EST guidelines and process
The Employment Skills Training Certificate (EST) is a state-approved less-than-one-year certificate ranging from 12-44 credits. Individual certificates are designed with faculty to meet the employment training needs of individual students and is not intended for cohorts or as a way of circumventing the certificate approval process. EST certificates may include credit courses from one or more CTE departments and LDC areas of study. The EST allows PCC to award a state approved certificate to persons who complete an individualized certificate.
The EST certificate program allows SACs to package courses to prepare students for specific job entry points. SACs may work individually or together to develop certificates that cross career technical departments, for example, Welding and Auto Body. Please refer to the guidelines, processes, and individual student plan.
Guidelines
- Certificates range from 12-44 credits from state-approved CTE and lower division courses and are developed at the department level for individual students.
- Certificate prerequisites, and the courses sequence for each certificate must be approved by the SAC chair and SAC Administrative Support. (See Individual Student Plan form below)
- For certificates that cross SACs: The required prerequisites that are the highest should be used to insure student success, e.g., a specific level of computer skills.
- Individual student plans will be based on an assessment of the student’s academic skills, as well as educational and occupational career goals. Individual plans may include options for additional study as needed.
- Once the Division Dean approves the student plan, the student has two years to complete the course of study identified in the plan.
- The number of cooperative education credits a student may earn is limited to 25% of the total credits identified for completion of the individual certificate.
- No more than 25% of the total courses for any student plan may be transferred from another institution to PCC for credit toward the certificate.
- 75% of the credits toward the certificate must be PCC credits and over 50% of all certificate credits must be completed after the student plan has been approved.
- Students must earn a grade of “C” or better for all courses in the plan in order to be eligible for the certificate award.
Process
- PCC academic advisors or One Stop counselors should refer students to the CTE department of interest.
- The Division Dean representing the primary CTE department will approve all individual student plans.
- The student will sign the plan, indicating that the agreed-upon content of the plan has been reviewed.
- The Division Dean will keep a copy of the approved individual student certificate plan on file until completion or until the time for completion has expired. A copy of the plan will also be given to the student.
- For certificate plans that cross SACs: The approved individual plan will be kept on file in the Division Dean’s office for the department in which the student will take the most courses.
- The student is responsible for filing with the division dean’s office and for providing the division dean’s office with a receipt for the graduation fee within six months of program completion. The division dean will approve the completed individual plan.
- Prior to sending the plan to the graduation office for issuance of a certificate, the division dean’s office will verify that students have registered for all courses in the plan and that grades have been posted. An attached receipt received from the student will verify that the graduation fee has been paid.
- The certificate award will state that the Employment Skills Training Certificate is a State-approved certificate awarded by PCC. The reverse side will identify the courses taken by the student as well as the job entry point for which the student has been prepared.
Student information
This information is to help individuals determine if the Employment Skills Training Certificate is the best path towards employment.
- This is a less-than-one-year certificate of completion ranging from 12-44 credits.
- Targets specific job entry points in a variety of career technical programs.
- The student plan will be based on an assessment of the individual’s academic skills and career goals and may include options for additional study.
- Once approved by the division dean, the student must sign the plan indicating agreement.
- The plan must be completed within two years.
- The number of cooperative education credits is limited to 25% of the total credits.
- No more than 25% of the total credits may be transferred from another institution to PCC for inclusion toward the certificate.
- 75% of the total credits must be PCC credits.
- More than 50% of the total credits must be completed after the plan is approved.
- Students must earn a grade of “C” or better for all courses in the plan.
- The student must file a request for the certificate with the division dean’s office within six months of program completion.
- If approved, the division dean will send the completed plan to the graduation office for review.
- Students will have their certificate processed and dated at the end of the term in which the application was received by the graduation office.
- The Employment Skills Training Certificate is not eligible for financial aid.
Individual student plan
For questions please contact Katelyn Goslin.