Upskill your future in 2024 with CBC Continuing Education Department

• CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER

If you enjoy helping people reach their health goals and making great money, starting a personal trainer career may be the move for you. There is no better time to become a certified personal trainer than the new year.

The NASM Certified Personal Training (NASM-CPT) Exam is a nationally-recognized credential that can be a perfect first step for a personal trainer career. To be eligible to take the exam, you must meet the following requirements:

Be 18 years of age.

• Earn an automated external defibrillator (AED) certification.

Once you meet the eligibility requirements, NASM recommends enrolling in a preparation program to get ready for their 120-question exam. The good news is, you can study for the exam completely online and be ready to launch your career in as little as six months.

• CLINICAL DENTAL ASSISTANT

If you want to work in the dental profession but don’t have a college degree, becoming a clinical dental assistant is a great place to start. As a clinical dental assistant, you will work with patients every day. You will also gain experience by helping dentists and dental hygienists with a variety of tasks. This is an ideal steppingstone to becoming a dental hygienist or dental office manager. If you’re ready to jump into the dental profession in 2024, here’s why you should start training to become a clinical dental assistant:

• A dental assistant doesn’t need a college degree to get started.

Unlike a dental hygienist, clinical dental assistants are unique in that they don’t need a two- or four-year degree. In six-months, you can train online to gain the knowledge you need to start an externship. After going through externship program at a dental office, you will have the hands-on experience needed to land an entry-level position.

• MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

If you’re looking to break into the healthcare field without years of schooling, become a medical administrative assistant, also referred to as medical secretary.

• A medical secretary doesn’t need a lot of education to get started.

If college isn’t on your radar, that’s ok. Most medical secretary and medical administrative assistant jobs can be landed with just a high school diploma and some medical office training that can be found in online courses. You’ll learn the importance of multi-tasking to direct the flow of patients, improve office efficiency, increase revenue, and provide positive patient experiences.

Earning your Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) designation, a nationally-recognized certification offered by the National Healthcareer Association, helps you break into the field. Make 2024 the year you finally begin a career in healthcare. Take the first step by registering for a class that will teach you the skills you’ll need to be a successful medical secretary in any type of medical office.

• PARALEGAL

Even if college isn’t on your radar in 2024, you don’t have to put off starting the career of your dreams another year. There are a lot of growing careers that you can enter without a degree including becoming a paralegal. Online paralegal training programs are a great place to get your feet wet before you fully commit to a specialization. You can always expand your training and experience to include more areas of the law as your grow into your career.

• There is a high level of prestige in the paralegal profession.

Online paralegal training courses are a great option for you if you want to learn from experts, complete training quickly and begin working in your new career. You can even choose a program that will prepare you for the Certified Paralegal exam. What are you waiting for? A new year could mean a new you, in the career of your dreams!

• PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

There’s no shortage of pharmacies in need of skilled pharmacy technicians! This 100% online course will prepare you for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) National Certification exam and help you complete an externship with a leading pharmacy chain. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), demand for pharmacy technicians will grow 12% through 2028 – that equates to over 30,000 new jobs! You’ll learn everything you need to know to pass the National Certification Exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

• VETERINARY ASSISTANT

Do you love helping animals? Veterinary assistants take charge of making sure office visits and procedures go smoothly for animals under veterinary care. Our 100% online course will train you to become a veterinary assistant, so you can turn your love of animals into a rewarding career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a veterinary assistant is currently just over $26,000 per year. Jobs are expected to increase by 19% through 2026, which is considered much faster than average positions. There should be plenty of job opportunities for veterinary assistants regardless of location. Working as a vet assistant is a great first step to understanding the industry, different specialties and advanced duties required to work as a vet technician.

If you have any questions or would like to register for any of the programs listed at Coastal Bend College, please email ce@coastalbend.edu or call 361-354-2768.

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