Development, Entertainment Industry, Computer Applications, Child Care & Parenting, Business Administration, Basic Computer Literacy, Start Your Own Business, Math, Philosophy & Science, Web Graphics & Multimedia, Healthcare, Nutrition & Fitness, Web & Computer Programming, Healthcare Continuing Education, Courses for Teaching Professionals, Personal Finance & Wealth Building, Digital Photography & Digital Video, Art, History, Psychology & Literature, Database Management & Programming, Grant Writing & Non-profit Management, PC Troubleshooting, Networking, Security
- New to this site are “Independent Courses with Mentor” – courses in which you completely set your own pace – up to four months, with expert instructor assistance on-call – by phone or email. Courses currently available of this type include: Principals of Marketing, Medical Mathematics, Medical Information Management and Office Practice, Math for Business and Finance, Managerial Accounting, Introduction to Business, Introduction to Biology, English Composition, Introduction to Macroeconomics, Confidentiality of Health Information
For the second series of online courses, ESCC has partnered with Gatlin Education Services, the largest provider of web-based career training courses, to offer over one hundred non-credit online certificate Programs. These can be accessed at Gatlin's website, and are grouped under the following titles:
- Healthcare and Fitness
- Business and Professional
- IT and Software Development
- Management and Corporate
- Media and Design
- Hospitality and Gaming
- Skilled Trades and Industrial
These courses are designed for individuals looking to switch career paths, obtain advanced training and certifications, or for first time job seekers who need specialized training. The courses are all open enrollment and self-paced, and students are paired with a personal instructor. Courses take an average of 90 days to complete and provide training for entry-level positions.
The third series of online courses cab be found at http://www.theknowledgebase.org/ESCC/ and are offered by ProTrain.
Workforce Development Services Division ESCC in partnership with Protrain Online is your solution for Green/Renewable Energy and Allied Healthcare training! Train for a new career all with a focus on green, clean-tech, and sustainable business practices. A major shift to renewable energy and energy efficiency is expected to produce at millions of new jobs and environmentally friendly "green jobs" over the next three decades. Start training today for the jobs of tomorrow!
- LEED v3
- Weatherization Training
- Solar Energy
- Water & Wastewater Treatment
- Wind Energy Certificate
- Sustainability Professional
- Certified Green Designer
- Medical Coding and Billing
- Transcription
- Electronic Health Records
- Home Health Aide
Among many other online courses from Protrain are:
- Feng Shui Certificate
- Complete Home/Building Inspectors Training Program
- Veterinary Assistant Certificate
- Landscaping Basics
- Technical Mathematics
A copy of our ProTrain online catalogue can be found here. Protrain can also make loans available for Continuing Education students.
UGotClass courses were developed by LERN® - Learning Resources Network – and are accessible 24/7 and last between one and two months.
Courses are especially attractive to:
- Businesses interested in learning about eMarketing, mobile marketing, teleworking, social media, video marketing, webinars, Google analytics, cyber security
- Entrepreneurs and new businesses looking for government contracting, practical math and a business plan
- Teachers interested in online teaching, students with Aspergers, gender issues, social media and online tools, generational learning styles. Courses can be turned into qualifying credit hours from the University of South Dakota.
- Non-profits interested in program evaluation and revenue generation
- Dementia care
Have a look at the range of classes offered. These courses each start at a specific date, so check the dates carefully. If you’re unable to take the course you want on the dates specified, check back later when new dates will be posted.
Certificate classes are groups of two or three classes offered at a discount. Except for the “Webinar Planner”, courses within the Certificate can be taken individually.
When you’ve decided on the course you want, click on “Register Today” and download, print, complete and mail the registration form - together with the fee - to the college.
1. After you register, you will be given a web address to go to get into your online classroom. You will have a password and use your email address and password to gain access. Once inside the online classroom, here’s what you can expect:
2. Participate when you want: You can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. You decide when you participate.
For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.
3. What you will do:
For each Unit, you will…
i. Read the print readings (about 20 pages a week)
ii. Have the option of accessing the online readings
iii. Listen to the audio presentation for the Unit and view the slides
iv. Have the option of taking a self-quiz to see how much you have learned
v. Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants
vi. For best learning, you should make one or more comments at 2-3 different times each week. The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.
4. Discussion: The Discussion for each Unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.
Your instructor will log into the Discussion area at least once a day and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants.
We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each week to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.
Click on the logo below to get started...
Online Courses for Employers
For your company’s training needs, arrange training for employees regardless of how many or where they’re located. These can be accessed at http://www.ed2go.com/escc-pro/
Anywhere - Anytime Scheduling Convenience
Entirely web-based with comprehensive lessons, quizzes and assignments delivered over six weeks, this gives your employees the flexibility to study at their own pace with enough structure and support to complete the course. Provide your employees with unprecedented access to hundreds of courses, with new sessions running every month. You simply purchase a quantity of PassCodes that employees can use when they are ready. We accept purchase orders and corporate credit cards.
Registration and enrollment
Apart from the online courses described above, the Virginia Community College System does not yet have the capability to allow enrollment and payment of fees for non-credit courses online. Instead, learners can register and enroll over the phone using Visa or MasterCard by calling 757-789-1751. Alternatively, an application form can be completed and payment made by Visa or MasterCard, or by check through the mail. Do not mail cash. Enrollment forms can be found by downloading the Registration Form.
For further information on Continuing Education, a copy of the latest version of The Navigator, enrollment forms, to enroll over the phone, or to suggest additional courses we might run, call Roy Lock at 757-789-1751.
